The idea of the perfect promotional souvenir is in the air, but a little lacking in inspiration and fresh ideas? Check out the collection of our articles and arm yourself with new knowledge about the latest fashion trends and the most original solutions on the souvenir market!
How to nicely position the logo on the mug? How many gussets should a comfortable baseball cap have? How to quickly choose souvenirs for a sporting event? You will find answers to these and many other questions in our headings.
State flag of the Russian Federation is the official symbol of Russia along with its coat of arms and anthem. The rectangular panel of white, blue and red colors - the Russian tricolor - has its own history. The flag has changed over the centuries, and its history reflects the stages of development and change in Russia.
You can order a flag from us1668
Until the 17th century, there was no single state flag in Russia. The first mention of him is associated with the name of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich Romanov. In 1668, in accordance with European tradition, he ordered to raise the flag over the first Russian warship, named "Eagle". It is known that scarlet, white and blue fabrics were purchased for the manufacture of the first flag, although there is no exact information about how it looked. There are several versions on this account, according to one of them a two-headed eagle was also depicted on the flag. It is believed that the type of the first naval flag dates back to some of the streltsy banners of the mid-17th century, or even earlier periods.
1693
This year, while sailing on the White Sea, Peter I first used the "flag of the Tsar of Moscow" on his yacht. The flag consisted of three horizontal stripes (white, blue and red) with a golden double-headed eagle in the center of the flag. Thus, the fleet acquired its own single flag, which de facto can be considered the state flag of Russia.
1705
On January 20, Peter I issued a decree on the placement of the white-blue-red flag on merchant ships. This flag was also used as the military field flag of the Russian army, and white-blue-red scarves were part of the officer's uniform from 1700 to 1732.
1712
In the navy, the St. Andrew's flag, white with an azure cross, was approved, created in honor of the Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called. The layout of the flag was created personally by Peter I.
1806
On the basis of the Peter's tricolor, other flags were later developed. So, in 1806, the flag of the Russian-American campaign appeared: the traditional tricolor with a black double-headed eagle and the inscription "Russian-American Company" in the middle of the white stripe.
1858
Alexander II approved a new design of the flag for special occasions (black-yellow-white). The initiator of the changes was Baron Kene, who drew the emperor's attention to the fact that the colors of the flag did not correspond to the colors of the coat of arms, while this circumstance was contrary to the rules of German heraldry.
1865
A decree was issued in which black, orange (gold) and white were called the state colors of the Russian Empire. Its colors symbolized earth, gold and silver. Note that the black-yellow-white flag was never popular in society - associations with Austria and the house of the Habsburgs were too strong.
1883
During the celebration of the coronation of Alexander III, the emperor drew attention to the contrast of the festive procession, decorated with black-yellow-white flowers, and the city, which was dominated by white-blue-red colors. On April 28, 1883, the emperor ordered to use exclusively the white-blue-red flag of the merchant marine on solemn occasions.
1896
On the eve of the coronation of Nicholas II, the Petrine tricolor was officially given the status of a state flag. At the same time, red symbolized "statehood", azure - the patronage of the Mother of God, and white - freedom and independence.
1918
In April of this year, at the suggestion of Sverdlov, a red cloth with a gold inscription of the RSFSR in the upper left corner became the state flag. The idea of the flag appears to have been borrowed from European revolutionaries and socialists.
1954
Up to this time, the state flag of the RSFSR was often replaced by a red cloth without inscriptions and drawings. On May 2, 1954, by decree of the Presidium of the RSFSR, the final version of the flag was approved. Now the flag consisted of a red cloth with a light blue stripe at the pole along the entire width of the flag. On the red banner, in the upper left corner, were depicted a golden hammer and sickle, as well as a red five-pointed star, edged with gold, above them.
1991
On August 22, 1991, a new history of the Russian flag began. The national flag was recognized as a rectangular cloth with different-sized horizontal stripes of white, blue and red and an aspect ratio of 1: 2. Since 1994, August 22 has been declared the Day of the State Flag of the Russian Federation.
1993
On December 11 this year, Russian President Boris Yeltsin issued Decree No. 2126 "On the State Flag of the Russian Federation", which approved the colors and proportions of the flag in the form in which we have them now.
