![[Naval ensign]](../images/a/ah~1749t.gif)
image
by Željko Heimer, 28 September 2007
Last modified: 2013-07-27 by rob raeside
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This part of the report concerns ensigns on Austrian (Hapsburg) ships
before 1786. This report is heavily based on my paper prepared for the
XXI ICV in Buenos Aires, 2005 [Heimer, 2005]. It is to be noted that
these flags were not regulated with any precision of the design that
we may think of for flags today, so mostly only the general pattern was
followed (even when they were regulated more precisely). Also, the ensign was
the responsibility of the ship's captain and he was ordering it from a flag maker -
both the captain and maker took great liberty in interpreting the
design.
Željko Heimer, 24 September 2007
See also:
image
by Željko Heimer, 28 September 2007
After the dissolution of the Hapsburg fleet in 1730s, the next attempt of
Austrians to conquer the seas happened in the middle of the first half of the
18th century - Austria gained (by marriage) the Great Duchy of Toscana
(Tuscany), and in 1745 in Toscana was introduced a
Habsburg yellow flag with black double-headed eagle. I am not sure that
Jaume's image is quite correct - it should formally be without the black
stripes, even though the striped flag was probably also used.
Toscana had
signed treaties with a number of Barbary states in the Mediterranean protecting
her ships from their pirates. This was the usual practice at the time and such
tributes were being paid by other European nations – Great Britain, France and
Sweden [Neubecker, 1980]. To be able to use those privileges on the other
Habsburg ships Empress Maria Theresa intended to introduce a flag for Austria
similar to that of Toscana.
Due to a misunderstanding the flag prescribed
by Maria Theresa was never introduced [Lehnert, 1886; Baumgartner, 1977], but
the flag identical to that of Toscana was used instead: on a yellow field an
imperial double-headed eagle with an imperial crown above the heads and holding
in its claws a sword and a sceptre. [Khuepach, 1941; Neubecker, 1939]
Željko Heimer, 28 September 2007
![[17th Century ensign]](../images/a/ah~1749.gif)
image
by Željko Heimer, 28 September 2007
The flag prescribed by the order of the Empress Maria Theresia on 29 November
1749 was visually only a little different, but the difference was essential: the
eagle was without the sword and the sceptre and was crowned with the Hungarian
royal crown.
Željko Heimer, 28 September 2007
![[Masthead pennant]](../images/a/ah~1749p.gif)
image
by Željko Heimer, 28 September 2007
To the black-golden masthead pennant the square golden patch with the black
eagle was added at the hoist. [Baumgartner, 1977]
Željko Heimer, 24 September 2007
Sources:
- Baumgartner, Lothar, 1977: Die Entwicklung der
Österreichischen Marineflagge, Militaria Austriaca, Gesellschaft für Österreichische
Heereskunde, Wien, p. 29
- Heimer, Željko, 2005: The Naval Flags on the
Eastern Adriatic, XXI ICV Buenos Aires Vexillobaires 2005 (proceedings in
print)
- Khuepach, Arthur von, 1941: "Interessantes aus der
Österreichisch-ungarischen Kriegsmarine", Marine-Rundschau, nr. 46,
Münch,
Bonn, p. 301
- Lehnert, Josef von, 1886: "Beiträge zur Geschichte der k. k.
Flagge. Vortrag, gehalten im militär-wissenschaftlichen Verein zu Wien am
13. März 1885", Organ der militär-wissenschaftlichen Vereine, nr. 31,
Mayer, Wien, pp. 3-4
- Novak, Grga, 2004b: "Jadransko more u sukobima i
borbama kroz stolječa II. Od 1409. godine do Drugog svjetskog rata", Marjan
tisak, Split
