Last modified: 2007-07-28 by rob raeside
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The Kingdom of Bulgaria existed 1908-1946, though
for the purpose of flag research, the period ended on 09 September 1944.
There are three main sources of flags of the period mentioned in
Ivanov (1998). The first is the collection of the Naval Museum, from where
are mentioned the naval ensign and king's and queen's standard.
The second is the (Bogoslovski, 1912) "Al'bom
shtandartov i flagov inostrannyh gosudarstv", Sofia 1912, and the third is a
naval manual that I shall cover later on. The
Ivanov (1998) book contains pictures from the
naval manual,
but it also has
detailed reports on what's in others, highlighting some differences. As far as I
have understood, the flags
preserved in the Naval Museum are of the same pattern as those
published in the Bogoslovski book. They are treated together and -- even if
I have reservations -- I have no evidence why I should not do the same.
All the flags here would be reconstructions from descriptions. Even
if the descriptions are quite straightforward and clear, there is always the possibility
that I misinterpreted them.
Željko Heimer, 05 September 2001
Red square flag bordered along on all four edges with triangles of three
colours, so that the green triangles touch the square with vertexes while the
triangles of the other two colours touch it with a side.
Source: Bogoslovski, 1912
Željko Heimer, 05 September 2001
Flaggenbuch (1939) shows a
smaller lion, much more "decorated", and with green tongue and claws. Moreover,
the pattern of the triangles is totally different: the eight green triangles
from your source are changed to ten white triangles; the four white triangles
from your source are changed to five green triangles; the three red triangles
from your source are changed to four red triangles. To make things clearer,
taking the upper border as an example and starting from the upper left corner,
we have a red lozenge and then 19 triangles as follows: W V W R W V W R W V W R
W V W R W V W (and then a red lozenge). White triangles point downward, green
and red ones point upward. Triangle height (or border width) is 1/9 of the flag
size. Lozenge basis is 1/15 of the flag size; triangle basis is 13/150 of the
flag size.
Ivan Sache, 06 September 2001
Bulgarian Naval Handbook (reproduced
in
Ivanov, 1998) shows a
differently rendered version. The difference is in the triangles around the
edges.
Željko Heimer, 08 September 2001
I guess that all these minor differences are not the result of changes in
regulations (that would surely be mentioned in
Ivanov, 1998), but are
differences in artistic rendition.
Željko Heimer, 08 September 2001
1:30~, by Željko Heimer
Yellow pennant with the king's standard at hoist.
Source: Bogoslovski, 1912
Željko Heimer, 05 September 2001
As above in
Flaggenbuch (1939), but 1:5,
with rectangular 15:23 king's standard.
Ivan Sache, 06 September 2001
The number 15:23 must be an approximation, since it is rather close when one takes
away another pair of triangles along the vertical edges.
Željko Heimer, 08 September 2001
by Željko Heimer
Bulgarian Naval Handbook (reproduced
in
Ivanov, 1998) shows a
differently rendered version. The difference is in the hoist flag matching to
the one above, and swallow-tailed fly.
Željko Heimer, 08 September 2001
Same design as king's standard, only swallow-tailed.
Source: Bogoslovski, 1912
Željko Heimer, 05 September 2001
Flaggenbuch (1939) has the same pattern as for
king's standard. The "opening" of the tail is 1/6 of
the flag size.
Ivan Sache, 06 September 2001
Bulgarian Naval Handbook (reproduced
in
Ivanov, 1998) shows a
differently rendered version. The difference is in the triangles around the
edges.
Željko Heimer, 08 September 2001
1:30~, by Željko Heimer
Yellow pennant with the queen's standard at hoist.
Source: Bogoslovski, 1912
Željko Heimer, 05 September 2001
Base flag as above in
Flaggenbuch (1939). Border
width of the queen's standard is 3 + 5/6 (for a hoist of 15).
Ivan Sache, 06 September 2001
According to my "work", the triangles should be about 2.551 and not 3.833 to
maintain the relative size in other images. Are they expected to be bigger?
Željko Heimer, 08 September 2001
by Željko Heimer
Bulgarian Naval Handbook (reproduced
in
Ivanov, 1998) shows a
differently rendered version. The difference is in the hoist flag matching to
the one above, and swallow-tailed fly.
Željko Heimer, 8 September 2001
The flag of basically the same design as the king's standard set in the middle
of the white flag with red cross and green saltire. I am particularly not sure
about the correctness of my interpretation here, so be warned here even more than for the rest of the batch.
Source: Bogoslovski, 1912
Željko Heimer, 05 September 2001
Flaggenbuch (1939) shows the
flag in 6:7 proportion. Therefore, the king's standard in the middle is
rectangular, with only 15 triangles on its vertical borders. There is also a crown-princess' standard, swallow-tailed; a standard for the male members of the
royal family, with red cross omitted; a standard for the female members of the
royal family, same but forked.
Ivan Sache, 06 September 2001
Bulgarian Naval Handbook (reproduced
in
Ivanov, 1998) shows a
differently rendered version. The difference is in the triangles around the
edges.
Željko Heimer, 08 September 2001
1:30~, by Željko Heimer
Yellow pennant with the crown-prince's standard at hoist. Other officials are
not given their pennants in Bogoslovski's album.
Source: Bogoslovski, 1912
Željko Heimer, 05 September 2001
Flag as above in
Flaggenbuch (1939), along with crown-princess' pennant, pennant for the male members of the royal family, and
pennant for the female members of the royal family.
Ivan Sache, 06 September 2001
by Željko Heimer
Bulgarian Naval Handbook (reproduced
in
Ivanov, 1998) shows a
differently rendered version. The difference is in the hoist flag matching to
the one above, and swallow-tailed fly.
