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Sibenik (Sibenik-Knin, Croatia)

Grad Šibenik

Last modified: 2008-07-05 by dov gutterman
Keywords: sibenik | knin | sibensko-kninska |
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image by Željko Heimer, 24 July 2004



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Overview

Šibenik is the capital of the Šibenik-Knin county, located at the confluence of Krka river into adriatic (forming beautiful waterfalls). The city was, unlike many other Adriatic cities not founded by ancient Romand, but was established in 10th century under Croatian king Krešimir (Petar Krešimir IV) who unlike any other previous Croatian ruler, build a strong fleet that ruled Adriatic for a time.
The sources for symbosl are the official web site of the city Službene stranice Grada Šibenika <www.sibenik.hr> (01.07.2003) and my observation. The mdoern symbols are adopted on 22 may 1999.
The Coat of Arms of Šibenik originates in the 13th century, and is preserved mainly on seals. It pictures the patron of the city Archangel St. Michael (Sv. Mihovil) wearing a white tunic and a red cloak, with his wings displayed, holding in his sinister a golden orb with a cross and in his dexter a golden spear with which he kills a black devil beneath him.
The flag is blue with the yellow bordered coat of arms in the middle. Ratio 1:2.
Željko Heimer, 24 July 2004

Update with data from official gazettes:
- Statut Grada Šibenika, 15.04.1994, Službeni vjesnik Županije Šibenske, br. 4/94, 05.05.1994. - Includes a provision describing the Coat of Arms (Article 6: shield picturing St. Michael Archangel, patron of the old Šibenik), without any further details. This does not necessarily mean that it is talking about the same Coat of Arms design as used currently.
- Pregled izvršenih isplata iz tekuce rezerve Proracuna za 1993. godinu, Službeni vjesnik Županije Šibenske, br. 10/94, 01.09.1994. - The review of the budget spendings for 1993 includes an item: "Duje Šilovic - izrada Prirucnika grafickih standarda za uporabu grba grada Šibenika 1.100.281,- HRD", i.e. production of Graphical Standards Manual for the Use of the Coat of Arms of the City of Šibenik. I suppose that the Coat of Arms artwork was some other then the current one officially adopted in 1999, but it may as well be the same one. In the latter case, the designer might be this Duje Šilovic.
- Odluka o grbu i zastavi Grada Šibenika, 24.07.1998, Službeni vjesnik Šibensko-kninske županije, br. 14/98, 10.11.1998. Napomena uz Odluku o grbu i zastavi Grada Šibenika, 30.10.1998, Službeni vjesnik Šibensko-kninske županije, br. 14/98, 10.11.1998. - The decision adopts the current symbols (possibly those already comissioned in 1993?). The final prescriptions of the decision determine that it shall be published only after the Ministry approves the design, so the additional notice (Napomena) was published citing the act of the Ministry approving it: Rješenje Ministarstva uprave, klasa UP/I-017-02/98-01/35, urbr. 515-04-03/1-98-2, 21.10.1998. Now the city web site claims that the Coat of Arms and the flag were adopted on the assembly session held on 20.05.1999 citying the official gazette (Službeni list - is this the city gazette? or is it misnamed county gazette?), but this seems contradictory. Also, the city determined grants for use already in January and February 1999! I therefore conclude that the site has errorneous information or at least it must be some other exlanation.
- Statut Grada Šibenika, 27.11.2001, Službeni vjesnik Šibensko-kninske županije, br. 18/01, 20.12.2001.- The new statutes includes the description of the Coat of Arms and the flag following the decision of 1998.
- Odluka o komunalnom redu, 23.07.2002, Službeni vjesnik Šibensko- kninske županije, br. 12/02, 21.08.2002. - The decision on communal order covers the question on hoisting the flags in Šibenik: the flag of Croatia is hosited according to the Law on the Coat of Arms, the flag and the anthem (NN 55/90 and 26/93). The flag is hoisted on public areas during the public holydays of the Republic, on the Šibenik Day, on the mourning days and other legally established circumstances, and could be hoisted on public assemblies (political, scienticif, cultural, artistic, sport and others). The public areas for hoisting are named - five main spots in the city and in other settlements that are part of the citty territory according to local regulations. Three of the spots are determined for the hoisting all year round. Also flags are rised during the International Children Festival. It is determined that beside the flag of Croatia the flags of the County and the City could be hoisted. The flag masts must be uniform, the flags are hoisted a day before and lowered a day after the occasion. I suppose that many other cities in Croatia have very similar regulations.
- Statut Grada Šibenika (procišceni tekst), 12.04.2006, Službeni vjesnik Šibensko-kninske županije, br. 6/06, 28.04.2006.   - The cleared text of the several times amended statutes of 2001 does not have any amendments to the description of the Coat of Arms and the flag, so it has the same text as 2001.
The following several documents are conclusions granting permitions for the use of the Coat of Arms to the Medical Bar, the Tourist Office, the Parking Service, the Sports Association, the Anti-cancer League and a private manufacturer of souvenirs: Zakljucak o odobrenju Hrvatskom lijecnickom zboru - Podružnica Šibenik, za korištenje grba Grada Šibenika, 10.02.1999, Službeni vjesnik Šibensko-kninske županije, br. 1/99, 08.03.1999. Zakljucak o odobrenju Turistickoj zajednici Grada Šibenika za korištenje grba Grada Šibenika, 20.01.1999, Službeni vjesnik Šibensko- kninske županije, br. 1/99, 08.03.1999. Zakljucak o odobrenju za uporabu grba Grada Šibenika Gradskom parkingu d.o.o. Šibenik, 11.05.2001, Službeni vjesnik Šibensko- kninske županije, br. 6/01, 12.06.2001. Zakljucak o odobrenju uporabe grba Grada Šibenika u znaku Saveza športova Grada Šibenika, 29.08.2001, Službeni vjesnik Šibensko- kninske županije, br. 10/01, 14.09.2001. Zakljucak o odobrenju Ligi protiv raka Šibensko-kninske županije za korištenje grba Grada Šibenika, 08.05.2003, Službeni vjesnik Šibensko- kninske županije, br. 5/03, 05.06.2003. Zakljucak o odobrenju Nelici Kneževic za uporabu grba Grada Šibenika, 08.05.2003, Službeni vjesnik Šibensko-kninske županije, br. 5/03, 05.06.2003.
 Željko Heimer, 19 August 2006

