A green field with the Rosa Camuna (also called curvilinear cross) in white in the centre[1][2]
The flag of Lombardy is one of the official symbols of the
region of
Lombardy, Italy.[1] The current flag was officially adopted on 4 February 2019,[1][2][3] although it has been used de facto since 12 June 1975.[1][4][3]
Symbolism
The flag is a field of green, representing the
Po Valley, with the
Rosa Camuna (a symbol of the region derived from a prehistoric drawing made by the
ancient Camuni) in white in the centre, representing the light.[4][5][6]
History
The modern version of the Rosa Camuna was designed by
Bruno Munari,
Bob Noorda,
Roberto Sambonet and
Pino Tovaglia in 1975, and became the regional emblem on 12 June 1975.[1] After that, a 2:3 version of the Rosa Camuna was used like a provisional flag.
In 2007 a study commissioned by the Region concluded that the most representative flag was the one of the
Duchy of Milan (the so-called Ducale, composed by quartering the
Biscione and the
Reichsadler), but the proposal was never discussed.[12][13]
The idea of combining the Rosa Camuna with Saint Ambrose's Cross first appeared in 2011: six sketches were published and polled on the daily newspaper
Corriere della Sera, without sequel.[14] A new proposal was discussed in 2015, but it was also rejected.[15]
The provisional flag was finally adopted with a unanimous vote of the Regional Council on 29 January 2019, becoming official on 4 February 2019.[16][1][2][3]
One of the several prehistoric engravings in
Valcamonica.
Geometric construction of the modern version in 1975
Since modern
heraldry did not develop until the
High Middle Ages, there was no banner nor coat of arms for the
Kingdom. A later tradition retrospectively saw the three
votive crowns of the
cathedral of Monza (the so-called
Iron Crown, the
crown of Theodelinda and the
one of Agilulf) as symbols of the Lombard kingdom. But in fact, the Lombard coinage tend to show that Lombards used crosses and calvaries as their only symbols.
Milan's standard bearer, detail from the bas-reliefs of
Porta Romana
The carroccio as depicted in an ancient miniature
When was created the
Lombard League (1167) to defend the municipal liberties against
Barbarossa, the
communes raised a flag with a red cross on a white field, that was at the same time the
flag of Milan (destroyed by the emperor in 1162), and the opposite of the loyalist cities flag (a white cross in a red field, derived from the
war flag of the Holy Roman Empire).[18]
This flag was carried on the
carroccio during the
battle of Legnano.
Flag of the Austrian-ruled Duchy of Milan (1765-1796)
In the second half of the 13th century the Lombard League lost its relevance, and the era of
Signorie began. Milan slowly took control over most of the other cities, forming in 1395 the
Duchy of Milan with
Gian Galeazzo Visconti. At its height, it controlled the major part of today
Northern Italy (which was called, at that time, simply Lombardy).
The city continued to use the red cross (called Saint Ambrose's Cross, taking name from Milan patron saint),[19][17]
At the end of the Visconti dynasty, the Duchy became for a short period a
Republic, using the city's flag with superimposed a depiction of Saint Ambrose.[17]
Lord and then the Duke used the simbol of the
House of Visconti, the
Biscione (Bissa in
Lombard).[19][17] The simple version remained used as
war flag,[17] but the
Imperial Eagle was jointed (by quartering) to the State flag when the emperor recognize the Visconti family rule, first as
Imperial vicars (1329), later as Dukes.[20] An exception was made between 1395 and 1402, when the Eagle was replaced by the
Fleur-de-lis, because of the Duke's marriage with
Isabella of France.[20][17][21]
The Sforza family restored the Visconti's flag,[17] that also remained during foreign dominations (but during French domination was briefly restored the version with the Fleur-de-lis),[21] until the end of the
austrian Duchy caused by the
Napoleonic Wars (1796).
The Duchy of Mantua was in South
Lombardy. The Duchy's historic power and influence under the
Gonzaga family has made it one of the main artistic,
cultural, and especially musical hubs of Northern Italy and the country as a whole. Mantua also had one of the most splendid courts of Italy and Europe in the fifteenth, sixteenth, and early seventeenth centuries.[22] From the 13th century on, the city had white flags with a red cross. In 1433, coinciding with the recognition of the marquis, four black eagles were added to the cross, and this was also the insignia of the Gonzaga family, which previously wore gold and black stripes. These flags were probably used sporadically until the partition of the principality in 1708.[23]
After the
Vienna Congress, the territories of the Duchy of Milan and the
Venetian Republic were merged to form the
Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia. Its coat of arms was created quartering the Bissa (Lombardy) and the
Lion of Saint Mark (Venetia) under the Iron Crown of Lombardy, superimposed on the
double-headed eagle of the Austrian Empire. The flag of the Viceroy bears the coat of arms in a yellow field.
During the
Italian revolution in 1848, an uprising took place in the Austrian Milan. Similar to other places, the insurgents used the Italian tricolor, but with their own symbols.
Kingdom of Italy
In the Kingdom of Italy the regions were only statistical department. Nevertheless, in 1910 was made a proposal to give them a coat of arms: for Lombardy was chosen the Biscione,[20] proposed again in 1927,[24] without sequel.
