Weekly Flag Challenge: Discussion & Entries
- Thread starter Transparent Blue
- Start date
Which leaves mine lying somewhere in the gutter waiting for the spinning to stop...
Federal Republic of Southern Cameroons
When the Southern Cameroons, or Ambazonia, gains recognized independence from Cameroon, now Cameroun, they change their flag a bit to make it "prettier".
The colors and stuff stand for the same things, it's just the design that they change.
When the Southern Cameroons, or Ambazonia, gains recognized independence from Cameroon, now Cameroun, they change their flag a bit to make it "prettier".
The colors and stuff stand for the same things, it's just the design that they change.
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Wow, this is an attractively simple flag. Nice job getting something that's good-looking without much flair.
An incorrigible Flag Challenger Elder's response:
Originally the entry phase & voting phase were to last a week together.
That proved unworkable and the entry phase extended to a week with a poll also a week long.
Most people stick roughly to the week-to-enter and week-to-vote format but we do have the occasional slip up as in the current poll - I admit I didn't notice that he'd set it to last 2 days even though he mentions it in the first post.
I suggest in future we all add a following tagline to our Challenges, roughly:
This Challenge closes on day-month.
Poll will up the following day and close on day-month.
jkarr, we have changed the length of the making and voting of the flags. They are now decided by each week's challenge-writer, based on the experience of how well each timeframe worked for the previous challenges.
The confusion arises because there's a one week time limit for editing posts, and these threads were started in 2009. I would change the original post to reflect rule changes we decide on, but that isn't an option unfortunately.
The confusion arises because there's a one week time limit for editing posts, and these threads were started in 2009. I would change the original post to reflect rule changes we decide on, but that isn't an option unfortunately.
I'll go first with Iserlohn's Challenge 
:
The FreeState of Lümborg
The FreeState derives from the Hanseatic Colony of Alexander-von-Lümborg-Stadt founded on the east coast of North America by the merchant families of Lübeck (primarily the wealthy Von-Lümborg/Lüneburg) and Kiel.
Like all members of the Hanseatic Federation, the City Merchants flew their Cityflag attached to the white-red quarters of the HF.
With the fracturing of the Federation following the loss of much of its European territory, Lümborg went independent, surviving amidst the major European powers by trading with all and remaining steadfastly neutral in most major conflicts.
The current FreeState flag is based on that of the City and shows its Von-Lümborg Family and Holsteiner heritage with 3 black towers on a field of white with a red embattled border.
[EDIT: following the texture herd...]
:The FreeState of Lümborg
The FreeState derives from the Hanseatic Colony of Alexander-von-Lümborg-Stadt founded on the east coast of North America by the merchant families of Lübeck (primarily the wealthy Von-Lümborg/Lüneburg) and Kiel.
Like all members of the Hanseatic Federation, the City Merchants flew their Cityflag attached to the white-red quarters of the HF.
With the fracturing of the Federation following the loss of much of its European territory, Lümborg went independent, surviving amidst the major European powers by trading with all and remaining steadfastly neutral in most major conflicts.
The current FreeState flag is based on that of the City and shows its Von-Lümborg Family and Holsteiner heritage with 3 black towers on a field of white with a red embattled border.
[EDIT: following the texture herd...]
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Here's my (edited) entry:
Republik der Hanse
With the defeat of the Swedish Empire in 1567 after Herluf Trolle sank the Swedish navy at the battle of Gotland-Oland and Eric XIV of the Danes stormed Stockholm, a major threat to the Hansa was removed, but a new one much closer to home was born: Denmark. In 1590, the long-contested territory of Holstein was invaded by the Danes. In 1592, the Duke of Holstein won a much-needed victory, prompting the rest of the Hansa member-states to join in. By 1594, the combined Hansa armies had driven the Danish over the border, and by 1595 Schleswig was overrun and the King was suing for peace. The Hanse had surprised itself; Denmark had defeated an Empire and its allies, become the most powerful Baltic nation, yet it had been defeated by a trade union. The trade union in question decided that it would stand a better chance as a united, centralized kingdom. At the Slesvig Duke's palace, the Treaty of Daneverke was signed in 1596, stripping the Danes of the southern portion of Slesvig/Schleswig. In 1599, 3 days before new year's, the Hansa member-states were united as the Kingdom of the Hanse...
