Russian flags. What does the Russian flag mean?

The flags have a very interesting, albeit not very long history. The squeeze and banners with which the soldiers went to battle in ancient times performed this role before the Russian flag appeared. Today any schoolboy recognizes his photo. What is the history of this symbol of Russia, what colors are closest to her, and what they designate, is described in the article.

Flags of the world

Each state of the planet has its own symbols that distinguish one country from another. Among them are flags as the main attributes of statehood. All colors and elements are not accidental, but have a special meaning, which personifies something significant, connected with the history of this or that country. Sometimes citizens do not always know by heart the hymn and all the details of the emblem of their state. However, the flag, no doubt, everyone knows.

The first flags, in fact, appeared, although they were called differently, more than three thousand years ago. For example, Genghis Khan was supposed to tie a pony tail to the tip of a spear.

Today the national flag is various forms of cloth with the image of symbols, coats of arms, drawings, stripes.

The country's navy may have the same flag as the state flag, and may differ from it completely. There is also a flag of the merchant navy, or, in other words, a commercial flag. Hanged at the stern of ships, they demonstrate statehood.

In the depths of centuries of Russian history

In antiquity, as early as the pre-Christian and early Christian periods, banners and banners were used as flags. The "Lay of Igor's Campaign" described red banners and "bangs", as well as white banners. It is known that during the Battle of Kulikovo the main banner was a dark red cloth with an embroidered face of the Savior Not Made by Hands. With him, Ivan the Terrible in the sixteenth century made his campaign against Kazan.

The banners of the Streltsy regiments before, during and after the reign of Peter the Great were also red or using its shades.

The "Great banner" of Ivan the Terrible is widely known, in which the middle was of azure color, the slope is white, the rim is cowberry, and the space around the slope is poppy-colored. In the azure middle, a blue circle was embroidered, in which a Savior was on a white horse and wearing white clothes. Under the circle on the left side was the heavenly host. In the slope was also sewn a white circle, in which Archangel Michael was on a gold pegasus. In one hand is a sword, and in the other a cross. The whole escarpment was strewn with stars and crosses.

The first flag of the Russian Empire

Flags in the form in which we know them today, appeared in Europe at the turn of the sixteenth to seventeenth centuries. The need for their emergence was caused by the appearance of the fleet. Flags showed the belonging of ships to a particular state. However, at the time, the main character of the symbol was still the coat of arms.

In 1634 the embassy from the Duke of Frederick the Third arrived to the first Romanov dynasty tsar Mikhail Fyodorovich. Then it was decided to build ten ships on the Volga for a trip to Persia. And so, in 1636 the first ship called Frederick was launched. He did not last long, but went under the flag, reminiscent of the current Russian tricolor. Nevertheless, he received official status later.

The formation of the state Russian flag

In 1668 a ship was built, called "Eagle". A year before, the ship's commander had informed the tsar that it was necessary to make a flag for the ship, as it is done on ships of other states. Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich prepared the "Scripture on the commencement of signs and banners or prapors", in which images of the biblical twelve tribes of Israel and the flags of the then-existing maritime powers were quoted. It is known that, as a result, a tricolor of red, white and blue fabrics was sewn, as the colors of the flag of the Netherlands, but how it is - has not yet been clarified. Only the data that there was to be an image of eagles on the tricolor have survived.

In 1693, another tsar, Peter the First, traveling on a yacht with the twelve cannons "Saint Peter" raised the "flag of the Tsar of Moscow", consisting of identical bands of white, blue and red flowers, with a double-headed golden eagle in the middle. His original has survived to this day. It can be seen in the museum in St. Petersburg.

Peter the First had on his board and other flags. However, they did not like him, which, apparently, was caused by his love for Holland. Upon arrival in Rotterdam, Peter was waiting for a frigate. At the stern was hung the Dutch flag, which the king liked so much that he decided not to change it any more.

In addition to the "Flag of the Tsar of Moscow", Peter the First, following the European customs, introduced many other flags. Among them Naval Andreevsky, white-blue-red trade and so on.

However, the state status did not receive the symbol. But in 1883 tricolor was declared Russian or national folk, and in 1896 under Nicholas II it was officially confirmed as the flag of the Russian Empire and was that for thirty-four years.

Flag of the Romanov dynasty

In 1858 Alexander II by his decree introduced a black-yellow-white "coat of arms" flag. It is based on our heraldic tradition, where black is taken from the double-headed eagle, yellow - from the golden field of the coat of arms, and white was the color of St. George. In addition, the colors meant earth, gold and silver. The white-blue-red tricolor was then a commercial flag.

Entire decades of the second half of the nineteenth century, historians argued about what should be the flag of the Russian Empire. The pro-Western Russian intelligentsia experienced a warm love for the white-blue-red tricolor, and the so-called Russophiles sought recognition of black and yellow-white. Historians have argued that the tricolor of white, blue and red flowers has nothing to do with the Russian land. However, these arguments were not perceived. The liberals criticized the Russian state flag for its monarchical character, as well as the likeness of the German flag for a single top band.

When you look at this discussion after more than a century, it becomes clear that the left-liberal intelligentsia picked up the revolutionary French fever and dreamed of remaking Russia to European standards.

Alexander the Third did not dare for a long time because of his Russophile position, but in 1883 he still ordered the use of this tricolor, although black and yellow-white was not completely canceled.

There is evidence that Nicholas II wanted to return the flag of the dynasty, but it was decided to postpone it until the end of the First World War.

