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.^[1]

Historical flag of Moravia - red-white-blue tricolor. Pozdrav z Kroměříže. Publisher Vilém Povondra. Postcard passed mail in 1901.

Flag of Moravia^[2][3]

One version of the flag of Moravia in the form of red-white-blue tricolor. Allegedly used by the deputies of Czech speaking Moravians on Slavonic Congress in Prague in 1848.^[4]

Yellow-red bicolor used since the half of 19th century,^[4] currently considered by some organizations for Flag of Moravia ^[5] This option is criticized by some experts.^[6][7][8][9]

Red-white-blue tricolor used in the 2. half of 19th century and in the beginning of the 20th century.^[10][11]

Historically, there were several versions of the widely used and documented Moravian flags, which were mainly used during the 19th century in parallel to double or triple color derived from tinctures of provincial coat of arms.^[12][13] According to some authors therefore Moravian flag red-white-blue, respectively horizontally striped.^[14] This color combination was the flag of the Moravian patriots in the 19th century. Delegation of the Moravians on Slavonic Congress in Prague in 1848 allegedly marched under the tricolour red-white-and-blue flag with a white horizontal stripe at the top, middle red and blue bottom.^[4] White, red and blue colors are referred to as Moravia in the Nový prostonárodní popis Čech, Moravy a Slezska from 1854 and in some textbooks from the 19th century.^[15] According to the I. Štarha the Moravian colours were in 1915 white, red and blue, and between the years 1915 and 1918 yellow, red and blue.^[16][17] Czechoslovak Republic returned to the white / silver color at the Moravian coat of arms, but the color and provincial status flags / banners Act No. 252/1920 does not define. Country flag do not know the later legal regulations (Act no. 269/1936, Law no. 222/1939, no. 163/1960, and now valid Acts no. 3/1993 Coll., No. 352/2001 Coll.).^[18][19][20]

Today, it is for the Flag of Moravia sometimes - especially some Moravian parties, associations and other organizations - is considered a yellow-red bicolour.^[5][21] Using the yellow-red flag, according to more authors (L. E. Havlík, M. Hlinomaz), however, documented in the 19th century.^[22] Hereinafter referred to as Morava: k státoprávnímu postavení země v průběhu věků.^[12][23] As stated by M. Hlinomaz: Zdá se, že žlutočervený prapor, logicky odvozený od sněmem v roce 1848 přijaté formy šachování moravské orlice, nesl oficiální posvěcení úřady a pro svou podobnost s říšskou vlajkou, i sympatie moravského obyvatelstva německé národnosti .^[12] Historian I. Štarha argues that Moravia was never awarded the flag.^[15] Today's yellow-red bicolour is sometimes added the provincial coat of arms (red-gold checked eagle).

Both of these versions, however, are criticized by experts who were approached by the media (specifically historian M. Řepa, vexillologist K. Müller, heraldist Jiří Louda).^[6][7][8][9]

The oldest history

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.^[1]

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. Checkered eagle is the first documented on depiction from 1286 and later more clearly in the late 13th and early 14th century.^[24]

Colours of checkered eagle were derived from the colours of the Czech lion (silver lion on a red shield) and express connection with the Czech king of Moravia and Czech monarchy, as, for example, recalls historian V. Růžek.^[25] 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 placed Moravian white-red eagle with a yellow crown and yellow armor without a shield.^[1]

• 
  Jobst of Moravia, Gelnhausen Codex, 15th century.
• 
  White-red bicolour used till the beginning of the 20th century.
• 
  Red-blue-white tricolour used in 19th century and in the beginning of the 20th century.
• 
  Red-white bicolour used till the beginning of the 20th century.
• 
  Red-yellow bicolour. Another historical flag of Moravia coming from the 2. half of the 19th century or the beginning of the 20th century.

The present

The shape of the flag is a subject of discussion for more than 100 years.^[26] A variant consists of two bars, an yellow bar on the upper half, and a red bar at the bottom half.

Flag of Moravia as bicolor with gold-red checked eagle (from 2007), by Moravian National Community

Flag of Prague

The flag of Moravia with gold-red checked eagle (from 2007) was introduced, advised and used by some members and supporters of Moravian National Community due to the possible mismatch with other flags, for example with that of capital city Prague

References

• Wikimedia Commons has media related to Moravská vlajka.