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A curious establishment Austria has is the so called "Honour Flags" for Merchant ships' captains, which were created in the year 1850. There are red
and white Honour Flags. The former serves as a reward for skippers, who
through nautical accomplishments and the propagation and furtherance of the
Austrian shipping and the Austrian overseas trade in high degree have
deserved well of their country or through the saving of castaways or other
similar commendable acts have distinguished themselves. The Honour Flags are
made of silk, have the black double eagle with an appropriate inscription
and are after the death of the possessor preserved for all times in the
municipal halls of the place of his birth.
Translated from Siegel (1912) by Marco
Pribilla, 2 December 2001
The white honour flag (for nautical merits) and the red honour flag (for warlike merits) bore the Imperial Double Eagle with a black
diagonal band in the obverse that contained the words 'Merito navali' or 'Fortitudini
navali' respectively. The reverse was decorated with the motto 'Viribus unitis'."
Translated from Diem (1995) by Peter
Hans van den Muijzenberg, 1 December 2001
| Obverse | Reverse |
![[Austria-Hungary Honour Flag]](../images/a/ah~1850w.gif) |
![[Austria-Hungary Honour Flag]](../images/a/ah~1850w1.gif) |
The Emperor Franz Joseph I established in 1850 two honour flags for the merchant marine. The white honour flag "Merito Navale" (Weisse Ehrenflagge für Hadelsschiffe) was to be granted to Austrian marine captains as recognition for civil services to the Empire. This included in the first place the opening of a new trade routes by the captain's voyage or his nautical science, or the considerable upgrading of the Austrian navigation or maritime trade in general or other valuable feat by leading the ship.
The flag consisted of a white field with the black imperial double-headed
eagle, each head crowned and both topped with an imperial crown, with the
escutcheon impaled Habsburg, Austria and Lorraine, bearing the collar of the
Order of the Golden Fleece and the series of other high Austrian decorations,
surrounded with eleven coat of arms of the crown lands, holding in its talons a
sword, a sceptre and an orb, and a black ribbon with yellow inscription. On the
obverse it was inscribed VIRIBUS UNITIS (United we shall win - Motto of the
Empire) and on the reverse MERITO NAVALE (Maritime merit).
The flag
ensured to the awarded captains primary service in Austrian ports, and some
other benefits. It was hoisted from the main mast. Even though some sources show
it as rectangular, the flag was square, made of silk. The regulations provided
that after the death of the awarded captain the flag would be preserved "for
ever" in the assembly hall of his city of birth.
The only such flag was
awarded on 31 July 1860 to Austrian Captain Ivan Vizin (a.k.a. Ivo Visin a.k.a.
Johann Visin), a Croat born in Prčanj (Perzano) in Boka Kotorska (Cattaro), now
in Montenegro, for his round-the-world voyage with the sail-ship "Splendido", the first Austrian merchant ship to do that
and the sixth ship ever, in the period 1852 until 1859. The flag is preserved to
this day in the parish church in Prčanj, together with a ceremonial chart
inviting the Captain to the granting ceremony. The actual flag shows the
charges in much cruder artwork then the intricate designs found in many flag
books of the time, that is only appropriate for a flag that would be much
used atop the main mast.
Željko Heimer, 12 October 2007
The honourary naval flags called Merito navali and Fortitudini
navali were established in the Austrian-Hungarian navy [navy here means both
military and merchant marine] as a symbol of appreciation of deeds at sea and
special merit in the navy. The flags were established by the Imperial patent
[decree] of 16 April 1850 and they were of two colours bearing the same symbol –
the imperial double eagle [i.e. the coat of arms with shield, collar, shields of
crown-lands around, imperial crown above, sword and orb] and were inscribed "Viribus
unitis" [together we shall win - the motto of the imperial navy]. The white
– Merito navali – was awarded in peacetime for the results and
successes in navigation on distant seas, in development of naval trade, in
rescuing at sea or some other exceptional deed. The other, red flag –
Fortitudini navali – was awarded for evident courage and exceptional deeds
in combat on sea.
Both of these flags, the white and the red, were awarded by Austria-Hungary only
once each, and both were given to Croatian seamen. The white honorary flag was
awarded to Captain Ivo Visin of Pranj (Boka kotorska, today in Montenegro). He
was the commander of the barque [a two-masted sailing ship] "Splendido"
on which he sailed around the world from 1852 to 1859. Visin was the first
Croatian, and only the sixth sailor in the world to repeat what Magellan did.