A green field with the Rosa Camuna (also called curvilinear cross) in white in the centre[1][2]
The flag of Lombardy is one of the official symbols of the
region of
Lombardy, Italy.[1] The current flag was officially adopted on 4 February 2019,[1][2][3] although it has been used de facto since 12 June 1975.[1][4][3]
Symbolism
The flag is a field of green, representing the
Po Valley, with the
Rosa Camuna (a symbol of the region derived from a prehistoric drawing made by the
ancient Camuni) in white in the centre, representing the light.[4][5][6]
History
The modern version of the Rosa Camuna was designed by
Bruno Munari,
Bob Noorda,
Roberto Sambonet and
Pino Tovaglia in 1975, and became the regional emblem on 12 June 1975.[1] After that, a 2:3 version of the Rosa Camuna was used like a provisional flag.
In 2007 a study commissioned by the Region concluded that the most representative flag was the one of the
Duchy of Milan (the so-called Ducale, composed by quartering the
Biscione and the
Reichsadler), but the proposal was never discussed.[12][13]
The idea of combining the Rosa Camuna with Saint Ambrose's Cross first appeared in 2011: six sketches were published and polled on the daily newspaper
Corriere della Sera, without sequel.[14] A new proposal was discussed in 2015, but it was also rejected.[15]
The provisional flag was finally adopted with a unanimous vote of the Regional Council on 29 January 2019, becoming official on 4 February 2019.[16][1][2][3]
One of the several prehistoric engravings in
Valcamonica.
Geometric construction of the modern version in 1975
Since modern
heraldry did not develop until the
High Middle Ages, there was no banner nor coat of arms for the
Kingdom. A later tradition retrospectively saw the three
votive crowns of the
cathedral of Monza (the so-called
Iron Crown, the
crown of Theodelinda and the
one of Agilulf) as symbols of the Lombard kingdom. But in fact, the Lombard coinage tend to show that Lombards used crosses and calvaries as their only symbols.
Milan's standard bearer, detail from the bas-reliefs of
Porta Romana
The carroccio as depicted in an ancient miniature
When was created the
Lombard League (1167) to defend the municipal liberties against
Barbarossa, the
communes raised a flag with a red cross on a white field, that was at the same time the
flag of Milan (destroyed by the emperor in 1162), and the opposite of the loyalist cities flag (a white cross in a red field, derived from the
war flag of the Holy Roman Empire).[18]
This flag was carried on the
carroccio during the
battle of Legnano.
Flag of the Austrian-ruled Duchy of Milan (1765-1796)
In the second half of the 13th century the Lombard League lost its relevance, and the era of
Signorie began. Milan slowly took control over most of the other cities, forming in 1395 the
Duchy of Milan with
Gian Galeazzo Visconti. At its height, it controlled the major part of today
Northern Italy (which was called, at that time, simply Lombardy).
The city continued to use the red cross (called Saint Ambrose's Cross, taking name from Milan patron saint),[19][17]
At the end of the Visconti dynasty, the Duchy became for a short period a
Republic, using the city's flag with superimposed a depiction of Saint Ambrose.[17]
Lord and then the Duke used the simbol of the
House of Visconti, the
Biscione (Bissa in
Lombard).[19][17] The simple version remained used as
war flag,[17] but the
Imperial Eagle was jointed (by quartering) to the State flag when the emperor recognize the Visconti family rule, first as
Imperial vicars (1329), later as Dukes.[20] An exception was made between 1395 and 1402, when the Eagle was replaced by the
Fleur-de-lis, because of the Duke's marriage with
Isabella of France.[20][17][21]
The Sforza family restored the Visconti's flag,[17] that also remained during foreign dominations (but during French domination was briefly restored the version with the Fleur-de-lis),[21] until the end of the
austrian Duchy caused by the
Napoleonic Wars (1796).
The Duchy of Mantua was in South
Lombardy. The Duchy's historic power and influence under the
Gonzaga family has made it one of the main artistic,
cultural, and especially musical hubs of Northern Italy and the country as a whole. Mantua also had one of the most splendid courts of Italy and Europe in the fifteenth, sixteenth, and early seventeenth centuries.[22] From the 13th century on, the city had white flags with a red cross. In 1433, coinciding with the recognition of the marquis, four black eagles were added to the cross, and this was also the insignia of the Gonzaga family, which previously wore gold and black stripes. These flags were probably used sporadically until the partition of the principality in 1708.[23]
After the
Vienna Congress, the territories of the Duchy of Milan and the
Venetian Republic were merged to form the
Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia. Its coat of arms was created quartering the Bissa (Lombardy) and the
Lion of Saint Mark (Venetia) under the Iron Crown of Lombardy, superimposed on the
double-headed eagle of the Austrian Empire. The flag of the Viceroy bears the coat of arms in a yellow field.
During the
Italian revolution in 1848, an uprising took place in the Austrian Milan. Similar to other places, the insurgents used the Italian tricolor, but with their own symbols.
Kingdom of Italy
In the Kingdom of Italy the regions were only statistical department. Nevertheless, in 1910 was made a proposal to give them a coat of arms: for Lombardy was chosen the Biscione,[20] proposed again in 1927,[24] without sequel.