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Flags of the Holy Roman Empire

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and became Francis I of Austria. Taking the colours of the banner of the Holy Roman Emperor, the flag of the Austrian Empire was black and gold. Francis II was the last Holy Roman Emperor, with Napoleon forcing the empire's dissolution in 1806. After this point, these colours continued to be used as
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in the 12th to 14th centuries, the armies of the Ghibelline (pro-imperial) communes adopted the war banner of the Holy Roman Emperor (white cross on red) as their own, while the Guelph (anti-imperial) communes reversed the colours (red cross on white). These two schemes are prevalent in the modern
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It likely developed in the 12th century during the crusades, and was in use as Imperial War Flag during the 13th and early 14th centuries. It was smaller than the imperial banner, carried before the emperor or his appointed commander in
168:(13th–17th centuries). Hanseatic trading ships were identifiable by their red-white pennants and most Hanseatic cities adopted red and white as their city colours (see 1040: 1065: 1055: 563:
apparently showed a white cross on a red field. It was the sign of the united armed forces of the Empire until the late 15th century, but it could be sent by the
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The Imperial banner with an escutcheon of the coat of arms of Maximilian I (gules a fess argent, impaling bendy of six Or and azure a bordure gules)
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of northern Italian towns and remains a revealing indicator of their past factional leanings. Traditionally Ghibelline towns like
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from the 12th century; this is reflected in the flag of Geneva, which since the 15th century has shown both the
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was flown alongside the black-gold imperial banner. This flag, known as the "Saint George Flag", was a white
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on a golden background. After the late 13th or early 14th century, the claws and beak of the
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continue to display the Ghibelline cross. The Guelph cross can be found on the civic
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of 1897 (under the heading "Banner"), the German Imperial Banner at the time of
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The earliest Imperial Banner of the Holy Roman Emperor and royal banner of the
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De Vexillo Imperii Primario, vulgo Reichs-Sturm-Fahne Commentatio Academica
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with the Imperial Banner, bordered in crimson and parti-colored fringe. (
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displayed with langued gules, dimidiated with bendy of gules and argent
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The Imperial banner with an escutcheon of the coat of arms of Charles V
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traditionally granted to Swabian nobles. In 1336, it was granted to
715: 699: 632:. The flag showed the imperial eagle in a square field, with a red 536: 221: 193: 145: 141: 105: 290:
1198–1215) an eagle hovering over a dragon, and since the time of
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Coats of arms of the Holy Roman Empire § Other states
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took to displaying symbols of the empire, especially the
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were used as the colours of the imperial banner, a black
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In the late medieval period, the cross design of the
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until the 19th century. The flag itself was kept in
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to local lords to sanction them in their defense of
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displayed with a halo sable armed and langued gules
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displayed with a halo sable armed and langued gules
