Last modified: 2010-02-12 by dov gutterman
Keywords: osijek | baranja | osjecko-baranjska | zupanija | croatia | tower | bridge | marten | star | six-pointed | anchor | cross | baranya |
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![[Flag of Osijek-Baranja]](../images/h/hr-osbar.gif)
image by Željko Heimer, 16 January 2005
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Osjecko-baranjska zupanija - in north-eastern part of
Croatia, capital Osijek, and includes a wide region around it,
together with Baranja, the part of Croatia north of Drava river.
The flag is white with two blue bars (a bar gemmata?) with the
golden bordered Coat of Arms in the middle: trierced per fess:
azure, on argent bar a tower on a bridge, in chief over an argent
bar trierced per pale: gules a cross or, gules a mullet or, gules
an anchor or; in base gules a marten passant proper.
The tower on the bridge is taken from the arms of the city of
Osijek, the seat of administration of the County. Running marten
is the symbol of Slavonia, Osijek baing its main city, and the
anchor is surely refering to rivers Drava and Danube that are
navigable throughout the County.
I don't know the references of the cross and star, unles they are
general christian symbol and star from Slavonian Coat of Arms
(this last is quite possible). One would suspect that there
should be some reference to Baranja (or Baranya, if you like) in
the arms, but I don't know if there are any.
The flag is in use for a (relatively) long time, and it is
probably one of the oldest modern county flags of Croatia
(adopted 1994?). The flags seems to be used without the arms too
(and indeed that was the reason why I posted it without the coat
of arms previously), but I don't know the status of such flag.
Possibly it is a kind of civil flag, or rather a flag to be used
in lass "solemn" occasions.
Željko Heimer, 17 October 1997
Recently I found the new site of the Osijek-Baranja County
containing an exhaustive report on the flag and Coat of Arms and
also the texts of the legal decisions.
I improved the image of the flag a bit, based on the Coat of Arms
image there. The width of the stripes remains undefined (legal
prescriptions nor the presentation does not mention that, the
image there seems to be, to put it mildly, based on my image at
FAME [or pssibly from Janko Ehrlich's site, that is also based
partially on my image, IIRC]). So, the only improvement are some
details in the Coat of Arms, most obvious being the colour of the
"silver" elements. They seems to remain silver on the
flag too (though the belly of the marten in base is white, but
also such on the Coat of Arms).
The important pages of the sute are:
<www.osjecko-baranjska-zupanija.hr>
- homepage.
<www.osjecko-baranjska-zupanija.hr/hr/web/1.htm>
- County Statute (that defines the flag) - Croatian only.
<www.osjecko-baranjska-zupanija.hr/hr/web/10.htm>
- Decision on flag usage - Croatian only.
<www.osjecko-baranjska-zupanija.hr/eng/opcipodaci1.htm>
- Presentation of the Flag and Coat of Arms as follows:
"The Osijek-Baranja County has a coat of arms and a flag
of its own. They have been stipulated in the Statute promulgated
by the County Assembly on April 15, 1994. Pursuant to the
regulations, the Ministry of Administration of the Republic of
Croatia authorized them in its Decision of July 7, 1995.
Flag of the Osijek-Baranja County - The Statute of the
Osijek-Baranja County stipulates the following: "The County
flag shall be tinctured argent and azure. On the field argent,
two bars azure shall be charged longitudinally. The County coat
of arms shall be placed as an inescutcheon vertically with regard
to its width, entering into both bars azure. The flag width and
length shall be at a ratio of 1:2." In the Resolution on
Approbation of the Osijek-Baranja County Flag and Coat of Arms,
the flag is blazoned in the following manner: "a flag at a
ratio of 1:2 with two alternate bars argent and azure placed
horizontally and divided by a narrow bar argent, having the
County coat of arms as an inescutcheon."
The flag of the Osijek-Baranja County does not have a historical
vexillological paragon of its own. Therefore, the symbolism of
two parallel bars azure should be searched for already in the
Drava and the Danube River deltas emblazoned on the coat of
arms."
The legal texts on the site are "editorial updated
text" of several legal acts, so they do not include
prescriptions regarding the date of effectivness of the acts, nor
their earlier readings. Therefore they do not allow exact dating
nor following of the development of the flag and the coat of arms
design.
From the presentation, the flag and Coat of Arms were adopted on
15 April 1994, and approved by the Ministry of Administration on
7th July 1995.
I believe that an earlier temporary county statute might have had
some additional legal prescriptions rgarding teh flag and Coat of
Arms.The "Zupanijski glasnik" (County official gazette)
of 2/90, 1/93, 2/94 are mentioned regarding this. (How did they
have county statute in 1990, when the county is established in
1993 only!?)?
Željko Heimer, 12 August 2000
Some time ago Jan Oskar Engene pointed me toward the on-lne
issue in PDF format of a booklet [bru03]
of the Osijek-Baranja County dealing with the county symbols. See
<www.osjecko-baranjska-zupanija.hr>.
