FLAG OF CZECH REPUBLIC: HISTORY AND MEANING - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2024

The flag of the Czech Republic has been the national banner of the country since it stopped organizing as a kingdom to become a republic. Its design breaks with the traditional style of striped flags, as it consists of two horizontal stripes (one white and one red) crossed by a colored triangular shape that occupies the left side of the flag.

The national flag of the Czech Republic as an independent country has only been modified twice, although the current design has been in force in different periods of history.

Flag of Czechoslovakia (1992 - Present). By SVG version by cs: -xfi-. Public domain.

The Czech Republic is using the same flag that was long used by the sovereign state of Czechoslovakia, the country that was made up of the Czech Republic and Slovakia after their separation from the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918.

History

Flag of the Duchy of Bohemia (870 - 1198)

The duchy of Bohemia, also called the Czech principality, was formed during the Middle Ages when the Czech territories decided to culturally separate themselves from Moravia and become a new independent nation. As was common at the time, the duchy was at war with several neighboring nations on various occasions.

For example, the country had various conflicts with Poland, until, in 1002, it became an official province of the Holy Roman Empire. Then, in 1198, it was politically restructured to turn the country into a kingdom, ending the dynasty of dukes that until then ruled the nation.

Flag of the Principality of Bohemia (870 - 1198). By Samhanin - Own work. Public Domain

Flag of the Kingdom of Bohemia (1198 - 1918)

In its beginnings, the kingdom of Bohemia was represented by an orange flag with a white lion. This flag remained in force for several centuries before the red and white banner similar to that used by Poland was established. It belonged to the Holy Roman Empire until its dissolution in 1806, when it became part of the Austrian Empire belonging to the Habsburg family.

During the last century of its existence, the kingdom of Bohemia used the red and white flag as its official banner, which was based on the colors of the coat of arms of the Principality of Bohemia.

Royal Standard of the Kingdom of Bohemia. By Samhanin - Own work

Flag of the Kingdom of Bohemia until 1918. No machine-readable author provided.

First flag of Czechoslovakia (1918 - 1920)

In 1918, the territories of the kingdom of Bohemia decided to separate from the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The decision was made after the defeat of the Central Powers during the First World War.

After the war, the kingdom and the empire were dissolved to give rise to several new nations. Among them was Czechoslovakia, made up of the territories of the Czech Republic and Slovakia, which acted autonomously, but were administered similarly to a commonwealth.

Flag of Czechoslovakia (1918 - 1920). No machine-readable author provided.

Second flag of Czechoslovakia (1920 - 1990)

In 1920, four years after Poland began to use the red and white flag more openly as its official national flag, the Czechoslovak authorities decided to add a blue triangle to the left side of the national flag to differentiate it from the Polish one.

This was the first design of today's Czech flag. While it has been swapped a couple of times for other banners, the flag itself has never been redesigned.

Flag of Czechoslovakia (1920 - 1990). By SVG version by cs: -xfi-. Public domain.

Flag of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia (1939 - 1945)

The Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia was a country that emerged as a result of the Nazi occupation in 1939. During World War II, the Germans invaded Czechoslovakia and exercised total control of the country. It was renamed and became a German protectorate under a new three-stripe flag, which lasted until the defeat of the Germans in 1945.

Flag of the country during the Second World War (1939 - 1945). No author provided. Public domain.

Flag of the Czech Socialist Republic before its disappearance (1990 - 1992)

In 1968 the Prague Spring began, a socialist movement that took place with the arrival of the reformist Alexander Dubček at the head of the Czech Communist Party. Dubček carried out a series of reforms that did not sit well with the Soviet Union, which led to an invasion of the Soviets into Czechoslovakian territory to stop the change.

During all these years of Soviet control, the country was renamed the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic. The territory of the Czech Republic became known as the “Czech Socialist Republic”, and Slovakia, the “Slovak Socialist Republic”.

Thus, Czechoslovakia remained controlled by the Soviet Union until 1989, when the Velvet Revolution brought the country's independence. The country kept its same flag, but in 1990, the Czech socialists changed the banner to the version without the blue triangle, thus being equal to the flag of Poland. However, it was only in effect for two years.

Flag of the RSC (1990 - 1992). No machine-readable author provided.

Current flag of the Czech Republic (1992 - Present)

Following the dissolution of the Czech Socialist Republic, in 1992 the Czech Republic officially became an independent country, which led to the dissolution of Czechoslovakia. The Czech Republic flag remained the same as the original with the blue triangle, and Slovakia adopted a three-stripe flag similar to the one used by the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia during World War II.

Flag of Czechoslovakia (1992 - Present). By SVG version by cs: -xfi-. Public domain.

Meaning

The flag of the Czech Republic is inspired by the coat of arms of the Kingdom of Bohemia. According to Czech legends, Duke Lech once saw a white eagle crossing the reddish sunset sky, which made him decide to adopt those colors for the flag. However, many other legends are attributed to the why of the banner colors.

It is not known with certainty why the flag is composed of these two colors, but the blue incorporated in the part of the mast was added in 1920 with the simple purpose of differentiating it from the flag of Poland.

References

1. Czech Flag colors - Meaning and history, All Czech Website, 2016. Taken from all-czech.com
2. Flag of the Czech Republic, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2018. Taken from Britannica.com
3. Flag of the Czech Republic, Flagpedia Website, (nd). Taken from flagpedia.net
4. Czech Republic, Wikipedia, 2019. Taken from Wikipedia.org
5. Flag of the Czech Republic, Wikipedia, 2019. Taken from Wikipedia.org
6. Kingdom of Bohemia, Wikipedia, 2019. Taken from Wikipedia.org
7. Duchy of Bohemia, Wikipedia, 2019. Taken from Wikipedia.org