Last modified: 2008-07-19 by dov gutterman
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image by Željko Heimer, 19 august 2006
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north of Dalmatia, the County of Sibenik-Knin was occupied in
1991. Most parts of the county were until 1997 included in the
County of Zadar-Knin (now County of Zadar), due to the fact that
whole occupied area was considered a single District (kotar)
of Knin. In 1997 more natural borders of the counties were made.
The crown of Zvonimir is called this design, based on the
representation of the crown on the head of Croatian king found on
the old Croatian engraving on a baptistery in early romanic style
of XI century. The baptistery is found in Split (therefore, it is
found also on the arms of the other county), but it is believed
that the figure represent the king Zvonimir-Dmitar (?-1089, ruled
from 1075), who liberated Dalmatia from Venetians, and organized
capital and seat of Croatian parliament in Knin. The Coat of Arms
of Sibenik-Knin county seems to be red shield with the
"crown of Tomislav" and sword, and I am not aware of
the crown element above. (The same crown is on Coat of Arms of
Split-Dalmatia county, undisputed, and maybe the problem is in
having two Coat of Arms with the same element) .There is no
confirmation.
Željko Heimer, 21 October 1998
One of the Croatian counties on which there is rather little
information on the flag is S<ibensko-kninska z<upanija
(County of Sibenik and Knin).
Long time ago I have reported, and several times latter, but very
rarely seen it again, a flag that was supposed to be the flag of
the county (even possibly when it was still called
"only" Sibenska before 1997). The reported flag was
(dark) blue with red Coat of Arms of a crown and a sword. The
details of the coa I have never seen very well, but I have
provided the image several times with a degree of certeinty that
could be accepted .
Not so long ago, I was talking with a currator of the County
Museum of Sibensko-kninska, who told me that these were all
proposals for the flag, in several variations (mainly dealing
with shield details, most notable - the position of the sword -
behinf or in front of the crown). I failed to get any information
form the county administration, but the currator told me that
such designs were adopted (possibly several times) by the County
Assembly, but rejected by the Ministry of Administration that
have to confirm them. There are at least two reasons for
rejection that I can see, but if they were really those reasons,
I have no confirmations. The two things are - one coloured field
of the flag (should be two coloured by regulations), and
similarty of the used symbol with the symbol of an other county
(Split-Dalmatia county uses the same crown in blue shield).
However, few days ago I have seen hoisted in the county official
room (where some press conference was held), the flag that might
be the final adjustion of the problems by the Assembly - adding
the two thin stripes in chief and base (a la Israel).
The sword was, no doubt "in front" of the crown, and
somewhat thicker then I have used to picture it before (though,
if the thickened it now, or was it so before, I could not tell).
Of course, no very much details, no info on adoption dates (if
ever indeed) nor confirmation from the Ministry, and certainly no
great accuracy, but the best for now.
Željko Heimer, 4 December 1999
I have visited Šibenik and few other places in the County
in 2001 and several times afterwards, and have seen the flags and
Coat of Arms in use. Unfortunately, until now I have found no
official documents on adoption or the use of the symbols.
The coat of arms is: Gules a Crown Or superimposed over a Sword
erect Argent hilted and pommed of the second.
The crown of that of the early Croatian rules period (it is ofen
named Zvonimir's Crown). The sword is symbol of determination to
defence. The flag is (light)blue with white stripes along top and
bottom edge and the golden outlined coat of arms in the middle.
The vertical flag is seen in use on the County Assebly sessions
in 2002 as table flag. By the form it would be a ceremonial flag,
but weather the real size ceremonial flag exists, it is not
confirmed.
Željko Heimer, 20 July 2004
On the web site of the County now are available all of the
issues of the official gazette of the County since 1994 (i.e.
since they started to issue them):
Županija Šibenska, 1993-1997, henceforward:
Šibensko-kninska županija:
- Odluka o pokretanju postupka za utvrdivanje grba, zastave i
dana Županije Šibenske, 27.07.1995, Službeni
vjesnik Županije Šibenske, br. 7/95, 10.08.1995. - The
decision constitutes a five-members commission to determine the
county Coat of Arms and the flag, to issue an invited concourse
and to establish jury of experts to judge it and to present the
decision towards assembly.
