Interesting.
I just realized that the Professor and I both picked flags with wavy lines as part of the field.
I just realized that the Professor and I both picked flags with wavy lines as part of the field.
Weekly Flag Challenge: Discussion & Entries
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- Start date
Oh yeah. I very nearly made the first Salish flag have wavy lines too!
Federation of Peninsular Arabia (FOPA)
a.k.a. "Saudiless Arabia"
It's a world with no Nasser, and Arab socialism, which means a stronger British and French colonial presence in the region.
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia underwent a revolution in the 1970s, after its Oil Embargo triggered an great power intervention by the British and French troops. The colonialists set up an Royal Saudi Oil Company, which took 90% of oil profit to Britain and France, leaving the KSA with only 10%.
The puppet monarchy installed by the British was discredited, leading to Saudi Arabia itself losing its legitimacy. The republican resistance movements, lead by pre-war opponents to the King, popped up all over the KSA, using old flags of the pre-Saudi kingdoms of Nejd and Hejaz as rally. But the republicans quickly realized that they had to be united in the fight against the British and the puppet KSA.
Legend has it that the Flag of FONAH, or the Federation of Nejd and Hejaz was created out of two ragged and burnt flags, carried by two guerrilla groups from Nejd and Hijaz respectively, under a secret tent in the Arabian Desert. Together, the founding fathers of the new Federation laid out eight values for the new nation: Secularism, Progressism, Republicanism, Egalitarianism, Social Democracy, Arab Nationalism as well as National and Economic Sovereignty, represented by an eight-pointed star. Despite socialist elements in this new vision, and real Soviet arms flowing in, its leaders distanced themselves from Soviet Communism.
The Flag of the Federation of Nejd and Hejaz was indeed a carefully balanced design, with the red colour and star from the Flag of Nejd, and the red triangle, with the green and white bands taken from Hejaz. Some say the crescent was deliberately left out to denote the Federations' secularist tendencies.
It turned out for the UK that a costly foreign war was unpopular at home and broad. Guerrilla activities made it almost impossible to extract oil. President Nixon of the US went as far as coming to meet the leaders of FONAH in Yugoslavia and shaking hands with them in 1978. The British pulled out in the following year, bringing the Saudi royalty with them, and the FONAH flag flew over Riyadh.
Things looked promising for the new federation. Riyadh assumed OTL Cairo's role in Arabia's nationalist movements. One of the countries motivated by this new nationalism was the Kingdom of Yemen. After a shorter Civil War than OTL, the Arab Republic of Yemen sort to join the Federation.
A new country, the Federation of Peninsular Arabia, was founded.
The new Federal flag seemed like the old one with an additional band of red symbolizing Yemen. But it actually had its definitions rearranged.
The upper and lower red bands symbolized Najd and Yemen respectively, while the red triangle Hejaz. The green its nature and culture, in a shape symbolizing the peninsula, and the star it’s values. The green band in the middle symbolized Arabian Peninsula, with its gold linings the Yemeni sword.
a.k.a. "Saudiless Arabia"
It's a world with no Nasser, and Arab socialism, which means a stronger British and French colonial presence in the region.
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia underwent a revolution in the 1970s, after its Oil Embargo triggered an great power intervention by the British and French troops. The colonialists set up an Royal Saudi Oil Company, which took 90% of oil profit to Britain and France, leaving the KSA with only 10%.
The puppet monarchy installed by the British was discredited, leading to Saudi Arabia itself losing its legitimacy. The republican resistance movements, lead by pre-war opponents to the King, popped up all over the KSA, using old flags of the pre-Saudi kingdoms of Nejd and Hejaz as rally. But the republicans quickly realized that they had to be united in the fight against the British and the puppet KSA.
Legend has it that the Flag of FONAH, or the Federation of Nejd and Hejaz was created out of two ragged and burnt flags, carried by two guerrilla groups from Nejd and Hijaz respectively, under a secret tent in the Arabian Desert. Together, the founding fathers of the new Federation laid out eight values for the new nation: Secularism, Progressism, Republicanism, Egalitarianism, Social Democracy, Arab Nationalism as well as National and Economic Sovereignty, represented by an eight-pointed star. Despite socialist elements in this new vision, and real Soviet arms flowing in, its leaders distanced themselves from Soviet Communism.
The Flag of the Federation of Nejd and Hejaz was indeed a carefully balanced design, with the red colour and star from the Flag of Nejd, and the red triangle, with the green and white bands taken from Hejaz. Some say the crescent was deliberately left out to denote the Federations' secularist tendencies.