2008
Since October 15, 2008, the state flag of the Russian Federation can be used by individuals, public associations, enterprises, institutions and organizations for purposes other than desecration of the flag.
In the navy, traditions are respected, old rituals are observed, and symbols are cherished. Everyone knows that the main flag is the St. Andrew's banner, which proudly fluttered on the masts and mainsail of the first imperial sailing ships of the Peter's fleet. However, not everyone knows that even then there were other naval flags that differed in function and informational focus. This situation is still valid today.
The birth of the Andreevsky flag
Peter the Great created, he also took care of its symbols. He drew the first naval flags himself and went through several options. The chosen version was based on the "oblique" St. Andrew's cross. It was this version, which became the eighth and last, which served until the October Revolution of 1917. Cross-overshadowed by St. Andrew the First-Called, Russian ships won many victories, and if they suffered defeat, then the glory of the heroism of sailors survived generations and shines to this day.
Saint Andrew the First-Called
The reason why this particular symbol was chosen has a profound meaning. The fact is that the first disciple of Christ, Andrew the First-Called, the brother of the Apostle Peter, is considered both the patron saint of sailors (he himself was a Galilean fisherman) and Holy Russia. In his wanderings, he visited, among many other cities, and Kiev, and Veliky Novgorod, and Volkhov, preaching the Christian faith. The Apostle Andrew was martyred on the cross, while the executioners crucified him not on a straight, but on an oblique cross (this is how the concept and name of this symbol arose).
The naval flag of Russia in the final Peter's version looked like a white cloth crossed out with a blue cross. This is how it is today.
In the first years after the revolution, the Bolsheviks did not attach much importance to naval power. During the Civil War, almost all the fronts were land, and when devastation came, there was simply no money to maintain complex equipment. The few ships of river and sea flotillas, which remained at the disposal of the new government, raised the leadership of the workers 'and peasants' army and comrade LD Trotsky with contempt for maritime traditions, heraldry, symbols, history and the like “ashes of the old world”.
In 1923, a former officer of the tsarist fleet, Ordynsky, nevertheless persuaded the Bolsheviks to adopt a special flag for ships, proposing a rather strange option - an almost complete copy of the Japanese banner with the sign of the Red Army in the center. This flag of the RSFSR fluttered on yards and flagpoles until 1935, then it had to be abandoned. Imperial Japan became a likely enemy, and from afar, the ships could be easily confused.
The decision on a new Red Navy pennant was taken by the Central Executive Committee and the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR. Even then, there was some continuity, white and blue colors appeared on it, borrowed from the St.
In 1950, it was slightly changed, reducing the relative size of the star. The flag has acquired a geometric balance, objectively it has become more beautiful. In this form, it existed until the collapse of the USSR and for another year, while there was confusion. In 1992, new (or rather, revived old) St.Andrew's naval flags were raised on all ships. the cross did not quite correspond to the historical tradition, but in general it was almost the same as under Peter the Great. Everything returned to normal.
What flags are in the fleet
The flags in the fleet are different, and their purpose is different. In addition to the usual stern Andreevsky banners, on ships of the first and second ranks, the jack also rises, but only during anchorage at the berth. After going out to sea, the stern flag is raised on the mast or topmails (at the highest point). If a battle begins, the national flag is raised.
"Colored" flags
The charter also provides for pennants of naval commanders of various ranks. Naval flags, denoting the presence of commanders on board, are indicated by a red cloth, a quarter of which is occupied by a blue St. Andrew's cross on a white background. The colored field contains:
- one star (white) - if the commander of the ship formation is on board;
- two stars (white) - if the commander of the flotilla or squadron is on board;
- three stars (white) - if the fleet commander is on board.
In addition, there are other colored flags depicting the coat of arms of the Russian Federation on a red background, crossed out by two crosses, St. Andrew's and a straight white one, or with two intersecting anchors on the same background. This means the presence of the Minister of Defense or the Chief of General Staff on the ship.
Signal flags
Information exchange, as in the past, can be carried out through visual symbols, including maritime signal flags. Of course, in the age of electronic means, they are used extremely rarely and, rather, serve as a symbol of the inviolability of naval traditions, and on holidays they decorate the ball-gray uniformity of ship camouflage with their multicolor, but if necessary, they can also perform their direct function. Sailors should be able to use them, and for this they need to study the reference books, which contain all the flag signals. These volumes consist of sections, which contain decryptions of geographical names, names of ships, military ranks and the like. Reference books are two-check and three-check, with the help of many combinations you can quickly report the situation and send orders. Negotiations with foreign ships are conducted through the International Code of Flag Signals.
