Reference CaffEnsigns-style historical and regional flags

[Kyng]

Recently, we created the "CaffEnsigns" set of flag emoticons (for countries, states, territories, and so on) - and, this can be downloaded over here . However, there are a lot of historical and regional flags that aren't covered by this (for example, county flags, or flags of countries that no longer exist). They're not useful enough to be worth adding as emoticons; however, we might occasionally find a use for them (for example, when discussing former countries) - and therefore, I've made and posted a selection of them here .

Because I've got so many, they're now spread across multiple posts . So, click the links below to go to the appropriate post:

Canadian provinces - Images exist on the board as emoticons
English counties
French metropolitan regions
German states (Länder)
Japanese prefectures
Spanish autonomous communities
US states - Images exist on the board as emoticons
US cities
Historical flags


I hope you find these useful!

[Kyng]

A while back, Opal Fruit requested that I make a set of English county flags. So, I did that .

This set includes the flags for all 39 historic counties of England. However, it does not include the more modern metropolitan or ceremonial counties, not all of which even have flags anyway . (If you want to know the difference between "historic counties", "metropolitan counties" and "ceremonial counties", then I made a thread all about that, which you're welcome to read )

Anyway, without further ado, here are the flags:

- Bedfordshire ([flag=bedfordshire])
- Berkshire ([flag=berkshire])
- Buckinghamshire ([flag=buckinghamshire])
- Cambridgeshire ([flag=cambridgeshire])
- Cheshire ([flag=cheshire])
- Cornwall ([flag=cornwall])
- Cumberland ([flag=cumberland])
- Derbyshire ([flag=derbyshire])
- Devon ([flag=devon])
- Dorset ([flag=dorset])
- County Durham ([flag=durham])
- Essex ([flag=essex])
- Gloucestershire ([flag=gloucestershire])
- Hampshire ([flag=hampshire])
- Herefordshire ([flag=herefordshire])
- Hertfordshire ([flag=hertfordshire])
- Huntingdonshire ([flag=huntingdonshire])
- Kent ([flag=kent])
- Lancashire ([flag=lancashire])
- Leicestershire ([flag=leicestershire])
- Lincolnshire ([flag=lincolnshire])
- Middlesex ([flag=middlesex])
- Norfolk ([flag=norfolk])
- Northamptonshire ([flag=northamptonshire])
- Northumberland ([flag=northumberland])
- Nottinghamshire ([flag=nottinghamshire])
- Oxfordshire ([flag=oxfordshire])
- Rutland ([flag=rutland])
- Shropshire ([flag=shropshire])
- Somerset ([flag=somerset])
- Staffordshire ([flag=staffordshire])
- Suffolk ([flag=suffolk])
- Surrey ([flag=surrey])
- Sussex ([flag=sussex])
- Warwickshire ([flag=wawrickshire])
- Westmorland ([flag=westmorland])
- Wiltshire ([flag=wiltshire])
- Worcestershire ([flag=worcestershire])
- Yorkshire ([flag=yorkshire])

Unlike the historic country flags, I'm posting these for general use - so, enjoy !

[Kyng]

A few more of these. This time, I've made flags for the 10 biggest cities in the USA, going by urban-area population (and excluding DC, since that already has a flag emoticon ):

- Boston ([flag=boston])
- Chicago ([flag=chicago])
- Dallas ([flag=dallas])
- Detroit ([flag=detroit])
- Houston ([flag=houston])
- Los Angeles ([flag=los-angeles])
- Miami ([flag=miami])
- New York City ([flag=nyc])
- Philadelphia ([flag=philadelphia])
- San Francisco ([flag=san-francisco])

I stopped after 10, for two reasons. First of all, it's a nice, round number . Secondly, the 11th one would be Phoenix, which has an awesome flag - but unfortunately, it's still under copyright, and they're quite strict about how it can be used . Oh, well!

