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{{short description|National flagnone}}
{{Infobox flag
| Name = Republic of Latvia
| Article =
| Image = File:Flag of Latvia.svg
| Nickname =
| Morenicks =
| Use = 110100
| Symbol = {{FIAV|110100}} {{FIAV|normal}} {{FIAV|Equal}}
| Proportion = 1:2
| Adoption = 15 June 1921<br>Restored on 27 February 1990<br>Current standardization on 28 November 2018 (in use since 1 January 2019)
| Design = A [[Carmine (color)|carmine red]] field bisected by a narrow white stripe (one-fifth the width of the flag)
| Designer = Ansis Cīrulis
| Nickname2 =
| Image2 = Flag of Latvia.svg
| Nickname2Morenicks2 =
| Morenicks2 =
| Use2 = Digital flag<ref name="DigitalFlag" />▼
| Symbol2 = {{FIAV|110100}} {{FIAV|Equal}}▼
| Proportion2 = 2:1
| Adoption2 = 28 November 2018<br>In use since 1 January 2019
| Design2 = A carmine red field bisected by a narrow white stripe (one-fifth the width of the flag)
| Designer2 =
| Image3 = NavalLatvijas Ensignvalsts ofkaroga Latviavimpeļa.svg
| Nickname3Noborder3 = yes
| Morenicks3Nickname3 =
| Use3Morenicks3 = 000001
| Use3 = Pennant
| Symbol3 = {{FIAV|000001}} {{FIAV|Equal}}
▲| Symbol2Symbol3 = {{FIAV|110100000100}} {{FIAV|Equalnormal}}
| Proportion3 = 2:3
| Adoption3Proportion3 = 19915:1
| Adoption3 = 2009
| Design3 = White field with Saint George's cross voided in the colors of the State Flag (the width of the arms of the cross is 1/5 of the flag width).
| Design3 = A trapezoidal fabric ribbon corresponding to the colors and color proportions of the State Flag
| Designer3 =
| Image5 = Naval Jack of Latvia.svg
| Use5 = [[Naval jack]]
| Symbol5 = {{FIAV|000000}} {{FIAV|Mirror}}
| Adoption5 =
| Proportion5 = 2:3
| Design5 =
}}
 
The [[national flag]] of [[Latvia]] ({{lang-langx|lv|Latvijas karogs}}) was used by independent Latvia from 1918 until the country was [[Soviet occupation of Latvia in 1940|occupied]] by the [[Soviet Union]] in 1940]]. Its use was suppressed during Soviet rule. On 27 February 1990, shortly before the country [[On the Restoration of Independence of the Republic of Latvia|regained its independence]], the Latvian government re-adopted the traditional red-white-red flag.
 
Though officially adopted in 1921, the Latvian flag was used in as early as the 13th century. The red colour is sometimes described as symbolizing the readiness of the Latvians to give the blood from their hearts for freedom and their willingness to defend their sovereignty. An alternative interpretation, according to the ''Rhymed Chronicle of Livonia'', is that a Latgalian leader was wounded in battle, and sheet on which he was laid on were stained by his blood with only the centre stripe of the sheet being left unstained. This story is similar to the legend of the origins of the [[flag of Austria]].
 
