Weekly Flag Challenge: Discussion & Entries

[Richard IV]

UNION OF SOUTH AMERICA

The struggle for South America’s independence from Spain and Portugal was long and bloody, stretching over some five decades. Success was achieved by the combined efforts of the Spanish and Portuguese colonies. The continuing presence of Spain in Central America gave impetus to a perceived need to preserve the unity of the former colonies and in 1876, 9 years after independence, the Union of South America was proclaimed. But democracy floundered and a centralist military junta seized power in 1882 – while the junta’s control was rigidly enforced over the next 27 years, today many historians believe that it laid the foundation for the concept of one nation in the minds of both supporters and opponents. The final 3 years of the junta saw a planned progression to democracy, resulting in free elections at presidential, national and regional levels during 1910.

The current flag was adopted in 1912. It consists of a central sun emblem surrounded by 15 stars (one for each of the nation’s Regions) set in a white horizontal band, with narrow blue and gold stripes above and below.

 

[Kate The Great]

"FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF THE SOUTH"

When South America’s freedom from the Spanish and Brazilian Empires was achieved, politicians and army commanders agreed that there should be no fragmentation, disputes and wars as had followed the independence of colonies in North America from British rule. The Congress of Lima declared the creation of the “Federal Republic of the South” and produced a constitution under which, among many things, a President would be directly elected every 6 years.

The “Clear Path” revolution swept away the office of President, replacing it in many aspects by the office of Principal Chairman, elected by members of the National Assembly of the People every 5 years. The nation’s title remained, but a new flag was instituted. This flag consists of one large golden sun and four smaller golden suns (representing the Spanish peoples, Portuguese peoples, Pre-Columbian peoples and the ethnic minorities) set in the upper left of a field of sky blue.

 

[Iconoclast X]

THE ILLUSTRIOUS CONFEDERATION OF THE SUN

[FONT=&quot]The former colonies of Portugal and Spain moved towards economic and political integration at a leisurely pace. Full integration was not achieved until the new religion known as “The Light of the Sun” swept through South America, replacing Roman Catholicism within 12 years. The new religion took the reins of power and created The Illustrious Confederation of the Sun, a theocracy under the religion’s absolute leader, the All Seeing Revelator.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]The flag has the religion’s emblem, an American pyramid and an eye within a jagged black circle, set in the centre of diagonal quartering of red and white.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]

[/FONT]

 

[TheseusDeuteros]

Federation of the Holy Cross

The Federation of the Holy Cross was founded in 1823 when the Portuguese Empire fell apart. The colonies of Brazil and Angola united and formed a trans-atlantic state. Below is a map that shows the country in 1995.

Next, you can see the flag.

The golden cross's symbolism is obvious. The green circle symbolises prosperity, unity, future, optimism and the green rainforests in the federation. The purple is associated with religion, faith, the Iberian colonial heritage and also individualism. Lastly, there is blue that represents the ocean that lies between the two parts of the federation. Also, it symbolises the Portuguese history and culture, partly, of the federation, as Portugal historically had blue on its flag for a long time.

 

[autonomousoblast]

Confederation of South American Republics

This confederation consists of the republics of the Rio de la Plata, Brazil, Peru and Gran Colombia. La Plata consists of the entirety of the former Viceroyalty of Rio de la Plata, Brazil consists of modern day Brazil but they place a claim on Cisplatina, Peru consists of Viceroyalty of Peru and Gran Colombia consists of the entirety of Nueva Granada. This confederation came about due to the intervention of alien space bats.

 

[ah-sue]

Voting thread is up and here:
https://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?p=7528396&posted=1#post7528396

 

[The Professor]

UNION OF SOUTH AMERICA

The struggle for South America’s independence from Spain and Portugal was long and bloody, stretching over some five decades. Success was achieved by the combined efforts of the Spanish and Portuguese colonies. The continuing presence of Spain in Central America gave impetus to a perceived need to preserve the unity of the former colonies and in 1876, 9 years after independence, the Union of South America was proclaimed. But democracy floundered and a centralist military junta seized power in 1882 – while the junta’s control was rigidly enforced over the next 27 years, today many historians believe that it laid the foundation for the concept of one nation in the minds of both supporters and opponents. The final 3 years of the junta saw a planned progression to democracy, resulting in free elections at presidential, national and regional levels during 1910.

The current flag was adopted in 1912. It consists of a central sun emblem surrounded by 15 stars (one for each of the nation’s Regions) set in a white horizontal band, with narrow blue and gold stripes above and below.

I'd be interested to the earlier Union flag if you have it.

 

[Richard IV]

I'd be interested to the earlier Union flag if you have it.

At the beginning, the Union comprised 17 'estados' (subsequently re-formed into 15 regions). Thus the first flag bore 17 stripes:

 

[The Professor]

At the beginning, the Union comprised 17 'estados' (subsequently re-formed into 15 regions). Thus the first flag bore 17 stripes:

I can see why they changed it

 

[Richard IV]

Challenge #91

I've posted this on that other thread, but am also posting it here as this thread is where you'll be posting your entries!