As I have reported, Šibenik was using a different coat of arms variation before 1999. On a city map issued by the Šibenik Tourist Office, undated, but must be around 1995, this coat of arms is shown: This is, very probably, the coat of arms refered in the 1993 budget I quoted in the previous message, and if so, it is designed by Duje Šilovic, a designer from Split. It seems that no flag with this coat of arms was used. While the current coat of arms is based on the depictions of St. Michael from the medieval stone carved seals preserved in the city walls, the coat of arms version used in the early 1990's is based on the olden preserved seal of Šibenik from 1255, depicting St. Michael standing above the walls of the city.  (cf. various old seals shown at <www.sibenik.hr>).
 Željko Heimer, 26 August 2006

The symbols were designed by the Heraldic Art d.o.o. from Rijeka.
Željko Heimer, 3 November 2007


Coat of Arms


image by Željko Heimer, 24 July 2004


Previous Coat of Arms

1980' Coat of Arms


image by Željko Heimer

In the socialsit period the historical coats of arms of the cities depicting saints were depriciated and new symbols were being made. The one used by Šibenik depicted the panorama of the old city with fortresses, walls and the cathedral above the waves and with a large red five-pointed star in the base sinister. The shield was topped with the name of the city. No flag was reported for the period.
Source: Šibenik Post Card, undated, around 1980.
Željko Heimer

1993-1998 Coat of Arms


image by Željko Heimer, 26 August 2006

While the current coat of arms is based on the depictions of St. Michael from the medieval stone carved seals preserved in the city walls, the coat of arms version used in the early 1990's is based on the olden preserved seal of Šibenik from 1255, depicting St. Michael standing above the walls of the city. The artistic design of the coat of arms used in 1990's is probably the one refered in the 1993 budget designed by Duje Šilovic, a designer from Split.
It seems that no flag with this coat of arms was used.
Željko Heimer, 26 August 2006


Historical Flag


image by Tomislav Todorovic, 24 August 2006

One of the oldest historical source for flag examination is map. In monography of Historical Institute in Belgrade "Monumenta Cartographica Jugoslaviae II" Narodna knjiga, Belgrade 1979. author Gordana Tomovic compares different XVIth century naval maps of Balkan peninsula. She notices flags above some place names on map preserved in 'Bibliotheque National in Paris (Departement des cartes et plans)' made on pergament by Angelino Dulcert (1339a.d.):
13. Flag above town of Sibenik (Sibinicho) - in today's Croatia [Colours are not mentioned.]
Ivan Sarajcic, 2 May 2000

I have recently found a full-colour photo of that map in a book. The flag of Sibenik from the map of Angelino Dulcert has a very large white disc, charged with a red cross, on the yellow field. This colour combination is against the rules of heraldry, but it also appears on other maps from that period, so it must be based on the text and/or picture from "Libro del conoscimiento de todos los Reynos", just like some other flags with non-heraldic colour arrangements which also repeatedly appear in these maps.
Source: Wigal, Donald: Historic maritime maps used for historic exploration 1290-1699; Parkstone Press, New York, USA, 2000; ISBN 1-85995-750-1
Tomislav Todorovic, 24 August 2006


image by Tomislav Todorovic, 28 September 2006

Here is the image of this city's flag from the Catalan Atlas. In the Catalan Atlas, Šibenik is represented with a flag with a white disc, charged with a red cross, on the gold field. This is essentially the same design as in the map of Angelino Dulcert, the greatest difference being in the flag shape: a square which extends into a short, wide tongue with concave curved top and bottom edges; also, the disc is a bit smaller on this flag and the cross has a simpler form, with straight arms' edges.
As both flags share the colour arrangement which is against the rules of heraldry, they might have both been based on "Libro del conoscimiento de los reinos". It is also possible that a flag with this design has really existed and that its description came directly from some eyewitnesses: the design resembles the form of the orb with the cross which is held by St Michael in the coat of arms.
Tomislav Todorovic, 28 September 2006


image by Tomislav Todorovic, 18 July 2007

The flag of Sibenik on the map of Guillelmus Soleri, which was created on Majorca c. 1385, and nowadays is kept in National Library of France, Paris, is similar to that from the map of Angelino Dulcert,but has a much more oblong form and the disc with the cross is set off-centre, closer to the hoist.  
Source: Wigal, Donald: Historic maritime maps used for historic exploration 1290-1699 Parkstone Press, New York, USA, 2000 ISBN 1-85995-750-1.
Tomislav Todorovic, 18 July 2007