FLAG OF POLAND: HISTORY AND MEANING - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2024

The flag of Poland consists of two stripes: one of them red and the other white. It is divided horizontally and has some official variations in which the coat of arms is included. Significantly it has never changed its colors.

It has always maintained the combination of red and white since the use of national flags began to become popular in European countries, a tradition that continues today throughout the world and that began during the 11th century.

Flag of Poland. See below.

Even during the time when Poland and Lithuania formed a commonwealth, the flag always resembled the one used today by Poles as their national flag. Also, the mainly used Polish flag does not have any insignia in its design.

History

Curiously, the origin of the Polish flag is not recorded anywhere. There are various theories about its history, but it is not known exactly when the use of the colors red and white as a national standard began to become popular. It is believed, however, that the custom dates back almost a millennium.

First official use of white and red (13th and 14th centuries)

Although the use of flags as they are known today was not yet common in the 14th century, armies used to use banners in various ways to represent the country to which they belonged. It is difficult to determine the reason for the specific use of red and white, but the first time it was done was with the incorporation of the white eagle in a red shield.

It is said that this was the first battle banner that Poland used almost entirely. According to some historical records, Poland used a banner with two red stripes and one white in the middle, with the eagle shield located right in the center of the pavilion.

Some relate the origin of the flag to the standard of arms used by Boleslaus II the Generous, who ruled Poland in 1076, when he was appointed King of Poland. However, his mandate caused internal conflicts in the country, as the local dukes thought that the monarchy was gaining a lot of power.

When all the local governors of Poland were unified under the reign of King Wladyslaw at the end of the 14th century, the same banner began to be used throughout the country. It is thought that, from this moment on, Poland adopted its coat of arms and the colors red and white as the country's official ones.

Coat of arms of Boleslaus the Generous (1076). Author not mentioned.

- Relationship with the Holy Roman Empire

When white and red began to be used, Poland had the Holy Roman Empire as neighbors. There is another theory about the origin of the Polish flag in reference to this. The Holy Roman Empire used the colors black and yellow as their main national tones.

It is thought that Poland may have adopted red and white in contrast mode, to differentiate itself from this empire.

In relation to this, the flags of Poland from this time always used to be armoriales. The design was transformed into what today resembles the current one in the 20th century.

- Commonwealth of Poland and Lithuania (1569 - 1795)

This country, which was ruled by the same monarch, was one of the most influential and largest nations in Europe during the 16th and 17th centuries. It was made up of the territory of Poland and Lithuania. The Polish king also acted as Major Duke of Lithuania and functioned as a great nation.

The Commonwealth served as an example for many systems of government today and, in fact, the way in which the government was managed with the monarch laid the foundation for many parliamentary monarchies today. This country also used the white and red colors of the Polish flag.

In fact, the royal standard of the nation was a flag with three stripes (two of them red and the one in the center white) with two white eagles representing Poland and two white horses representing Lithuania.

The Commonwealth was dissolved in 1795, after a series of reforms in previous years that diversified power in both countries until a total division was achieved.

Flag of the Commonwealth of Poland and Lithuania (1569 - 1795). By Olek Remesz on the Public domain

Current flag of Poland (since 1916)

The first red and white flags with the same organization that today began to be waved in 1916. This was done during a patriotic demonstration in Warsaw. Many participants carried red and white flags to show their loyalty to the country.

From this point on, Poland has used the red and white flag that is known today as its official national flag. Previously there were variations of the flag where the color blue was also used, representing the left-wing party known as Sejm, but there is no clear record of when it was made, or how the flags were.

Poland used the red and white flag during both world wars. In fact, the Polish armies even used ribbons on their arms with the colors of the flag and the number of their platoon.

Most of the flags used today in Poland (such as the military, navy and aviation flags) are all based on the traditional white and red design. Only the shade of red has changed throughout 20th century Polish history, but the design of the two stripes has always been maintained with the upper one being white.

The tonality of the design changed between 1927 and 1980, but returned to a darker red tone from that year until today.

Flag of Poland (1916 - Present). See below.

Meaning

Although it is not clear why the choice of the original shades of red and white was chosen, the flag is simply an adaptation of the colors of the coat of arms that Poland used during almost the entire second millennium of our era. The white eagle on a red shield continues to be used in some designs of the Polish flag, such as the country's military flag.

References

1. Flag of Poland, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2019. Taken from Britannica.com
2. Where does the Polish flag come from? Kafkadesk, 2018. Taken from kafkadesk.org
3. Brief History of the Poland Flag, Flag Makers UK, (nd). Taken from flagmakers.uk
4. Polish – Lithuanian Commonwealth, Wikipedia, 2019. Taken from Wikipedia.org
5. Flag of Poland, Wikipedia, 2019. Taken from Wikipedia.org