Russia, 1914-1917

Imperial State Flag

Last modified: 2023-08-05 by valentin poposki
Keywords: eagle: double-headed (black) | canton |
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Image by António Martins, 20 Jun 2009

On this page:

• Description: Imperial State Flag

• Tsar’s Personal Flags
• Personal Flags of Royal Family members
• Russian Empire Maritime Flag Chronology
• Russian Imperial Border Guard
• Russian Merchant Flags (19th and early 20th Century)
• Russian-American Company 1799-1861
• Civil Flag 1914-1917
• Russian Empire
• Russia

Description: Imperial State Flag

According to Smith [smi75b], the white-blue-red tricolor with a canton of the imperial arms was introduced by Imperial decree on 19 November 1914. It replaced the black-orange-white tricolor, which had been the civil flag since 1858, and also the plain white-blue-red tricolor. The 1914 civil flag disappeared in 1917 when the monarchy was abolished. The plain white-blue-red tricolor then became the nation’s de facto national flag. However, it was never officially adopted as such - Kerensky’s government had too much else on its mind!
Tom Gregg, 21 Mar 1999