It turned out for the UK that a costly foreign war was unpopular at home and broad. Guerrilla activities made it almost impossible to extract oil. President Nixon of the US went as far as coming to meet the leaders of FONAH in Yugoslavia and shaking hands with them in 1978. The British pulled out in the following year, bringing the Saudi royalty with them, and the FONAH flag flew over Riyadh.
Things looked promising for the new federation. Riyadh assumed OTL Cairo's role in Arabia's nationalist movements. One of the countries motivated by this new nationalism was the Kingdom of Yemen. After a shorter Civil War than OTL, the Arab Republic of Yemen sort to join the Federation.
A new country, the Federation of Peninsular Arabia, was founded.
The new Federal flag seemed like the old one with an additional band of red symbolizing Yemen. But it actually had its definitions rearranged.
The upper and lower red bands symbolized Najd and Yemen respectively, while the red triangle Hejaz. The green its nature and culture, in a shape symbolizing the peninsula, and the star it’s values. The green band in the middle symbolized Arabian Peninsula, with its gold linings the Yemeni sword.
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@Green Painting - you posted your entry simultaneously with me doing the poll, so you just got in...
@ everyone : Poll for Challenge 196 is now up!
@ everyone : Poll for Challenge 196 is now up!
One day to go and only 2 points separate the three entries... another close round!
And the winner of the 196th Flag Challenge is ... drum roll ... @Sovereign12 - congratulations!
Also well done to the @The Professor and @Green Painting - only 2 points separated the three entries in the end.
Also well done to the @The Professor and @Green Painting - only 2 points separated the three entries in the end.
Wow, when I last looked on Friday, the Professor was winning.
Will have the challenge posted soon.
Will have the challenge posted soon.
Flag Challenge 197: It Comes in all Shapes
Create a flag for a nation which is not in the shape of a rectangular or square.
The flag should be based on a real world object: eg kite, tent, sandals… Whatever you think would be a possibility, and please explain why the flag developed from the object that inspired it.
The nations can be real world or created by you, but should be plausible countries.
No ASB nations.
For a reference, in the Dark Ages of flag contests, before our current set up, I created a flag based on both sails and kites. I also did another based on wind socks (unfortunately cannot find that post). A real world example would be the flag of Nepal.
Submissions Open: now
Submissions Close: 22nd October 2018 at 19:00 GMT (20:00 UK Summer time, 21:00 EU Summer time, 15:00 USA Eastern Daylight time, 12:00 USA Pacific Daylight time)
Voting Opens: 23th October 2018-ish
Voting Closes: 4 days later
Create a flag for a nation which is not in the shape of a rectangular or square.
The flag should be based on a real world object: eg kite, tent, sandals… Whatever you think would be a possibility, and please explain why the flag developed from the object that inspired it.
The nations can be real world or created by you, but should be plausible countries.
No ASB nations.
For a reference, in the Dark Ages of flag contests, before our current set up, I created a flag based on both sails and kites. I also did another based on wind socks (unfortunately cannot find that post). A real world example would be the flag of Nepal.
Submissions Open: now
Submissions Close: 22nd October 2018 at 19:00 GMT (20:00 UK Summer time, 21:00 EU Summer time, 15:00 USA Eastern Daylight time, 12:00 USA Pacific Daylight time)
Voting Opens: 23th October 2018-ish
Voting Closes: 4 days later
I was? Maybe I upset someone that day
Interesting new challenge. Will need some thought.
The Battle-Axe Flag of Ulaid
At the end of the 12th century, it seemed that the kingdom of Ulaid was destined to fade into history. Its territory had been reduced by other Irish kingdoms and the Norman invasion had introduced a group of power-hungry nobles to the island. In 1177 Ulaid was invaded by John de Courcy, in violation of the treaty between the Irish high king, Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair (Rory O'Connor) and Henry II of England.
De Courcy's surprise attack on Ulaid's capital, Dún De Lethglaise (Downpatrick), initially forced the King of Ulaid, Ruaidrí Mac Duinn Sléibe (Rory MacDonlevy), to flee. The papal legate, Cardinal Vivien, had ordered de Courcy to withdraw, but his command had been ignored. As a result, Ruaidrí was able to call on the support of the church. A week after the surprise attack, he returned with a superior force, accompanied by the Bishop of Down and other clerics from across the province. The ensuing battle lasted all day and looked likely to end in a bloody stalemate when two things happened simultaneously.