136:were also significant during this period. When the 1041:1350s disestablishments in the Holy Roman Empire 1017: 1066:1556 disestablishments in the Holy Roman Empire 1056:1806 disestablishments in the Holy Roman Empire 1051:1430s establishments in the Holy Roman Empire 1036:1200s establishments in the Holy Roman Empire 964: 751: 726: 658: 646: 644:) on top. It is not to be confused with the 634: 614: 594: 569: 557: 529: 246: 51: 27: 985: 951: 787:, as part of their flags or coats of arms. 16:Imperial banners used by Holy Roman Emperor 407:Imperial Banner of the Holy Roman Emperor 371:Imperial Banner of the Holy Roman Emperor 164:. Red and white were also colours of the 152:on a red background: the reverse of the 44: 18: 764: 628:until 1944, when it was destroyed in a 455:of Frederick III (gules, a fess argent) 120:declared his personal domain to be the 1018: 702:, used alongside the Imperial Banner) 933: 931: 899:had the dual status of free city and 298:1410–37), and "perhaps earlier", the 585:, sanctioning their war against the 967:Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon 282:1152–90), an eagle; at the time of 239: 216:of traditionally Guelph towns like 13: 945: 928: 555:in 1040. In the 12th century, the 187:, during the conflict between the 14: 1087: 1026:Heraldry of the Holy Roman Empire 999: 97:. From the early 15th century, a 1046:1350 disestablishments in Europe 1004: 882: 851: 808: 739: 714: 687: 610:Ulrich III, Count of Württemberg 604:. It was treated as an Imperial 539:. An early bearer was Werner I, 494: 462: 426: 387: 357: 324: 863:Free Imperial City of Nuremberg 295: 287: 279: 267: 259: 1011:Flags of the Holy Roman Empire 976: 973:vol. 6. Leipzig 1906, 267–268. 1: 1061:1437 establishments in Europe 921: 397: 63:flag of the Holy Roman Empire 35: 840:displayed sable, impaling a 771:List of Free Imperial Cities 447:The Imperial banner with an 249:Meyers Konversations-Lexikon 7: 982:Johann Christoph Weinland, 543:, who carried the flag for 522: 10: 1092: 768: 695:12th–early 14th centuries 49:"The Flag of the Empire" ( 801: 798: 795: 792: 680: 677: 674: 671: 316: 313: 310: 307: 69:, but rather an imperial 1031:Obsolete national flags 581:gave the banner to the 189:Guelphs and Ghibellines 112:. In response to this, 986: 965: 836:argent, dimidiated an 752: 727: 659: 647: 635: 615: 595: 570: 558: 530: 270:936–973) depicted the 247: 58: 52: 42: 28: 1013:at Wikimedia Commons 769:Further information: 656:in their function as 48: 22: 861:Coat of arms of the 781:free imperial cities 765:Free Imperial Cities 622:House of Württemberg 600:was replaced by the 551:and who died in the 276:Frederick Barbarossa 132:The colours red and 1076:Double-headed eagle 944:. Retrieved on 541:count of Winterthur 508:Imperial Banner of 475:Imperial Banner of 440:Imperial Banner of 110:First French Empire 99:double-headed eagle 942:Flags of the World 823:Free Imperial City 698:Reichssturmfahne ( 661:Reichserzmarschall 654:Electors of Saxony 340:King of the Romans 114:Emperor Francis II 106:Napoleon Bonaparte 75:Holy Roman Emperor 59: 43: 30:Albrecht Altdorfer 24:Emperor Maximilian 1071:Christian symbols 1009:Media related to 938:Holy Roman Empire 919: 918: 762: 761: 652:, granted to the 583:Swiss Confederacy 520: 519: 274:; at the time of 272:Archangel Michael 154:St George's Cross 140:took part in the 138:Holy Roman Empire 1083: 1008: 993: 989: 980: 974: 971: 955: 949: 947: 935: 909:key of St. Peter 901:Prince-Bishopric 887: 886: 856: 855: 813: 812: 790: 789: 755: 744: 743: 730: 728:Reichssturmfahne 719: 718: 692: 691: 669: 668: 664: 650: 638: 618: 616:Reichssturmfahne 598: 575: 561: 553:battle at Brůdek 533: 505: 499: 498: 472: 467: 466: 437: 431: 430: 404: 402: 399: 392: 391: 368: 362: 361: 335: 329: 328: 308:Reconstructions 305: 304: 297: 289: 281: 269: 261: 256:Henry the Fowler 252: 240:Imperial banners 166:Hanseatic League 158:flag of Lombardy 118:Habsburg dynasty 55: 40: 37: 33: 1091: 1090: 1086: 1085: 1084: 1082: 1081: 1080: 1016: 1015: 1002: 997: 996: 981: 977: 956: 952: 936: 929: 924: 893:Flag of Geneva 881: 868:Per pale Or, a 850: 807: 777: 767: 753:Reichsrennfahne 738: 713: 686: 648:Reichsrennfahne 525: 503: 500: 493: 470: 461: 435: 432: 425: 400: 396: 393: 386: 366: 363: 356: 333: 330: 323: 242: 170:Hanseatic flags 127:flag of Austria 122:Austrian Empire 53:Des Reichs Fahn 38: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1089: 1079: 1078: 1073: 1068: 1063: 1058: 1053: 1048: 1043: 1038: 1033: 