IMPERIUM

I’ve enjoyed Keith Laumer’s ‘Imperium’ books. As at present I am bereft of ideas for a challenge, I’m taking the easy way out and asking for a design of a flag for the Imperium – at any date from 1900 to the present.

If you’re not familiar with these books, you can get the general idea from various reviews on the internet.

Your version of the Imperium doesn’t have to be exactly as in the books (we are after all on an Alternate History site!) but should follow the main premise – a union of Germany, the UK and some Nordic/Teutonic nations etc. (feel free to add/remove a few nations).

Opening Date for Entries - immediately
Closing Date for Entries – 26 April, 12 noon British Summer Time
Voting begins – 27 April
Voting closes - 5 May, approx..12 noon BST.

 

[autonomousoblast]

Can I get a more detailed yet succinct description of this Imperium?

 

[titulus regius]

Can I get a more detailed yet succinct description of this Imperium?

I've just 'Googled' and find that these 2 sources give me the general picture:

FromWikipedia:
Books set in the Imperium mythos: a continuum of parallel worlds policed by the Imperium, a government based in an alternate Stockholm. In the science fiction novel Worlds of the Imperium, the Imperium is formed in an alternate history where the American Revolution did not occur, and the British Empire and Germany merged into a unified empire in 1900. The protagonist, American diplomat Brion Bayard, is kidnapped by the Imperium because the Brion Bayard in a third parallel Earth is waging war against his abductors. Further adventures follow after Bayard decides to remain in the service of the Imperium.

While from Scifidimensions [http://www.scifidimensions.com/Aug05/imperium.htm] In Imperium we have three good-humored journeys across the nested parallel worlds, jumping off from a universe where World War I never occurred, where the British, German and Swedish royal houses threw in together, and instead of boasting an Edison and a Marconi, they had a Maxoni and a Cocini who found that running current through wire wound up Moebius-fashion would lift them out of their universe with all the ease of a Wright flyer taking wing, but with ever more grievous dangers.

Laumer’s hero Brion Bayard is a rapscallion American diplomat spirited away from the streets of Stockholm. Why and to where is the crux of the story as we travel to a gas-lit gilded world where 19th century pomp, polished brass, and imperial hubris never went out of style, and the Russian revolution was a no-show. This is the world of the Imperium.

 

[Richard IV]

These two extracts from the first book in the series may be of help:
(1)
“The acquisition of the Maxoni papers placed a different complexion on the situation. Rightfully feeling that they now had a considerably more favorable position from which to negotiate, the British suggested an amalgamation of the two empires into the present Anglo-Germanic Imperium, with the House of Hanover-Windsor occupying the Imperial throne. Sweden signed the Concord shortly thereafter, and after resolution of a number of differences in detail, the Imperium came into being on January 1, 1900.”

(2)
“London Zero Zero is the capital of the Imperium, comprising the major portion of the civilized world; North Europe, West Hemisphere, Australia, etc.”

As one character is amused at the mention of an American republic existing in OTL perhaps the POD was pre 1776 and not 1801 or 1815 as I have seen mentioned in reviews

 

[Martinus Paduei]

One of the official flags of the Imperium, for use in the Swedish Provinces. This flag combines the earlier Union Jack, and one of Prince Adalbert's proposals for a flag of Germany, with the gold cross of Sweden.

 

[Richard IV]

I know there's 3 days to go, but if there is only one entry do we have to have a voting/poll thread?

 

[Martinus Paduei]

I know there's 3 days to go, but if there is only one entry do we have to have a voting/poll thread?

I sure hope not. I figure the only way I can win is if I am unopposed, but if there is a vote, I somehow might still lose!

Seriously, I wouldn't be at all surprised to see multiple entries in the next couple of days.

 

[The Professor]

This is a difficult challenge!

Here's my take on the Imperial Flag [1] shortly after the "Treaty of Stockholm" [2].
It features the Imperial Crowned Lion with Wings Sigil [3] and 12 crowns to symbolise the Kingdoms on union [4].

[1] members likely retain their own flags
[2] I assume there'd be one
[3] made up but I assumed there'd be some merger of Lion and Eagle that wasn't a griffin
[4] 4 British, 4 German, plus whatever makes the numbers up

 

[ah-sue]

The flag of the Imperium adopted in 1900

The cross is red (England) and black (Germany), the yellow represents Sweden and the blue Norway (it is pre-1905) and Scotland!

 

[Iserlohn]

I'm not entirely happy with it, but whatever...

The United Kingdoms of Great Britain, Ireland, Norway and North Germany (formerly Prussia-Hannover), also known as the Teutonic Imperium. The two saltires stand for Norway and Scotland (though the Scottish saltire is relativly minor, hence why the blue is so prominent), the cross stands for England. The golden and black corners stand for North Germany (Hannoverian gold and Prussian black). The blue stands for both Scotland (as previously explained) and the North Sea, the 'Teutonic Lake'. Ireland is unrepresented on the flag (same with Wales, naturally).

 

[Iconoclast X]

The flag introduced in 2000, the centenary of the Imperium. Every part of the world was now either part of the Imperium or vassal to it as reflected in the central motif. Above the 'globe' is the imperial crown. The colours of red and black commemmorate the founding nations, Britain and Germany.