In addition to pennants, meaning whole phrases, there have always been letter flags with which you can compose any message.
Flags with St. George Ribbon
All are conventionally divided into ordinary and guards. A distinctive feature of the guard in Russia is the St. George ribbon, which is present in the unit's symbols. Naval flags, decorated with an orange and black stripe, indicate that a ship or a coastal base is a particularly illustrious unit. The sailors abandoned the initial idea that the ribbon should become a separate element of the banner so that it could not wrap around the flag-halyard, and now the St. George symbol is applied directly to the canvas in its lower part. Such a naval flag of Russia testifies to the special combat readiness and high class of both the ship itself and its crew, it obliges a lot.
Marine flag
During the Soviet era, each branch of the military had its own symbols. For example, the maritime border guards belonging to the USSR State Security Committee had their own flag, which was a compilation of the flag of the Navy in a reduced form on a green field. Now, after the adoption of a single model, the diversity has decreased, but unofficial symbols have appeared, created by the imagination of military personnel, and therefore, perhaps, they are even more loved and revered by them. One of them is the Marine Corps flag. In essence, this is the same St. Andrew's white canvas with a blue cross, but it is supplemented with a patch of this kind of troops (a golden anchor in a black circle), the inscription "Marine Corps" and the motto "Where we are, there is victory!"
The Marine Corps was created in Russia earlier than in many other countries (practically together with the navy), and during its existence has covered itself with unfading glory. In 1669, the Eagle command became its first unit, and in 1705 the first naval soldier's regiment was formed. It was November 27, and since then this day has been celebrated by all the Marines. They fought not only as naval paratroopers, participated in land operations, and during the Napoleonic invasion, and in other wars (Crimean, Russian-Turkish, First World War, Great Patriotic War). In the armed conflicts of recent decades, they also had a chance to fight, and the enemy knew that if the Marine Corps flag was raised, then the circumstances were very unfavorable for him and it would be best for him to retreat.
After a long hiatus, in February 2012, heraldic naval justice was restored. From the hands of the President of the Russian Federation V.V.Putin, the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, Admiral Kuroyedov, received an updated naval flag of Russia. Now it soars over all the oceans.
The state chooses its own distinctive features. Own flag, coat of arms and anthem of Russia are integral attributes. Over the course of several centuries, the banner has changed.
The Russian flag of white-blue-red color was finally approved in 1991. Since 1994, when the president signed the corresponding decree, the day of the Russian flag is traditionally celebrated on 22 August every year.
History of appearance
It is not known for certain when it appeared and who invented the banner used today as a state one in the Russian Federation. There are a huge number of versions.
Historians believe that the modern flag of the Russian Federation owes its appearance to the emperor. It was he who first used the tricolor as a symbol of the fleet. The emperor thus designated the ship's belonging to a particular power.
It is not known why Peter I chose this particular color variation for the imperial flag. Historians offer a wide variety of theories. Some believe that the emperor so wished to support other states that have similar colors on their flags. Others say that only white, red and blue fabrics were in stock.
Despite the mention of the symbol in Ancient Russia, it began to be used during the reign of Peter I. The Emperor used it in diplomatic missions, trade and in hostilities.
The meaning of the state flag for the country
It was difficult to determine the belonging of merchant ships, army troops or a settlement to a particular power. To solve the problem, flags began to be used. Bright canvases, raised in a prominent place, were a means of identification.
Currently, the symbol of the state contributes to the education of patriotism, respect for the native land, gives a feeling of spiritual and blood unity. The state flag is of great importance in international relations.
The meaning of the colors of the tricolor
There are many versions of the interpretation of the shades used in the state symbol of Russia. According to one of the unofficial interpretations, the meaning of flowers personifies:
- white - purity, purity, innocence;
- blue - faith and constancy;
- red - the blood that ancestors shed for the sovereignty of the state.
Considering that the history of the appearance of the symbol is more than three centuries old, there is also a historical version of the interpretation of the tricolor. The ancient Slavs believed that the location of the stripes on the flag and their color is a reflection of the structure of the world. In this case, the upper stripe symbolizes the divine world, the middle - blue - the heavenly world, and the lower one - the physical.
