![[Naval ensign]](../images/a/ah~1894.gif)
image
by Željko Heimer, 29 September 2007
Last modified: 2014-04-12 by rob raeside
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This report concerns ensigns on Austrian (Hapsburg) ships. 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, 29 September 2007
Since 1786, the red-white-red triband remained in use - however, the exact,
precise design was apparently never made in a way we may like to see it these
days, so there are considerable variations regarding the artistic depiction of
the coat of arms and the crown in the preserved examples (and depictions of the
flag in the secondary sources).
The first modernization since 18th
century was made in the end of 1894. The new set of flags of the Imperial and
Royal Navy was established by Emperor Franz Joseph I on 23 December 1894, and
this is referred in literature as "1894 Muster" [L1].
Although the Empire
was dualised in 1867, the Navy retained the Austrian symbols, while the new
merchant flag introduced in 1869 already showed the Hungarian colours as well.
The change of the Josephinian ensign of 1786 was cosmetic only, simplifying and
standardising the drawing of the crown. The number of white pearls in the crown
was now fixed to eighteen, to represent the number of crown-lands of the Dual
Empire. The ratio is now for the first time clearly established to 2:3 for the
ships.
Željko Heimer,
29 September 2007
![[Jack]](../images/a/ah~1894j.gif)
image
by Željko Heimer, 29 September 2007
For the ensign for boats and for the jack the same flag design was prescribed
in lesser dimensions and in ratio 4:5.
Željko Heimer,
29 September 2007
![[Masthead pennant]](../images/a/ah~1894p.gif)
image
by Željko Heimer, 29 September 2007
The masthead pennant was prescribed to ratio 1:100.
Željko Heimer,
29 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
- [L1] Normal-Verordnung vom 11. Jänner 1895, P.K./M. S. Nr.
2978 ex 1894. Neue Standarten, Commando-Flaggen und Dienst-Flaggen. in: Normal-Verordnungsblatt
für die k. und k. Kriegs-Marine 1895: pp. 25-27 (+ plates)
- Baumgartner,
Lothar, 1979: "Zur Problematik der ungarischen Nationalflagge nach dem Ausgleich
(1867-1915)", Militaria Austriaca, VIII. Internationaler Kongress für
Vexillologie Sonderdruck, Gesellschaft für Österreichische Heereskunde, Wien,
pp. 5-12.