- Zakljucak o grbu i zastavi Županije šibenske,
11.12.1996, Službeni vjesnik Županije Šibenske,
br. 13/96, 20.12.1996. - Conclusion on selection of the design of
the Coat of Arms, the flag and the ceremonial flag. The Coat of
Arms design selected is described gules a crown or over a sword
argent handeled or. The sword is pointing downwards (this is not
explicitly stated, but only in 1997 decision). The symbolic of
colours is described: red for the traditional red headgear of
Šibenik and Drniš region, the etnographic symbol that
occured in the 19th century during the National Revival movement
in Dalmatia, the crown is of the type used by the Croatian
national rulers in the time of Krešimir and Zvonimir. The
flag is 1:2, blue with two thin stripes along the top and bottom
edge with the Coat of Arms in the middle. The blue stands for the
sea and the stripes for the river Krka. The ceremonial flag is
blue vertical flag with the coat of arms bordered yellow in the
middle. Above the Coat of Arms is inscribed "ŽUPANIJA
ŠIBENSKA" and below the Coat of Arms are set three
details from the Šibenik- Drniš headgear (black
spiralled curves) that reaches within the three flag tails at the
bottom. The conclusion is that this shall be sent to the Ministry
of Administration for approval and then the decision on adoption
shall be made.
- Odluka o grbu i zastavi Šibensko-kninske županije,
22.12.1997, Službeni vjesnik Šibensko-kninske
županije, br. 17/97, 29.12.1997. - After obtaining approval
from the Ministry (presumably, but possibly not, approval was
granted in 1999) and due to the teritorial changes made in the
begining of 1997, the reformed county formally adopted the
previously selected design with appropriately amended
inscription. It is dificult to judge on the blue colour shade
used, although the official gazette includes the black-white
drawings of the three symbols, the shades might indicate quite
dark blue for the flag background, although possibly lighter for
the genfalon. See: Symbols of 1997.
- Odluka o izmjeni Odluke o grbu i zastavi Šibensko-kninske
županije, 09.07.1999, Službeni vjesnik
Šibensko-kninske županije, br. 7/99, 23.07.1999.
Rješenje Ministartsva uprave, kl. UP/I-017-02/99-01/29,
urbr. 515-02- 01/1-99-2, 18.05.1999, Službeni vjesnik
Šibensko-kninske županije, br. 7/99, 23.07.1999. - The
decision amends the previous decision in regard to the
description of the Coat of Arms, virtually only to change the
direction into which the sword is pointing - now towards the
chief. The graphic solution however (printed on the front page of
the gazette and large one covering entire page inside) is
slightly different from the previous one, also. The decision says
nothing about the flag, so presumably it would remain the same
only with the new Coat of Arms in the middle. The same goes for
the ceremonial flag. However, regarding the ceremonial
flag, I am not sure that this was ever produced. Certainly the
first one mentioned (inscribed only Šibenska of 1996
proposal) might have not been anything but the design on paper.
The 1997 adopted design might have been produced, but I guess it
might have been expensive to produce an other one only slightly
different after just two years. It may be a reason why the 1997
(if my guess is correct, the only one ever produced) was removed
from the display, but nothing supstituted it. Anyway, the table
flags in form of a ceremonial flag, but of an other design (with
stripes) were reportedly in use (as I saw on TV). The approval of
the Ministry is dated 18 May 1999. It seems odd that the County
decided on the Coat of Arms and the flag in 1996 and determined
to wait for the Ministry approval for the formal adoption, then
to do the adoption in 1997 and to obtain the approval only in
1999 after further changes of the design. It may well be that the
Ministry have never approved the 1997 design - what is odd is
that the act of the Ministry refers to the 1997 decision and
approves that design "in full", but it also says that
"it is determined that the previously found deficiencies in
the design were corrected" which may suggest that it was
indeed something amended to the 1997 design.
- Statut Šibensko-kninske županije, 28.09.2001,
Službeni vjesnik Šibensko-kninske županije, br.
11/01, 16.10.2001. - The new statutes include the description of
the Coat of Arms, the flag and the ceremonial flag (the blue one
with spiral ornaments in the tail).
Željko Heimer, 19 august 2006
The symbols were designed by the Heraldic Art d.o.o.
company from Rijeka.
Željko Heimer, 4 November 2007
image by Željko Heimer, 19 august 2006
image by Željko Heimer, 19 august 2006
On TV report from Sibenik-Knin County Assembly session few
days ago, I saw hoisted on the chairman's desk a table flag of
the County in vertical format and in banner form, just as it was
ceremonial flag. I just cought a glimpse of it, but here it is as
far as I could have seen it I don't know if there is a "real
size" ceremonial flag of this shape, but there might be one.
I don't know if it is prescirbed in the legislation (in table
flag or real size flag form) but there seems to be little
importance in it, since in several other counties there are
ceremonial flags used even without mention in the regulations.
Željko Heimer, 8 June 2002
si.gif)
image by Željko Heimer, 19 august 2006
1996 selected design of ceremonial flag - Reconstruction
based on description
image by Željko Heimer, 19 august 2006
1997 flag
image by Željko Heimer, 19 august 2006
1997 ceremonial flag
image by Željko Heimer, 19 august 2006
si97.gif)
1997 coat of arms
image by Željko Heimer, 19 august 2006