1028: 1001: 1000:External links 998: 995: 994: 975: 950: 926: 925: 923: 920: 917: 916: 905:Imperial Eagle 894: 891: 888: 878: 877: 873:Imperial Eagle 865: 859: 857: 847: 846: 838:Imperial Eagle 829: 816: 814: 804: 803: 800: 797: 794: 785:Imperial eagle 766: 763: 760: 759: 757: 748: 745: 735: 734: 732: 723: 720: 710: 709: 703: 696: 693: 683: 682: 679: 676: 673: 602:Imperial eagle 579:king Sigismund 524: 521: 518: 517: 512: 506: 501: 492: 489: 488: 483: 473: 468: 458: 457: 444: 438: 433: 424: 421: 420: 416:Imperial Eagle 408: 405: 394: 385: 382: 381: 377:Imperial Eagle 372: 369: 364: 355: 352: 351: 342: 336: 331: 322: 319: 318: 315: 312: 309: 300:Imperial Eagle 264:Otto the Great 241: 238: 185:northern Italy 93:were coloured 15: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1088: 1077: 1074: 1072: 1069: 1067: 1064: 1062: 1059: 1057: 1054: 1052: 1049: 1047: 1044: 1042: 1039: 1037: 1034: 1032: 1029: 1027: 1024: 1023: 1021: 1014: 1012: 1007: 991: 990: 988: 979: 972: 970: 968: 961: 960: 954: 943: 939: 934: 932: 927: 914: 910: 906: 902: 898: 895: 892: 890:15th century 889: 885: 880: 879: 876: 874: 871: 870:double-headed 866: 864: 860: 858: 854: 849: 848: 845: 843: 839: 835: 830: 828: 824: 820: 817: 815: 811: 806: 805: 791: 788: 786: 782: 776: 772: 758: 756: 754: 749: 747:15th century 746: 742: 737: 736: 733: 731: 729: 724: 722:15th century 721: 717: 712: 711: 708: 704: 701: 697: 694: 690: 685: 684: 670: 667: 665: 663: 662: 655: 651: 649: 643: 639: 637: 631: 627: 623: 619: 617: 611: 607: 603: 599: 597: 590: 588: 584: 580: 576: 574: 573: 566: 562: 560: 554: 550: 546: 542: 538: 534: 532: 516: 513: 511: 507: 502: 497: 491: 490: 487: 484: 482: 478: 474: 469: 465: 460: 459: 456: 454: 450: 445: 443: 442:Frederick III 439: 434: 429: 423: 422: 419: 417: 414: 413:double-headed 409: 406: 395: 390: 384: 383: 380: 378: 373: 370: 365: 360: 354: 353: 350: 348: 343: 341: 337: 332: 327: 321: 320: 306: 303: 301: 293: 285: 277: 273: 265: 262:919–936) and 257: 253: 251: 250: 244:According to 237: 235: 231: 227: 223: 219: 215: 211: 207: 203: 199: 195: 190: 186: 181: 179: 175: 171: 167: 163: 159: 155: 151: 147: 143: 139: 135: 130: 128: 123: 119: 115: 111: 108:declared the 107: 102: 100: 96: 92: 88: 84: 80: 76: 72: 68: 67:national flag 64: 56: 54: 47: 32: 31: 25: 21: 1003: 983: 978: 963: 957: 953: 912: 867: 842:cross pattée 831: 802:Description 778: 750: 725: 705: 681:Description 657: 645: 633: 630:bombing raid 613: 593: 591: 568: 556: 528: 526: 514: 485: 477:Maximilian I 453:coat of arms 446: 410: 374: 344: 334:14th century 317:Description 245: 243: 182: 156:used as the 131: 129:until 1918. 103: 73:used by the 62: 60: 50: 596:Reichsfahne 572:Landfrieden 559:Reichsfahne 531:Reichsfahne 401: 1430 367:early 1400s 347:eagle sable 226:Alessandria 39: 1515 1020:Categories 946:2008-02-26 922:References 911:, divided 449:escutcheon 101:was used. 65:was not a 827:Memmingen 636:Schwenkel 626:Stuttgart 589:in 1415. 587:Habsburgs 549:Henry III 545:Conrad II 510:Charles V 504:1519–1556 481:Charles V 471:1493–1556 436:1437–1493 349:displayed 292:Sigismund 104:In 1804, 913:per pale 700:War flag 577:. Thus, 537:gonfalon 523:War flag 222:Vercelli 194:heraldry 146:war flag 142:Crusades 992:(1727). 821:of the 707:battle. 451:of the 375:Or, an 345:Or, an 284:Otto IV 234:Bologna 174:Hamburg 162:England 116:of the 57:), 1545 962:. In: 907:and a 897:Geneva 642:pennon 411:Or, a 232:, and 230:Reggio 208:, and 202:Novara 192:civic 178:Bremen 71:banner 959:Fahne 844:gules 796:Date 793:Flag 779:Some 675:Date 672:Flag 403:–1806 311:Date 218:Milan 198:Pavia 150:cross 134:white 91:eagle 87:eagle 79:black 834:pale 832:Per 819:Flag 799:Use 773:and 678:Use 606:fief 565:king 547:and 527:The 479:and 314:Use 214:arms 210:Asti 206:Como 160:and 144:, a 125:the 83:gold 81:and 61:The 940:at 825:of 183:In 176:or 95:red 1022:: 930:^ 915:. 398:c. 296:r. 288:r. 280:r. 268:r. 260:r. 236:. 228:, 224:, 220:, 204:, 200:, 180:. 77:; 36:c. 34:, 969:. 948:. 640:( 294:( 286:( 278:( 266:( 258:( 41:)

Index


Emperor Maximilian
Albrecht Altdorfer

national flag
banner
Holy Roman Emperor
black
gold
eagle
eagle
red
double-headed eagle
Napoleon Bonaparte
First French Empire
Emperor Francis II
Habsburg dynasty
Austrian Empire
flag of Austria
white
Holy Roman Empire
Crusades
war flag
cross
St George's Cross
flag of Lombardy
England
Hanseatic League
Hanseatic flags
Hamburg

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