Last modified: 2010-02-19 by dov gutterman
Keywords: koprivnica | krizevci | korpivnicko-krizevacka | cock | cross | double cross | fleur-de-lys | drava |
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![[Koprivnica-Krizevci]](../images/h/hr-kckri.gif)
image by Željko Heimer, 19 October 2000
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The flag is quatered red and blue, with the arms of the county
in the middle. The arms are per chevron azure and barry gules and
argent [this was latter changed to argent only], tripple cross
and double fleur de lys or and cock azure stantant winged or on
the triple island vert, all within bordure or (that is the best
blazoning I can do). In ordinary words the shield is blue with a
golden triple cross and double fleur de lys in each corner, with
a triangular spike from bottom with three red and three white
stripes, in which there is a cock standing on the green triple
island. The cock is blue with wings with some yellow. The shield
is bordered in yellow.
The flag is the same when hoisted vertically (i.e. that would
make it *S*/*** -> MvN in my notation).
I belive that both the flag and the arms are new (1995 or 96),
but they are, surely, based on the older arms of Koprivnica and
Krizevac, both important towns in late 18th century. The arms of
Krizevac (which I have seen now in use, but I haven't seen the
flag) is (light) blue, with two hands, one in armour, holding a
tripplecross, and with the mounting star and crescent in each
corner. I don't know the history of this cross, but the
connection of the cross with Krizevac is quite obvious if you
consider that croatian Kriz = english Cross. I
belive that the flag has these arms on the blue field, but I
haven't seen it.
Koprivnica has the blue arms with a castle with three towers on a
kind of a bridge-like structure (I haven't got a closer look, and
I have no references by hand) surrounded with two golden double
fleurs de lys. The flag (which I saw) is blue with these arms.
Željko Heimer, 18 August 1996
The County of Koprivnica - Krizevci is situated north east
from Zagreb, in the valley of Drava river on the border with
Hungary, a very rich agricultural region of Croatia. The triple
cross is from the arms of the city of Krizevci ('kriz'
being a cross in Croatian), and the double fleur-de-lys is found
in the arms of Koprivnica. The peacock was symbolizing the area
for a long time, reminding to agriculture, as well as the history
- referring to the legend of the siege of the city of Djurdjevac
- when peacocks were fired from the besieged city instead of
cannonballs, therefore the Turks concluded that there is too much
food in the city and that the siege was senseless, and retreated.
The 'rule' of Hungarian (and Croatian) heraldry that charges need
to be supported by a mount, is also respected here, connecting
the arms with ancient tradition.
Željko Heimer, from FAME
I located Photo of this
county flag at <www.hrvatska.com> (defunct) Quite similar
to the image except the color of bottom part of the Coat of Arms
(Looks like black and not green, but maybe it is bad photo).
Dov Gutterman, 22 September 1999
I can confirm that it is green. I really looks dark on the
photo , probably due to the fact that there is light comming from
the background, and the field is sewed probably with several
layers of textile. I have seen tose flags "live" myself
a year ago and I spoke with the man who was manufacturing them,
and I have a small table flag clearly showing the green filed.
Finally, I have a copy of the official documentation on the flag
adoption (from official gazette and county secretary matterials),
where the CoA is shown in heraldic hatching (with slanted lines
for green field), and legend bellow naming slanted lines for
green. Furthermore, there is a list of colours used, stating that
the green should be of shade "Chromos 50" (Chromos
being the paints factory in Zagreb, and that name being the
number from their catalogue). I have no details on the
exact shade of it, but it is as close to the "standard
medium green" as one can put it.
And , another thing - if you take a better look, you can see a
small part of another flag in upper right corner of the photo. It
is certainly not the Croatian flag, I have never seen such pale
blue used for it, but it is highly probable that it is the flag
of Koprivnica.
Željko Heimer, 23 september 1999
It isn't black and it isn't a bad photo: it's just a photo
taken against the light. Had you lightened that area a bit, you'd
noticed that it's green. Dark green.
