The
national flag
A national flag is a flag that represents and national symbol, symbolizes a given nation. It is Fly (flag), flown by the government of that nation, but can also be flown by its citizens. A national flag is typically designed with specific meanin ...
of the
Principality of Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein (, ; ; ), officially the Principality of Liechtenstein ( ), is a doubly landlocked German-speaking microstate in the Central European Alps, between Austria in the east and north and Switzerland in the west and south. Liechtenst ...
() consists of two horizontal bands, one blue and one red,
charged with a gold crown in the
canton. In use since 1764 and officially enshrined into the
nation's constitution in 1921, it has been the flag of the
principality
A principality (or sometimes princedom) is a type of monarchy, monarchical state or feudalism, feudal territory ruled by a prince or princess. It can be either a sovereign state or a constituent part of a larger political entity. The term "prin ...
since that year. The crown was added to the flag in 1937, after the country discovered at the
Summer Olympics held the previous year that their flag was identical to the
Haitian civil flag. A design with a modified crown was adopted on 30 June 1982.
History

Liechtenstein was formed in 1719 as a
principality
A principality (or sometimes princedom) is a type of monarchy, monarchical state or feudalism, feudal territory ruled by a prince or princess. It can be either a sovereign state or a constituent part of a larger political entity. The term "prin ...
within the
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire, also known as the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation after 1512, was a polity in Central and Western Europe, usually headed by the Holy Roman Emperor. It developed in the Early Middle Ages, and lasted for a millennium ...
and gained complete independence in 1866. Within this period, the colours blue and red were selected to feature on the flag, instead of the gold and red on
the coat of arms that would have customarily been employed instead. These new livery colours were first utilized by
Prince Joseph Wenzel I in 1764.
[ ]
A
new constitution for the Principality was formulated and proclaimed in October 1921.
It made the blue and red banner the national flag by granting it "official status".[ Fifteen years later, during the ]1936 Summer Olympics
The 1936 Summer Olympics (), officially the Games of the XI Olympiad () and officially branded as Berlin 1936, were an international multi-sport event held from 1 to 16 August 1936 in Berlin, then capital of Nazi Germany. Berlin won the bid to ...
, the country came to the realization that its flag was identical to the flag of Haiti
The flag of Haiti ( French: ''drapeau d'Haïti''; Haitian Creole: ''drapo Ayiti'') is a bicolour featuring two horizontal bands coloured blue and red, emblazoned by a white rectangular panel bearing the coat of arms of Haiti. The coat of arms d ...
(Haiti took part in the Opening Ceremony but its sole athlete did not compete). Because of this finding, the government added the prince's crown to the canton. This change served two purposes – to signify Liechtenstein's position as a principality, and to distinguish its flag from Haiti's. This modified design was adopted on 24 June 1937.[ A design with a modified crown was adopted on 30 June 1982.
]
Design
Construction
Symbolism
The colours and symbols of the flag carry cultural, political, and regional meanings. The blue represents the sky
The sky is an unobstructed view upward from the planetary surface, surface of the Earth. It includes the atmosphere of Earth, atmosphere and outer space. It may also be considered a place between the ground and outer space, thus distinct from ...
, while red alludes to the "evening fires" that are lit inside houses throughout the country.[ The crown is gold][ or yellow][ in colour.][
]
Color scheme
Other flags of Liechtenstein
Government flags
Municipal flags
Each of the eleven municipalities
A municipality is usually a single administrative division having municipal corporation, corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate.
The term ''municipality' ...
has its own flag, all flown as vertical banners.
Historical flags
References
External links
*
Original Law text
{{DEFAULTSORT:Liechtenstein, Flag Of
National flags
Flag
A flag is a piece of textile, fabric (most often rectangular) with distinctive colours and design. It is used as a symbol, a signalling device, or for decoration. The term ''flag'' is also used to refer to the graphic design employed, and fla ...
Flags introduced in 1937
Flag of Liechtenstein