== History ==
The red-white-red Latvian flag is first mentioned in the medieval ''[[Livonian Rhymed Chronicle|Rhymed Chronicle of Livonia]]'' (''Livländische Reimchronik''),<ref>[http://www.old.historia.lv/alfabets/A/AT/atskanu_hronika/hronikas_teksts/09038_10040.vacu.htm Livlädische Reimchronik] ({{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141215035451/http://www.old.historia.lv/alfabets/A/AT/atskanu_hronika/hronikas_teksts/09038_10040.vacu.htm |date=2014-12-15 }}): ''Von Wenden was zû Rîge komen / zûr lantwer, als ich hân vernomen,/ ein brûder und wol hundert man:/ den wart daß mêre kunt getân./ die quâmen hovelîchen dar / mit einer banier rôtgevar,/ daß was mit wîße durch gesniten / hûte nâch wendischen siten./ Wenden ist ein burc genant,/ von den die banier wart bekant,/ und ist in Letten lant gelegen,/ dâ die vrowen rîtens pflegen / nâch den siten, als die man./ vor wâr ich ûch daß sagen kan,/ die banier der Letten ist.'' (9219–9233)</ref> which covers the period from 1180 to 1343, and is thus among the oldest flags in the world. The chronicle tells of a battle that took place around 1279, in which ancient [[Latgalians|Latgalian]] tribes from [[Cēsis]], a city in the northern part of modern-day Latvia, went to war, bearing a 'red flag with a white stripe'.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.flaggenlexikon.de/flett.htm |title=National Flagge des Lettland|access-date=2003-04-27 |author=Volker Preuß|language=de}}</ref>▼
[[File:Stamps of Latvia, 2010-18.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.75|Stamp commemorating the centenary of Latvia, with Ansis Cīrulis holding his design for the Latvian flag.]]
▲The red-white-red Latvian flag is first mentioned in the medieval ''[[Livonian Rhymed Chronicle|Rhymed Chronicle of Livonia]]'' (''Livländische Reimchronik''),<ref>[http://www.old.historia.lv/alfabets/A/AT/atskanu_hronika/hronikas_teksts/09038_10040.vacu.htm Livlädische Reimchronik] ({{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141215035451/http://www.old.historia.lv/alfabets/A/AT/atskanu_hronika/hronikas_teksts/09038_10040.vacu.htm |date=2014-12-15 }}): ''Von Wenden was zû Rîge komen / zûr lantwer, als ich hân vernomen,/ ein brûder und wol hundert man:/ den wart daß mêre kunt getân./ die quâmen hovelîchen dar / mit einer banier rôtgevar,/ daß was mit wîße durch gesniten / hûte nâch wendischen siten./ Wenden ist ein burc genant,/ von den die banier wart bekant,/ und ist in Letten lant gelegen,/ dâ die vrowen rîtens pflegen / nâch den siten, als die man./ vor wâr ich ûch daß sagen kan,/ die banier der Letten ist.'' (9219–9233)</ref> which covers the period from 1180 to 1343, and is thus among the oldest flags in the world. The chronicle tells of a battle that took place around 1279, in which ancient Latgalian tribes from [[Cēsis]], a city in the northern part of modern-day Latvia, went to war, bearing a red flag with a white stripe.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.flaggenlexikon.de/flett.htm |title=National Flagge des Lettland|access-date=2003-04-27 |author=Volker Preuß|language=de}}</ref>
 
Legend recounts the story of thea mortally wounded chief of [[Latgalians]] who washad been wrapped in a white sheet. The part of the sheet on which he was lying remained white, butand the two edges were stainedcoloured inby his blood. During the next battle, the bloodstained sheet was used as a flag. According to the legend, this time the Latgalian warriors were successful and drove the enemy away. Since then, Latgalian tribes have usedbeen using these colours as their symbol.
 
Inspired by these historical records, several [[Latvian national awakening|Latvian nationalists]] began to use such flags again in the 19th century.<ref name="national-symbols"/><ref name="fotw-lv-hist" /> The first red-narrow white-red flag with a similar design one was made by [[Valmiera]] Trade School teacher [[Marianna Strautmane]] (1896–1985) in the second half of 1916, according to a sketch made by her colleague, journalist and refugee activist {{Ill|Jānis Lapiņš|lv|Jānis Lapiņš}} (1885–1941). This bright-red flag featured a yellow sun on the upper-left corner of the flag, and it later flew over the building of the Valmiera Latvian Society during the Vidzeme Land Meeting in March 1917. Preserved by the Lapiņš family during the [[Soviet occupation of Latvia in 1940]] and in exile in the West after 1944, it was ultimately given to the Cēsis Museum in 1997, where today it is on display in [[Cēsis Castle]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jānis Lapiņš and the sketch of the first Latvian red - white - red flag |url=https://militaryheritagetourism.info/en/military/stories/view/13?0 |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=Military Heritage Tourism Latvia-Estonia}}</ref>
Based on the aforementioned historical record, some nationalist individuals and organisations started to use such flags in the 19th century. In 1917, a red-white-red flag was used in several events aimed at uniting Latvian regions, the debate about the visual appearance of the Latvian flag was raised. In May, during a meeting of the Latvian Art Promotion Association (Latviešu mākslas veicināšanas biedrība), several proposals were reviewed, finally, a design by artist {{illm|Ansis Cīrulis|lv|Ansis Cīrulis|ru|Цирулис, Ансис}} was accepted. The Latvian national flag, together with the national coat of arms was affirmed in this format by a decree of the Constitutional Assembly of Latvia passed on 15 June 1921.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://lvportals.lv/norises/200636-sarkanbaltsarkanas-latvijas-karoga-krasas-ii-2009 |title=Sarkanbaltsarkanās – Latvijas karoga krāsas (II) |language=lv |date=2009-11-17 |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=LV portāls}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.president.lv/en/national-symbols |title=National symbols |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=President of the Republic of Latvia}}</ref><ref name="fotw-lv-hist" />▼
 