Another version is that the flag reflects the unity of the three fraternal peoples. Then the red stripe is a symbol of Great Russia, blue - Little Russia, and white - Belarus. The most common version of the interpretation is considered freedom, faith and statehood, according to the arrangement of the stripes.
Symbols of the troops of the Russian army
In addition to the standards of commanders and banners, each branch of the Russian Federation has distinctive symbols - flags. The modern version of the banners was approved by the President in November 2003 - about which a corresponding decree was signed.
Flags of Russian troops
The Department of Defense is a double-sided rectangular canvas. The drawing of both parts is identical. The flag depicts a cross expanding towards the base, each beam of which is divided in half and painted in blue and red. The emblem of the Ministry of Defense of Russia is placed in the central part of the cloth. The state symbol was approved by a presidential decree in July 2003.
The Russian Air Force flag is a double-sided sky-blue canvas. In the central part of the military symbols, there is an anti-aircraft cannon and a silver-colored propeller crossed among themselves. Also on the flag there are 14 yellow rays, which expand from the center of the cloth to its edges. The military symbols were approved in May 2004 by the Order of the Minister of Defense.
EMERCOM of Russia flag - military symbols is a double-sided canvas painted in the colors of the state tricolor. There is a blue square in the roof of the Ministry symbol. Its height is equal to two stripes of the Russian flag, white and blue. The red stripe runs across the width of the entire canvas. The square contains an octagonal star and four elongated rays. In the center of the star is an orange circle and a blue triangle.
The St. Andrew's flag of Russia is the official military symbol of the Navy. On a white cloth, there are diagonal lines crossed among themselves, reminiscent of a large blue cross. The Russian naval flag was approved in 1992 by a presidential decree.
Border flag of Russia - there are several types of banner. One detail unites the banners - a green cross expanding towards the base. In the central part there is a golden eagle with two heads.
The flag of the Russian Ground Forces is a red canvas. In the center is the emblem of the ground troops - a grenade of a golden hue, located against the background of two swords crossed among themselves. The symbol was approved by the Order of the Minister of Defense in 2004.
The flag of the Space Forces is a double-sided sky-blue canvas. In the center of the panel there is a small emblem, which is a stylized drawing of a rocket launching against the background of the planet Earth. The ball is divided by horizontal stripes - dark blue, blue, white and red. The military symbols of the space forces were approved by the Order of the Minister of Defense in June 2004.
Coat of arms of the Russian Federation: its history and meaning
Important symbols are the flag and coat of arms of Russia. The eagle is found on the coats of arms of most princes. Today it is the coat of arms of the state. For the first time such an image appeared at. The coat of arms of Russia - a two-headed eagle looking in different directions, indicates that the country is the successor of the Third Rome and Byzantium.
Before becoming a sign of the state, the symbol has undergone changes. Various elements were added to his image. One of the most complex emblems in the world lasted until 1917. Eagle flags were used to mark government campaigns or served as the personal standards of the sovereign.
The meaning of the emblem of the Russian Federation is the orientation of the country to the East and West. It is understood that the state is not an element of any of the cardinal points. Russia is a combination of the best qualities of the West and the East.
The horse rider, located in the central part of the coat of arms who kills the snake, has a rich history. In ancient Russia, this symbol was often used for princes. The rider is the guise of a prince. Emperor Peter I decided that St. George the Victorious was depicted on the coat of arms.
The three crowns located at the top of the emblem did not appear immediately. During the use of the symbol, their number changed from one to three and back. Explained the existence of crowns on the emblem. The king said that they symbolize the Siberian, Kazan and Astrakhan kingdoms. Currently, crowns are considered to be the emblem of an independent country.
In its paws, a two-headed eagle holds a scepter and orb. In 1917, the elements were removed from the emblem. Traditionally, the orb and the scepter are a symbol of state power and unity. The golden color of the bird indicates the wealth of the country, its prosperity and grace.
7 former flags of Russia
In ancient times, the banner was called "banner". The army of the state was gathering under it. Traditionally, the color of the Russian banner is considered to be red. Under banners of this shade, Ivan the Terrible and
During the time of Ivan the Terrible, a red banner with an image was used. Russian troops under this banner conquered Kazan. For a century and a half, the banner with Christ was the official flag of tsarist Russia.
