
Last modified: 2026-10-31 by
klaus-michael schneider
Keywords: lingga | riau | riau-lingga | crescent | saltire |
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image by Rob Raeside, 1 June 2010, based on sketch by John McMeekin
The archipelagos of Riau and Lingga are located south of Singapore.
The Riau-Lingga Sultanate existed between 1824 and 1911. It had been a successor of the Johore-Riau Sultanate.
By the Treaty of London in 1824 Johore became a British Protectorate and Riau Lingga a Dutch Protectorate.
Tanjungpinang on Bintan Island (Riau archipelago) had been the administrative seat. Daik on Lingga Island had been the royal seat.
It appears as if the Sultan resided in Lingga, while Riau was ruled by a Vice King. In 1900 the royal seat was moved also to Tanjungpinang.
It furthermore appears, as if the neighbouring archipelagos of Riau and Lingga used different flags, at least partially and temporarily, although belonging to the same state.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 28 Oct 2026
The red State Flag of Riau-Lingga looks like the flag of Turkey, but the white star & crescent is nearer the hoist.
John McMeekin, 1 Oct 2014
2:3, image by Jaume Ollé
The flag was black with white canton. The flag was approved for Riau on 26 November 1818 by a treaty with the Dutch.
It had been also the state flag of Lingga and between of 1855 and 1865 of Johore.
Sources:
1. Anonymus 1865 Flag Chart
2. Rühl 1952, p.141
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 28 Oct 2026
image by Rob Raeside, 1 June 2010, based on sketch by John McMeekin
The newer royal standard, 1866?-1899/1911 was yellow.
Rob Raeside, 1 June 2010
image by Rob Raeside, 1 June 2010, based on sketch by John McMeekin
The old royal standard, reported 1865, was white.
Rob Raeside, 1 June 2010
2:3, image by Jaume Ollé
The standard of the sultan was white.
Source: Anonymus 1865 Flag Chart
2:3, image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 28 Oct 2026
The triangular pennant and the broader swallow tail pennant of the sultan were white.
Source: Anonymus 1865 Flag Chart
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 28 Oct 2026
The Standard of Princes of Blood and Ambassadors of the Sultan and was yellow.
Source: Rühl 1952, p.141
The yellow flag with green stripes on top, hoist and bottom edge had been that one of Princes of Blood and Ambassadors of the Vice King (of Riau) in Linga.
Source: Rühl 1952, p.141
![]() 2:3, image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 28 Oct 2026 |
![]() 2:3, image by Jaume Ollé |
The flag was parted vertically, blue at fly and white parted by a blue saltire at hoist (see left image above) or black at fly and white parted by a black saltire at hoist (see right image above).
Source: Anonymus 1865 Flag Chart
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 28 Oct 2026
The flag was red with black stripes on top, hoist and bottom edges.
Jaume Ollé
2:3, image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 28 Oct 2026
The flag was white with red stripes on top, hoist and bottom edges.
Source: Anonymus 1865 Flag Chart
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 28 Oct 2026
image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 28 Oct 2026
The small triangular pennant (above) was simply red. The bigger triangular pennant (beneath) was white with red stripes on top and bottom edges.
The Prince Admiral was not entitled to hoist his flag and pennants on the main mast.
Source: Anonymus 1865 Flag Chart
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 28 Oct 2026
approx. 4:5, image by Jaume Ollé
The standard was green with yellow stripes on top, hoist and bottom edges.
Source: Rühl 1952, p.141
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 28 Oct 2026
2:3, image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 28 Oct 2026
The standard was yellow with green stripes on top, hoist and bottom edges. The same flag was reported in 1865 as Standard of the Vice King.
Sources: Anonymus 1865 Flag Chart and Rühl 1952, p.141
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 28 Oct 2026
approx. 4:5, image by Jaume Ollé
The small triangular pennant was horizontally parted of green and yellow.
The bigger swallow tail pennant was yellow with green stripes on top, hoist and bottom edge.
Source: Anonymus 1865 Flag Chart
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 28 Oct 2026
2:3, image by Jaume Ollé
The pennant was black.
Jaume Ollé
![]() 2:3, image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 28 Oct 2026 |
![]() 2:3, image by Jaume Ollé |
The flag was blue (see left image above) or black (see left image above) parted by a white saltire.
Source: Anonymus 1865 Flag Chart
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 28 Oct 2026
4:5, image by Jaume Ollé
Source: Anonymous 1865 Flag Chart
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 28 Oct 2026
4:5, image by Jaume OlléSource: Anonymous 1865 Flag Chart
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 28 Oct 2026
2:3, image by Ivan Sache
From a paper entitled "Gwenn ha Du" (Black and White) by W. Smith in Ar Banniel", (1996).
Ivan Sache, 2 August 1999
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