As Ruaidrí fought his way through the Norman forces, he met de Courcy and a vicious combat ensued. De Courcy was renowned as one of the most skilled swordsmen in Ireland and at first it seemed that Ruaidrí, armed with a battle-axe, was out-classed, but eventually, despite bleeding from countless wounds, it was Ruaidrí who won the day, his axe splitting de Courcy's head open 'like a cabbage' according to the Annála Uladh (Annals of Ulster).
Whilst this single combat was going on, the main battle continued unabated. A small group of Norman archers had been positioned on the flank and were intermittently firing on the Irish forces. Having been attacked a few times, when they saw movement in a small wood nearby they not surprisingly fired a few arrows into it. Unfortunately for them, the movement was not a group of Irish soldiers but a herd of cattle belonging to the local monastery, including a huge brown bull. An arrow struck this bull which, enraged, charged out of the wood followed by the entire herd. This stampede ran right into, and over, the Norman forces.
The double blow of losing their leader and a stampede of cattle all bearing branded crosses was enough to rout the remaining Normans, leaving Ruaidrí holding the field.
Until this battle Ruaidrí, like most other warlords, had flown simple coloured pennants in battle. Now, however, he decided to adopt a personal standard to symbolise his victory. The standard was shaped like his battle-axe, coloured white to symbolise the purity of his cause supported by the church but with a red border to show the blood of the slain. On the white field was put a brown bull, standing over the heads of three eagles, symbolic of the death of de Courcy. Many within northern Ireland saw parallels in the stampede of the brown bull with the old Irish legend of Donn Cuailnge (the Brown Bull of Cooley), which in time led to conflict between Ulaid and the church, eventually assuaged by the addition of a cross brand being put on the shoulder of the bull, clearly showing that the bovine intervention had been divinely sanctioned, not the working of ancient magics.
Over the next few months and years, the victorious Ruaidrí cemented alliances with other Irish kings and the Lords of the Isles in the west of Scotland and Isle of Mann. Other Norman petty nobles were dissuaded from launching attacks into Irish territory and a sort of peace came to the island. This was shattered a century later when Edward I of England set out to conquer the non-Norman/English held areas, but by then Ulaid's position as one of the premier kingdoms of Ireland was secure.
The axe-shaped battle standard of Ruaidrí was adopted by his heirs and came to be used as the flag of the kingdom itself. It was always flown from a spear (latterly a flag-pole with a spear-head or spike atop) and with red streamers to show the flowing blood.
Edited for size of image and to remove a stray apostrophe (!).
At the end of the 12th century, it seemed that the kingdom of Ulaid was destined to fade into history. Its territory had been reduced by other Irish kingdoms and the Norman invasion had introduced a group of power-hungry nobles to the island. In 1177 Ulaid was invaded by John de Courcy, in violation of the treaty between the Irish high king, Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair (Rory O'Connor) and Henry II of England.
De Courcy's surprise attack on Ulaid's capital, Dún De Lethglaise (Downpatrick), initially forced the King of Ulaid, Ruaidrí Mac Duinn Sléibe (Rory MacDonlevy), to flee. The papal legate, Cardinal Vivien, had ordered de Courcy to withdraw, but his command had been ignored. As a result, Ruaidrí was able to call on the support of the church. A week after the surprise attack, he returned with a superior force, accompanied by the Bishop of Down and other clerics from across the province. The ensuing battle lasted all day and looked likely to end in a bloody stalemate when two things happened simultaneously.
As Ruaidrí fought his way through the Norman forces, he met de Courcy and a vicious combat ensued. De Courcy was renowned as one of the most skilled swordsmen in Ireland and at first it seemed that Ruaidrí, armed with a battle-axe, was out-classed, but eventually, despite bleeding from countless wounds, it was Ruaidrí who won the day, his axe splitting de Courcy's head open 'like a cabbage' according to the Annála Uladh (Annals of Ulster).
Whilst this single combat was going on, the main battle continued unabated. A small group of Norman archers had been positioned on the flank and were intermittently firing on the Irish forces. Having been attacked a few times, when they saw movement in a small wood nearby they not surprisingly fired a few arrows into it. Unfortunately for them, the movement was not a group of Irish soldiers but a herd of cattle belonging to the local monastery, including a huge brown bull. An arrow struck this bull which, enraged, charged out of the wood followed by the entire herd. This stampede ran right into, and over, the Norman forces.
The double blow of losing their leader and a stampede of cattle all bearing branded crosses was enough to rout the remaining Normans, leaving Ruaidrí holding the field.
