The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1915-03-11
STORIES OF FLAGS
Origins of Some of the Emblems
OF European Nations.
THE TRIcoLoR OF BELGIUM.
It Was Originally the Standard of the
Duehy OF 6rabant-Compiex colors
Of Austria and the Flags of Germany,
France, England and Russia.

France, England and Russia.
Prior To the Funco-prussian war of
1870 the German empire was little
more than group of scattered states.
When they combined into single EN-
pire. however, traces of ali their flags
were combined III the resultant stand
ard
To be sure. the colors of Prussia
black and white and the Prussian
eagle enter very largely into 1t. but 1t
must be remembered that this country
became at that time the head and
ruler OF all the others. Besides the
smaller states. there were also the
flags OF East and West Prussia TO De
included. That of West Prussia was
black. white. black, three stripes of
equal diameter, running the length Of
the flag. That Of East Prussia con-
sisted of two such stripes. the upper
black and the lower white. The
Jack" OF the imperial navy consists
of three horizontal stripes, the upper
black. the middle white and the lower
red. The much priced iron cross dat
Ing back to the end Of the twelfth CEN
tury) Is in the center. This red stripe
appears in the final war ensign of the
empire, In which the tricolor (black.
white. red appears In the upper quar-
ter. with the iron cross upon 1t. while
the remaining three-Quarters are white.
with the royal arms in the center. A
black cross divides the whole flag into
quarters.
pick affair. To begin with. the various
Austrian provinces have their own
6ags. Bohemia is red white. Tyrol Is
white-red. Dalmatia is blue-yellow. Ga
licia is blue-red. Croatia is red-white-
blue and Istria Is yellow white blue.
Then again. Austria Hungary being a
dual monarchy, both Austria and Hun
gary must be separately represented
and fully-on the flag. Fortunately.
this combination was rendered more
easy by the fact that portions Of the
days of both countries were already
the same. Thus, the Austrian fiag was
red white red. the Hungarian was red
white-green. Compromise was effect
ed by dividing the lowest horizontal
stripe In two. and leaving half red
while the remainder was green. The
arms OF both countries also appear on
the flag. This was decided upon March
6, 1869.
The Imperial standard of the car of
all the Russias is OF brilliant yellow,
in the center of which is large dou-
BILE headed black eagle. This flag dates
from the year 1472. when Ivan the
Great married Sophia. niece of Con
stantine Palaeologus and thence as
sumed the arms of the Greek empire.
On the breast of the eagle is an es-
cutcheon bearing on its red field In sill
yer the figure Of St. George Staying
the dragon. the whole being surround
ed by the collar of the Order of st
Andrew. On the displayed wings OF
the eagle are other shields bearing
the arms Of Kiev, Novgorod. vladi
mir, Kasan, etc. The Russian union
jack is very similar to that of Eng
land. save that the principal crossbars
are blue instead of red. This is the
|
cross is that of st. Andrew. the patron
saint of Russia.
The well known tricolor of France
is made up of three stripes-blue
white and red-running not the length
but the width of the flag. 1t dates
from the era of the French revolution
and came into existence in 1889. Il
has been the national flag since. will
but slight variations In l794 the Ti
color was also made the jack of the
French navy.
The union jack of Great Britain II
composed of the three crosses of 1t
George. st. Patrick and st. Andrew
That of the first was a broad red cross
dividing the white flag into four Whit
squares: the white cross of St An
drew, on a blue background. ran from
corner to corner diagonally. while TIT
red cross of ST. Patrick ran In the sam
direction. II the union jack be exam
ined 1t will be found to be composed
of these three crosses. as stated. Thu
flag was first unfurled In 1901, on tn
union in that year of Great Britain
England, Scotland and Wales' an
Ireland.
The flag of Belgium is composed
a tricolor-black. yellow and red run
ming up and downfall is. the widt
and not the length of the flag Tn
royal standard has the arms placed Il
the center of the yellow strip Thi
was adopted as the national flag Il
1881. being originally the colors of th
duchy of Brabant
From 14T7 until 1906 Belgium be
longed to Austria. but on the latte
date it fell into the hands. of Spair
In 1895 and for some years followin
. ii was held by France. and in lSl
, was handed over to the Prince Z
Orange. but in 1880 the Belgians ros
against the Hollanders and establishe
their independence. The flag which
now flown was then adopted--Wasf