The book deals with hsitory of the emblems, their symbolic, the
legal acts and construction details. Most of the text is
available in English too (see at the end, all except the legal
documents and construction sheets).
Željko Heimer, 8 January 2005
According to the publication that Jan Oskar located, the flag
is in ratio 1:2 with the stripes as 4:5:2:5:2. The coat of arms
in set in the middle, half the flag width high. The Pantone
shades are given for the Coat of Arms: Blue 2915C Red 186C Black
Process Black C Golden 872 C Silver 877 C. To this is added the
blue of the flag stripes: Dark Blue 289 C.
I could mention that the ceremonial flag is also prescribed.
Unlike the other ceremonial gonfalons usual in Croatia, here the
ceremonial flag is prescribed to be equal to the normal flag, but
with the golden fring around the three edges.
Željko Heimer, 16 January 2005
os.gif)
image by Željko Heimer, 16 January 2005
From <www.osjecko-baranjska-zupanija.hr:
Coat of Arms of the Osijek-Baranja County - The
County Statute stipulates and blazons the County coat of arms:
"The County coat of arms shall assume the form of an oval
shield, heart-shaped in base, whose height with regard to its
width shall be at a ratio of 3:2. On the escutcheon gules,
between two bars argent (rivers), on the fess azure there shall
be a bridge of three arches conjoined to a tower embattled, all
argent. In the dexter chief, there shall be a cross, in the
center chief a mullet of six points, and in the sinister chief an
anchor, all or. In the center base, a weasel courant or shall be
charged. The escutcheon fimbriation shall be or."
When opting for the symbols comprising the elements of the coat
of arms, the County and other expert bodies taking part in
decision making were guided by the cognition that the identity of
the territory of the Osijek-Baranja County has to be represented
by the symbols that have made it recognizable both in historical
memories and in modern reality. They have opted for a historical
and heraldic tradition that refers to the deduction about a
millennial presence of Croatian man in this region (the weasel),
about his European affiliation (the bridge as a junction of
European traffic routes), but that also speaks of natural
conditions for that presence (permanent urban settlements on
traffic routes--the bridge and the tower) as well as of the
functions this region performs in state organization
(defense--the tower). Therefrom, the bearings on the coat of arms
shape physical and historical characteristics of the territory of
the County that make it recognizable.
In addition to the basic meanings of the symbols incorporated,
heraldic rules enable their closer explanation. The
Osijek-Baranja County is in the center of the escutcheon between
the Danube and the Drava Rivers (the conjoined bridge, standing
for Osijek, and the stylized tower, standing for Baranja, speak
of the unity of the County), leaning on Croatia and Slavonia, a
part whereof it is (the weasel). The County is surmounted by
spiritual values, the faith (cross) and the hope (anchor), that
support the battle for independence (the star of Mars). In
accordance with a stemmatographic explanation, the or escutcheon,
American star, cross, anchor and weasel fimbriation, especially a
dexter position of the last that potentiates positive
characteristics of the charge, designates a prosperous period of
Slavonia and Baranja and of the County, the argent tincture of
the main charge (the towered bridge) designates an honest heart,
purity, and fidelity, the gules tincture of the escutcheon
designates power and intrepidity of the State, while the azure
designates the prudence, glory, and excellent reputation of the
County. In this blazonry, a historical and heraldic basis is
provided by the following:
The bridge: Bridges have always connected people, being
the symbols of communication and integration. They surmount the
rivers as well as the obstacles between people. Many settlements,
likewise those in the Osijek-Baranja County, were established at
fords. Particularly emphasized is the significance of the Drava
River crossing near Osijek and passableness of its hinterland in
broader spatial relations. The crossings were favorable to the
development of overland routes, especially to the great
transversal one leading from the Central Danube Basin to the
European south. In a narrower sense, the bridge connects into an
entirety two parts of the Osijek-Baranja County (Baranja with
Slavonia). Exactly for this reason, bridges have surmounted the
Drava in this region in all periods of history, from the Roman
Era, via the world-famous Suleiman's bridge (burnt by Nikola
?ubi? Zrinjski), to the present one, which perished in the winds
of war but was reconstructed larger and more beautiful than ever.
The bridge is also an inseparable part of the heraldic heritage
of this region, being a component of the achievement of the City
of Osijek that has made the city recognizable. Thus, in a
design-related perspective, this symbol has a historical backing
of its own in the historical coat of arms of the City of Osijek
as the seat of the present Osijek-Baranja County, which
incorporates the name of the city in its proper name. In this
region, the bridge has become an emblem of historical and modern
European traffic routes that connect the north of Europe with its
south, simultaneously connoting the European affiliation of the
region as well. The symbolism of the bridge is completed by its
integrative importance for the Slavonian and for the Baranja
portion of the County.
The tower: The history of this region is marked by an
early colonization and establishment of urban settlements.
