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Zadar (Zadar County, Croatia)

Last modified: 2007-05-27 by dov gutterman
Keywords: zadar | zara |
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image by Željko Heimer



See also:

Other Sites:

  • Collection of Croatian Local Flags at the FAME.

Overview

The flag of the city of Zadar (known also by its Italian name Zara) is blue with the coat of arms of the city in the middle. The coat of arms are divided per fess embattled gules and argent, on base wavy azure a "rearing" (what is heraldese for a horse in such position?) horse sable mounted a horseman with halo or and mantle azure, holding in sinister a shiled argent with a cross gules and in dexter a spear with gonganon of the same design.
The saint is St. Grisogon (St. Krs<evan) is the patron of the city. The coat of arms (and the flag) of this design are recently adopted around 1996 (?), based on the older coat of arms of the city, also picturing the St. Grisogon infront of a citadel with flag etc. less heraldically simplified and more naturalistically made. (BTW, during the socialist period the CoA in use was similar, with a warrior on a horse (without the halo) holding a pure red flag.)
There seems to exist a vertical variation of the flag, with the CoA in lower part and inscription in gold in two rows "GRAD ZADAR" with golden fringe on lower edge, which is probably the ceremonial flag. It would not be unexpected also that there exists a vertical gonfanon of even more ceremonial layout.
Željko Heimer, 18 March 1999


Coat of Arms


image by Željko Heimer


Gonfalone of Zara


image by Željko Heimer

There is a link which leads to a picture of the last gonfalone of Zara (on- line "Il Dalmatia", May/June 2002) at <www.dalmazia.it>. It seems that this was the gonfalone of Zara until 1944.
Jan Mertens, 18 May 2004

Zara/Zadar came under Italian rule after the Wolrd War as a result of "award" to Italy for switching sides in 1915 (London Agreements, I believe), in 1918, though I believe that the final trieties were signed somewhat letter (1921?).
Zadar was under Italian rule until the capitulation of Italy in 1943. Both the Independent State of Croatia (NDH) and the Tito's government (NOV) declaired it at once as integral part of Croatia, though until the end of the WWII it changed military rulers - German, NDH and NOV -  several times.
Željko Heimer, 28 May 2004

A red gonfalon with the coat of arms of the city, the shield picturing St. Grisogon on a horse galloping in front of the city walls, crowned with the massoned Venetian crown with the winged lion of St. Mark holding an open book and with a red ribbon with inscription in base. Below is the name of the city and golden fringe along the lower edge. The flag was taken to Italy in 1944, and since 2002 is kept in the Golden Medal Museum.
Zadar was capital of the Austrian crown-land Dalmatia until the break up of Austria-Hungary, when it was occupied by Italian troops. With the Rapallo agreements in 1920 Zadar was given to Italy. With the decisions of the 2nd session of the AVNOJ in Jajce and with the Italian capitulation Zadar was rejoined with Croatia.
Željko Heimer, 13 December 2006