Flag of Liechtenstein

The national flag of the Principality of Liechtenstein (Template:Langx) consists of two horizontal bands, one blue and one red, charged with a gold crown in the canton. In use since 1764 and officially enshrined into the nation's constitution in 1921, it has been the flag of the principality since that year. The crown was added to the flag in 1937, after the country discovered at the Summer Olympics held the previous year that their flag was identical to the Haitian civil flag.

History

File:Liechtenstein schaan flags 2009-08-15.jpg

When flown vertically, the crown on the flag is rotated so that it always faces upwards.

Liechtenstein was formed in 1719 as a principality within the Holy Roman Empire and gained complete independence in 1866.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Within this period, the colours blue and red were selected to feature on the flag, instead of the gold and red on the coat of arms that would have customarily been employed instead. These new livery colours were first utilized by Prince Joseph Wenzel I in 1764.<ref name=EB>Template:Cite encyclopedia Template:Subscription required</ref>

A new constitution for the Principality was formulated and proclaimed in October 1921.<ref name=EB/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It made the blue and red banner the national flag by granting it "official status".<ref name=EB/> Fifteen years later, during the 1936 Summer Olympics, the country came to the realization that its flag was identical to the flag of Haiti (Haiti took part in the Opening Ceremony but its sole athlete did not compete). Because of this finding, the government added the prince's crown to the canton.<ref name=EB/><ref name=CIA>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=reuters>Template:Cite news</ref> This change served two purposes – to signify Liechtenstein's position as a principality, and to distinguish its flag from Haiti's.<ref name=CIA/><ref name=complete>Template:Cite book</ref> This modified design was adopted on 24 June 1937.<ref name=complete/>

Design

Construction

File:Flag of Liechtenstein (construction).svg

Construction sheet for the flag of Liechtenstein

Symbolism

The colours and symbols of the flag carry cultural, political, and regional meanings. The blue represents the sky, while red alludes to the "evening fires" that are lit inside houses throughout the country.<ref name=EB/> The crown is gold<ref name=CIA/><ref name=reuters/> or yellow<ref name=EB/> in colour.<ref name=complete/>

Color scheme

File:Flag of Liechtenstein.svg Colour scheme	Blue	Red	Yellow	Black
RAL	5010	3020	1016	9005
CMYK	100-70-0-50	0-96-84-19	0-15-77-0	0-0-0-100
HEX	#002780	#CF0921	#FFD93B	#000000
RGB	0-39-128	207-9-33	255-217-59	0-0-0

Other flags of Liechtenstein

Government flags

Flag	Duration	Use	Description
File:Liechtenstein princelystandard 1912.png	1912–1957	Standard of the Prince of Liechtenstein
File:Flag of Liechtenstein (1719–1852).svg	1957–1982	Standard of the Prince of Liechtenstein
File:Standard of the Prince of Liechtenstein.svg	1982–present	Standard of the Prince of Liechtenstein
File:Flag of Liechtenstein (state).svg	1982–present	Standard of the Government of Liechtenstein
File:Flag of Liechtenstein princely house.svg		Banner of the Princely House of Liechtenstein
File:Flag of Liechtenstein princely house pennant.svg		Pennant
File:Flag of Liechtenstein princely house vertical.svg		Vertical

Municipal flags

Each of the eleven municipalities has its own flag, all flown as vertical banners.

Flag	Municipality		Adopted	Description
File:Flag of Balzers Liechtenstein-1.svg	Template:Sort	Balzers
File:Flag of Eschen Liechtenstein-1.svg	Template:Sort	Eschen
File:Flag of Gamprin Liechtenstein-1.svg	Template:Sort	Gamprin
File:Flag of Mauren Liechtenstein-1.svg	Template:Sort	Mauren
File:Flag of Planken Liechtenstein-1.svg	Template:Sort	Planken
File:Flag of Ruggell Liechtenstein-1.svg	Template:Sort	Ruggell
File:Flag of Schaan Liechtenstein-1.svg	Template:Sort	Schaan
File:Flag of Schellenberg Liechtenstein-1.svg	Template:Sort	Schellenberg
File:Flag of Triesen Liechtenstein-1.svg	Template:Sort	Triesen
File:Flag of Triesenberg Liechtenstein-1.svg	Template:Sort	Triesenberg
File:Flag of Vaduz Liechtenstein-1.svg	Template:Sort	Vaduz

Historical flags

Flag	Duration	Use	Description
File:Flag of Liechtenstein (unknown-1719) 1.svg	1437–1719	Lordship of Schellenberg
File:Flag of Liechtenstein (unknown-1719) 2.svg	1342–1719	County of Vaduz
File:Flag of Liechtenstein (1719-1852).svg	1719–1852	Principality of Liechtenstein	Two horizontal gold and red bands at 3:5 proportions
File:Flag of Liechtenstein (1852-1921).svg	1852–1921	Principality of Liechtenstein	Two vertical blue and red bands at 3:5 proportions
File:Flag of Liechtenstein (1921-1937).svg	1921–1937	Principality of Liechtenstein	Two horizontal blue and red bands at 3:5 proportions
File:Flag of Liechtenstein (1937-1982).svg	1937–1982	Principality of Liechtenstein	Two horizontal blue and red bands at 3:5 proportions, and princely crown in the canton

External links

• Template:FOTW
• Original Law text Template:In lang