In 1789, low wages and a terrible winter led to a revolt of the Kiel and Heinrichshafen (OTL Wilhelmshafen) dockworkers. The King, who was quickly losing his popularity, was forced to convene the old Trader's Council, but changed his mind at the last minute. Furious, the Council began a revolution that ended in the execution of the King in 1805 and the formation of the Republik der Hanse...
The Republik der Hanse, under a new representative government, set about expanding its trade routes and empire. While it did not have many dedicated warships, its "Trader Navy" had enough clout to drive the British from Ceylon during the 1854 Tea War between the French coalition and the British Empire over India. Trade routes were expanded, and by 1900, the RDH controlled Ceylon, Norway, Southwest Africa, pieces of China, and the Suddeman Islands (OTL Bismarck Islands). They held a monopoly over the major trade routes in the Atlantic, as they had the most powerful navy in the world. The Republik defeated the Russians in the 1907 Courland War, proving itself as one of the best military powerhouses in the world...
Excerpt from Pgs 25,41, and 55 of
The Trader-Nation by Johann Welch
University of Berlin
The blue stripes on the flag represent the maritime tradition of the Republik, while the white stripe shows the peaceful nature of its tradition. The castle in the center shows the eternal strength and unity of the state, and the crossed key and sword represent Hansers' willingness to fight for their homes and property. Circa 1991, the flag has been inscribed with the motto "Freiheit und Handel," or Freedom and Trade.
Republik der Hanse
With the defeat of the Swedish Empire in 1567 after Herluf Trolle sank the Swedish navy at the battle of Gotland-Oland and Eric XIV of the Danes stormed Stockholm, a major threat to the Hansa was removed, but a new one much closer to home was born: Denmark. In 1590, the long-contested territory of Holstein was invaded by the Danes. In 1592, the Duke of Holstein won a much-needed victory, prompting the rest of the Hansa member-states to join in. By 1594, the combined Hansa armies had driven the Danish over the border, and by 1595 Schleswig was overrun and the King was suing for peace. The Hanse had surprised itself; Denmark had defeated an Empire and its allies, become the most powerful Baltic nation, yet it had been defeated by a trade union. The trade union in question decided that it would stand a better chance as a united, centralized kingdom. At the Slesvig Duke's palace, the Treaty of Daneverke was signed in 1596, stripping the Danes of the southern portion of Slesvig/Schleswig. In 1599, 3 days before new year's, the Hansa member-states were united as the Kingdom of the Hanse...
In 1789, low wages and a terrible winter led to a revolt of the Kiel and Heinrichshafen (OTL Wilhelmshafen) dockworkers. The King, who was quickly losing his popularity, was forced to convene the old Trader's Council, but changed his mind at the last minute. Furious, the Council began a revolution that ended in the execution of the King in 1805 and the formation of the Republik der Hanse...
The Republik der Hanse, under a new representative government, set about expanding its trade routes and empire. While it did not have many dedicated warships, its "Trader Navy" had enough clout to drive the British from Ceylon during the 1854 Tea War between the French coalition and the British Empire over India. Trade routes were expanded, and by 1900, the RDH controlled Ceylon, Norway, Southwest Africa, pieces of China, and the Suddeman Islands (OTL Bismarck Islands). They held a monopoly over the major trade routes in the Atlantic, as they had the most powerful navy in the world. The Republik defeated the Russians in the 1907 Courland War, proving itself as one of the best military powerhouses in the world...
Excerpt from Pgs 25,41, and 55 of
The Trader-Nation by Johann Welch
University of Berlin
The blue stripes on the flag represent the maritime tradition of the Republik, while the white stripe shows the peaceful nature of its tradition. The castle in the center shows the eternal strength and unity of the state, and the crossed key and sword represent Hansers' willingness to fight for their homes and property. Circa 1991, the flag has been inscribed with the motto "Freiheit und Handel," or Freedom and Trade.
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interesting design, but i think the challenge had the hanseatic league stay strong through til the modern age and never collpsed like it did otl...thats what i got from the wording
The Faroe Islands
“Following the 2nd Danish-Hansa war (1407-1412), the Hanseatic League not only reaffirmed their previous treaties with Denmark and Norway (as well as gaining control over the Swedish fishing industry), but also gained several territories, the most important of them (although not at the time) being the Faroe Islands (which had come under Danish possession during the formation of the Kalmar union).