During the reign of Alexei Mikhailovich, there was no permanent banner. The troops marched under different banners. The flag of this king is symbolic. Its basis is the cross. The emblem symbolizes the mission of the state on a scale of the Universe.
Under Peter the Great, a red flag with a white border would have been approved. In the center of the banner was an eagle flying over sea water. Such a banner existed until the emperor was interested in all European.
Peter I introduced a new flag. Outwardly, the banner resembles a modern tricolor. The emperor personally painted the banner, which adorned with horizontal stripes of white, red and blue.
In Russia, the St. Andrew's flag became the state symbol in 1712. Now the banner is a military symbol of the country's fleet.
With the coming to power of the Romanov dynasty, the banner also changed. The tsar approved the white-black-yellow banner with the official symbols of the state. The banner began to be used after defeating the army. The black-white-yellow color was not chosen by chance. The banner is based on Russian tradition. White shade symbolizes St. George, black - an eagle with two heads, yellow - the golden field of the coat of arms.
White-blue-red banner with an eagle - this version was approved in 1914. The banner was not considered official. The banner symbolized the unity of the people and the ruler.
The history of the Russian Federation is interesting and multifaceted. At all times, the unity of the Russian people with the ruler was of particular importance. This was symbolized by the former flags used in Russia.
White in the tricolor symbolizes frankness and nobility, red - love, courage and courage, and blue - loyalty and honesty. The state banner indicates the solidarity of the Russian people with the fraternal peoples. The strength of each person lies in the knowledge of the history of the country - we must not forget about this.
The Russian flag has changed quite significantly throughout the entire period of its existence. And the last option, which is used in the modern world, is as close as possible to the one that appeared first. In honor of this symbol of the country, the Day of the Flag of the Russian Federation is celebrated annually on August 22, since it was on this day in 1991 that the modern arrangement of flowers was approved, which, nevertheless, were used in Tsarist Russia long before that. It should be noted that this date did not become festive immediately, but only since 1994, when the corresponding presidential decree was published.
Flag history
It is believed that its appearance in the version in which the Russian flag exists now, he owes to Peter the Great and his actions aimed at creating a fleet. It is thanks to the need to designate the belonging of a ship to one or another power that a modern version of the tricolor white-blue-red flag arose. However, there is still no evidence of the actual reasons why these colors were chosen. Many theories have been proposed, ranging from trying to imitate other countries that have similar flag colors to such a simple reason that at the time of the problem there was simply no fabric of other colors in the warehouses. Of course, before the appearance of such a symbol in Ancient Russia, and later, various banners were used, but they were not officially approved. Only on August 22, 1991, the modern version of the flag was recognized as state, and it was at this moment that such a holiday as the Day of the Flag of the Russian Federation appeared. Nevertheless, since the reign of Peter the Great, this symbol in one form or another was actively used in trade, and in diplomatic missions, and even during hostilities.
Russian Empire flag
The first mentions of the new colors of the Russian banner appear in 1731, but in fact, the black-yellow-white flag was officially approved only in 1858. Nevertheless, already in 1883, a law was passed, according to which during solemn holidays and other state events, only the white-blue-red flag should be used for decoration. And despite this, for a very long time, both options were in use. Thus, over a very long period of history, two variations of the national flag were simultaneously used.
USSR flag
The first variation of the USSR flag was approved in 1918. Before that, either the white-blue-red version was used, or just a red banner. Subsequently, it was refined and modified before becoming what most people know it: a red background and a crossed hammer and sickle in the upper left corner. This became the banner in 1924, and further amendments did not add anything essentially new. Each republic, which was part of the USSR, had its own variations of the flag, but it was the basic version that was taken as the basis.
Modern Russian flag
Since 1991, the white-blue-red banner has been used as the state flag. It remains so to this day. There are many interpretations of what the Russian flag means. The most common interpretation of colors is as follows. White - frankness and nobility, blue - honesty, loyalty, chastity and impeccability, and red - love, generosity, courage and courage. In other versions, the colors symbolize Great, White and Small Russia. There are many more lesser-known assumptions, according to one of which white symbolizes freedom, blue - the Mother of God, and red - power. It is also believed that such colors are traditional for the entire Slavic world. Of the modern flags of different powers, the banners of Azania (Somalia) and Slovenia are very similar to the Russian flag. In the latter, this symbol is almost identical, but in Somalia, instead of blue, it is rather turquoise or something similar to it that is used. Previously, similar colors and their similar arrangement were also found on the symbols of the Duchy of Carniola and Slovakia, but were later changed to more unique ones.
