Flag of Galicia and Lodomeria explained

Throughout its existence, from 1772 to 1918, the Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria, used three flag designs to represent itself.

History

The Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria was a constituent possession of the Habsburg monarchy, that existed from 1772 to 1918.[1]

In 1618, the banner of Galicia and Lodomeria, was flown among others, during the coronation of King Ferdinand II. It depicted a coat of arms divided into five vertical stripes, that altered between a blue stripe, and the stripe divided into six fields, alternating between white and red, displayed in two rows each containing three of them. On top of it was placed a yellow (golden) crown with blue jewels. It was placed on a green background.[2] [3]

The first flag of the state had been introduced in 1809, and remained in use until 1849, its flag was divided horizontally into two equally-sized stripes, blue and red. In 1849, from the part of the territory of the Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria was partitioned, the Duchy of Bukovina. The duchy continued to use red and blue flag. It used said flag until 1918, when it ceased to exist. Galicia and Lodomeria adopted a new flag design, which consisted of three horizontal stripes of equal width: blue, red and yellow.[4] [5]

Such design had been used until 1890, when it was replaced by a design consisting of two horizontal stripes of equal width: red and white. Such flag remained in use until 1918, when the kingdom ceased to exist.[6] Some historians, such as Jan D. Miller, argue, that the flag had amaranth (reddish-rose) stripe instead of a red stripe.[4] However, Oesterreichisch-ungarische Wappenrolle, a coloured table of flags published in 1898, states that red and white flag was the flag of the Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria, while amaranth and white flag, was a flag of Polish minority within Austria-Hungary.[6]

The flag was used until 1918, when the Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria ceased to exist.[1] [4]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Magocsi, Paul R.. Paul R. Magocsi. Galicia: A Historical Survey and Bibliographic Guide. 1983. Toronto. University of Toronto Press. 9780802024824.
  2. Korunovačné zástavy krajín Uhorskej korunyod neskorého stredoveku do začiatku 20. storočia
  3. Web site: origo.hu. Tíz ország királya lett a magyar uralkodó. hu.
  4. Jan Miller: Chorągwie i flagi polskie, Warsaw: Nasza Księgarnia. 1962, p. 30.
  5. Web site: The Flags of the Poles and Poland - Part 2. 1795 to 1926. loeser.us.
  6. Hugo Ströhl: Oesterreichisch-ungarische Wappenrolle, Vienna, 1898.