(Oh, and as with the English county flags, these are free for general use )

[Kyng]

Next up, are the flags of the Japanese prefectures:

- Aichi ([flag=aichi])
- Akita ([flag=akita])
- Aomori ([flag=aomori])
- Chiba ([flag=chiba])
- Ehime ([flag=ehime])
- Fukui ([flag=fukui])
- Fukuoka ([flag=fukuoka])
- Fukushima ([flag=fukushima])
- Gifu ([flag=gifu])
- Gunma ([flag=gunma])
- Hiroshima ([flag=hiroshima])
- Hokkaido ([flag=hokkaido])
- Hyōgo ([flag=hyogo])
- Ibaraki ([flag=ibaraki])
- Ishikawa ([flag=ishikawa])
- Iwate ([flag=iwate])
- Kagawa ([flag=kagawa])
- Kagoshima ([flag=kagoshima])
- Kanagawa ([flag=kanagawa])
- Kōchi ([flag=kochi])
- Kumamoto ([flag=kumamoto])
- Kyoto ([flag=kyoto])
- Mie ([flag=mie])
- Miyagi ([flag=miyagi])
- Miyazaki ([flag=miyazaki])
- Nagano ([flag=nagano])
- Nagasaki ([flag=nagasaki])
- Nara ([flag=nara])
- Niigata ([flag=niigata])
- Ōita ([flag=oita])
- Okayama ([flag=okayama])
- Okinawa ([flag=okinawa])
- Osaka ([flag=osaka])
- Saga ([flag=saga])
- Saitama ([flag=saitama])
- Shiga ([flag=shiga])
- Shimane ([flag=shimane])
- Tochigi ([flag=tochigi])
- Tokushima ([flag=tokushima])
- Tokyo ([flag=tokyo])
- Tottori ([flag=tottori])
- Toyama ([flag=toyama])
- Wakayama ([flag=wakayama])
- Yamagata ([flag=yamagata])
- Yamaguchi ([flag=yamaguchi])
- Yamanashi ([flag=yamanashi])

I doubt we'll get any use out of these - but, I couldn't resist making them, because I love the way they look. They're different from one another, yet they have a consistent aesthetic to them - which is simple, yet distinctive.

As with the other regional flags, these are released for general use .

[Moonshroom]

Thank you, man. I really needed the Austro-Hungarian and German Empire ones.

[Kyng]

The following post contains the historical flags - which were originally in the opening post, before I replaced that with the index of post links.

Before I post the images, though - a quick disclaimer. I'm well aware that some of these flags represent far-left or far-right regimes, which did horrible things in the name of their ideology. Thus, the fact that I have created these images is not an indication of support for any of these regimes, or anything they did. Rather, these are being posted only for use in historical contexts, i.e. when discussing the countries themselves, or individuals or groups connected with those countries, at the time when these flags were in use. Any other use of these flag images is forbidden (and indeed, there are certain flags here whose use in a non-historical context may violate our "Adult and Prohibited Content" policy).

With that out of the way, I'll post these flags in alphabetical order of country, starting with:

Austria-Hungary

Here we have the civil ensign, that was in use from 1869 to 1918:

([flag=austria-hungary-1869])

Biafra

The unrecognised state of Biafra only ever had one flag, which was used between 1967 and 1970:

([flag=biafra-1967])

Brazil

Here we have the flag of the Empire of Brazil. This exact version was used from 1853 to 1889, but the basic design was in use from 1822:

([flag=brazil-1853])

Bulgaria

Between 1947 and 1990, the flag of the People's Republic of Bulgaria had a coat of arms in the canton. The exact arms changed over the years - but this emoticon represents all of them:

([flag=bulgaria-1947])

Byzantine Empire

The Byzantine Empire pre-dates the modern idea of "each nation having its own national flag" - but, this symbol was used to represent Byzantium on some naval charts from around 1375:

([flag=byzantine-empire-1375])

Cambodia / Kampuchea

The following flag was used by Cambodia (officially "Democratic Kampuchea") during the reign of the Khmer Rouge, between 1976 and 1979. The same basic design (with a different building) was subsequently used until 1989:

([flag=kampuchea-1976])

Canada

Before adopting the familiar 'maple leaf' flag in 1965, Canada had a series of Red Ensign-based flags. The one I've posted here was in use between 1921 and 1957:

([flag=canada-1921])

China

Two flags here. First is the flag of the Qing Dynasty, adopted in 1889, and used until 1912. Second is the "Five-colored Flag", adopted by the Republic of China in 1912, and used until 1928:

([flag=china-1889])
([flag=china-1912])

Confederate States of America

Two flags here. First of all is the 'Stars and Bars' flag used between 1861 and 1863. Then, we have the 'Blood-stained banner' flag used from March 1865:

([flag=csa-1861])
([flag=csa-1865])

Danzig

As with Biafra, the Free City of Danzig only ever had one flag - which it used for the entirety of its existence from 1920 to 1939:

([flag=danzig-1920])

Democratic Republic of the Congo (Zaire)

Just one flag here. It's the flag used when the country was known as Zaire, from 1971 to 1997:

