The history of the Russian flag dates back several centuries. Over the centuries, the banner was modified, but did not cease to fulfill its most important functions - to serve as an identification mark, and also to represent and symbolize the country and nation as a whole. Every citizen should know what the Russian flag looked like before and what it is today, what it personifies and what meaning it carries.
Flag and banner are two terms denoting the most important symbol of any state.
In the Russian language, two words have long been used that have a similar semantic meaning: “banner” and “flag”. The first has Slavic roots and comes from the word "sign" or "sign". He points to his owner and acts as a special symbol. The second term “flag” came to us from Holland and means “ship and nautical banner” in translation. He usually climbed on a special mast called a “flagpole”.
From time immemorial, the flag looked like a piece of fabric of a certain geometric shape, which was attached to a cord or pole. It could have a different color, and often its colors carried a special meaning. It is difficult to overestimate the role of the banner in ancient land battles, naval battles and medieval battles, when military units were controlled with its help. To this day, it is used as a symbol of the state, power, as a "representative" of the nation.
All countries of the world have their own special monochrome or multi-colored banner. The modern flag of the Russian Federation is easily recognizable - it is a rectangular cloth with three horizontal stripes of white (top), blue (middle) and red (bottom) colors. About three centuries, the Russian people "passed" under the tricolor. And what did the flag of Russia look like before? What did he symbolize? Let's try to figure it out.
Flags of the ancient Slavs
Historians know little about the ancient banners of the Slavic peoples. Presumably, the first of them were primitive and consisted of grass or horse tails that were mounted on poles, spearheads or simply long sticks. It is believed that they were like the bunchuk of Turkic tribes. In The Tale of Bygone Years, banners were used to designate military units — banners (canvases attached to a pole). Gradually, a special position also appeared - a flagman: he had to keep the banner and unfold it during the battle. Over time, banners not only began to serve as landmarks in the battle, but also transformed into special symbols of power. The princes, capturing the city, began to hoist their banners above them, announcing their claims.
Banners of the Old Russian State
In Russia in the IX-XIII centuries. banners of an elongated triangular shape, prapora with a beveled wedge and a border, as well as banners with pigtails sewn to them, fluttering in the wind, were common. Often in the battles were used and banners - special sacred banners, which depicted the faces of saints, the Virgin or Savior. Ancient banners were made of different fabrics and painted in different colors. The most commonly used green, red, blue, white and blue hues. On the Kulikovo field above the Russian soldiers a large red banner extended , which depicted the miraculous Savior.
Royal banners in the period XVI-XVII centuries.
Until the 18th century, Russia did not have a single state banner. There was a large variety of banners and banners. Small and Large royal banners were particularly bright and beautiful. As a rule, they were richly decorated and decorated with religious subjects.
An example of such banners is the famous "Great banner" of Tsar Ivan the Terrible. It was a huge multi-colored cloth of a trapezoidal shape. It was decorated with images of St. Michael, sitting on a golden winged horse, and Jesus Christ in glory. Also on the canvas were golden cherubs, seraphim and angels in white robes. This great banner of more than 150 years accompanied the Russian army in battles and campaigns: it visited the Crimean (1687, 1689) and Azov (1696) campaigns, as well as the war with the Swedes. Photo of the flag of Tsarist Russia, unfortunately, does not convey all its beauty and power.
Special royal honors were given to these royal banners: they were lit, along with the icons, they were worshiped. Regimental and hundreds of banners were smaller and not as richly decorated as the royal. Often, instead of the faces of the saints, they depicted a simple cross. From the 17th century secular emblems, for example, drawings of a snake, an eagle, a lion, etc., began to be applied to banners in a Western manner.
What did the flag of Russia look like under Peter the Great
During the reign of Alexei Mikhailovich, the first mention of a single Russian flag appeared. The emperor, having studied the banners of other countries, chose for his three primary colors - white, blue and red. In 1686, a new flag of Tsarist Russia was hoisted on the first merchant ship Eagle . According to some versions, it had a rectangular shape. It depicted a blue cross, the upper left and lower right corners were painted white, and the other two - red. Peter I, continuing the work of his father, modified the flag, determining the order of horizontal stripes on it. A photo of the flag of Tsarist Russia is presented below - it looked like a modern tricolor, but had a two-headed eagle in the center.
Peter the Great also created a flag for the merchant fleet. It was a white cloth with a black two-headed eagle, with a power and a golden scepter in its paws. Since 1705, the trade flag of Russia was officially approved - the tricolor, which was used on military ships until 1712, until the single stern flag of St. Andrew was approved - a white cloth with a blue diagonal cross. After that, the tricolor began to be used only on commercial vessels.
The history of the imperial flag of Russia. The royal banner in the 18-19 centuries.
Subsequently, the Russian flag underwent significant changes. In 1742, a new banner was made in connection with the upcoming coronation of Elizabeth I. What did the flag of Russia look like now? On a yellow canvas was a black double-headed eagle surrounded by oval shields with emblems.
Under Alexander I, black, white and yellow colors gradually began to be perceived as state. On the banners of the Russian regiments depicted a black two-headed eagle on a gold background. In 1858, a new coat of arms was developed, as well as the flag of the Russian Empire. Alexander II approved of the three stripes - black on top, yellow in the center and white below - the imperial flag of Russia. The photo shows what the banner was like in the 19th century.
Unfortunately, the new type of flag did not appeal to ordinary people, but was perceived as purely state-owned. In addition, the new banner was very similar to German. For this reason, Alexander III, the famous Russophile, again returned the white-blue-red tricolor to the pedestal. In 1914, after a wide celebration of the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty on the Russian throne, a symbiosis of banners appeared. The white-blue-red flag was supplemented by a black and yellow imperial standard, which was depicted in the upper corner of the pole. Such a banner lasted until
the 1917 revolution .
Flags and banners of the RSFSR and the USSR. Challenging 20th Century
The Russian and February revolutions took place under bright scarlet banners. Not only them, but all the mass symbolism was red. The October Revolution of 1917 was also carried out under a red flag. On July 10 of the same year, the final version of the new banner was adopted.
The flag of the RSFSR was a red banner. In the upper left corner, near the pole, was placed a gold inscription - "RSFSR". Since 1918, the use of the imperial tricolor was strictly prohibited. A scarlet banner was hoisted over the Kremlin.
In 1924, the Constitution of the USSR approved the new flag. On the scarlet cloth were now depicted a golden sickle and a hammer, above which a five-pointed star with a gold border was placed. In World War II, the Soviet flag became a great symbol of the victory of the Russian people over fascism.
The return of the famous Russian tricolor
After a break of more than seventy years, the Russian tricolor was raised in the capital, above the Supreme Council building. This significant event took place in the days of the August coup of 1991. Now the flag of the Russian Federation flies not only on the buildings of government bodies in our country, but also on diplomatic missions abroad.
In addition to the tricolor, the St. Andrew’s flag is still used, as well as the
Victory Banner, which was established by a presidential decree in 1996. It symbolizes the heroism and great courage of the Russian people, shown during the days of World War II. We hope our article turned out to be useful, and now you know what flags were in Russia. Any citizen must know the great historical past of his people!