Flag of Liechtenstein

Principality of Liechtenstein

Use| Civil and state flag
Proportion| 3:5[1]
Adopted| 30 June 1982; 43 years ago (1982-06-30)
Design| A horizontal bicolour of blue and red, charged with a gold crown in the canton

The national flag of the Principality of Liechtenstein (German: Flagge Liechtensteins) consists of two horizontal bands, one blue and one red, charged with a gold crown in the canton. In use since 1764 and officially enshrined into the nation's constitution in 1921, it has been the flag of the principality since that year. The crown was added to the flag in 1937, after the country discovered at the Summer Olympics held the previous year that their flag was identical to the Haitian civil flag. A design with a modified crown was adopted on 30 June 1982.

## History

[edit]

When flown vertically, the crown on the flag is rotated so that it always faces upwards.

Liechtenstein was formed in 1719 as a principality within the Holy Roman Empire and gained complete independence in 1866.[2] Within this period, the colours blue and red were selected to feature on the flag, instead of the gold and red on the coat of arms that would have customarily been employed instead. These new livery colours were first utilized by Prince Joseph Wenzel I in 1764.[1]

A new constitution for the Principality was formulated and proclaimed in October 1921.[1][3] It made the blue and red banner the national flag by granting it "official status".[1] Fifteen years later, during the 1936 Summer Olympics, the country came to the realization that its flag was identical to the flag of Haiti (Haiti took part in the Opening Ceremony but its sole athlete did not compete). Because of this finding, the government added the prince's crown to the canton.[1][4][5] This change served two purposes – to signify Liechtenstein's position as a principality, and to distinguish its flag from Haiti's.[4][6] This modified design was adopted on 24 June 1937.[6] A design with a modified crown was adopted on 30 June 1982.

## Design

[edit]

### Construction

[edit]

Construction sheet for the flag of Liechtenstein

* 3:5

* 2:3

* Pennant

* Vertical

### Symbolism

[edit]

The colours and symbols of the flag carry cultural, political, and regional meanings. The blue represents the sky, while red alludes to the "evening fires" that are lit inside houses throughout the country.[1] The crown is gold[4][5] or yellow[1] in colour.[6]

### Color scheme

[edit]

This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (June 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

Colour scheme  | Blue  | Red  | Yellow  | Black

|
|
|
|

RAL | 5010 | 3020 | 1016 | 9005
CMYK | 100-70-0-50 | 0-96-84-19 | 0-15-77-0 | 0-0-0-100
HEX | #002780  | #CF0921  | #FFD93B  | #000000
RGB | 0-39-128  | 207-9-33  | 255-217-59  | 0-0-0

## Other flags of Liechtenstein

[edit]

### Government flags

[edit]

Flag | Duration | Use | Description

|
|
|

| 1912–1957 | Standard of the Prince of Liechtenstein |
| 1957–1982 | Standard of the Prince of Liechtenstein |
| 1982–present | Standard of the Prince of Liechtenstein |
| 1982–present | Standard of the Government of Liechtenstein |
|  | Banner of the Princely House of Liechtenstein |
|  | Pennant |
|  | Vertical |

### Municipal flags

[edit]

Each of the eleven municipalities has its own flag, all flown as vertical banners.

Flag | Municipality | Adopted | Description

|
|
|

|  | Balzers |  |
|  | Eschen |  |
|  | Gamprin |  |
|  | Mauren |  |
|  | Planken |  |
|  | Ruggell |  |
|  | Schaan |  |
|  | Schellenberg |  |
|  | Triesen |  |
|  | Triesenberg |  |
|  | Vaduz |  |

### Historical flags

[edit]

Flag | Duration | Use | Description

|
|
|

| 1437–1719 | Lordship of Schellenberg |
| 1342–1719 | County of Vaduz |
| 1719–1852 | Principality of Liechtenstein | Two horizontal gold and red bands at 3:5 proportions
| 1852–1921 | Principality of Liechtenstein | Two vertical blue and red bands at 3:5 proportions
| 1921–1937 | Principality of Liechtenstein | Two horizontal blue and red bands at 3:5 proportions
| 1937–1982 | Principality of Liechtenstein | Two horizontal blue and red bands at 3:5 proportions, and princely crown in the canton

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g Smith, Whitney (July 17, 2013). "Flag of Liechtenstein". Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Retrieved June 26, 2014. (subscription required)
2. ^ "Liechtenstein profile". BBC News. BBC. Archived from the original on December 7, 2022. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
3. ^ "History of Liechtenstein". Lonely Planet. Archived from the original on August 6, 2020. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
4. ^ a b c "Liechtenstein". The World Factbook. CIA. Archived from the original on March 10, 2021. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
5. ^ a b Rainey, Venetia (July 24, 2012). "Flag bearing: a potted history". Reuters. Archived from the original on August 10, 2016. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
6. ^ a b c Kindersley, Dorling (November 3, 2008). Complete Flags of the World. Dorling Kindersley Ltd. p. 148\. ISBN 9781405338615. Retrieved June 26, 2014.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Flags of Liechtenstein.

* Liechtenstein at Flags of the World
* Original Law text (in German)

* v
* t
* e

Liechtenstein articles

History|

* Background
* Lordship of Schellenberg
* County of Werdenberg
* County of Vaduz
* Liechtenstein Castle
* Vaduz Castle
* Princely family
* Military history
* Confederation of the Rhine
* German Confederation
* 1862 Constitution
* 1918 putsch
* 1928 embezzlement scandal
* Spy affair
* 1939 failed putsch
* World War II
* Kunsthaus case
* 1992 crisis
* 1999–2001 financial crisis
* 2008 tax affair
* COVID-19 pandemic

Geography|

* Mountains
* Municipalities
* Rivers

Politics|

* Constitution
* Elections (2025)
* European microstates
* and the European Union
* Foreign relations
* Human rights
* LGBT
* Landtag (parliament)
* Law enforcement
* Monarchy
* Political parties
* Prime Minister

Economy|

* Banks
* Currency
* Energy
* Healthcare
* Telecommunications
* Trade unions
* Transport

Culture|

* Anthem
* Coat of arms
* Demographics
* Flag
* Languages
*   * Music
* Public holidays
* Religion
* Sports

* Outline
* Index

* Category

* v
* t
* e

Flags of Europe

Sovereign states|

* Albania
* Andorra
* Armenia
* Austria
* Azerbaijan
* Belarus
* Belgium
* Bosnia and Herzegovina
* Bulgaria
* Croatia
* Cyprus
* Czech Republic
* Denmark
* Estonia
* Finland
* France
* Georgia
* Germany
* Greece
* Hungary
* Iceland
* Ireland
*   * Italy
* Kazakhstan
* Latvia
* Liechtenstein
* Lithuania
* Luxembourg
* Malta
* Moldova
* Monaco
* Montenegro
* Netherlands
* North Macedonia
* Norway
* Poland
* Portugal
* Romania
* Russia
* San Marino
* Serbia
* Slovakia
* Slovenia
* Spain
* Sweden
* Switzerland
* Turkey
* Ukraine
* United Kingdom
* Vatican City

States with limited
recognition|

* Abkhazia
* Kosovo
* Northern Cyprus
* South Ossetia
* Transnistria

Dependencies and
other entities|

* Åland
* Faroe Islands
* Gibraltar
* Guernsey
* Isle of Man
* Jersey
* Svalbard

Other entities|

* European Union
* Sovereign Military Order of Malta

* v
* t
* e

National flags and coats of arms

National flags|

* Sovereign states
* Dependent territories
* Timeline

National coats of arms|

* Sovereign states
* Dependent territories

Heraldry portal
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template