Fortified burgs, citadels, and castles of prestigious nobility
decorated its landscapes for a long time. Additionally, its
history implies its defensive function as a border region of
mutually successive states, from the invasion of barbaric tribes
at the Roman limes, Turkish inroads at the time of expulsion of
the Ottoman Empire (and the time of the Military Frontier), up to
nowadays, ascribing thereto a connotation of a bulwark for
defense of independence and sovereignty of the Croatian state.
The tower is also a part of the heraldic heritage of the region
as a component of the old Hungarian Baranya County coat of arms
(dating back to 1694) and that of the City of Osijek (late in the
17th c.), whose important strategic position was
defended by fortifications in all periods. Within the coat of
arms, the tower is a symbol of urbanity (of a fortified town) as
well as a symbol of defensive function (fortification). In a
design-related perspective, the tower on the Osijek-Baranja
County coat of arms has a historical backing of its own in the
Baranya County achievement. Namely, observing historically, the
Baranja region encompassed by the present Osijek-Baranja County
was united with the Ugric Kingdom's Baranya County up to 1918.
Therefore, the Osijek-Baranja County coat of arms has also
incorporated the heraldic heritage of that region, whose name
comprises a component of the present County's appellation.
The rivers: From prehistoric times, rivers have been
people's natural habitats and places of establishment of their
settlements. This natural meaning of rivers has been specially
pronounced in the Osijek-Baranja County. Important fluvial
waterway arteries are connected with the Danube by means of the
confluence of the Drava, thus setting up its natural framework
but also its circulatory system. A fluvial hub, one of the most
important ones located in the large Danubian navigation system,
is situated in this territory, being comprised of the navigable
Drava and Danube Rivers as dominant elements of a geographic
basis of the northern part of Eastern Croatian plains.
Geographically, rivers model landscapes, so they are frequent
parts of heraldic achievements. The Sava and the Drava Rivers
have framed Slavonia, thus becoming constituent parts of
Slavonian coat of arms, and the Drava is a part of the historical
coat of arms of the City of Osijek. Since the Drava and the
Danube shape this area and make it naturally recognizable in a
geographic sense, they are too an inseparable part of identity
hallmark of the Osijek-Baranja County.
The weasel: In accordance with the studies of Croatia's
armorial history presented so far, the weasel-bearing escutcheon
is the oldest known Croatian coat of arms, used by Croatian
rulers. This characteristic of a national token of the Croatian
state has been confirmed also in a series of historical events up
to the new appellation of the legal tender of the Republic of
Croatia, so that it is presently again a symbol of Croatian
statehood. The weasel is a charge on the historical coat of arms
of Slavonia, whereto the territory of the Osijek-Baranja County
belongs as well. Thus, it constructed a backbone for the
achievement of the Virovitica County, seated in Osijek since the
18 c. This patent of arms was issued to the County at the moment
of Slavonia's annexation to the territory under the rule of
Croatian viceroys (the Banat of Croatia). The importance of the
weasel as a Croatian national symbol and its special connotation
as a Slavonian emblem make this bearing an inseparable part of
County's blazon.
The cross: The cross is a heraldic symbol of faith. Up to the
present time, the Christian faith has had a paramount importance
for the formation and preservation of the public-law territory
wherein the County extends today. Additionally, the city of
?akovo, as a part of today's Osijek-Baranja County, is the seat
of the Bosnian bishop since the 13th c., and thence of the
?akovo-Sirmium Diocese as well. The faith has been a mainstay,
consolidation, and impetus to survival even in hard times.
Consequently, the cross on the County's coat of arms symbolizes
exactly that faith and affiliation with the Christian
civilization.
The anchor: The anchor is traditionally a heraldic symbol of
loyalty, fidelity, and hope. On the escutcheon of the
Osijek-Baranja County, it has an additional meaning--a
determination to stay (and return) in the territory that
represents the roots to its population. The anchor on the County
coat of arms has its historical backing in the blazon of the
Virovitica County.
The mullet: The six-point star of Mars is an essential part
of Slavonia's coat of arms since 1496, when it was confirmed in a
charter granted by King Wladyslav II Jagiello. In his work Stemmatographia,
Pavao Ritter Vitezovi? explained (in 1701) its significance as a
symbol of the region that "has received an award of eternal
glory through an uninterrupted warfare." On the County coat
of arms, the mullet retains the same meaning-it is a symbol of a
centennial struggle for survival and independence.
Željko Heimer, 12 August 2000
Geographically, it goes for the same traditional region, which
was afterr WW I divided between Croatia (soon to merge into
Yugoslavian Kingdom) and Hungary. Baranya is
Hungarian spelling , while Baranja is Croatian spelling. There
are actually counties in both countries using that name - Baranya Megye in Hungary, and
Osjecko-baranjska zupanija in Croatia (to use their local names).
Željko Heimer 22 September 1999