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Dictionary of Vexillology: B (Backing - Banner of Victory)

Last modified: 2010-01-02 by phil nelson
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BACKING
The material or surface upon which an old flag is placed for the purposes of stabilization or preservation.

BADGE
1) Generically, any emblem sometimes derived from the symbols contained in a full set of armorial bearings, but which does not contain a shield (see also ‘armorial bearings’, ‘emblem’, ‘charge’ and ‘shield’).
2) That emblem formerly placed in the fly half of a defaced Blue (or Red) Ensign in order to distinguish between British colonies, and used in place of a full set of armorial bearings, or the shield there from those arms (see also ‘blue ensign’, ‘colonial flags’, ‘deface’, ‘disc’ and ‘government ensign’ under ‘ensign’).
3) The insignia of a military or naval unit often incorporated into the design of its cap badge, arm flash, colour or other organizational flag - but see ‘emblem, military and governmental’ (also ‘camp flag’, ‘colour 2)’, ‘grommet 2)’, ‘military crest’ and ‘ship’s crest’).

Please note with regard to 1) however, that with a large degree of heraldic justification, some sources propose the charge to be an integral part of a flag’s design and generally not used separately, whereas, in general a badge may. It is, therefore, suggested that the entry ‘badge in heraldry’ below and a suitable glossary or heraldic dictionary be consulted.


Badge in Heraldry
A mark of distinction somewhat similar to a crest, though not placed on a wreath, nor worn upon the helmet. Badges are rather supplemental bearings quite independent of the charge of the original arms; they are borne on various flags, and formerly upon the breasts - or more frequently the sleeves - of servants and followers (see also ‘badge banner’, ‘pinsel’ and ‘standard 4)’).

Please note however, that In Scottish heraldry, the crest on the wreath may be used as a badge.

[badge illustration]
The Badge of HRH Prince Charles, UK (Official).

Please note also, it is suggested that the badge fell out of general use in personal English heraldry during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1533 – 1603).


BADGE BANNER
The term for a small square flag showing a person’s badge, probably against livery colours, and particularly (but not exclusively) for use at that person’s funeral – a practice now largely obsolete (see also Badge in Heraldry ‘bannerole’, ‘great banner’, ‘grumphion’ ‘livery banner’ and 'livery colours').

BADGE PENNON
See ‘pennoncel’ (also ‘pennon 3)’).
BALCANIFER (or BALDAKINIFER)
A medieval term for the standard bearer of the Knights Templar (see also ‘bauceant’).

BALLS OF DIFFERNCE

In British Royal Navy usage and some others, discs of distinction carried by the command flags of those flag officers who rank below the grade of full admiral (see also ‘disc’, ‘flag of command 1)’, ‘flag officer 1)’ and ‘flag officer 2)’.

UK Admiral UK Vice Admiral UK Rear Damiral South Africa Rear Admiral
Flags of a Full Admiral, Vice Admiral and Rear Admiral Royal Navy, United Kingdom (fotw); Flag of a Rear Admiral South African Navy, South Africa (fotw)


BALZAUS
See ‘bauceant’.

BAND
See ‘stripe’ and ‘Appendix VI’.

BANDERA DE CEREMONIA
See ‘indoor flag’.

BANDERA DE GUERRA
See ‘war flag 1)’ and ‘war flag 2)’.

BANDERARIUS (BANDARENSIS, BANDONARIUS or BANDEZATUS)
A medieval term, now obsolete, for a standard bearer.

BANDERIUM
A medieval term, now obsolete, for a military unit serving under the banner of a feudal lord (see also ‘banner 1)’, ‘banneret 2)’, and ‘vexillation’).
BANDEROLE (BANDEROL, BANDEROLLE, BANDROL, BANDROLE or BANDERVILLE)
1) A term, now obsolete, for a small banner (see also ‘banner 1)’).
2) A streamer or ribbon – often with an inscription – normally used alone (as on a crosier) rather than as an accessory to a flag – an orarium (see also ‘scarf’, ‘pencel’ and ‘streamer’).
3) A heraldic term for the streamer attached to a helmet or crest (see also ‘crest’, ‘pencel’ and ‘helm’).
4) A small flag flown as an accessory to a larger one.

Please note - not to be confused with ‘bannerole’.


BANDUM (or BANDERIA)
1) A medieval term, now obsolete, for a small banner (see also ‘banneret’ and ‘bannerette’).
2) The Latin form of the Greek bandon which was a Byzantine military flag.

Please note, that banderia is a plural form of bandum, and that it has been suggested 1) may have been Latinized from a Celtic original.


BANERA (BANERIA, BANERIUM or BANNERIUM)
A medieval term, now obsolete, for a banner.

BANNER OF ARMS
See ‘banner 1)’.

BANNER OF COUNCIL
In English naval usage, now obsolete, a flag (often the Royal Standard) that was used prior to the invention of a signal code to summon a council of war aboard the flagship (see also ‘flagship’).

[badge illustration]
English Royal Standard c1400 (Martin Grieve)

Please note that a banner of council first appeared in English sources during the first half of the 14th Century (dates of between 1337 and 1351 are suggested), however, please also note that use of a flag with this meaning was by no means limited to England’s navy, with instructions for a combined Mediterranean galley fleet of 1366 being just one example.


BANNER OF THE REALM
A translation of the Dutch “rijksvaandel” and proposed translation of the Norwegian term “riksbanner” - but see ‘coronation flags’.

Rijksvaandel of the Netherlands
Rijksvaandel of the Netherlands (fotw)


BANNER OF VICTORY
1) Specifically, the flag which (traditionally) was first raised by victorious Russian forces over the Reichstag, Berlin on 20 April 1945, and which is preserved in the Central Museum of the Armed Forces, Moscow with a reproduction being displayed in the annual Victory Day Celebration – but see note below (also also ‘red flag 3)’).
2) Generically, the flag of any combatant who is victorious in a battle or in a war (see also ‘banner 8)’).

[Russian banner of victory]
Banner Raised Over The Reichstag, Berlin 1945 (fotw)

Please note with regard to 1) that the Cyrillic wording on the flag – 150 стр. Ордена Кутузова II ст. идрицк. див. 79 С.К. 3У.А.IБ.Ф – means “150th Rifle Idrickaβ Division (Awarded Order of Kutusov, II Degree), 79th Joint Corps, 3rd Shock Army, 1st Byelorussian Front”, and that from 2005 any such flags officially displayed at the Victory Day Celebrations will not show the hammer and sickle.


Special insert page: BANNER

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