Flags have a very interesting, albeit not very long history. The banners and banners with which the soldiers fought in ancient times performed this role before the Russian flag appeared. Any student will recognize his photo today. What is the history of this symbol of Russia, what colors are closest to it, and what they mean is described in the article.
World flags
Each state of the planet has its own symbols that distinguish one country from another. Among them are flags as the main attributes of statehood. All colors and elements are not random, but have a special meaning, which embodies something significant, associated with the history of a country. Sometimes citizens can not always know by heart the anthem and all the details of the coat of arms of their state. However, the flag, no doubt, everyone knows.
The first flags, in fact, appeared, although they were called differently, more than three thousand years ago. For example, it was customary for Genghis Khan to attach a ponytail to the tip of a spear.
Today, the state flag are various forms of panels depicting symbols, emblems, drawings, stripes.
A country's navy may have the same flag as the state flag, or it may be completely different from it. There is also a merchant fleet flag, or, in other words, a commercial flag. Posted at the stern of the ships, they demonstrate nationality.
In the depths of centuries of Russian history
In antiquity, even in the pre-Christian and early Christian period, military banners and banners served as flags. The “Word of Igor’s Regiment” described red banners and “bangs”, as well as white banners. It is known that during the Battle of Kulikovo the main banner was a dark red cloth with the embroidered face of the Savior Not Made by Hands. With him, Ivan the Terrible in the sixteenth century made his campaign in Kazan.
The banners of the Streltsy regiments before, during and after the reign of Peter the Great were also red or using its shades.
The "Great banner" of Ivan the Terrible is widely known, in which the middle was azure, the slope was white, the border was lingonberry, and the space around the slope was poppy. In the azure middle, a blue circle was embroidered, in which on the white horse and in white clothes was the Savior. Under the circle on the left side was the heavenly army. A white circle was also sewn into the slope, in which was Archangel Michael on a golden pegasus. There is a sword in one hand, and a cross in the other. The entire slope is strewn with stars and crosses.
The first flag of the Russian Empire
Flags in the form in which we know them today appeared in Europe at the turn of the sixteenth to seventeenth centuries. The need for their occurrence was caused by the appearance of the fleet. Flags showed the affiliation of ships to a particular state. However, its main symbol at that time was still the emblem.
In 1634, the embassy from the Duke of Frederick the Third arrived to the first tsar of the Romanov dynasty, Mikhail Fedorovich. Then it was decided to build ten ships on the Volga to travel to Persia. And so, in 1636 the first ship called Frederick was launched. He did not last long, but walked under a flag reminiscent of the current Russian tricolor. Nevertheless, he received official status later.
The formation of the state Russian flag
In 1668, a ship called the "Eagle" was built. The year before, the ship's commander informed the tsar that it was necessary to make a flag for the ship, as is done on ships of other states. Tsar Aleksei Mikhailovich was prepared with a “Scripture on the Conception of Signs and Banners or Ensigns,” which included the images of the biblical twelve tribes of Israel and the flags of the sea powers existing at that time. It is known that in the end a tricolor of red, white and blue fabrics was sewn, as the colors of the flag of the Netherlands, but how exactly - has not yet been clarified. Only information that the tricolor was supposed to have an image of eagles was preserved.
In 1693, another Tsar, Peter the Great, while traveling on a yacht with twelve cannons, “Saint Peter”, raised the “flag of the Tsar of Moscow”, consisting of identical stripes of white, blue and red, with a two-headed golden eagle in the middle. Its original has survived to the present day. It can be seen in a museum in St. Petersburg.
Peter the Great also had other flags on board. However, he did not like them, which, apparently, was caused by his love for Holland. Upon arrival in Rotterdam, Peter was waiting for a frigate. A Dutch flag was hung at the stern, which the king liked so much that he decided not to change it anymore.
In addition to the “Flag of the Tsar of Moscow”, Peter the Great, following European customs, introduced many other flags. Among them are the naval Andreevsky, the white-blue-red merchant and so on.
However, the symbol did not receive state status. But in 1883, the tricolor was declared Russian or national folk, and in 1896 under Nicholas the Second, it was officially approved as the flag of the Russian Empire and has been such for thirty-four years.
Flag of the Romanov Dynasty
In 1858, Alexander the Second introduced a black-yellow-white “coat of arms” flag with his decree. It is based on our heraldic tradition, where the black color is taken from the double-headed eagle, yellow is from the golden field of the coat of arms, and white is the color of St. George. In addition, colors meant earth, gold and silver. The white-blue-red tricolor was then a commercial flag.
For decades in the second half of the nineteenth century, historians have debated what the flag of the Russian Empire should be like. The pro-Western Russian intelligentsia had a warm love for the white-blue-red tricolor, and the so-called Russophiles sought recognition of black-yellow-white. Historians argued that the tricolor of white, blue and red is not related to Russian land. However, these arguments were not perceived. The liberals criticized the Russian state flag for its monarchical character, as well as the likeness of the German one for a single upper strip.
Looking at this discussion after more than a century, it becomes clear that the left-liberal intelligentsia then picked up revolutionary French fever and dreamed of remaking Russia to European standards.
Alexander the Third did not dare for a long time because of his Russophile position, but in 1883 he still ordered the use of this tricolor, although black-yellow-white was not completely canceled.
There is evidence that Nicholas II wanted to return the dynasty flag, but it was decided to postpone it until the end of the First World War.