Outcomes
In general, the history of the flags of the Russian Federation is rather confusing, complex, has many contradictions and relatively little documentary evidence. It is incomprehensible the initial choice by Peter I of exactly such an arrangement and such colors of the flag. Despite the active use of this symbolism for a long time, in fact, it was officially approved relatively recently. It should be noted that most of the flags of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation bear little resemblance to the state symbol, and only some of them have similar colors. An interesting fact is that everyone, except for the Pskov region, has their own flag, although different administrative units that are part of it have their own insignia.
On December 1 (11), 1699, Tsar Peter I Alekseevich established the St. Andrew's flag as the official Russian naval flag. The main ship banner of the Russian Navy is a white, rectangular panel, crossed diagonally from corner to corner by two blue stripes that form an oblique cross. The tsar explained his choice by the fact that it was from the Apostle Andrew the First-Called that Russia first received holy baptism, and he became her heavenly patron, and thus, Peter wanted to immortalize the name of the saint.
The symbolism of the Andreevsky flag has deep roots. One of the disciples of Jesus Christ was Andrew - the brother of the Apostle Peter (Cephas, the former Simon), the patron saint of Tsar Peter I. According to the Gospel, both brothers fished on Lake Galilee, that is, they were directly related to the sea. Andrew was first called by Jesus Christ to be a disciple and therefore was called the First-Called. According to some sources, Andrew was sent for missionary work in Scythia (Northern Black Sea region). A number of Russian sources report the journey of the apostle from Crimea to Rome through Ladoga. It is said that Andrew, having made a stop on the heights of the Dnieper, where Kiev would be founded, told his disciples that the grace of God would shine here and a great city would be founded. He climbed the hills, blessed them, and raised the cross. Then he visited the northern lands of Russia, marveling at the custom of the Slavs, who washed themselves in the baths, beat themselves with "young rods", doused themselves with kvass and ice water. Some sources report about the further journey of the Apostle Andrew to the north, where he put up a cross near the present village of Gruzino on the banks of the Volkhov, to Lake Ladoga and a visit to the island of Valaam. At the same time, it should be noted that many authors, including Orthodox Church historians, question the existence of this journey.
One thing is certain, the Apostle Andrew became famous as a tireless traveler and preacher of Christianity. The missionary's work was closely related to the sea. The Golden Legend (a collection of Christian legends and the lives of saints, written in the 13th century) reports on the salvation and even resurrection of 40 travelers who were sent to the apostle by sea, but were destroyed by a storm (in another version, it is reported about the calming of the sea by prayer). This can explain the veneration of Andrew the First-Called as the patron saint of sailors. His life was completed with a martyr's death - crucifixion on an oblique cross (which received the name of the apostle).
The veneration in the Russian state of the Apostle Andrew and the special attitude of Tsar Peter Alekseevich towards him was also expressed in the fact that in 1698 the first Russian order was established - the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called. The main part of the order was the image of the Apostle Andrew, crucified on an oblique cross. The St. Andrew's Order on the Blue Ribbon until 1917 remained the main and most revered award in the Russian Empire (since 1998, the highest award of the Russian Federation). It should also be noted that the symbolism of the Andreevsky flag came from Peter's father, Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, who established a special flag for the ship “Eagle” built with him - a white-blue-red cloth with a two-headed worm-eagle.
Having become tsar, Petr Alekseevich paid great attention to the development of designs for the flag of the Russian fleet. So, in 1692, two sketches were created. One - with three horizontal stripes and caption: "white", "blue", and "red". The second drawings - the same colors are indicated with the "superimposed" on them the St. Andrew's cross. In 1693 and 1695, the flag of the second project was included in a number of European atlases as the “flag of Muscovy”. I must say that in search of the final version of the naval flag of Russia, the tsar went through about 30 projects in two decades. In August 1693, Tsar Peter raised St. Peter ”is a flag of three horizontal stripes (white, blue and red) with a golden eagle in the center. From this point on, the development of the naval flag of the Russian state can be traced. Unfortunately, there is no information about the banners under which the boats of Russian soldiers sailed in the first millennium AD, the ships of Novgorod merchants and ushkuiniks sailed. Although it can be assumed that Russian military banners were red from the earliest antiquity.
