Flag of the Brussels-Capital Region
Encyclopedia
The Flag of the Brussels-Capital Region
consists of a yellow
Iris
with a white
outline upon a blue
background. It was adopted by the Capital Region in 1991.
The yellow Iris, a Iris pseudacorus
, as a symbol for Brussels
dates back to before 1924 with Cornette writing that the flower was chosen to represent the city as it could be found growing in the marshes - the city itself was founded on marshy ground on Saint Gaugericus Island
- today even through the expansion and industrialisation of the city.
The plant used to surround the city walls and, according to legend, gave a key victory to the Dukes of Brabant: knowing the plant could only grow in shallow water, the Duke's troops could gallop through the flooded plains by keeping to the Iris covered areas. His opponents however, seeing them crossing but not knowing of the Iris, attempted to cross but got bogged down in the marshes.
The flower also featured on the sceptre of the descendants of Charlemagne
. This included Charles of France
, who set up a fortified camp in the area, in the Duchy of Lower Lotharingia, and chose the site as the capital. This is considered the foundation of Brussels.
The Brussels-Capital Region, created on 18 June 1989, adopted the plant as the symbol of the city on 5 March 1991. The exact design was chosen through a public competition, with the design by Jacques Richez being chosen.
and the Flemish Community Commission
, both of which are based in the Brussels-Capital Region.
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
consists of a yellow
Yellow
Yellow is the color evoked by light that stimulates both the L and M cone cells of the retina about equally, with no significant stimulation of the S cone cells. Light with a wavelength of 570–590 nm is yellow, as is light with a suitable mixture of red and green...
Iris
Iris (plant)
Iris is a genus of 260-300species of flowering plants with showy flowers. It takes its name from the Greek word for a rainbow, referring to the wide variety of flower colors found among the many species...
with a white
White
White is a color, the perception of which is evoked by light that stimulates all three types of color sensitive cone cells in the human eye in nearly equal amounts and with high brightness compared to the surroundings. A white visual stimulation will be void of hue and grayness.White light can be...
outline upon a blue
Blue
Blue is a colour, the perception of which is evoked by light having a spectrum dominated by energy with a wavelength of roughly 440–490 nm. It is considered one of the additive primary colours. On the HSV Colour Wheel, the complement of blue is yellow; that is, a colour corresponding to an equal...
background. It was adopted by the Capital Region in 1991.
Origins and symbolism
Iris pseudacorus
Iris pseudacorus is a species of Iris, native to Europe, western Asia and northwest Africa. Common names include yellow iris and yellow flag...
, as a symbol for Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
dates back to before 1924 with Cornette writing that the flower was chosen to represent the city as it could be found growing in the marshes - the city itself was founded on marshy ground on Saint Gaugericus Island
Saint Gaugericus Island
Saint-Géry Island was the largest island in the Senne river in Brussels, Belgium. It was named after Saint Gaugericus of Cambrai, who built a chapel there ca. 580. Hence the name "Brussels", which comes from Bruocsella or Broekzele, meaning "settlement in the marsh"...
- today even through the expansion and industrialisation of the city.
The plant used to surround the city walls and, according to legend, gave a key victory to the Dukes of Brabant: knowing the plant could only grow in shallow water, the Duke's troops could gallop through the flooded plains by keeping to the Iris covered areas. His opponents however, seeing them crossing but not knowing of the Iris, attempted to cross but got bogged down in the marshes.
The flower also featured on the sceptre of the descendants of Charlemagne
Charlemagne
Charlemagne was King of the Franks from 768 and Emperor of the Romans from 800 to his death in 814. He expanded the Frankish kingdom into an empire that incorporated much of Western and Central Europe. During his reign, he conquered Italy and was crowned by Pope Leo III on 25 December 800...
. This included Charles of France
Charles, Duke of Lower Lorraine
Charles of Lorraine was the son of Louis IV of France and Gerberga of Saxony and younger brother of King Lothair. He was a sixth generation descendant of Charlemagne...
, who set up a fortified camp in the area, in the Duchy of Lower Lotharingia, and chose the site as the capital. This is considered the foundation of Brussels.
The Brussels-Capital Region, created on 18 June 1989, adopted the plant as the symbol of the city on 5 March 1991. The exact design was chosen through a public competition, with the design by Jacques Richez being chosen.
Design
The flag, as defined by law, has 2:3 proportions. The Iris is yellow with a white border and the background is blue.| Blue | Yellow | White | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pantone Pantone Pantone Inc. is a corporation headquartered in Carlstadt, New Jersey, USA. The company is best known for its Pantone Matching System , a proprietary color space... |
Blue 280 | Yellow 116 | White |
| Gold 874 | |||
| Black | Black |
Derivative flags
The flags colours and emblem are used on the flag of the French Community CommissionFrench Community Commission
The Commission communautaire française is the local representative of the French-speaking authorities in the Brussels-Capital Region, one of the three regions of Belgium....
and the Flemish Community Commission
Flemish Community Commission
The Vlaamse Gemeenschapscommissie is the local representative of the Flemish authorities in the Brussels-Capital Region, one of the three regions of Belgium...
, both of which are based in the Brussels-Capital Region.
External links
- Region of Brussels-Capital (Belgium), Flags of the WorldFlags of the WorldFlags of the World is an Internet-based vexillological association and resource. Its principal project is the Internet's largest website devoted to vexillology, containing comprehensive information about all kinds of flags, and an associated mailing list...
- L'iris, fleur symbole de la Région de Bruxelles-Capitale, EuroBru