Flag of Liechtenstein

Principality of Liechtenstein

Use	Civil and state flag
Proportion	3:5
Adopted	30 June 1982
Design	A horizontal bicolour of blue and red, charged with a gold crown in the canton

The national flag of the Principality of Liechtenstein (German: Flagge Liechtensteins) consists of two horizontal bands, one blue and one red, charged with a gold crown in the canton. In use since 1764 and officially enshrined into the nation's constitution in 1921, it has been the flag of the principality since that year. The crown was added to the flag in 1937 after the country found out at the Summer Olympics held the previous year that their flag was identical to the civil flag of Haiti.

History

When flown vertically, the crown on the flag is rotated so that it always faces upwards.

Liechtenstein was formed in 1719 as a principality within the Holy Roman Empire and gained complete independence in 1866. Within this period, the colours blue and red were selected to feature on the flag, instead of the gold and red on the coat of arms that would have customarily been employed instead. These new livery colours were first utilized by Prince Joseph Wenzel I in 1764.

A new constitution for the Principality was formulated and proclaimed in October 1921. It made the blue and red banner the national flag by granting it "official status". Fifteen years later, during the 1936 Summer Olympics, the country came to the realization that its flag was identical to the flag of Haiti (Haiti took part in the Opening Ceremony but its sole athlete did not compete). Because of this finding, the government added the prince's crown to the canton. This change served two purposes – to signify Liechtenstein's position as a principality, and to distinguish its flag from Haiti's. This modified design was adopted on 24 June 1937.

Design

Construction

Construction sheet for the flag of Liechtenstein

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  3:5

• 

  3:2

• 

  Pennant

• 

  Vertical

Symbolism

The colours and symbols of the flag carry cultural, political, and regional meanings. The blue represents the sky, while red alludes to the "evening fires" that are lit inside houses throughout the country. The crown is gold or yellow in colour.

Color scheme

Colors scheme	Blue	Red	Yellow	Black
RAL	5010	3020	1016	9005
CMYK	100-70-0-50	0-96-84-19	0-15-77-0	0-0-0-100
HEX	#002780	#CF0921	#FFD93B	#000000
RGB	0-39-128	207-9-33	255-217-59	0-0-0

Other flags of Liechtenstein

Government flags

Flag	Duration	Use	Description
	1912-1957	Standard of the Prince of Liechtenstein
	1957-1982	Standard of the Prince of Liechtenstein
	1982-present	Standard of the Prince of Liechtenstein
	1982-present	Standard of the Government of Liechtenstein
		Banner of the Princely House of Liechtenstein
		Pennant
		Vertical

Municipal flags

Each of the eleven municipalities has its own flag.

Flag	Municipality		Adopted	Description
		Balzers
		Eschen
		Gamprin
		Mauren
		Planken
		Ruggell
		Schaan
		Schellenberg
		Triesen
		Triesenberg
		Vaduz

Historical flags

Flag	Duration	Use	Description
	Unknown-1719	Flag of the Lordship of Schellenberg
	Unknown-1719	Flag of the County of Vaduz
	1719–1852	Flag of the Principality of Liechtenstein	Two horizontal gold and red bands at 3:5 proportions
	1852–1921	Flag of the Principality of Liechtenstein	Two vertical blue and red bands at 3:5 proportions
	1921–1937	Flag of the Principality of Liechtenstein	Two horizontal blue and red bands at 3:5 proportions
	1937–1982	Flag of the Principality of Liechtenstein	Two horizontal blue and red bands at 3:5 proportions, and princely crown in the canton

External links

• Liechtenstein at Flags of the World
• Original Law text (in German)