Initially the islands were seen merely as a stop over in trade routes with the British Isles, and for allowing competition with the southern markets, and so control over the islands were passed between the various cities inside the league, until coming under control of the city of Greifswald, which began the first major development of the islands (mainly by sending colonists to diminish the native Norse inhabitants), seeing its largely untapped fishing areas as a good investment, a foresight was to pay off during the next centuries.
The 3rd Danish-Hansa war (1427-1430) saw the islands used as a staging ground for shipping and troop movements against the Norse colonies on Iceland and the far flung Greenland, allowing the Greifswald council to allocate funds to building a better harbor in the chains main city, Tórsahavr, and greater shipping facilities on the islands, which turned out to be another profitable expense for the city. During the raids against the Greenland colonies, several Hanseatic ships, under command of Eric Lange (a merchantman turned pirate) were blown off course going missing for nigh on 2 years, until, after the war (resulting in the break up of the Kalmar Union), in 1432, he returned to Lubeck claiming he had landed, and rediscovered, the “fabled” lost colonies of Vinland (in actuality its more likely they had landed on Newfoundland), and had explored large tracts of new western land alongst its coast. This report promoted several expeditions to explore this new land (then dubbed “New Hansa” at the time), and once again, the Faroe Islands proved a important staging point for these explorations, leading to its eventual importance as a trading and staging point for the later Hanseatic colonies along (future) North Hansaria, which also lead to its large economic importance within the League (resulting in its population going from just under a thousand, to 3 thousand by the end of the 15th centuary).
After the Hanseatic League becoming a fully fledged nation, independent of the Holy Roman Empire (during several wars of independence and expansion in Europe (See “Hanseatic Rebellion”), the Faroe Islands became one of its most important trade stations, resulting in its district capital, Tórshavr (although still under Greifswaldian control), becoming a free city and a important commerce center and port city of the first of the Hansa´s “Black ships“ (all the nation’s new fleet was painted black in order to distinguish from any enemies). By the beginning of the 19th centuary however the Faroe Islands started to lose their prominence to the colonies they once supplied (thanks to the colonies becoming more stable) and so, in 1832, after 5 years of negotiations, Greifswaldian administration was ended, and the Faroe Islands gained status as a official member state within the Hanseatic League.”
Excerpt of Page 22-23
“Expansion of the Hansa” , by Prof. Karl von Launburg (1957)
Ed. Alcastor-Barnes
“Following the 2nd Danish-Hansa war (1407-1412), the Hanseatic League not only reaffirmed their previous treaties with Denmark and Norway (as well as gaining control over the Swedish fishing industry), but also gained several territories, the most important of them (although not at the time) being the Faroe Islands (which had come under Danish possession during the formation of the Kalmar union).
Initially the islands were seen merely as a stop over in trade routes with the British Isles, and for allowing competition with the southern markets, and so control over the islands were passed between the various cities inside the league, until coming under control of the city of Greifswald, which began the first major development of the islands (mainly by sending colonists to diminish the native Norse inhabitants), seeing its largely untapped fishing areas as a good investment, a foresight was to pay off during the next centuries.
The 3rd Danish-Hansa war (1427-1430) saw the islands used as a staging ground for shipping and troop movements against the Norse colonies on Iceland and the far flung Greenland, allowing the Greifswald council to allocate funds to building a better harbor in the chains main city, Tórsahavr, and greater shipping facilities on the islands, which turned out to be another profitable expense for the city. During the raids against the Greenland colonies, several Hanseatic ships, under command of Eric Lange (a merchantman turned pirate) were blown off course going missing for nigh on 2 years, until, after the war (resulting in the break up of the Kalmar Union), in 1432, he returned to Lubeck claiming he had landed, and rediscovered, the “fabled” lost colonies of Vinland (in actuality its more likely they had landed on Newfoundland), and had explored large tracts of new western land alongst its coast. This report promoted several expeditions to explore this new land (then dubbed “New Hansa” at the time), and once again, the Faroe Islands proved a important staging point for these explorations, leading to its eventual importance as a trading and staging point for the later Hanseatic colonies along (future) North Hansaria, which also lead to its large economic importance within the League (resulting in its population going from just under a thousand, to 3 thousand by the end of the 15th centuary).