Željko Heimer, 08 September 2001
Flaggenbuch (1939) shows the crown-princess' standard swallow-tailed in 6:7 proportion.
Ivan Sache, 06 September 2001
Flaggenbuch (1939) shows the standard like that of the crown-prince standard with the red cross
omitted.
Ivan Sache, 06 September 2001
Flaggenbuch (1939) shows the
a standard like that of the crown-princess' standard with the red cross
omitted.
Ivan Sache, 06 September 2001
The naval ensign is described as being the same as in the period of the
principality, though we could conclude that by now the shape of the crown was
established (more like the same crown as is used today -- above the shield in the
state coat of arms -- I am sure that there is some story behind this, but I don't
know it.)
Source: Bogoslovski, 1912
Željko Heimer, 05 September 2001
Flaggenbuch (1939) shows the
same flag.
Ivan Sache, 06 September 2001
Bulgarian Naval Handbook (reproduced
in
Ivanov, 1998) shows the same
design as in the 1912 album.
Željko Heimer, 08 September 2001
The naval ensign with white square with green saltire beneath the red canton
with lion.
Source: Bogoslovski, 1912
Željko Heimer, 05 September 2001
by Željko Heimer
Bulgarian Naval Handbook (reproduced
in
Ivanov, 1998) shows a pennant
similar to the royal house pennants, having the appropriate flag in the hoist.
Željko Heimer, 08 September 2001
Flaggenbuch (1939) shows the
same flag and also a forked 1:5 pennant for the Minister of War.
Ivan Sache, 06 September 2001
Bulgarian Naval Handbook (reproduced
in
Ivanov, 1998) shows the same
design as in the 1912 album.
Željko Heimer, 8 September 2001
2:3, horizontally divided white-green-white.
Ivan Sache, 08 September 2001
2:3, horizontally divided white over green.
Ivan Sache, 08 September 2001
As the flag of the Minister of the Army, but instead of the saltire there are
two crossed green anchors.
Source: Bogoslovski, 1912
Željko Heimer, 05 September 2001
Not shown in
Flaggenbuch (1939).
Ivan Sache, 06 September 2001
This might be because by that time the flag had become obsolete (maybe by
introduction of admirals' flags there was actually no need for such?).
Željko Heimer, 08 September 2001
Bulgarian Naval Handbook (reproduced
in
Ivanov, 1998) shows the same
design as in the 1912 album.
Željko Heimer, 08 September 2001
by Željko Heimer
Bulgarian Naval Handbook (reproduced
in
Ivanov, 1998) shows a pennant
similar to the royal house pennants, having the appropriate flag in the hoist.
Željko Heimer, 08 September 2001
White square flag with a red cross behind a green saltire.
Source: Bogoslovski, 1912
Željko Heimer, 05 September 2001
Flaggenbuch (1939) shows the
same flag.
Ivan Sache, 06 September 2001
Bulgarian Naval Handbook (reproduced
in
Ivanov, 1998) shows the same
design as in the 1912 album.
Željko Heimer, 08 September 2001
1:30~, by Željko Heimer
White pennant with green saltire near the hoist. The greatest difference between
the Bogoslovski album and the later naval manual is the same in this and
subsequent pennants. In the album they are triangular, ending in point, while in
the naval manual the fly is swallow-tailed - but we'll come to this later on.
Source: Bogoslovski, 1912
Željko Heimer, 05 September 2001
1:20, by Željko Heimer
Flaggenbuch (1939) shows this
flag swallow-tailed, 1:20, with saltire field 15:23.
Ivan Sache, 06 September 2001
Bulgarian Naval Handbook (reproduced
in
Ivanov, 1998) shows a
pennant, the same as in the 1912 album.
Željko Heimer, 08 September 2001
Triangular pennant with horizontal national tricolour stripes and with red
square with lion set at the hoist in the middle of the flag height.
Source: Bogoslovski, 1912
Željko Heimer, 05 September 2001
Not shown in
Flaggenbuch (1939).
Ivan Sache, 06 September 2001
Bulgarian Naval Handbook (reproduced
in
Ivanov, 1998) shows a
triangular pennant, the same as in the 1912 album.
Željko Heimer, 8 September 2001
On 09 January 1937 the flag of the commander of the division was established,
somewhat inconsistent with the system above -- a white flag with a green cross
throughout and with a red anchor in the canton.
Željko Heimer, 05 September 2001
If square,
Flaggenbuch (1939) shows it
for rear-admiral. With anchors in quarters 1 and 3, vice-admiral. With anchors
in quarters 1, 2 and 3, admiral. The corresponding pennants, 1:5 and forked, are
also shown.
Ivan Sache, 06 September 2001
Rereading the
Ivanov, 1998 I realize I
made a mistake - it should indeed be square (quite a common error, I guess,
confusing the words "rectangular" and "square"). Anyway, the width of
the green stripes
forming the cross is 1/8 of hoist, while the anchor is 1/6 of hoist high and 1/8
wide.
Ivanov, 1998 does not mention
2- and 3-anchor flags nor any corresponding pennants. Are the hoist parts of
these pennants square or do they retain the 15:23 ratio from above? The fly part is
yellow, as usual, right?
Željko Heimer, 08 September 2001
Coat of arms of Kingdom of Bulgaria (1878-1944), based on a collection of images scanned by Jaume Ollé. The text on the ribbon says: "Saedinenieto pravi silata".
Željko Heimer, 19 June 1996
I think it is the same motto as the Belgian one: "L'union fait la force" (Union makes strength).
Pascal Vagnat, 19 June 1996