![[Coronation flag]](../images/h/hr_c830.gif)
Last modified: 2014-03-08 by ivan sache
Keywords: habsburg | coronation flag | slavonia | ferdinand v | franz-jospeh i |
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The flags used in the Habsburg coronation ceremonies held in the town of Bratislava, then called Pozsony in Hungarian and Požun in Croatian, are presented by Jelena Borošak-Marijanović [bor96], from the Croatian Historical Museum, Zagreb, as follows:
Coronation flags of the Kingdoms.
Even if we have in our collection only two flags of that type, the flag of the Kingdom of Croatia (inv. No. 11752) and the flag of the Kingdom of Slavonia (inv. No. 37100), made in the 19th century, they are important sources because they illustrate ion a symbolic way the place and position of the Croatian Kingdom within the Habsburg crown lands. The flags were made with a particular goal, for the coronation ceremony of the Habsburg Emperor as the Croatian and Hungarian king. In that occasion they symbolized the Triune Kingdom of Croatia, Slavonia and Dalmatia. The Croatian bans [Viceroys] and the most important members of the Croatian nobility participated in the coronation ceremony.
Štefan Holčik (Korunovačné slávnosti Bratislava 1563-1830, 1986) reports that Ban Nikola IV Zrinski with his sons Juraj and Krsto, accompanied with 168 riders, attended the coronation of Maximilian (1564-1576) as the Croatian and Hungarian King, held on 8 September 1563 in Požun (today Bratislava). On the occasion Nikola Zrinski carryed the royal orb, while the other noblemen carried the flags of the Kingdoms; Ladislav Bánffy carried the flag of the Kingdom of Croatia and Nikola Báthory that of the Kingdom of Dalmatia. Matija Keglevia carried the flag of Bulgaria, as the tradition says that the Keglevia family comes from that country.
In the coronation of Ferdinand II, held on 1 July 1618, Ban Nikola Frankopan carried the royal scepter and Count Krsto Erdedi (Erdödy) carried the flag of the Kingdom of Slavonia. The illustrations of the coronation in Požun (Holčik, p. 18) are preserved as graphic prints. On a contemporary print showing the coronation of Leopold I on 26 June 1655 are pictured dignitaries with the flags of the Kingdom of Croatia and of the Kingdom of Dalmatia (Holčik, p. 18).The coronation flags of the Kingdoms were made according to a determined principle; they were in the shape of a cavalry flag (so-called swallow-tail) just as were the Ban's installation flags and have painted on them heraldic device and inscription. On the obverse is the name of the ruler being crowned and the date, while on the reverse is the coat of arms and the name of the Kingdom. The flag's field is bordered with a fringe and along the edges it is ornamented with painted vegetable border (Holčik, p. 49).
The print of Leopold I's coronation is shown from the collection of the museum, as not colored, to be compared with the colored version, probably colored afterwards and, possibly, by someone who had not attended the ceremony and had to "guess" the colors.
In particular, it may be noted that the field of the Croatian flag, the third from "top", is checky while all others are multistriped in various directions. It would be interesting to identify each of the flags.
Željko Heimer, 9 June 2001
Ferdinand V's coronation flag, 1830 (reverse) - Image by Željko Heimer, 9 June 2001
Quoting Jelena Borošak-Marijanović [bor96]:
Coronation flag of the Kingdom of Croatia, 1830.
Yellow silk damast, soft fringe, painting size 131 x 200 cm, staff 290 cm.
Swallow-tailed flag with painted coat of arms, inscription and vegetal ornamentation.
Obverse: On the flag's field, horizontal inscription in Latin: "FERDINANDUS V. / IN / REGEM HUNGARIAE / CORONATUS POSONII / DIE ... SEPT. / 1830."
Reverse: In the middle of the flag's field, a crowned coat of arms of Croatia and above it inscription "CROATIAE".
The flag was made for the coronation ceremony of Ferdinand V in Požun. The staff is painted spirally red white green, and the finial has not been preserved.
This flag was also reproduced on a Croatian phone card (photo).
Željko Heimer, 9 June 2001
Quoting Jelena Borošak-Marijanović [bor96]:
Coronation flag of the Kingdom of Slavonia, 1867.
Silk damask, soft furnishing, painting size 80 x 120 cm.
Cavalry flag on both sides ornamented in golden paint.
Obverse: In the middle of the flag's field a crowned coat of arms of Slavonia and above it inscription "SLAVONIAE". Border ornamented.
Reverse: "FRANCISCVS JOSEPHVS I. / IN REGEM HVNGARIAE CORONATVS / BUDAE PESTINI / DIE VIII. IVNII. / MDCCCLXVII."
The delegation of the Croatian Parliament was not present on the coronation in [Buda]Pest in 1867.
Željko Heimer, 9 June 2001
