Luxembourg - a small, but has a rich and interesting history of the state (official - Duchy) in the center of Europe.Now this country - one of the most developed in the world, a major financial center.
It borders with Belgium and the Netherlands to form an interstate economic hub, called Benelux.No wonder that in the course of the long history of these three countries share a lot, including in respect of heraldry.To understand how and to whom appeared owes its origin to the symbolism, which is proud of Luxembourg - flag and emblem of the country - make interesting excursions into the history of this state and neighboring.
Coat country
At the end of the 10th century Count Siegfried founded in Lower Lorraine small castle called Luxembourg.There sat the whole dynasty of the Counts, is a relative of the ruling elites of the neighboring kingdoms.When the castle was ruled Limburg (origin from the same county in the Netherlands), there appeared a red coat of arms lion, which is a majestic crown.The coat of arms also has horizontal stripes - silver and blue.
These colors are included in another state symbol, which has Luxembourg - flag.In 1837, the coat of arms was used also in the Belgian province of the same name.He also is the basis of the coats of arms of other cities in the country - Diekirch, Ash ETTELBRUCK, however, combined with other elements (there are options where, together with a lion depicted, for example, a tower, a bunch of flax, river).Coat of arms of Luxembourg is considered one of the oldest in Europe.It has two versions - medium and large.
flag
matter of national pride, which has Luxemburg - tricolor flag.It is a rectangular fabric composed of three horizontal strips of equal width.He appeared in the 13th century.The proportion of height and length of the flag - 3 to 5. This state symbol has three colors.Top - red, middle - white, bottom - blue (or light blue).
very similar proportions and the color is the flag of the Netherlands (the reasons for this similarity - a little later).The only visual difference - that the lower band on the Dutch flag, usually dark blue.
Neighbour relations
As mentioned above, the flag of Luxembourg and the Netherlands - almost one and the same.The history of this similarity is very interesting.In 1815, the king of the Netherlands, who was also the Duke of Luxembourg, and also approved the national flag pattern on the local level.In 1972, the proportions and colors of the national flag of the Duchy were enshrined in law, and in 1992 - it was decided to replace the color of the bottom strip on a light blue because of the apparent similarity with the flag of the Netherlands.
interesting that today in Luxembourg, there is a debate between the various political parties on the possible replacement of the flag, which, according to some subjects of the Duchy, is still similar to the Dutch flag.According to some opinion polls, the vast majority of Luxembourgers - the replacement of the main symbols of the state.What is the flag of Luxembourg will be adopted in the foreseeable future - largely depends on the will of Parliament.
history of tricolor
There is very popular version that not only Luxembourg, whose flag has three colors, its appearance is obliged to the Dutch national symbol.In Luxembourg banner, according to some historians, there is an interesting relative - Russian tricolor.Peter, as we know, has long lived in the Netherlands.He returned to Russia in the newly-built frigate, which flew the tricolor flag of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.This is a state symbol, as noted by some historians, was also present, and the first Russian frigate "Eagle", hodivshem on the sea during the time of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich.Despite the fact that the current Russian flag appeared due to many historical reasons, many historians believe - format tricolor was taken as the basis because of the Dutch.Luxembourg flag and emblem which is also inherited from the Netherlands can thus have a strong connection with the Russian heraldic.This, according to some historians, underscores the cultural proximity of the Russian Federation with a variety of European countries, including those that are relatively far away from us.