In 1696, during the second siege of the Turkish fortress of Azov, Russian ships carried a flag with a blue straight cross and white and red quarters at the stern. However, the very next year, Tsar Peter instituted a new navy flag of three horizontal stripes - white, blue and red, actually returning to the 1693 version. Under this flag, the ship "Fortress" sailed to Constantinople in 1699 with the first official diplomatic mission of the Russian navy. At the same time, the Russian sovereign, who had just returned from a trip to Western Europe, continued to search for a drawing of the naval flag of Russia. In the fall of 1699, for the first time on the white-blue-red cloth, the "Andreev's" oblique blue cross appears - a sign of the patron saint of Russia, the Apostle Andrew the First-Called. It was also placed by the tsar in the white head of the tricolor pennant known since 1697, which existed under the name "ordinary" until 1870.
In 1700, Tsar Peter examined the engravings and drawings of the 58-gun ship "Goto Predestination" ("Divine Foresight"). The engravings by Adrian Schhonebek and the watercolor by Bergman depict the warship with six different flags! One of the views shows a flag with nine horizontal stripes of white, blue and red in succession; on the other - a white-blue-red flag with three horizontal stripes (version of 1697); on the third - a flag of seven stripes, on the wide white central stripe of which there is a black St. Andrew's cross, above this stripe there are narrow white, blue and red stripes, and below it there are narrow blue, white and red stripes. However, the tsar believes that the 1697 flag is outdated, and the nine-stripe banner is hard to read and, moreover, is very similar to the Dutch flag of the rear admiral. The Tsar is satisfied with the flags in the drawings: white, blue and red with St. Andrew's blue cross in the upper quarter of the flag at the flagpole. This system was similar to that adopted in the English navy. At the same time, the flags of the galley fleet were established, which differed from ship flags by the presence of plaits (the ends of the flag in the form of right-angled triangles). In addition, white, blue and red pennants began to be raised on the masts of the ships, in the white head of which was placed the blue St. Andrew's cross. The blue and red flags and pennants, which were sometimes canceled and reintroduced, generally lasted until 1865. The white flag received a new design already in 1710 - the blue St. Andrew's cross was moved to the center of the cloth and seemed to hang in it without touching the ends of the flag. The familiar image of the St. Andrew's flag took on in 1712: a white flag with a blue St. Andrew's cross. In this form, this flag existed in the Russian Navy until November 1917.
Since 1720, on the bowsprit of the ships of the Russian fleet, the jack began to rise - a special flag that was previously used as the flag of sea fortresses and was called the "keyser-flag". The red cloth was crossed not only by an oblique blue cross, but also by a straight white cross. It is believed to have appeared in 1701. Until 1720, Russian ships carried a smaller copy of the stern flag as a jack. The word "guys" has an interesting one: it comes from the Dutch "gueuze", that is, a beggar. So in the 16th century they called the inhabitants of the Netherlands who rebelled against Spanish rule. The largest group of Gueuze fought at sea ("Sea Gueuze") and began to use this flag for the first time.
Guys, the flag of the sea fortresses.
The supremacy of the white flag, with the blue St. Andrew's cross, was finally enshrined in the Charter of 1797: "If the ships are not numbered anywhere, they carry white flags." At the same time, the ships of the Russian Black Sea Fleet from its foundation until 1918 sailed only under the white Andreev flags. Colored - blue and red flags were abolished during the reign of Anna Ioannovna and Catherine the Great. From 1797 to 1801 (during the reign of Pavel Petrovich), in the canties (the upper quarter of the flag at the flagpole) of the blue and red flags, from 1797 to 1801 (during the reign of Pavel Petrovich), they placed not the Andreev flag, but a jack, which for Emperor Paul I, who since childhood had the title of admiral-general, had special meaning as a personal sign. It should be noted that it was Tsar Pavel Petrovich who turned the old flags and banners from items of clothing allowance into military relics. In addition, under Tsar Paul, some Russian ships for some time raised the red and white cross of the Johannites. This flag was created as the stern mark of the Maltese squadrons created by the newly minted head of the Order of Malta. On December 16, 1798, Paul I was elected Grand Master of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem and planned to create a fleet based in Malta to ensure the interests of the Russian Empire in the Mediterranean and southern Europe. The flag was abolished after the death of Pavel Petrovich.