Jorge Candeias, 24 september 1999
Sources:
1. Odluka o grbu i zastavi Zupanije Koprivni?ko-Krizeva?ke, 26.
travnja 1996. Sluzbeni glasnik Zupanije Koprivnicko-Krizevacke
6/96, 3. svibnja 1996. pp. 176-7.
2. Rjesenje Ministarstva uprave RH Klasa:UP/I-017-02/96-01/43,
Ur.br: 515-04-03/1-97-4, Zagreb, 21. velja?e 1996; on approval of
the coat of arms and the flag
3. Odluka o izmjenama Odluke o grbu i zastavi Zupanije
Koprivni?ko- Krizeva?ke, 14. ozujka 1997. Sluzbeni glasnik
Zupanije Koprivnicko- Krizevacke 1/97, 15. ozujka 1997. p. 10.
4. Glas Podravine i Prigorja, 07. 03. 1997; 30. 10. 1998; 15. 01.
1999.
According to source no. 4 the designer of the flag is Antonio
Grgic, architecture student from Koprivnica.
Željko Heimer, 19 October 2000
Browsing the net I noticed a new issue (December 2001!) of the
official gazette of the County available on-line at <www.glasila.hr> including a
change in the decision on the Coat of Arms and the flag of the
Koprivnica-Križevci County:
Odluka o izmjenama Odluke o grbu i zastavi Županije
Koprivnicko- Križevacke, 14. prosinca 2001. Službeni
glasnik KKŽ 14/01, 15. prosinca 2001. pp. 890-891.
The decision does not change anything substantial for our
interest - it somewhat more precisely defines the process of
granting the right for the usage of the Coat of Arms and the flag
to the public buissnesses, and changes the penal fees (lowering
them!).
Željko Heimer, 7 Febuary 2004
The web site at <library.foi.hr>
include a project of digitazing of the regional journal Glas
Podravine, from its first issues in 1951.
- An
article from 1994 describes the adoption of the County
statutes, which determine that the County has a Coat of Arms and
a flag, following which the delegate Dragutin Toth proposed a
public discussion before their adoption.
- Another article
from 1994 reports that Koprivnica-Križevci County
decided to establish a commission to run the concourse for the
new Coat of Arms and flag. Among others it was envisioned that a
greater and lesser forms of a Coat of Arms would be adopted. The
commission consisted by: Zlatko Kauzlaric-Atac, Franjo Horvatic,
Dragutin Feletar, Dragutin Pavlicevic, Zoran Homen, Zdravko
Šabaric, Renata Husinec, Marijan Biskup, Dragutin Tot,
Tomislav Janci and Marijan Špoljar. Sevral Croatia-wide well
known names are among them. The amounts of prises are mentioned
8000 HRK for the frist price, 4000 for 2nd (I believe that would
have been about 2000 and 1000 DEM, respectuivly, at the time),
and comparisson with the concourse held in Virovitica-Podravina
County is made, where the first prise was 10.000 DEM.
- Another article
from 1994 includes the concourse text for the County Coat of
Arms and flag with provisions as mentioned above.
- An
article from 1995 includes report and photo of the ceremony
of grant of the flag to the County Fire Brigade
- Another article
from 1995 reports that on 26 June 1995 the County assembly
was presented with the two winning designs for the county
symbols, 1st by Antonio Grgic, a student from Koprivnica and 2nd
by Zoran Lukic from Zagreb.
- Another article
from 1995 brings a report on Antonio Grgic, designer of the
Coat of Arms and the flag of the County. It is stated that he
participated in concourses for several other Coats of Arms and
flags, namely: Lika-Senj County, Ogulin, Đurdevac, Koprivnicki
Bregi, Sokolovac, Gola, Dmje, Koprivnicki Ivanec, Hlebine,
Torcec...
