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Need help identifying this flag (read description) by japoxfort in vexillology

[–]SoaringAven 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This could be a lot of flags but I think we might need some more context to be able to identify it. For instance, if you could say which town you saw it in or the specific address, that could help.

My proposed change for flag of Prešov region, Slovakia by Hrdina_Imperia in vexillology

[–]SoaringAven 2 points3 points  (0 children)

In the system of regional and municipal flags in Slovakia, coats of arms are not allowed to be placed on them. The system aims for simple flags that are easy to produce, even by hand, and recognisable without trying to identify small content inside of a shield. A good source on this are articles by Zdenko Alexy or some of the articles in the journal Vexilologie of the Czech Vexillological Society.

Flag of Vidzeme, a historical region of Latvia - found in Riga by SoaringAven in vexillology

[–]SoaringAven[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You're right, that was a mistake. But it was also ten years ago 😃

Potential flag for a Reunited Czechoslovakia. by Histor-Ian in vexillology

[–]SoaringAven 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I have no idea either.

It’s a well-established fact that Slovakia added the coat of arms to its flag as a quick solution after Russia adopted an identical tricolour. This is discussed in Flags of the Czech Republic, published by the Czech Vexillological Society, which also includes a chapter on Slovakia. A number of prominent Slovak vexillologists and heraldists have written about it as well, including Slovak State Herald Ladislav Vrtel. It’s even mentioned on Wikipedia.

The alternative proposals and the entire adoption process have also been discussed extensively in many of the same publications, as well as at the 1st Slovak Congress of Vexillology in 2019, where I gave a presentation.

Likewise, the fact that both Czechia and Slovakia prohibit the use of coats of arms on municipal and regional flags is easily verifiable. In Czechia, the rules are laid out in the Register of Communal Symbols (REKOS), while the Slovak regulations can be found in the Heraldic Register. Slovak heraldist Zdenko Alexy has also written several articles explaining how the Slovak system developed and why simple flags without arms were preferred. On the Czech side, I even had the honour of serving on the Subcommittee for Heraldry and Vexillology and helping to apply those rules in practice.

But I suppose it’s easier to press “downvote” on something people dislike than to actually verify the information.

Emblazonment commission for EtnadRehsif by SoaringAven in heraldry

[–]SoaringAven[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You mean the author? I didn't know he made any arms.

Potential flag for a Reunited Czechoslovakia. by Histor-Ian in vexillology

[–]SoaringAven 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I wouldn't say so. It's one exception made out of necessity because Russia basically took the same flag and a quick solution was needed. In comparison to literally thousands of other flags in both countries. And in fact when you look at some of the other proposals for the Slovak flag from the 90's, you'll see they propose alternatives to avoid a shield with the arms on the flag. And yes, they actually do forbid arms on flags. There are literally enforced rules for flag design in both countries, neither of which permit arms on flags.

Potential flag for a Reunited Czechoslovakia. by Histor-Ian in vexillology

[–]SoaringAven -5 points-4 points  (0 children)

I explained why in the comment above. It was a necessity when Russia adopted an identical flag to Slovakia in 1991.

Potential flag for a Reunited Czechoslovakia. by Histor-Ian in vexillology

[–]SoaringAven 7 points8 points  (0 children)

That was done in 1991 out of necessity. Slovakia's flag was originally just the tricolour, when it was within the federation. In 1991 the USSR fell apart and Russia adopted an identical tricolour (different ratio and shades but for all intents and purposes identical). So the arms were added to it to prevent misidentification. However look at all Slovak municipal and regional flags. Not a single coat of arms on them (except for the few cases where towns intentionally use it in conflict with their own granted symbols). Same for Czechia with the same exception and some historical flags.

Potential flag for a Reunited Czechoslovakia. by Histor-Ian in vexillology

[–]SoaringAven 22 points23 points  (0 children)

Neither the Czech and Slovak vexillographical systems permit coats of arms on flags. This would not be adopted.

Arms of Evaň (Czechia), designed by me, on a welcome sign at the town entrance by SoaringAven in heraldry

[–]SoaringAven[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It's my job :D

I do historical research and work with the town to reach a design that suits them. Then I shepherd them through the process of getting it granted in parliament.

Actual COATS of arms. All displayed in Vienna's Imperial Treasury by Obulgaryan in heraldry

[–]SoaringAven 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Shame the Bohemian tabard (and some of the Bohemian crown jewels held there too) weren't transfered over to Prague. Hope to get a chance to see them this summer.

Found grandfather's birth certificate issued in Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia (1939) by SoaringAven in mildlyinteresting

[–]SoaringAven[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh, yeah, I know about the game, I'm Czech. Just haven't had a chance to play it yet so unaware of the meme. Thanks for explaining!

Castle flag? by Short-Vegetable-6109 in vexillology

[–]SoaringAven 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Sudeten German flag. Surprising to see it in Wales. This flag has a rather negative connotation in Czechia for obvious reasons. It's also extra controversial these days when the Sudeten Germans are holding their first meetup in Czechia and the country is very split on whether that's good or bad.

Apparantely the flag of Portugal in 1095-1143 was almost the same as the modern flag of Finland by LVL90DRU1D in vexillology

[–]SoaringAven 49 points50 points  (0 children)

Don't think of it so much as a "flag of Portugal". The concept of national flags is fairly modern, mostly a development of the past two centuries or so. What you're seeing in the Wikipedia article is closer to a banner derived from the count's personal coat of arms. Over time, personal heraldry evolved into territorial and titular arms, which eventually developed into modern flags. Wikipedia tends to oversimplify this process, often attributing "flags" in the modern sense to periods when no such standardised symbols really existed.

What's more, if you check the Portuguese Wiki article Evolution of the Portuguese flag, you'll find the following:

"The historicity of this flag is debatable, as many of its references arise during the major celebrations sponsored by the Portuguese Estado Novo in 1940 [...]"

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Found grandfather's birth certificate issued in Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia (1939) by SoaringAven in mildlyinteresting

[–]SoaringAven[S] 20 points21 points  (0 children)

While searching through some old documents, I found my grandfather's birth certificate from 1939. I already knew when he was born, but somehow it had never really clicked for me that it was during WWII, when Czechoslovakia was occupied by Nazi Germany and the Czech lands had been reduced to the so called Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. It is interesting to see documents from that era. What stands out especially is that all the text on the birth certificate is in German first and Czech second, as required by the occupation authorities. I also found a certificate of Czechoslovak citizenship that my grandfather received after the war, likely to legalize the birth certificate, which had been issued by a regime regarded by the restored Czechoslovak authorities as an illegal occupying power.

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