In the 19th century, several more new stern flags will appear in the Russian Empire. So, back in 1797, the ships of the Naval Cadet Corps received a special stern flag, where the coat of arms of the educational institution was placed in the center of the Andreevsky flag in a red oval. And on the mainmast the ships of this educational institution began to raise "ordinary" pennants with tricolor plaits. Since 1827, ships of training naval crews received the right to raise a special flag, where there was an image of a cannon and an anchor (they were also placed in a red oval). Received their stern flags and hydrographic vessels of the Russian Imperial Navy. In 1828, the flag "for sailing" was established, on the Andreev flag in the center there was a drawing of a black compass coil with a gold anchor pointing to the north. True, already in 1837 this flag was replaced by the flag of the hydrograph general, established in 1829. It had the same black compass coil, but in a blue small canopy. In addition, in 1815-1833. there was also a stern flag for the ships of the Vistula military flotilla (Flag of the warships of the Kingdom of Poland). It was St. Andrew's flag with a small red canopy, in which a white Polish eagle was placed. This flag was canceled after the defeat of the Polish Uprising of 1830-1831.
Flag of the General-Hydrograph of the General Staff. Flag of ships intended for sailing.
Until 1797, auxiliary vessels of the navy of the Russian Empire carried a tricolor flag at the stern, and a jack on the bowsprit. From 1794 to 1804, auxiliary ships were distinguished by a military pennant. And since May 1804, they received a special flag with a white or blue cloth, with a canopy of national colors (white-blue-red) and crossed anchors under it. In addition, the armed transport carried a military pennant at the same time. All of these flags were canceled in 1865.
The St. George pennant is a tricolor pennant with the St. George the Victorious, was established in 1819. He began to distinguish the guards crew, which earned this honor in the battle of the city of Kulm in 1813. Other differences that distinguished senior officials were the St. George admiral's flag (it had the St. Andrew's flag, but with the red shield of St. George the Victorious), the St. George's braid pennant and the rear admiral's boat flag. In addition, during the Russian-Turkish war of 1828-1829. In battles with the Turks, the 74-gun ship of the line Azov (the hero of the Navarino battle) and the 18-gun brig Mercury (defeated two Turkish ships of the line) especially distinguished themselves; they were marked with the admiral's flags of St. George, which were raised as stern. In the entire subsequent history of the Russian Empire, no other warship of the Russian fleet received such an award.
With the development of the country, there have been changes in the flags of the navy. In 1865, blue and red flags and pennants were canceled due to their uselessness. Also canceled and all, except for Andreevsky, stern flags. In 1870, boat flags became the topmast flags of the admirals, and the "ordinary" pennant was eliminated, under which the ships that were not assigned to any part floated. The St. George pennant received white plaits instead of the tricolor ones. In the same year, the stern flag of the auxiliary vessels of the Russian Navy became the blue flag, which had the image of the Andreev flag in the canopy. In addition, as the armed forces develop, flags of ships of naval fortresses, new flags of officials, ships of individual units, ships of a separate Border Guard Corps, and naval flags appear.
The 1917 revolution brought new symbols. Red cloths were raised next to St. Andrew's flags. Since the spring of 1918, the raising of the Andreev flag on the ships of Soviet Russia was stopped. At the end of 1924, Andreev's flags were also lowered on the ships of the White fleet in Bizerte (the ships were laid down for the French, they would soon be put on pins and needles). Guys and the fortress flag, with some changes - in the central part of the banner in a white circle, a red star with a sickle and a hammer in the middle was depicted, existed until 1932. In addition, during the Second World War, the symbolism of the Andreevsky flag was used by the collaborationist units of General Vlasov.
On January 17, 1992, the Russian government adopted a resolution that returned the status of the Russian Naval Flag to the St.Andrew's flag. As a result, the pre-revolutionary St. Andrew's flag and jack were restored in the Russian Navy and are still in effect.