[He was shown on Yugoslav postage stamps of early 1980's together with his ship,
though I don't remember if any flag was shown there.]
translated from [isa01] by Željko
Heimer, 23 July 2002 / 14 November 2003
In an article on http://www.kotor.com/2001/articles/349.htm there
is a brief reference on the present whereabouts of the only awarded white honour flag of Austria-Hungary. As I have reported previously,
it was awarded to a captain born in Prčanj (Parzano, Parsano), Ivo Visin (also known as John Visin and Ivan Vizin; 1806–1868) for his
round-the-world trip with his ship "Splendido" (also found "Splendito" e.g. in
[leh86]).
As the regulations regarding the honour flags determine that the flag shall be preserved "for all the times" after the death of the captain
who was granted it, in the city hall of his city of birth, I tried to track down if the flag still exists after all the turmoil.
I found a short reference on the pages regarding Prčanj at http://www.kotor.com/2001/articles/349.htm
(translation by Željko Heimer):
Maritime Captain Ivan Vizin is the first among the South Slavs who sailed around the world with his ship "Splendido" between 1852 and
1859. For this he was granted by Austria with a white silk flag "Meritonavali", that is preserved in the parish church in Prčanj.
I contacted some people in Kotor in hope that I shall be able to find out more and eventually get a photo of the flag, but that may take
time. In the mean time, anyone traveling to Montenegro might want not to miss that vex-jewel.
I'll try to track down any reference to the red flag on the net, too.
Željko Heimer, 11 April 2004
I received some answer from the associations of Croats from Kotor (who, among other things, take care of the preservation of the rich maritime traditions of the Boka Croats). It happens that in that time, the flag was nowhere to be found – it was not in the church in Prčanj where it should have been and none was aware what happened. Although the flag was still being there in late 1980s – it was feared that in the turmoil of war the flag was "lost" (although, of course, there was no war in Kotor – the general situation surely led to diminished care for heritage) – it was even suggested that it was stolen or even sold to some unscrupulous collector who knows it true meaning better that the current caretakers.
Some year or more later, I was contacted by the same people, who reported
the glad news that the flag was located. Incidentally, it happens that sometime
in 1990s it was sent to Belgrade to a woman who was a specialist for
conservation and reconstruction of textile (so, also flags) for reconstruction,
as it was already showing significant signs of wear. It happened that the lady
passed away in the meantime, and her successors knew nothing of the meaning and
the origin of the flag they now had. Anyway, eventually, the Kotor society
managed to return the flag to Kotor – it was being displayed in the Kotor museum
for a period and presumably returned to Prčanj church. The flag is quite
expectedly in quite delicate state and it is difficult to display it properly,
since it is a huge piece of silk – about 4x4 meter.
Željko Heimer, 2005–2006
| Obverse | Reverse |
![[Austria-Hungary Honour Flag]](../images/a/ah~1850r.gif) |
![[Austria-Hungary Honour Flag]](../images/a/ah~1850r1.gif) |
The honorary red flag was awarded to Captain Antun Celestin Ivancic of Mali
Lošinj, who together with his crew re-liberated by the French captured the brig
[sailing ship type] "Eolo" in 1859.
translated from [isa01] by Željko
Heimer, 23 July 2002 / 14 November 2003
The other honour flag established in 1850 was the red honour flag (Rothe Ehrenflagge für Hadelsschiffe) as a merit for merchant captains that show exceptional valour during an enemy or pirate attack. The design of the flag was entirely as the white honour flag, but it was made on a dark red (burgundy) silk, and the inscription on the reverse stated FORTITUDINI NAVALI (Maritime Courage).
The fate of the flag is, apparently, unknown, it is not preserved either in
the Mali Lošinj nor Rijeka Museums. The ceremonial chart (showing the design of
the flag) inviting the Captain to the ceremony is preserved in the Maritime and
History Museum of the Croatian Littoral in Rijeka.
Željko Heimer, 12 October 2007
A visitor to my FAME site provided some further insight into the Red Honour
Flag granted to Cpt. Celestin Invančić in 1859 on which a bit can be read at
http://zeljko-heimer-fame.from.hr/descr/ah-1850.html. The Red Honour Flag
was established as a symbol of merit for a merchant (i.e. non-military) captain
of the Austrian marine in 1850 and was granted only once, in 1859 to Captain
Antun Celestin Ivančić (a.k.a. Celestin Ivancich), born in Mali Lošinj (Lussinpiccolo).
It was granted for the deed he and his crew did on board of his brig
(or brigantine) "Eolo" on his home voyage from Cardiff to Rijeka.
While at sea, war had started between Austria and France and his ship (ignorant
of the peril) was captured by the French in Adriatic near Dugi otok. The French
ordered the ship to sail to Toulon, but soon, near the island of Lastovo, the
captain and the crew took the opportunity of inclement weather and they
overwhelmed the French soldiers on board and regained the ship.
The Red
Flag was ceremoniously given to the captain on 14 August 1859 in Trieste by the
commander in chief of the Kk. Navy on board the frigate "Radetzky" together with
the Order of Chivalry of Franz Joseph. A document, an invitation for the
ceremony is preserved in the Maritime and Historical Museum of Rijeka and the
Croatian Littoral (www.ppmhp.hr) under
inventory number 358 and is depicted in their catalogue "Stari jedrenjaci" by
Nikša Mendeš [med00] on page 110. The document includes depictions of the Red
and White Honour Flags in the heading, showing them in square form (unlike the
rectangular form shown in numerous foreign flag books of the period!)
Beside the honour it undoubtedly was, the Red Flag enabled the captain and his
ship certain privileges in ship's handling in the Austrian ports. The flag was
probably very similar to the White Flag granted to Visin, preserved in Prčanj,
that is huge in size (about 4x4 meters), made of silk and on it painted emblems
– and was hoisted from the main mast of the ship.
The regulations
regarding the Honour Flags prescribed that the flag, after the death of captain
granted with it, is to be preserved
"forever" in the church of his
birthplace.
The original charter – document granted to Cpt. Ivancich
providing him with the right to bear the red flag is today preserved in Rome, in
the Museum of Fiume – Rijeka, established by Esuli (Optanti – those who "opted"
to move to Italy after Yugoslavia gained Istria, islands and Zadar after World
War II). The people who went to Italy at the time took with them numerous
valuable cultural artefacts among which are several flags of our interest. Some
are shown in this Museum and several others in Italy (I believe one is in
Venice). A photo where the document could be seen, although it is hardly
readable, is visible at
http://www.nuzzichierego.com/crono.php?ID=1 (fourth photo from the top),
although this charter apparently does not depict the Red Flag. It may well be
that the flag itself is also preserved somewhere in Italy as well, since it is
nowhere to be found in Mali Lošinj or Rijeka museums, archives and
churches.
The Museum in Rome includes some other interesting flags from
the beginning of 20th century and Italian rule of Rijeka and surroundings,
judging from the few photos at
http://www.fiume-rijeka.it/museo/museo.htm and the list of inventory
http://www.fiume-rijeka.it/museo/inventario.htm. One may especially mention
the originals: the historical flag of Fiume of 1905, the flag from ship
Dante Alighieri and the flag of the Fiume Free State of 1920s as well as the
reproduction of the D'Annunzio's banner of Fiume (cf.
Fiume on FOTW). One may note
that the reproduction there is considerably different from the reconstruction
of the gonfalon made by Mario Fabretto. Knowing Mario's meticulousness, I
wonder if that reproduction is not
erroneous (the
photo of that reproduction) as Mario gives his
sources: Vexilla Italica V,2-3 (1978), photographs of the actual
gonfalon and
description made by its author: G. D'Annunzio, and notes about its authenticity:
Authenticated design and use from contemporary sources.
It may be
interesting to know the source for the reproduction.
The documents I refer to are both written in Italian and refer to this flag
as "Imperiale Bandiera D'Onore Marittima Rossa", where Rossa seems to have been
additionally printed into a previously printed document form for both the white
and the red flag, where space for this additional colour determination was left
blank – at least it seems by a different shade of red printing of the first
words and the word Rossa – however, I wonder if this was really a case, I do not
see reason to expect these forms to exist – the flags were not often awarded).
Željko Heimer, 20 July 2008