Flag of the Soviet Union

The original Russian red banner returned to Russia in a new capacity in the second half of the nineteenth century. It has become a symbol of the struggle for its rights of the oppressed. In 1876, a meeting was held at the Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg, where a red banner was raised . After the revolution, it was decided to recognize the ancient Russian flag, whose background was red. Tricolor has since become the embodiment of the white movement.

The red flag was approved in 1918. And after the Great Patriotic War, in 1947, it was decided to develop new republics in the Union republics, using the symbols of the State Flag of the Soviet Union. In the RSFSR it was approved in 1954.

Flag of Vlasovites

After the revolution of 1917, the Russian flag symbolized the monarchist volunteers. During the Great Patriotic War, he used the formation of Russians who fought on the side of Hitler. This, first of all, ROA, as well as the Russian Corps, KONR, Cossack Stan, the First Russian National Army.

The future state flag of the Russian Federation began to be used by the Democrats since 1988.

What should be the flag

What colors of the Russian flag could be? Discussions on this matter do not cease to this day. Some believe that the St. Andrew's flag could well become a state flag . It was created on the basis of the archer's banners. Others believe that the flag of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich with the cross could have become such, although there is no evidence that it existed in this form. More and more supporters appear at the flag of the Romanov dynasty - a black-yellow-white tricolor, which was a "coat of arms" in the second half of the nineteenth century.

Arguments for white-blue-red

Supporters of the tricolor believe that the colors of the Russian flag were taken from the Moscow coat of arms, which is the oldest in the territory of North-Eastern Russia. It depicts Saint George, clothed in a blue chain armor, a yellow cloak, on a white horse in a red field. Refer to the time of the reign of Alexei Tishayshey, when for the ship "Eagle" ordered white, blue and red fabrics. However, there is no document stating that there was a tricolor on the ship.

There is a testimony of Saint Theophanes the Recluse: he exclaimed that Russia will not perish until it changes its principles of being, namely, Orthodoxy, Autocracy and the People, which expressed the white-blue-red Russian flag. His photo turns out especially beautiful against the sky.

Arguments for white-yellow-black

Supporters of this tricolor give as arguments that it appeared from the eleventh to the sixteenth centuries on banners, icons and frescoes of churches, as evidenced by the annals. Widely known icon of four meters "Blessed is the host of the heavenly King," or "Church Militant," which also has a gold tricolor.

The golden tritium is associated with the victories of Russian soldiers, and with the white-blue-red tricolor - some defeats.

Arguments for the red

The adherents of the red flag say that it is the native Russian. Some are negatively affected by the fact that it was a symbol of communism under Soviet power. However, the history of the Russian flag is much older. And, probably, the most true is the fact that this flag is more connected with Russian history than other Russian flags. Russia has long been considered the heir of the Roman and Byzantine empires. Its capital, Moscow, was also called Third Rome. But the red and the Romans, and the Byzantines used also. This color symbolizes the victory, valor, courage and courage of the defenders of their country.

Russian flags (in the period of the empire and the Russian Federation)

For truly great and long history of the country, the symbolism changed cardinally or peacefully supplemented with something new. Today there is no clear description of what the Russian flag means. Therefore, everyone has the right to be inclined to one or another of his interpretations.
So, it is considered that white color means frankness and nobility, blue - honesty, fidelity and chastity, and red personifies courage, courage, generosity and love.

Otherwise, they interpret what the Russian flag means, those who correlate colors with the regions of the Russian Empire, where:

• White symbolized White Russia;
• Blue - Little Russia;
• Red - Great Russia.

Even in the Russian Empire, there was the following interpretation:

• White color personified freedom;
• Blue color - the Virgin;
• Red color - power.

Some associated colors with Orthodoxy, royal power and the symbol of the Russian people; And others with faith, hope and love.

Since 1994, the Day of the Russian Flag is celebrated in our country. It was approved by presidential decree on the twenty-second of August. This number is not connected with the valor of Russia and the Great Russian Empire. In 1991, during the August coup , the tricolor was officially raised over the White House. A few years later, on that date, the Day of the Russian Flag was celebrated.

Flag of Masons

Tricolor, consisting of white, blue and red flowers in various variations is sometimes called the Masonic flag. And vertical lines in kabalistic mean activity, and horizontal lines are passivity. Many Russian rulers were in Masonic lodges. Peter the First also joined this society. Conspiracy theorists believe that Freemasonry stands for civil revolutions and world wars. In the Netherlands, the first revolution took place. It was followed by France. And the Masons took up Russia, trying to subordinate it to their will.

Is it worth changing the flag

At different times in Russia, in the Russian Empire, the Soviet Union and Russia, the vision of the state's path changed, and people spread, and sometimes spread, certain values. Even the Russian flags changed depending on the policy pursued. Faith changed, and Russian people, being pagans, later became ardent supporters of Orthodoxy. The monarchical regime was replaced by the communist regime, and the proletarians of all countries tried to unite ... However, regardless of religion and faith, there was something unchangeable, impenetrable and unforgettable. This is the Russian spirit. His power is still present in people, it unites in especially difficult periods of people's life. Therefore, it does not matter what colors of the flag our state has, and what they mean for Masons and other similar structures. If it becomes Russian, then the deep folk wisdom, the Russian soul, independent of social knowledge and erudition, will endow it with its power.

Interestingly, in the light of recent events, the Russian flag showed itself on the Internet. In the United States in June 2015, a law was passed on the legalization of same-sex marriage. In the social network Facebook, after that, many people began to publish posts and avatars with the rainbow flag of LGBT. In our country in response to this, an action was launched in the same network, where Russian flags symbolized this time traditional values and a normal human family.