After the Hanseatic League becoming a fully fledged nation, independent of the Holy Roman Empire (during several wars of independence and expansion in Europe (See “Hanseatic Rebellion”), the Faroe Islands became one of its most important trade stations, resulting in its district capital, Tórshavr (although still under Greifswaldian control), becoming a free city and a important commerce center and port city of the first of the Hansa´s “Black ships“ (all the nation’s new fleet was painted black in order to distinguish from any enemies). By the beginning of the 19th centuary however the Faroe Islands started to lose their prominence to the colonies they once supplied (thanks to the colonies becoming more stable) and so, in 1832, after 5 years of negotiations, Greifswaldian administration was ended, and the Faroe Islands gained status as a official member state within the Hanseatic League.”
Excerpt of Page 22-23
“Expansion of the Hansa” , by Prof. Karl von Launburg (1957)
Ed. Alcastor-Barnes
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Aw man, finally a challenge up my alley and I only discover it when there's only about two days left until the deadline.
Still, two days or so should be plenty if I can think of something good. Nice entries so far, by the way. The Professor's entry is my current favourite.
Still, two days or so should be plenty if I can think of something good. Nice entries so far, by the way. The Professor's entry is my current favourite.
Right, here's my entry. Wouldn't say it's very interesting, or inspired for that matter, but I am relatively pleased with it nonetheless. (Even if 90% of the work on the flag went into putting together the eagle.)
The backstory is intentionally ridiculous and has little to do with the flag.
Scenario A:
Lübeck's Ambition
While the Hanseatic League might well have gone into decline in the face of its many challenges in the 15th century[1], it narrowly avoided this fate by procuring ships capable of traversing the air.[2] Only God knows where they found such ships, but they nonetheless found them, and used them to effectively wipe out all of their competition in European trade.[3]
Being able to swoop into any city of their choosing, completely ignoring fortifications of all kinds, also aided in their survival - and continued independence - of course.
In any case, the main city states of the Hanseatic League were the only ones with access to these magical secrets, and they guarded them well, banding tighter together in order to prevent the secret from spreading.
However, each city wanted to be the only one in control of this secret, and there was much internal strife. For two decades, the foremost merchants of cities such as Lübeck, Hamburg and Riga bled each other dry in every imaginable definition of those words.
Lübeck eventually came out on top, because what better way to represent this new "Lufthansa"[4] than with a dual-headed eagle? Certainly beat all the crosses, stripes, keys and gates the other cities seemed to favour. In any case, there weren't anyone left to challenge Lübeck in the end.
The result was a centralized Hanseatic state centred on Lübeck, guarding the secrets of the magical airships from anyone who attempted to gain access to them.
[1] The opening up of new and superior trade routes, superior Dutch merchant vessels etc.
[2] "Aircogs"
[3] Only members of the Hansa knew the secret password and handshake to make the ships fly.
[4] No connection to the modern Lufthansa.
Untextured version.
The backstory is intentionally ridiculous and has little to do with the flag.
Scenario A:
Lübeck's Ambition
While the Hanseatic League might well have gone into decline in the face of its many challenges in the 15th century[1], it narrowly avoided this fate by procuring ships capable of traversing the air.[2] Only God knows where they found such ships, but they nonetheless found them, and used them to effectively wipe out all of their competition in European trade.[3]
Being able to swoop into any city of their choosing, completely ignoring fortifications of all kinds, also aided in their survival - and continued independence - of course.
In any case, the main city states of the Hanseatic League were the only ones with access to these magical secrets, and they guarded them well, banding tighter together in order to prevent the secret from spreading.
However, each city wanted to be the only one in control of this secret, and there was much internal strife. For two decades, the foremost merchants of cities such as Lübeck, Hamburg and Riga bled each other dry in every imaginable definition of those words.
Lübeck eventually came out on top, because what better way to represent this new "Lufthansa"[4] than with a dual-headed eagle? Certainly beat all the crosses, stripes, keys and gates the other cities seemed to favour. In any case, there weren't anyone left to challenge Lübeck in the end.
The result was a centralized Hanseatic state centred on Lübeck, guarding the secrets of the magical airships from anyone who attempted to gain access to them.
[1] The opening up of new and superior trade routes, superior Dutch merchant vessels etc.
[2] "Aircogs"
[3] Only members of the Hansa knew the secret password and handshake to make the ships fly.
[4] No connection to the modern Lufthansa.
Untextured version.
Do you have an idea for the next challenge? If not, I think you should start thinking.
Great flag!