Last modified: 2009-08-15 by jarig bakker
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2. The surface of a new flag must not be the same as that of an already existing flag belonging to any community either in the Czech or in the Slovak Republic.
3. A new flag should not have become with any current State flag.
4. The surface of a newly introduced flag ought to be derived from the coat-of-arms of the respective community and its colors may be limited to the basic ones. It is possible to approve a flag in colors completely different from the ones in arms, if such a flag expresses any relation to the community history. Another case is if the flag had already been used in the past authentically and the respective community wishes to continue this use.
5. Such a flag is not approved on principle if its surface would be charged with a shield from the municipal coat-of-arms; the double utilization of the communal symbols is excluded. However, the sole heraldic convention found in the arms may be used freely, the letter as a "mirror image" including; the other letters are not recommended.
6. It is not allowed to use the inscriptions, motto and realistic illustrations or everything what makes the the flag recognizable with difficulty.
7. In case of a few variants of the flag those possessing more vexillological qualities are preferred (i.e. they should meet requirements of being expressive, simple and/or in accordance with the principle of fluttering).
8. Obverse and reverse sides of the flag must be identical. If the heraldic flag is adopted, the position of the heraldic animals' head etc. must be described on the reverse side extra, when embodying part of the whole coat-of-arms.
9. The surface of a banner is always identical with that of a flag both in its shape and proportions.
10. The surface of the flag must be simply describable in words in the way that enables its manufacture without any graphic design.
Source: "Flags over Czech towns" (September 2000); an article by
Zbyšek Svoboda: Czech municipal and civic flags, in which the new guidelines
of the Heraldic Committee of the Czech Parliament are explained, as formulated
in 1991.
Jarig Bakker, 22 Apr 2004
These Czech flags are certainly interesting. While not every one is
very attractive (but many are) they are certainly many of them are quite
unusual and "experimental" towards new variations in vexillography. I believe
that the "rounded hoist triangles" are such an example - I don't think
it's been seen before, but still quite striking, simple and "vexillologically
correct" design. There were shown some others that would deserve to be
pointed out, too. Is there any overview (I'm sure there is, vexillology
seems to be quite strong in Czech Republic; but could we get it on FOTW,
at least a summary) over the Czech local flags? There seems to be very
little uniformity or system in Czech local flags - some are bi- or tricolours,
with or without coats of arms or heraldic devices directly on them, others are banners
of arms while others are quite original vexillographic works.
Željko Heimer, 10 May 2001
The Czech municipal flags represent two historical layers: the traditional
pre-1990 flags are usually horizontal bi- or tricolors, often identical
for several towns (e.g. Prague = Ceske
Budejovice, many WB bicolors). After 1990, most new flags are officially
assigned to the towns (and villages) by the chairman of the House of Representatives
of the Czech Parliament, after thorough expert discussion by the subcommitee
for heraldry and vexillology of the Parliament. This monumental flag-making activity is step-by-step overviewed by Petr Exner (a subcommitee
member) in his 'Vexilologicky lexikon', as well as in the journal
Vexilologie.
The vexillological subcommittee insists that several vexillographical
criteria should be followed: a new flag should not include the whole coat of
arms
and that the flag must be of 2:3 ratio. Moreover, most of flags are
more or less derived from the municipality's heraldical colors (exceptions - e.g. Tabor
and Dvur Kralove nad Labem).
Jan Zrzavy, 10 May 2001
Some practical examples:
Lords (Counts) of Sternberg (Šternberk) - Their Arms (Azure an eight - pointed Star Or) we can see unchanged in Coat of Arms of Benešov Town and differed in Symbols of Šternberk Town in Olomoucký kraj. The coat of arms of this town is canting - Azure a Mount Vert (Berg in German), surmounted by eight - pointed Star Or (Stern). The mount was added in 18th century. That's also the reason for use of the green stripe in the flag.
Lords of Rosenberg (Rozmberk) - Argent a Rose Gules barbed Vert and buttoned or. This sign we can see on flags of Ceský Krumlov, Cernovice, Deštná (District Jindrichuv Hradec), Radnice (District Rokycany), Třeboń etc.
Lords of Hradec (and their ancestors Slavata of Chlum and Košumberk) bore Azure a Rose Or, (sometimes buttoned Gules, barbed Vert). This rose along with Sternberg star we can see in the flag (and in vertically divided Arms) of the Pocátky Town. Alll the composition is a "signature" of landlords - Adam Wratislav of Sternberg and Anna Lucia Slavata of Chlum.
In North Moravia there are few flags and arms with the same strange composition - a black lion with yellow tongue against red background. This lion used to be part of the Arms of rich Moravian family of the Counts of Zierotin (Zerotín). It was Gules a Lion rampant sable armed Or queued forchée. The lion is issuing from the triple Hill Argent in base. The family came from Bludov (see: the Bludov website - differed with silver letter B, held by the lion). Other examples - Branná, Roznov pod Radhoštem, Sobotín, Velké Losiny (last two only Coats of Arms).
The Lords of Dietrichstein came from Carinthia (Kärnten), but especially Cardinal Francis of Dietrichstein left many traces in our heraldry and vexillology. This Bishop of Olomouc could be called "Moravian Richelieu". He was Governor of Moravia during the Thirty Years war. He led all the country to Catholicism, defended it fighting and leading armies against many foreign invaders. The arms of his family were: Per bend Or and gules two vinedresser knives Argent with Handles Or. Almost unchanged (only with wooden handles) we can see it on the flag of town Nové Mesto na Morave, one knife and letter F for Franciscus on the flag of town Budišov nad Budišovkou. (BTW - the colour shade chosen by Mr. Delgado Ortiz is probably correct, since in the grant of arms is described as greenish - yellow). His Arms with arms of his office/bishopric makes together the arms of Kromeríz town. Other beautiful example of Arms (no flag is known) of Zdár nad Sázavou town.
But if you can see silver "cones" /triangles against red background, it is not necessary trace of Cardinal Dietrichstein. For instance Osoblaha Arms was granted by Bishop Václav Králík of Burenice in 1415.
And other about arms only few words:
In Konice town flag canton there are four
arrows of Lords of Švábenice. "Zavinutá strela" of Bílovec and
once of Kravare, these were Lords of Kravare. Black wing in silver (Kurim, Lomnice)
was once symbol of mighty Moravian nobility, Lords of Lomnice and their
branches "of Křížanov", "of Tasov"and so on. Lords of Kunštát arms are modern symbol of Vizovice.
Aleš Křižan, 11 Sep 2001