He was awarded first prizes for teh Koprivnica-Križevci
County and Đurdevac (although it seems that the Coat of Arms
finally adopted is not his, but that of Marko Tipšar, if my
sources are correct).
- Another article
from 1995 include a report from the County Assembly session,
where its is said that the discussion on the new coat of arms and
flag was "lively".
- In Another article
from 1995, the County discussed on the Coat of Arms and the
flag - here we finally see the original design by Grgic -
somewhat different from the finally adopted and then yet changed
to the current one. Grgic explained his motives for the
symbolism: the Coat of Arms represent the entire territory of the
County with the choice of the colours and symbols - teh shield
shape is taken from the historical Coat of Arms of Panonia (sic!)
under the jurisdiction of the Anjou dynasty (when Križevci
was grnated the city status). The north edge of the county
Prekodravlje (region "over the Drava River") is
symbolized with the red field, white stripe beneath it is Drava,
the south endge is symbolized by the green triple mount for
mounts of Kalnik and Bilogora. The central symbol of rooster is
taken as the main symbol of both Koprivnica and Đurdevci, and it
is hoplding a triple cross of Križevci, symbolizing also the
medieval county of Križevci. The rooster and the cross are
coloured blue and black, this was criticized by some county
delegates taht it is "too rough", but the author
agreed, saying that it symbolizes the warriors of the region
against Ottomans. The design is then given to the "public
debate". It is said that it is selected "among 9
similar designs on the concourse" (I wander how similar they
were?)
- Another article
from 1995 titled "Still no Coat of Arms" reports on
the County magistrate session, where a new version of the design
by Grgic was presented, with "in lively colours
updated" rooster (presumably after the objections of the
blue and black rooster reported above). The design was not
satisfactory to all present, but the final word would be - as it
is reported - the the county assembly, where the delegates would
have option to adopt it - or decide to run an other concourse.
- Another article
from 1995 reports events from Križevci, where they are
dissatisfied with the proposed County Coat of Arms - namely, they
dislike the idea that the rooster ("of Koprivnica")
would be grasping its tallons the "cross of
Križevci" - they find it derogatory. It is stated that
the city magistrate, firmly believing to represent the attitudes
of the majority of its citizens, shall intervene into the
discussion on the County Coat of Arms. We are given the drawing
of the proposed Coat of Arms as standed at the time, already a
bit more similar to the eventually adopted one.
Another article
from 1995 reports this time that the decision on the County
Coat of Arms and flag was delayed for the next session of the
County assembly.
- Article
from 1996 includes a humorous item on the roorters and petty
quarels between the cities of Koprivnica
and Djurdjevac and the County (and
their Coat of Arms, of course, all having roosters) - including
also several satirical poems. In another
issue, the story (and photo) presents an autochthonous type
of fowl whoose rooster is "even heraldically correct"
having golden-yellow feather lined with black (the story is
actually on local fowl expert, but it is a nice touch of local
political events at the time).
- Another article
from 1996 includes yet an other redesign of its proposal by
A. Grgic - probably redesigned now after the reported complaints
from Križevci - now even more closing to the finally adopted
design
- Another article
from 1996 reprot from the County assembly, where the session
was abrupted by "negligent" delegates, who "do not
care about important issues like the decision on the County Coat
of Arms, environment, social care, student scholarships..."
- Another article
from 1996 reports on the final adoption of the Coat of Arms
of the County on 27 April 1996. The final proposal (pictured
several issues above) was further changed, the six-pointed star
in one of the cantons was replaced with an Anjou fleu-de-lis, and
the arms was adopted! Another
page show includes the drawing of that arms.
- Another article
from 1996 now finally provides us with details on the new
County Coat of Arms. We know that the design is by Antonio Grgic,
and that it has to be approved by the Ministry yet...
Grgic says that the yellow and blue rooster is the symbol of the
County, even if he would still prefer the blue and black
"aggressive" proposed symbolising the struggle against
Ottomans. The top corners include symbols of the two largest
cities in the County - version of it he initially Križevci
Koprivnica (Anjou fleur-de-lis) - set in the blue field as the
flags of both of the cities (sic! we just saw tricolour flag of
Križevci in the (triple cross) at previous
newspapers!).