[[File:Flag of Latvia (Textile).svg|200px|thumb|Textile version of the Latvian flag.]]
In 1917, a red-white-red flag was used in several events aimed at uniting Latvian regions as well as Latvian military formations (e.g. [[Latvian Riflemen]] units, [[Iskolat]] insititutions), and the debate about the visual appearance of the Latvian flag was raised. In May, during a meeting of the Latvian Art Promotion Association (Latviešu mākslas veicināšanas biedrība), several proposals were reviewed, finally, a design by artist {{illm|Ansis Cīrulis|lv|Ansis Cīrulis|ru|Цирулис, Ансис}} was accepted.<ref name="fotw-lv-hist" />
 
▲Based onDuring the aforementioned[[Latvian historicalWar recordof Independence]], somethe nationalistflag individualssaw and organisations started toever-growing use such flags inby the 19thLatvian century.Armed In 1917Forces, agovernment red-white-redinstitutions flag(e.g. wasit usedflew infrom several[[Riga eventsCastle]] aimedbefore atand uniting Latvian regions,during the debateBattle aboutof theRiga visualin appearance1919) ofand the Latvian flag was raisedpopulation.<ref>{{Cite Inweb May,|title=Permanent duringexhibition a meeting ofon the Latvian ArtWar Promotionof AssociationIndependence (Latviešuin mākslas1918-1920 veicināšanas— biedrība), several proposals were reviewed, finally, aDd designstudio by artist {{illm|Ansis Cīrulis|url=https://dd.lv|Ansis/en/works/detail/ekspozicija-latvijas-valsts-izveidoshana-un-neatkaribas-karsh-1918-1920 Cīrulis|ru|Цирулис,access-date=2024-05-31 Ансис|website=dd.lv}} was accepted.</ref> The Latvian national flag, together with the national coat of arms was officially affirmed in this format by a decree of the [[Constitutional Assembly of Latvia]] passed on 15 June 1921.<ref name="lvportals_200636">{{cite web |url=https://lvportals.lv/norises/200636-sarkanbaltsarkanas-latvijas-karoga-krasas-ii-2009 |title=Sarkanbaltsarkanās – Latvijas karoga krāsas (II) |language=lv |date=2009-11-17 |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=LV portāls}}</ref><ref name="national-symbols">{{cite web |url=https://www.president.lv/en/national-symbols |title=National symbols |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=President of the Republic of Latvia}}</ref><ref name="fotw-lv-hist" />
 
===Occupation===
{{main|Flag of the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic}}
[[File:Flag of Latvia (Soviet colors).svg|thumb|left|upright=0.75|A variation appeared in Antianti-Soviet demonstrations.<ref name="fotw-lv-hist">{{cite web |url=https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/lv-hist.html |title=Latvia - History of Flag|access-date=2023-01-06 |website=Flags of the World}}</ref>]]
During the [[Occupation of the Baltic states|Soviet period]] by the [[Soviet Union]] (and briefly during occupation by [[Nazi Germany]]), the red-white-red Latvian flag was rendered unusable from 1940 to 1941 and 1944 to 1991. Any production and public display of the nationalist Latvian flag was considered anti-state crime and punishable by law. The first flag of Soviet Latvia was a red flag with the gold [[hammer and sickle]] in the top-left corner, with the Latin characters LPSR (''Latvijas Padomju Sociālistiskā Republika'') above them in gold in a serif font. In 1953, the final version of the flag was adopted. It depicts the Soviet flag with six 1/3 blue wavy bands representing the sea on the bottom.{{cn|date=December 2022}}
 
===Restoration===
UnderThe thelocal influenceauthorities ofrestored [[Mikhailthe Gorbachev]]'sstatus ''[[glasnost]]''of andthe ''[[perestroika]]''red-white-red initiatives,flag as the national flag of independent Latvia was restored on 15 February 1990,<ref name=Stelpe263>{{Cite book |author=Dzintra Stelpe |title=Lielā Latvijas Enciklopēdija. |language=lv |publisher=Zvaigzne ABC |location=Riga |page=263 |year=2009 |isbn=9789984408095 |oclc=644036298}}</ref> one and a half years before the formal recognition of Latvian independence by the Soviet Union on 6 September 1991.
{{Clear|left}}
 