Until this battle Ruaidrí, like most other warlords, had flown simple coloured pennants in battle. Now, however, he decided to adopt a personal standard to symbolise his victory. The standard was shaped like his battle-axe, coloured white to symbolise the purity of his cause supported by the church but with a red border to show the blood of the slain. On the white field was put a brown bull, standing over the heads of three eagles, symbolic of the death of de Courcy. Many within northern Ireland saw parallels in the stampede of the brown bull with the old Irish legend of Donn Cuailnge (the Brown Bull of Cooley), which in time led to conflict between Ulaid and the church, eventually assuaged by the addition of a cross brand being put on the shoulder of the bull, clearly showing that the bovine intervention had been divinely sanctioned, not the working of ancient magics.
Over the next few months and years, the victorious Ruaidrí cemented alliances with other Irish kings and the Lords of the Isles in the west of Scotland and Isle of Mann. Other Norman petty nobles were dissuaded from launching attacks into Irish territory and a sort of peace came to the island. This was shattered a century later when Edward I of England set out to conquer the non-Norman/English held areas, but by then Ulaid's position as one of the premier kingdoms of Ireland was secure.
The axe-shaped battle standard of Ruaidrí was adopted by his heirs and came to be used as the flag of the kingdom itself. It was always flown from a spear (latterly a flag-pole with a spear-head or spike atop) and with red streamers to show the flowing blood.
Image(s) created by FriendlyGhost using paint.net. Free for use on this site (alternatehistory.com) as long as you credit me (@ my username is fine). Use on other sites is also permitted as long as you PM me here to let me know.
Some of the constituent parts of this image were amended from images in the public domain, as follows:
(1) Bull adapted from Meuble héraldique Taureau, in the public domain. Recoloured and resized by me.
(2) Eagle heads taken from Blason Beauval-en-Caux by Chatsam on Wikipedia commons, CCA-SA. Recoloured and resized by me.
Some of the constituent parts of this image were amended from images in the public domain, as follows:
(1) Bull adapted from Meuble héraldique Taureau, in the public domain. Recoloured and resized by me.
(2) Eagle heads taken from Blason Beauval-en-Caux by Chatsam on Wikipedia commons, CCA-SA. Recoloured and resized by me.
Edited for size of image and to remove a stray apostrophe (!).
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The Jack of the Neapolitan Navy
The Jack, or Port Flag, of the Neapolitan Imperial Navy derives from the naval pennant flown during the Adriatic Wars as Robert of Taranto, III Latin Emperor, II King of Sicily-in-Naples, staked his claim to his aunt Joanna's Neapolitan throne. The pennant is based on his plain arms as heir presumptive - Azure, semé-de-lys Or, a chief embattled Gules bearing a cross potent encircled between four crosslets Or which he simplified down from tierced per pale 1 Gules, a cross between four crosses encircled between four crosslets Or; 2 Argent a cross potent between 4 crosslets Or; 3 Azure, semé-de-lys Or, a label Gules - compare the current flag of the Neapolitan Empire with its golden encircled crosses over a red-white-blue tricolore. The unusual edging comes from the legend where the flag ship at harbour was stormed by Venetians and with flag aflame the crew defeated them turning the tide of battle, thereafter each victory was bore this tattered and charred flag. The exact battle varies but most historians agree it was probably the Battle of Arta.
The Jack, or Port Flag, of the Neapolitan Imperial Navy derives from the naval pennant flown during the Adriatic Wars as Robert of Taranto, III Latin Emperor, II King of Sicily-in-Naples, staked his claim to his aunt Joanna's Neapolitan throne. The pennant is based on his plain arms as heir presumptive - Azure, semé-de-lys Or, a chief embattled Gules bearing a cross potent encircled between four crosslets Or which he simplified down from tierced per pale 1 Gules, a cross between four crosses encircled between four crosslets Or; 2 Argent a cross potent between 4 crosslets Or; 3 Azure, semé-de-lys Or, a label Gules - compare the current flag of the Neapolitan Empire with its golden encircled crosses over a red-white-blue tricolore. The unusual edging comes from the legend where the flag ship at harbour was stormed by Venetians and with flag aflame the crew defeated them turning the tide of battle, thereafter each victory was bore this tattered and charred flag. The exact battle varies but most historians agree it was probably the Battle of Arta.
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@FriendlyGhost very nice! though you may want to resize it a bit so the flag fits within 600x1200px
Mine's rather boring in comparison!
Mine's rather boring in comparison!
Thud, thud, thud...
The sound you can hear is me kicking myself - I'd carefully kept within the size limits until I decided to add the streamers and then I forgot to resize... Thanks for the reminder!
And I don't think yours is boring at all - I like the idea of a damaged flag being adopted as the official shape.
No worries. I had to resize mine too when I realised I made it too long
.Thank you. Seemed fitting as more than just a pennon.