The rooster turned to the right is said to symblise the positive
characteristics of the people. The red and white stripes are
number of the said to be of arms of Panonian tribes that Arpad
dynasty took for its arms. The white beams are said to represent
rivers in heraldry, here top to the oldest coat bottom they
Drava, Komarnica and Glogovnica. The top red field represent the
region over the Drava in the furthers north of the County, the
would stand for triple hill (said to south in heraldry!) in the
base stands for the County's south borders - mountains of Kalnik
and Bilogora. Grgic also describes the symbolise the symbolics of
the "basic colour" of Panonia and blue is the colour of
Koprivnica. It is also mentioned that this design was made in the
nick of time to flag - red is the satisfy both Koprivnica and
Križevci.
- Another article
from 1996 reports on various budgetary issues, among others
that grgic was given yet 10 800 HRK (some 1500 EUR) for his task
of redesining the Coat of Arms proposals.
- Another article
from 1996 includes again a story on Grgic, mentioning that he
designed the county Coat of Arms, won the concourances for the
Coats of Arms for Đurdevac and Koprivnicki Bregi and other non
heraldry and vexilology related esigns.
- Another article
from 1996 includes a short notice that the Ministry
commission for heraldry is not entirely satisfied with the
adopted County Coat of Arms - requiering that the chevron should
reach the top edge of the shield, and that it should be white
only with a rooster of red and golden. It is said that Grgic
shall be helped in the redesign by member of the Commission,
prof. Zdravko Tišljar.
- Article
from 1997 reports that the County magistarte adopted new
design of the Coat of Arms and flag - to the current design.
Another Article
from 1997 reports that the County flag was finally, for the
first time, hoisted on 13 April 1997 on a mast infront of the
County building (including a photo of the event). Another
issue from 1997 include a public tender for procurement of
(among others) the County flag ("small",
"large" and "ornamental") and Coat of Arms
("in three sizes") and other accessory for the County
symbols. Another
issue from 1998 include drawing of the new Coat of Arms of
the County.
citizens of Željko Heimer, 11 August 2009
From the official
gazettes:
A new statutory decisions changes minorly the previous decison on
the COA and the flag of teh Counyt, providing more competences to
the mayor: Statutarna odluka o izmjeni Odluke o grbu i zastavi
Koprivnicko-križevacke županije, 25.09.2009,
Službeni glasnik Koprivnicko-križevacke županije,
br. 12/2009, 26.09.2009.
Željko Heimer, 19 December 2009
kc.gif)
image by Željko Heimer, 19 October 2000
image by Željko Heimer, 19 October 2000
Ratio: 1:2
Adopted: 1995/1996
Abandoned: 05 March 1997
Željko Heimer
kc96.gif)
image by Željko Heimer, 19 October 2000
In the Museum of the City of Koprivnica was held between 14
April to 14 May 2003, an exhibition of symbols of the County and
its subdivisions. The exhibition was held as part of the
celebraion of 10th anniversary of the County, and author was
Dražen Ernecic, historian and the currator of the Museum.
Though his cordiallity, I had chance of studing the exhibitied
flags in details.
The exhibition showed the state of the civic heraldry and
vexillology in the county. Out of one county, three cities and 22
communities, there are adopted symbols of one county, all three
cities and 12 communities. So yet 10 communities have no official
symbols adopted, and one of the intentions of the exhibitions was
to initiate the adoption of the symbols for the remaining
communities.
There is a nice catalogue of the exhibition [ern03] that explains in short the
history of county flags and showes few existing historical coat
of arms of cities and towns in it. It includes images of 16 coas
and photos of 16 matching flags of the county and its
subdivisions, each with blazon and flag description, indication
of designers and approval dates.
Željko Heimer, 20 May 2003
