Russian Empire (<1917)

Last modified: 2015-09-04 by zoltán horváth
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image by António Martins, 21 Oct 1997

• Independent entities during the Revolution and WWII
• Czechoslovak Legion in Russia
• Russian Republic naval flags (1917.02-10)
• “National” flags of the Russian Empire
• Tsar’s personal flags and Personal flags of Royal Family members
• Russian Navy: historical flags and Russian Empire maritime flag chronology
• Subdivisions of the Russian Empire
• Civil flag of 1914-1917
• The black-orange-white flag (1858-1883)
• Russian historical military flags
• Russian Imperial Border Guard
• Russian merchant flags (<1917)
• Russian-American Company (1799-1861)
• Russian-Finnish Whaling Company (1850’ies)
• Pugaĉov rebellion flag (1773-1775)
• Hulunbuir (Burga or Barga)
• Russian White Army Civil War

• Russia
• Russian Coat of Arms
• Soviet Union
• Cossack flags

“National” flags of the Russian Empire

According to Legras’ (French Navy Flag Book, ed. 1858) [leg58], there is no “Russian Flag”, but “Imperial Flag”, double head golden eagle carrying St Vladimir red coat of arms, on a yellow rectangular field. The naval ensign and the naval jack are the same as today: ensign blue saltire on white field, jack blue on white saltire on white cross on red field.
Armand du Payrat, 20 Jan 1999

State flag of the Russian Empire (1883-1914)

In 1883 the tricolor [previously the merchant ensign] became the state flag of Russia, [along with the black - golden - white flag. Both were replaced in 1914.]
Željko Heimer, 03 Apr 1999, quoting from Flag-znamya korablya, Russian Navy website, consulted 07 Mar 1999

The red flag became the most popular symbol from the first moments of the 1917 revolution, being widely used even by non-Communist elements. People often ripped the white and blue stripes from the tri-colour Russian flags to make very narrow, unravelled red flags that were shown everywhere.
José Manuel Erbez, 12 Jun 2001