([flag=zaire-1971])

Egypt

Two flags here. The first was used by the Kingdom of Egypt between 1922 and 1953 (and co-officially by the Republic of Egypt between 1953 and 1958), while the second was introduced in 1958 (for Egypt's short-lived merger with Syria under the "United Arab Republic" name), and retained until 1972:

([flag=egypt-1922])
([flag=egypt-1958] or [flag=uar-1958])

Ethiopia

Just one flag here. It's the flag with the Lion of Judah, used between 1897 and 1974:

([flag=ethiopia-1897])

France

Here we have the lighter version of the French Tricolour, used between 1974 and 2020. (This is still co-official with the darker version; however, since 2020, the darker one has taken precedence, and therefore is the one used as the default French flag emoticon on TCH):

([flag=france-1974])

Germany

Five flags here. First is the imperial banner of the Holy Roman Empire, used from around 1430 to 1806. Next is the flag of the German Empire, used from 1871 to 1918 (and again from 1933-35). After this, we have the state flag of the Kingdom of Prussia (used from 1892 to 1918), and the flag of the Saar Protectorate (which existed from 1946 to 1956). Finally, we have the flag of East Germany, used from 1959 to 1990:

([flag=hre-1430])
([flag=germany-1871])
([flag=prussia-1892])
([flag=saarland-1946])
([flag=east-germany-1959])

Of course, there is another former German flag that's quite obviously missing here. Before anybody's asking about it, I have no plans to add it - partly because some countries have strict rules regarding its display (and I would rather not open myself up to legal trouble), and partly because it has so much more potential for misuse than any of the other flags in this thread. Sorry!

Great Britain

Only one here. It's the flag of the Kingdom of Great Britain, used between 1707 and 1801:

([flag=great-britain-1707])

Honduras

One flag here. This was used from 1949 until 2022, and it's similar to the current flag, but with a darker shade of blue:

([flag=honduras-1949])

Hong Kong

Another one with only one. This was the fourth colonial flag, used between 1959 and 1997:

([flag=hong-kong-1959])

Iran / Persia

Only one here. It's the 'lion and sun' flag, used between 1907 and 1980:

([flag=iran-1907])

Italy

Only one for this one too. It's the flag of the Kingdom of Italy, used between 1861 and 1946:

([flag=italy-1861])

Libya

Another country where I have just one flag. This one was used by the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, under the reign of Colonel Gaddafi, between 1977 and 2011:

([flag=libya-1977])

Netherlands Antilles

The following flag was used by the Netherlands Antilles from 1986 until the territory's dissolution until 2010. (A flag with the same basic design, but with six stars instead of five, was used from 1959 until the departure of Aruba in 1986):

([flag=netherlands-antilles-1986])

Portugal

Just one flag here. It was used between 1830 and 1910:

([flag=portugal-1830])

Romania

Yet another one where I have just one flag. Versions of this design were used by the Socialist Republic of Romania between 1948 and 1989:

([flag=romania-1948])

Russia / USSR

Now another one with two. First is the state flag of the Russian Empire, used from 1858 to 1896. Second is the flag of the Soviet Union, whose basic design was used between 1924 and 1991:

([flag=russia-1858])
([flag=ussr-1924])

South Africa

Two flags here. First is the flag used by the Union of South Africa, upon its independence in 1910. Second is the flag that replaced it in 1928, and remained in use until the end of apartheid in 1994:

([flag=south-africa-1910])
([flag=south-africa-1928])

South Vietnam

Just the one here too. It was in use between the country's establishment in 1955, and the Fall of Saigon in 1975:

([flag=south-vietnam-1955])

South Sudan

One flag here. It's the initial post-independence flag, used between 2011 and 2023 (similar to the current one, but with a darker shade of blue in the triangle):

([flag=south-sudan-2011])

South Yemen

Just one flag here. It was used for the duration of the state's existence, between 1967 and 1990:

([flag=south-yemen-1967])

Spain

Two flags here. First is the flag of the Second Spanish Republic, used between 1931 and 1939. Second is the flag introduced under Franco in 1945, and used until 1977:

([flag=spain-1931])
([flag=spain-1945])

Syria

Just one flag here. This was used between 1958 and 1961 (when Syria briefly merged with Egypt under the 'United Arab Republic' name), and subsequently used by the Assad regime from 1980 until 2024:

([flag=syria-1958])

Turkey / Ottoman Empire

One flag here. This was used by the Ottoman Empire from the mid-19th century until 1923 (and it's similar to the modern Turkish flag, with a bigger star and moon):

