Even then however, the thematology was largely derived from the symbols employed in earlier ages, and its use was limited to the major families of the Empire. OFFICIAL STATE FLAG— Official state flag of the Byzantine Empire.The most common Flag, up to date— Flag of the Byzantine and Greek Orthodox Church. [65], In the late 6th-century Stratēgikon attributed to Emperor Maurice, two kinds of military flags appear: the triangular pennon or phlamoulon (φλάμουλον, from Latin: flammula, "little flame"), and the larger bandon (βάνδον, from Latin and ultimately Germanic bandum). The labarum, although common in the 4th and 5th centuries, vanishes entirely in the 6th, and reappears only much later in altered form as part of the imperial regalia. Double-headed eagleIn gold, double headed eagle, and imperial red background or black in gold or yellow background. [42], The tetragrammatic cross appears with great frequency in the 14th and 15th centuries: it appears on Byzantine coins during the joint rule of Andronikos II Palaiologos and his son Michael IX Palaiologos, on several Western portolans to designate Constantinople and other Byzantine cities, above one of the windows of the Palace of the Porphyrogenitus, and is described by pseudo-Kodinos as "the customary imperial banner" (basilikon phlamoulon). — Byzantine Imperial Flag, standard, Official Flag of the Empire.— Flag of the "Empire of Constantinople" as described at Conoscimiento de todos los reynos (14th Century). — Double-headed Eagle in gold in an Imperial red background, at the right holds a cross and at the left a book, the cross symbolize the balance of powers and the christian element, the book symbolize the knowledge and wisdom and have the letters alpha and omega ΑΩ which it means from the beginning to the end of time and eternity, alpha and omega it is the first and last letter of the work αγαπώ meaning love and common good. level 1. The standards were not only used for distinguishing units, but also as rallying points and for conveying signals to the other formations. — Byzantine Standard — Double-headed Eagle. [26][39], Michael VIII Palaiologos standing on a suppedion decorated with single-headed eagles, John VI Kantakouzenos standing on a suppedion decorated with gold-embroidered double-headed eagles, Manuel II Palaiologos with his family. ). [54][52], Relief with the tetragrammatic cross as imperial arms, in the Istanbul Archaeological Museum, Early 14th-century depiction of Constantinople during the 1204 siege by the Fourth Crusade, Attributed arms of the Latin Empire from the reign of Philip I, who held the title of Latin Emperor of Constantinople from 1273–1283, Billon tornese coin from the joint reign of John V Palaiologos and John VI Kantakouzenos (1347–1353), The tetragrammatic cross emblem of the Palaiologos dynasty, from the 15th-century Harley 6163 manuscript, Imperial banner of the Palaiologos dynasty, as recorded by pseudo-Kodinos and one of the Byzantine flags depicted in the Castilian Conosçimiento de todos los reynos (ca. There was a myth telling a story about a giant eagle (more likely with two heads) that was retributive of injustice. and particularly following the Fourth Crusade (1202–1204) and the establishment of Frankish principalities on Byzantine soil from 1204 onwards, did heraldic uses penetrate in Byzantium. The modern double-headed eagle flag for the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and of Mount Athos, features the eagle with a cross in the right claw symbolizing spiritual authority, and an orb in the left symbolizing secular authority. Likewise, various emblems (Greek: σημεῖα, sēmeia; sing. First settled in the seventh century B.C., Constantinople developed into a English: The Flag of the Emperor of Constantinople as described in the 15-century manuscript of the Harleian collection of the British Library. Flag of the Palaiologoi as shown in the Book of all Kingdoms The Book of all Kingdoms, a 14th-century book written by a Castillian Friar, lists this as the "Flag of the Empire of Constantinople" (The Byzantine Empire). Data Proportions: 1" x 1" Date Used: 1261-1460 [69], Illuminated chronicles, such as the Madrid Skylitzes, often depict flags conforming to the general bandon type in various colours and designs, but their accuracy is doubtful. [26] Likewise, in Western armorials from the 15th century, the golden double-headed eagle on a red shield is given as the arms of the "Empire of the East" or "of Constantinople", or as emblem of members of the imperial family. … The four Bs, or Fire Steles (Greek: Πυρεκβόλα - Pyrekvola), represent the initials of the family's motto King of Kings, Ruling Over Rulers (Greek: Βασιλεύς Βασιλέων, Βασιλεύων Βασιλευόντων - Vasilefs Vasileon, Vasilevon Vasilevonton). [6], The single-headed Roman imperial eagle continued to be used in Byzantium, although far more rarely. On coins, the "B"s were often accompanied by circles or stars up to the end of the Empire, while Western sources sometimes depict the Byzantine flag as a simple gold cross on red. [82][83], A further group, collectively known as skeuē (σκεύη), is mentioned in the De Ceremoniis, mostly old military standards handed down through the ages. Huge siege cannon used in the final assault. [45] Images of flags with crosses quartered with golden discs survive from the 10th century, and a depiction of a flag almost identical to the Palaiologan design is known from the early 13th century. It is safe to identify both as official state flags and there is no debate about. It was the largest and the wealthiest city in Europe from the mid-5th century to early 13th century and was popular for its magnificent architectural design. [66][67] The pennons were used for decorative purposes on lances, but the Stratēgikon recommends removing them before battle. [31][32][33] Double-headed eagle reliefs are also attested for the walls of Trebizond, with one example preserved in a church in Kalamaria, Thessaloniki, which is very similar to 13th-century Seljuq examples. The flags and symbols in occasions have accepted modernization and evolution.A fine example of modernity and evolution it is how the Byzantine Eagle evolve on from Charalampos of Thessaloniki and even gave a meaning to our times. Although this was based on no evidence whatsoever, this view gained wide acceptance and circulation. The two younger sons wear red robes with golden double-headed eagles, Alexios III of Trebizond and his wife Theodora Kantakouzene, wearing a robe with embroidered golden double-headed eagles, Arms of the despots Michael and Philip Palaiologos, envoys to the Council of Constance, by Ulrich of Richenthal[40][41], Seal of Demetrios Palaiologos, Despot of the Morea, Banner with the double-headed eagle, used in Western portolans to mark Trebizond in the 14th century, During the Palaiologan period, the insigne of the reigning dynasty, and the closest thing to a Byzantine "national flag", according to Soloviev, was the so-called "tetragrammatic cross", a gold or silver cross with four letters beta "B" (often interpreted as firesteels) of the same color, one in each corner. Shop Byzantine Empire Flag of Constantinople byzantine empire pillows designed by WarlordApparel as well as other byzantine empire merchandise at TeePublic. Along with the double-headed eagle, the tetragrammatic cross was also adopted as part of their family coat of arms by the cadet line of the Palaiologos dynasty ruling in Montferrat. Constantinople kŏn˝stăn˝tĭnō´pəl , former capital of the Byzantine Empire and of the Ottoman Empire, since 1930 officially called İstanbul (for location and description, see İstanbul). It was also adopted in Serbia, with slight changes.The interpretation of the emblem's symbolism hinges on the identification of the four devices either as letters or as firesteels, a dispute where even contemporary sources are inconsistent. [9], In 1861, the Greek scholar Georgios Chrysovergis wrote that it was adopted by the Komnenoi in 1048. Constantinople is an ancient city in modern-day Turkey that’s now known as Istanbul. In addition, the Stratēgikon prescribes a separate standard for the baggage train (touldon) of each moira. σημεῖον, sēmeion) were used in official occasions and for military purposes, such as banners or shields displaying various motifs such as the cross or the labarum. [8] Eagle-topped scepters were a frequent feature of consular diptychs, and appear on coins until the reign of Philippikos Bardanes (r. Beautiful. The symbol was also adopted by other Byzantine states, like the Gattilusi who ruled Lesbos after 1355, or the Latin lords of Rhodes Vignolo dei Vignoli and Foulques de Villaret. Tetragrammatic crossThe "tetragrammatic cross", a gold or silver cross with four letters beta "B" (often interpreted as firesteels) of the same colour in each corner.As an insigne, the cross was already in frequent use in Byzantine since Late Antiquity. It was mostly used on clothes and other accoutrements, as codified in the mid-14th century by pseudo-Kodinos in his Book of Offices. It is not of Byzantine invention, but a traditional Anatolian motif dating to Hittite times, and the Byzantines themselves only used it in the last centuries of the Empire. Today both cross and double-headed eagle accepted as official state flags of the Byzantine Empire, equally. [78], From the 6th century until the end of the empire, the Byzantines also used a number of other insignia. hide. [20], The Palaiologan emperors used the double-headed eagle as a symbol of the senior members of the imperial family. [24][25] According to a handful of surviving examples, such as the supposed "Flag of Andronikos II Palaiologos" in the Vatopedi Monastery, or a frontispiece of a Bible belonging to Demetrios Palaiologos, the Byzantine double-headed eagle was golden on a red background. After establishing himself as the Despot, Constantine worked to strengthen the defence of the Morea, including reconstructing a wall across the Isthmus of Corinth called the "Hexamilion" (Six-… These were on the same pattern but of larger size, and possibly with more streamers (the Stratēgikon depicts flags with two to eight streamers). Constantinople had been an imperial capital since its consecration in 330 under Roman Emperor Constantine the Great.In the following eleven centuries, the city had been besieged many times but was captured only once: during the Fourth Crusade in 1204. — Official state flag of the Byzantine Empire. [29][30] The double-headed eagle was used in the breakaway Empire of Trebizond as well, being attested imperial clothes but also on flags. [22] Similarly, the sebastokrator wore blue boots with golden wire-embroidered eagles on a red background, while his saddle cloth was blue with four red embroidered eagles. Flag of Constantinople. The Emperor Constantine was regarded as an ancestor by the Byzantines.He was infact a ruler of Roman … 1350)[55], Byzantine flag as shown on some portolan charts[56], Bronze denaro of Domenico Gattilusio, lord of Lesbos in 1455–1458, with a large "D" on the obverse, and the tetragrammatic cross on the reverse, Arms of William IX Palaiologos, Marquess of Montferrat in 1494–1518, Arms of the House of Gonzaga as Dukes of Mantua after 1575. [19] In addition, the double-headed eagle may have been in use in the Latin Empire established after the Fourth Crusade: according to Robert of Clari, the first Latin Emperor, Baldwin of Flanders, wore a cloak embroidered with eagles for his coronation; his daughters used the same device in their arms; and the Byzantine historian Niketas Choniates reports that the Latin emperors struck bronze coins with a double-headed eagle on them. The towers, domes and palaces were enclosed by the complex. Byzantine Empire Map. [43][46][47] On coins, the "B"s were often accompanied by circles or stars up to the end of the Empire, while Western sources sometimes depict the Byzantine flag as a simple gold cross on red, without the "B"s.[48][49] The symbol was also adopted by Byzantine vassals, like the Gattilusi who ruled Lesbos after 1355, or the Latin lords of Rhodes Vignolo dei Vignoli and Foulques de Villaret. Far more common, both in seals and in decorations, was the use of cyphers or monograms (sing. All orders are custom made and most ship worldwide within 24 hours. Flag Of The Greek Orthodox Church, Ecumenical Patriarchate Of Constantinople- Religious flags fridge magnet. [7] Thus "eagle-bearers" (ὀρνιθόβορας), descendants of the aquilifers of the Roman legions, are still attested in the 6th century military manual known as the Strategikon of Maurice, although it is unknown whether the standards they carried bore any resemblance to the legionary aquilae. [34] Modern scholars commonly consider the double-headed eagle to have been adopted by the Grand Komnenos emperors of Trebizond after their recognition of the suzerainty of, and intermarriage with, the Palaiologos dynasty in the 1280s. The crosses on top of the crowns means science, knowledge, space exploration in all directions and general preservation of the arts, planet, humans and animals. The great Bulgar Khans Krum (r. 802-814 CE) and Symeon (r. 893-927 CE) both attempted to attack the Byzantine capital, as did the Rus (descendants of Vikings based around Kiev) in 860 CE, 941 CE, and 1043 CE, but all failed. According to the description of Niketas Choniates, they still included the windsock that was the draco′s distinctive feature, but this may be a deliberate archaicism. [16], The double-headed eagle has been shown to derive from Central Asian traditions, and spread to the eastern Mediterranean with the Seljuq Turks. After taking Constantinople, returning Alexius IV to the throne, the revolt against and murder of Alexius IV left the Crusaders without payment. Along with the double-headed eagle, the tetragrammatic cross was also adopted as part of their family coat of arms by the cadet line of the Palaiologos dynasty ruling in Montferrat. — Flag of the "Empire of Constantinople" as described at Conoscimiento de todos los reynos (14th Century). Illustration about 3D Rendered Flag of Emperor of Constantinople. The flag of the Patriarchate of Constantinople