Flag of Moravia

Official appearance of Flag of Moravia, unlike provincial Moravian coat of arms does not exist, because the flag has never been granted to Moravia. However, there are several documented variant of Moravian flags, that were used in history. The first recorded version dates from the mid-13th century.

There is the description of Moravian flag in the chronicle of Ottokar aus der Gaal (Otacher ouz der Geul, Ottokar von Steiermark) (* about 1265; † between 1318 and 1322): Die Steirische Reimchronik.

Hern Dietrich Spatzmanen

sach man die banier leiten:

in einem rȏten samît breiten

was gewohrt ein lewe wîz.

ouch heten ir baniere flîz,

die von Merhaeren wârn:

ein geschâchzabelten arn

von rȏter und von wîzer varbe

sach man ob in begarbe

waejen von dem winde.

The history of moravian flag, actually banner (unlike the flag it is tightly connected with flagpole) is very varied and begins in 13th century on the background with organizing of relations between Bohemia and Moravia within the building of centralized monarchy of the last kings of Přemyslid dynasty. The colouring of the flag (or banner) was according to vexillologic rules derived from the colours of heraldic coat of arms since the Middle Ages.

From the reign of Ottokar II of Bohemia Moravia features the coat of arms in silver-red checkered eagle with a golden crown and claws, which looks to the right and is placed on a blue shield.

The oldest surviving full colour depiction of the coat of arms of Moravia is represented by the fresco in the hall of the castle of Gozzoburg in Krems an der Donau, that comes from the beginning of 70th of 13. century. Checkered eagle is documented on depiction from 1286 and later in the late 13th and early 14th century.

Colours of checkered eagle were derived from the colours of the Bohemian lion (silver lion on a red shield) and express connection with the Bohemian king of Moravia and Bohemian monarchy, as, for example, recalls historian V. Růžek. One of the first documented illustrations of banner of Moravia is the view in 1407 Gelnhausen Codex, which is the figure of the Moravian Margrave Jobst of Moravia with blue banner on which is the Moravian white-red eagle is placed with a yellow crown and yellow armor without a shield.

The heraldic flag of Moravia (the flag of Moravia in the form of the flag with coat of arms) is described and drawn for example in the work of Jacob Koebel: Wapen des heyligen römischen Reichs teutscher Nation from 1545.

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Wikipedia