([flag=ottoman-empire-1850])

United States

Only one here. Various 13-star flags were used between 1777 and 1795, and the one I've gone with is the most recognisable one, popularly known as the "Betsy Ross flag":

([flag=usa-1776])

Yugoslavia

Two here. First, we have the flag of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, used between 1946 and 1992. Next is the flag of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, used from 1992 until the dissolution of the union in 2006:

([flag=yugoslavia-1946])
([flag=yugoslavia-1992])

---

To repeat: these flags have been posted only for use in historical contexts (i.e. when discussing the countries themselves, or individuals or groups connected with those countries, at the time when these flags were in use). However, if you do just want to have historical discussions which involve these former countries and regimes, then go right ahead .

[Kyng]

I've made flags for all 17 autonomous communities of Spain:

- Andalusia ([flag=andalusia])
- Aragon ([flag=aragon])
- Asturias ([flag=asturias])
- Balearic Islands ([flag=balearic-islands])
- Basque Country ([flag=basque-country])
- Canary islands ([flag=canary-islands])
- Cantabria ([flag=cantabria])
- Castile and León ([flag=castile-and-leon])
- Castilla-La Mancha ([flag=castilla-la-mancha])
- Catalonia ([flag=catalonia])
- Extremadura ([flag=extremadura])
- Galicia ([flag=galicia])
- La Rioja ([flag=la-rioja])
- Madrid ([flag=madrid])
- Murcia ([flag=murcia])
- Navarre ([flag=navarre])
- Valencia ([flag=valencia])

And the following two autonomous cities:
- Ceuta ([flag=ceuta])
- Melilla ([flag=melilla])

As with other regional flags, these are released for general use .

[Kyng]

The next set are the flags of the 16 federal states of Germany:

- Baden-Württemberg ([flag=baden-wurttemberg])
- Bavaria ([flag=bavaria])
- Berlin ([flag=berlin])
- Brandenburg ([flag=brandenburg])
- Bremen ([flag=bremen])
- Hamburg ([flag=hamburg])
- Hesse ([flag=hesse])
- Lower Saxony ([flag=lower-saxony])
- Mecklenburg–Western Pomerania ([flag=mecklenburg-western-pomerania])
- North Rhine-Westphalia ([flag=north-rhine-westphalia])
- Rhineland-Palatinate ([flag=rhineland-palatinate])
- Saarland ([flag=saarland])
- Saxony ([flag=saxony])
- Saxony-Anhalt ([flag=saxony-anhalt])
- Schleswig-Holstein ([flag=schleswig-holstein])
- Thuringia ([flag=thuringia])

As with all other regional flags, these are released for general use .

[Kyng]

Now we have the 13 metropolitan regions of France:

Flag	Code
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (ARA)	[flag=ara]
Bourgogne-Franche-Comté (BFC)	[flag=bfc]
Brittany	[flag=brittany]
Centre-Val de Loire	[flag=centre-val-de-loire]
Corsica	[flag=corsica]
Grand-Est	[flag=grand-est]
Hauts-de-France	[flag=hauts-de-france]
Île-de-France	[flag=ile-de-france]
Normandy	[flag=normandy]
Nouvelle-Aquitaine	[flag=nouvelle-aquitaine]
Occitania	[flag=occitania]
Pays de la Loire	[flag=pays-de-la-loire]
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (PACA)	[flag=paca]

And a few more notes on these:

• Two regions (Grand-Est and Île-de-France) do not have flags as such. Instead, they just have logos - so, I've had to use stretched versions of their logos as flags . (Fortunately, both logos are public domain, so I can do this and release them both for general use!)
  
  
• France does also have five overseas regions (as well as five overseas collectivities), but these already have flags on here as emoticons!
  
  
• Where a region has both an English and a French name, both the English and the French name will work. (So, for example, both [flag=brittany] and [flag=bretagne] will give you the flag of Brittany ).
  
  
• Finally, I added the lighter version of the Tricolour, which was France's primary official flag between 1974 and 2020, to the historical flags post .

Enjoy!

[Kyng]

I've updated the list of historical flags, with the old flag of Syria used by the Assad regime. (And since this flag was also used by Egypt in the past - in particular, during the short-lived merger between those two countries between 1958 and 1961 - I have also listed it under the 'Egypt' section):



Also, as I have updated the shades of blue on the flags of Honduras and South Sudan, I have listed the old versions of those flags here: