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Ukraine - Historical Flag - Hetmanate Flags (1918)

Last modified: 2022-03-19 by rob raeside
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Overview

All these flags are constructed according to specifications from Lucien Philippe. I will comment about the differences with the ones from Montells/Romanischin.
Jaume Ollé, 31 August 2001

Generically speaking, a Hetmanate was a Cossack realm under the authority of a Hetman, who was the head of state, commander in chief of the Cossack army, and head of the entire administrative, judicial, and military apparatus (see www.uanews.tv).
However, in post-WWI terms it was a German-backed Ukrainian state, according to www.buckyogi.addr.com:
"The Ukraine declared itself autonomous in November of 1917, and declared its independence in January of 1918 after invasion by the Red Army. The UNR [Ukrainian National Republic] was unstable, and had great difficulty in maintaining the territory it claimed against intrusion by Bolshevik, White Russian, and Cossack factions. Its problems were magnified when a German-backed government called the Hetmanate claimed control of the Ukraine in April, 1918. The population's disgust with this continued chaos led to the uprising of the anarchist Greens. The UNR managed to finally suppress the Hetmanate in December of 1918, and annexed West Ukraine the following month, triggering war with the new state of Poland, which pushed back Ukrainian forces and annexed the region in June of 1919. These continuing pressures forced the collapse of the UNR, which fell to Bolshevik forces in the summer of 1920."
The term Hetman might derive from German "Hauptmann" or (field) captain (*not* general), at least that is what www.geocities.com/unavy/aUNRnavy.html -which also contains some flag-related information (in a questionable English...) says:
"Ukrainian Navy during Hetmanate 1918 - Remarkably 29th of April was also the day when a coup-d'etat occurred against UNR and Hetmanate (Monarchy) was proclaimed. Hetmanate was the term used by the Cossacks meaning generalship (hetman - haupt man in Ger. - general). Pavlo Skoropadsky was proclaimed to be the hetman and with the support of the German Armies as his allies became the ruller of Ukraine. This caused the "Hit Corps" to be recalled from Crimea, which was overrun by the German troops.  With communications lost with Kiev, vice-admiral Sablin with some ships retrieved to Novorossijsk, while other ships had changed their flags again to fly the Imperial Kaisers banner. Only after the communications were re-established, the navy was handed over to the Hetman. During the reign of hetman Skoropadsky a lot was done for navy. The newly established Ministry of Naval Affairs developed a series of laws regulating the uniform, ranks, flags and other symbols. At the same time officers manuals were being translated into Ukrainian and other instructions. For the first time since Ukrainian Independence names of the ships were changed from Russian to Ukrainian. Towards November 1918, Hetmanate also received Mozyrsk (Pinks) flotilla which also used to be in the hands of the Germans. Because of German losses in the war, they began to withdraw from Crimea and their place was soon replaced by the ships of Antate. Since Hetman Ukraine was supporter of the Triple Alliance, the Antante considered them as possible enemies they occupied the ships and started to divide them among themselves as war trophies and transferred some of the ships to Istanbul."
Santiago Dotor, 12 May 2003


Standard of the Hetman of Ukraine, Don Host and Kuban Host

image by Jaume Ollé, 31 August 2001

Standard of the hetman of Don and Kuban (in use May 1918), Swallow tail. According Lucien Philippe the trident don't have a cross. (I believe that the flag was without cross before May and it was added in May 1918)
Jaume Ollé, 25 August 2001

Standard of the Hetman of Ukraine, Don Host and Kuban Host. The single difference with Montells is that he said that the trident is black. (and he picture it black) but I believe that he was wrong at least here.
Jaume Ollé, 31 August 2001


Personal Standard of the Hetman

image by Jaume Ollé, 31 August 2001

Hetman personal standard (as hetman, not as a state head).
Jaume Ollé, 25 August 2001

The image posted before (from Montells) is a simplification of the true design according to Philippe. The flag (always according Philippe) was 16:19 with the design pictured in my Gif but within a light blue disk gold bordered. In background of the disk are the arms of a yellow cross paté (like Wallis) and in each corner of the cross: 1) sun with eyes etc..., 2) half moon (points to the fly), 3) half moon with face and 4) five pointed star (the four devices in yellow). The background color is dark red (crimson).
Jaume Ollé, 31 August 2001


Hetman Standard on Land

image by Jaume Ollé, 31 August 2001

Blue over yellow. In the center a blue rectangle bordered gold containing the trident (Gold and without the cross).
Jaume Ollé, 25 August 2001

This one not pictured neither quoted by Montells.
Jaume Ollé, 31 August 2001


Hetman Standard on Sea

image by Jaume Ollé, 31 August 2001

Both have equal picture.
Jaume Ollé, 31 August 2001


Hetman Standard as Fleet Admiral

image by Jaume Ollé, 31 August 2001

Montells only say that Hetman also utilized this standard. Philippe said that it is the standard of the hetman as Admiral of the fleet. Montells give the tridents black and Philippe say golden. The canton trident in Philippe has cross and the one from montells doesn't have.
Jaume Ollé, 31 August 2001


Hetman's Representatives in Crimea, Kuban and Orient

image by Jaume Ollé, 31 August 2001

Hetmans representatives in Crimea, Kuban and Orient, personal standard. Montells attributed this flag to the Hetman in this territories. Fimbriation according Montells is blue-yellow and according Philippe blue-white. same differences in trident in canton (without cross in Montells) and color (both trident black in Montells)
Jaume Ollé, 31 August 2001


Standard of the Male Members of the Hetman Family Bearing Title of Admiral General

image by Jaume Ollé, 31 August 2001

Standard of the male members of the hetman family who have title of Admiral general (not quoted neither pictured by Montells).
Jaume Ollé, 31 August 2001


Hetman's Wife

image by Jaume Ollé, 31 August 2001

Hetman's Wife (not quoted neither pictured by Montells).
Jaume Ollé, 31 August 2001


Prince of the Hetman's Family 

image by Jaume Ollé, 31 August 2001

Princes of the Hetman's family  (not quoted neither pictured by Montells).
Jaume Ollé, 31 August 2001


Princess of the Hetman's Family 

image by Jaume Ollé, 31 August 2001

Princess of the hetman's family  (not quoted neither pictured by Montells).
Jaume Ollé, 31 August 2001