is white with deep red - on the face, in a red circle with gold outlines, a double-headed eagle, with a crown on each head, and a crown over both, and the abbreviation "ΟΙΚ" and "Π" for Οἰκουμενικὸν Πατριαρχεῖον (Oecumenical Patriarchate), and in the right claw of the eagle, a cross, and in the left, an orb with a cross on its top. High quality Constantinople gifts and merchandise. The aquila fell out of use with the breaking up of the old legions, the imago was abandoned with the adoption of Christianity, and only the vexillum and the draco are still occasionally attested in the 5th century and beyond. The official Byzantine Flag, the Double-headed Eagle and other symbols and emblems of Constantinople and the Empire are in use to date from variety of organizations, companies, individuals and even states. For a survey of the evidence available at the time, cf. Another major siege was instigated by the usurper T… report. This Constantinople, circa A flag is wind- and weather-resistant and highly durable. [14][15] Lambros suggested that it was adopted from Hittite rock-carvings,[13] while A. Soloviev argued in favour of a late adoption around 1288, as a talisman against the first Ottoman successes in Anatolia, as a symbolic gesture reaffirming Byzantine rule over both European and Asian territories. Since the 6th century, crosses with quartered letters are known, especially from coinage, forming the acronyms of various invocations, e.g. The Byzantine Imperial flag is yellow with a black crowned double-headed eagle. In the center carries the Vergina Sun, symbolizing the ancient Hellenic spirit and the Olympian values, freedom, democracy, justice, education — in the personal version it carries a monogram for Χαράλαμπος, with the same meaning. Above the eagle, is a crown, and the background colour of the flag is yellow or gold. Despite th… According to literary evidence, they were single or double-tailed, while later manuscript illuminations evidence triple-tailed phlamoula. Shop high-quality unique Byzantine T-Shirts designed and sold by artists. Unlike the Western feudal lords, Byzantine aristocratic families did not, as far as is known, use specific symbols to designate themselves and their followers. For more Greek Flags please check my Listings. 52. The eagle holds a romfea at the right and a sphere (world) at the left, symbolizing the secular and spiritual character of the Empire, while the heads of the eagle look at right and left symbolizing the Imperial dominion from East to West. Perhaps a symbol of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople itself.— The double-headed eagle with the Palaiologos family monogram (ΠΑΛΓ), from Demetrios Palaiologos personal bible.— Emblem of the Palaiologos Dynasty (1400s) — Έμβλημα της δυναστείας των Παλαιολόγων — The double headed eagle with the sympilema (dynastic cypher) of the Palaiologoi in the center. [70] The accuracy of the designs shown in the Madrid Skylitzes, in particular, is doubtful: while they may give a good general idea of how flags looked like, the flags themselves are "simplified and schematised", and the illustrators do not bother to differentiate between the flags shown for the Byzantines and for their enemies; even the Saracens are shown as flying a flag topped with a cross. [52] Thus a late 15th-century French source explicitly refers to them as letters, but a mid-14th century Sevillan traveller and pseudo-Kodinos both call them firesteels (πυρέκβολα, pyrekvola, in Greek). Constantinople was the capital city of the Roman Empire from 330-1204 and 1261-1453. It was placed on the walls of Galata, apparently as a sign of the Byzantine emperor's—largely theoretical—suzerainty over the Genoese colony. At any rate, the use of the dragon as an image is attested well into the 14th century. The eagle pre-existed along Anatolia to the Greeks and Hittites and maybe even earlier to the Sumerians. [59] In AD 330, Constantine the Great used this symbol while re-dedicating Constantinople to the Virgin Mary. Anthem, ©2017-2021 Byzantine Roman Empire 324-1453 up to 2021. iByzantine.com, Terms of Use  |  Privacy Policy  |  About  |  Contact, Double-headed eagle of the Byzantine Empire. Another very Western design could be found on one of the now-demolished towers of the seaward walls of Constantinople, which had been restored by Andronikos II Palaiologos (r. 1282–1328) and bore that emperor's emblem, a crowned lion rampant holding a sword. 91% Upvoted. [79] Among them were the imperial phlamoula of gold and gold-embroidered silk, and the insignia collectively known as "sceptres" (σκῆπτρα, skēptra), which were usually symbolical objects on top of a staff. 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