Flag of the Soviet Union
The original Russian red banner returned to Russia in new quality in the second half of the nineteenth century. It has become a symbol of the struggle for the rights of the oppressed. In 1876, a rally was held near the Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg, where they raised the red banner. After the revolution, it was decided to recognize the ancient Russian flag, whose background was red. Since then, the tricolor began to personify the white movement.
The red flag was approved in 1918. And after World War II, in 1947, a resolution was adopted on the development of new ones using the symbols of the State Flag of the Soviet Union in the Union Republics. In the RSFSR, it was approved in 1954.
Flag of Vlasov
After the 1917 revolution, the Russian flag symbolized monarchist volunteers. During the Great Patriotic War, it was used by Russian formations who fought on the side of Hitler. This is, first of all, the ROA, as well as the Russian Corps, KONR, Cossack Stan, the First Russian National Army.
The future state flag of the Russian Federation began to be used by Democrats in 1988.
What should be the flag
What colors of the Russian flag could be? Discussions on this subject do not cease to this day. Some believe that the St. Andrew flag could well have become a state flag. It was created on the basis of streltsy banners. Others believe that the flag of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich with a cross could become such, although there is no evidence that it existed in this form. More and more supporters appear at the flag of the Romanov dynasty - a black-yellow-white tricolor, which was the "arms" in the second half of the nineteenth century.
Arguments for White-Blue-Red
Proponents of the tricolor believe that the colors of the Russian flag were taken from the Moscow coat of arms, which is the oldest in the territory of North-Eastern Russia. It depicts St. George, dressed in blue chain mail, a yellow cloak, on a white horse in a red field. Sent by the time of the reign of Alexei the Quiet, when the ship "Eagle" ordered white, blue and red fabrics. However, there is no document stating that the tricolor was hung on the ship.
There is evidence of St. Theophan the Recluse: he exclaimed that Russia would not perish until it changed the principles of its existence, namely Orthodoxy, Autocracy and Nationality, which the white-blue-red Russian flag expressed. His photo turns out to be especially beautiful against the sky.
Arguments for White-Yellow-Black
Supporters of this tricolor cite as arguments that it appeared from the eleventh to sixteenth centuries on the banners, icons and frescoes of churches, as evidenced by the annals. The four-meter icon “Blessed is the army of the heavenly King”, or “The Militant Church”, which also has a golden tricolor, is widely known.
With the golden tricolor, the victories of the Russian soldiers are associated, and with the white-blue-red tricolor, only defeats.
Arguments for red
Adherents of the red flag say that it is he who is originally Russian. Some negatively relate to the fact that he was a symbol of communism under Soviet power. However, the history of the Russian banner is much older. And, probably, the most true is the fact that this flag is more connected with Russian history than other Russian flags. Russia has long been considered the heiress of the Roman and Byzantine empires. Its capital, Moscow, was also called the Third Rome. But red was used by both Romans and Byzantines. This color symbolizes the victory, valor, courage and courage of the defenders of their country.
Russian flags (during the period of the empire and the Russian Federation)
Over the truly great and long history of the country, symbolism has changed dramatically or peacefully complemented by something new. Today there is no clear description of what the Russian flag means. Therefore, everyone has the right to lean towards one or another of his interpretations.
So, it is believed that white means frankness and nobility, blue - honesty, loyalty and chastity, and red represents courage, courage, generosity and love.
They interpret differently what the Russian flag means, those who correlate colors with regions of the Russian Empire, where:
- white symbolized White Russia;
- blue - Little Russia;
- red - Great Russia.
Even in the Russian Empire, the following interpretation existed:
- white color represented freedom;
- blue color - the Virgin;
- red color - sovereignty.
Some associated colors with Orthodoxy, tsarist power and a symbol of the Russian people; and others with faith, hope and love.
Since 1994, the Day of the Russian flag has been celebrated in our country. It was approved by presidential decree of August twenty-second. This number is not connected with the valor of Russia and the Great Russian Empire. In 1991, during the August coup, the tricolor was officially raised over the White House. And a few years later, the day of the Russian flag began to be celebrated on this date.
Masons flag
A tricolor consisting of white, blue and red flowers in various variations is sometimes called the Masonic flag. Moreover, vertical lines in cabalism mean activity, and horizontal lines indicate passivity. Many Russian rulers were Masonic lodges. Peter the Great also entered into this society. Proponents of conspiracy theory believe that Freemasonry is behind civil revolutions and world wars. The first revolution took place in the Netherlands. France followed. And so the Masons took up Russia, trying to subordinate it to their will.
Is it worth it to change the flag
At different times in Russia, in the Russian Empire, the Soviet Union and Russia, the vision of the state’s path changed, and some people spread, and sometimes planted, certain values. Even the Russian flags changed depending on the current policy. Faith changed, and Russian people, being pagans, later became ardent supporters of Orthodoxy. The monarchical regime was replaced by the communist one, and the proletarians of all countries tried to unite ... However, regardless of religion and faith, there was something unchanging, impenetrable and unforgettable. This is the Russian spirit. His power is still present in people, it unites in especially difficult periods of the life of the people. Therefore, it does not matter at all what colors of the flag our state has, and what they mean for Masons and other similar structures. If he becomes Russian, then the deep wisdom of the people, the Russian soul, not dependent on social knowledge and erudition, will endow him with his strength.
It is interesting in the light of recent events that the Russian flag showed itself on the Internet. In the United States in June 2015, a law was adopted on the legalization of same-sex marriage. After that, a lot of people began to publish posts and avatars with the
rainbow flag of LGBT people on the social network Facebook. In our country, in response to this, an action unfolded in the same network where Russian flags symbolized this time traditional values and a normal human family.