== Colours and proportionsDesign ==
[[File:Flag of Latvia (colour shade comparison).svg|thumb|A comparison of the darkerphysical and lighterdigital versions of the flag]]
PerAccording to Latvian law, ''The Latvian national flag is [[Carmine (color)|carmine red]] with a white horizontal stripe.'' ({{Lang-Langx|lv|tumši sarkana (karmin)}})<ref>{{Cite web|title = Latvijas valsts karoga likums (The|trans-title=Law Latvianon flagthe law)National Flag of Latvia|date = 17 November 2009|language = lv|publisher = The Saeima (legislature) of Latvia|url = http://www.saeima.lv/lv/par-saeimu/simbolika/latvijas-valsts-karoga-likums/|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101127103108/http://saeima.lv/lv/par-saeimu/simbolika/latvijas-valsts-karoga-likums|archive-date = 27 November 2010|url-status = live|quote=Latvijas valsts karogs ir karmīnsarkans ar baltu horizontālu svītru.|trans-quote=The Latvian national flag is carmine red with a white horizontal stripe.}}</ref> The colour on the flag is sometimes referred to as ''Latvian red''. The red colour of the Latvian flag is a particularly dark shade, which is composed of [[brown]] and [[purple]]. The flag's colour proportions are 2:1:2 (the upper and lower red bands each being twice as wide as the central white band), and the ratio of the height of the flag to its width is fixed at 1:2.
 
TheOn shade11 ofApril red on1995, the flagState isHeraldic differentCommission basedhave ononce wherechosen itPantone is1807 used;C for red colour, this was later replaced by Pantone 201 C on 2721 NovemberApril 20182009. On 1 May 2010, anthe amendmentCabinet toof Ministers issued the ''Procedures for the Application of the Law on the National Flag'', waswhich standardized Pantone 19-1629 TPX or 19-1629 TC for red field; an amendment made on 27 November 2018, which came into force 1 January 2019, stating that non-fabric flags, as well as representations produced using other techniques (including digital representations), would use Pantone 201 C, whilst physical flags would continue using 19-1629 TPX/TC.<ref name="DigitalFlag">{{Cite web |url=https://likumi.lv/ta/en/en/id/209092-procedures-for-the-application-of-the-law-on-the-national-flag-of-latvia |title=Procedures for the Application of the Law on the National Flag of Latvia |work=[[Government of Latvia]] |date=2018-11-28 |access-date=2024-03-28}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Latvia|url = https://www.fotw.info/flags/lv.html |website=[[Flags of the World]] |access-date=2024-05-19}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Valsts prezidenta Valsts heraldikas komisija: Par valsts karoga un ģerboņu krāsām|url = https://www.vestnesis.lv/index.php?menu=doc&id=190841|website=Latvijas Vēstnesis|date=2009-04-21|access-date= 2024-05-24|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160312132421/https://www.vestnesis.lv/index.php?menu=doc&id=190841|archive-date = 2016-03-12|url-status = dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Latvijas valsts karogs un ģerboņi|url = http://www.km.gov.lv/UI/main.asp?id=12781|publisher = Ministry of Culture of Latvia|access-date = 2024-06-28|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081113222919/http://www.km.gov.lv/UI/main.asp?id=12781|archive-date = 2008-11-13|url-status = dead}}</ref>
 
{| class = "wikitable"
|+Flag colors
! colspan="4" | <nowiki>Proportions and colours of the flag in Pantone<br /nowiki>[[File:Flag of Latvia (construction sheet).svg|center|320x320px320px]]
|-
!
Line 76 ⟶ 70:
| [[Pantone]]
| White
▲| Use2201 = Digital flagC<ref name="DigitalFlag" />
| 201 C<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://likumi.lv/ta/id/209092#p20|title = Latvijas valsts karoga likuma piemērošanas noteikumi}}</ref>
| 19-1629 TPX or 19-1629 TC
|-
| [[RGB]]
Line 148 ⟶ 142:
* [http://www.li.lv/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=62 The Latvian Flag fact sheet at the Latvian Institute Web site]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070312182730/http://www.navy.mil.lv/eng/karogi/karogvimpengl.htm Flags and pendants of Latvian Naval Forces]
* {{FOTW|id=lv|title=Latvia}}
* [http://www.vexillographia.ru/latvija/index.htm VEXILLOGRAPHIA - Флаги Латвии]
 
{{-}}
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