Flag of Latvia: Difference between revisions

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>

Based on the aforementioned historical record, some nationalist individuals and organisations started to use such flags in the 19th century. The present day flag design was adaptedsketched by artist {{illm|Ansis Cīrulis|lv|Ansis Cīrulis|ru|Цирулис, Ансис}} in May 1917. The Latvian national flag, together with the national coat of arms was affirmed in this format by a special parliamentary decree of the Republic of Latvia passed on 15 June 1921.