Flag of the Kingdom of Sierra

From Constructed Worlds Wiki
(Redirected from Flag of Sierra)
Jump to navigation Jump to search
 This article is an A-class article. It is written to a very high standard. This article is part of Altverse II.

Flag of the Kingdom of Sierra
Flag of Sierra
Use National flag Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag
Proportion 16:9 (1.77:1)
Adopted November 27, 1858
Design A horizontal tricolor hesse composed of dark blue, gold, and maroon red featuring an off-white circle bearing a five-pointed star near the hoist and centered on the gold stripe.
Designed by Charles I (Charles Miller)
Flag of Sierra (military).svg
Variant flag of the
Use War flag and naval ensign Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag
Proportion 30:24 (1.25:1)
Design A purple-edge penon with a white background featuring a red cross pattée centered near the hoist
Designed by Gen. Tyler Sherman

The flag of Sierra is a horizontal tricolor of blue, yellow, and red with a purple star centered in a white circle aligned near the hoist. The official flag of the Kingdom of Sierra, the banner was originally adopted on November 27, 1858 as the national flag, and reaffirmed as the flag in the 1950 Charter. Designed personally by the first king of Sierra, Charles I, the flag is specifically outlined in Section 2 of Article I in the Sierran constitution. In wartime, the flag of the Sierran Crown Armed Forces is flown on military vehicles, vessels, and entities instead of the national flag. Taking the form of an isosceles-shaped penon, the flag was first introduced by General Tyler Sherman in 1893. Through the Military Flag Act of 1894, if ever Sierra is in a state of war or crisis, Sherman's military flag must be flown alongside the national flag at all public properties wherever the latter flag is available. Public schools, certain public facilities (community centers), private properties, businesses, and religious buildings are however exempt from this mandate.

The flag is associated with the Pledge of Allegiance and is frequently flown at national celebrations, political demonstrations, and other events. In addition, there are several alternative variants of the flag that are utilized, most often those associated with republicanism, in stark contrast to the clear monarchist element depicted in the Sierran flag.

History

The current flag of Sierra has been virtually the same as the flag first described and created under the Sierran constitution in 1858. Prior to the constitution, Sierra was known as the California Republic and the Californian government flew two different flags officially under its administration: the Lone Star Flag and the Bear Flag. The Lone Star Flag was first flown by American and Mexican rebels in the city of Monterey in revolt of the Centralist Republic of Mexico in 1836. The revolt was crushed and the flag was captured by Mexican authorities who subsequently burnt it and threatened deporting anyone who flew similar flags in the area.

The flag was revived again once California earned its independence in 1846 although was short-lived in favor of the more popular Bear Flag. The Bear Flag was the flag used by rebels in Sonoma who succeeded in their revolt as the Mexican government lost confidence in maintaining power over California paired with the fear of war with the United States and Great Britain. Two months after the Californian government flew the Lone Star Flag, the government decided to adopt the Bear Flag instead viewing it as more revolutionary and aesthetically pleasing compared to the simpler flag.

Gallery of flags flown over historical Sierra

When California adopted a new constitution and renamed itself officially as the Kingdom of Sierra, naturally, a new flag design was needed. Some proposed retaining the Bear Flag with the only change being renaming the imprint of the flag from the "CALIFORNIA REPUBLIC" to "SIERRA" or the "KINGDOM OF SIERRA". Others thought of adopting a flag similar to the United States flag but the Sierran government sought to create a new distinct flag with no connections to the California Republic nor external countries including the United States.

The most popular design was created by Smith C. Miller, one of the prominent members of the Constitutional Committee, who drew the designs matching today's flag and had it sewn by his wife and her friends. The flag featured a blue, gold, and red tricolor containing a white circle affixed with a red star. Many admired the flag's simplicity yet vivid appearance and appreciated the fact that it was a departure from the traditional white background fields found on the previous two flags of California. Green, a color also featured on the previous Californian flag and other variants, was noticeably absent in the designs. A popular misconception was that green, a color now associated with Landonism, was deliberately omitted from the designs due to the purported Landonist connotation. However, Isaiah Landon himself did not formalize his ideology until a few years after the flag's initial design, and never referred to his thought as "Landonism" during his lifetime. In addition, the flag's adoption preceded the association of green with republicanism and Landonism in Sierra by at least five years, though such connotation was indeed partly in response to the flag's color and design. The Constitution included Miller's design in Section 8 of Article I and was hoisted for the first time on Sierra's creation on November 27, 1858. The flag earned its nickname, "The King's Flag" months after its creator, Smith C. Miller, was crowned the first king of Sierra as Charles I.

The red star featured on the flag was later changed to purple in 1866 through the Flag Act of 1866, following the mass production and availability of mauveine, a purple dye which was discovered in 1856 by British chemist William Henry Perkin. In the drafts for the Sierran flag, Charles I had originally called for the star to be purple, due to the color's association with monarchies, but were abandoned due to contemporaneous rarity. The updated version of the flag has been in continuous use since then, although the original design continues to be flown and used at historic sites and government buildings paying homage to the Constitution and Kingdom's founding.

Design and symbolism

Metrics for the Flag of Sierra
The official Sierra Tartan incorporates the colors of the flag.

In contemporary times, there has been a general consensus on the symbolism behind the flag which were first popularized in the early 20th century by the "new patriotic movement" (the Sierran Cultural Revolution). The movement embraced the unification and harmony of different races, religions, ideas, and cultures into mainstream Sierran society. The blue stripe represents freedom and liberty, two concepts which are central to Sierra's democratic traditions. The golden stripe represents economic prosperity and happiness, as exemplified from the California Gold Rush, which reflects the nation's natural abundance of resources, wealth, and success associated with the country. The gold is also a reference to Sierra's predominantly sunny weather, which was a contributing factor to Sierra's popularity as a destination for immigrants, and to the success of its agricultural sector. The red stripe represents the blood of all those who have or who are willing to sacrifice their lives for Sierra. It also represents the multicultural society of Sierra which declares that all Sierrans are equal regardless of their race, color, faith, sex, orientation, or ideology. In that regard, red represents the collective blood of all humans which is indistinguishable among each other if based solely on external differences. The white circle represents purity and peace, which also reflects the general desire to maintain harmony and dignity. The purple star represents society although it can also be an allusion to the monarchy whose traditional color has been purple. Each point on the star with no specified location represents a pillar of Sierran society and supporter of the monarchy: civilians, soldiers, clergymen, businessmen, and officials.

The flag has been a popular symbol which has become commercialized and ingrained into Sierran culture. It is a common sight to see the flag flown on both public and private property and toted onto vehicles, products, or clothing. The desecration of the Sierran flag, while protected as free speech, is regarded as an offensive or act by most Sierrans. Desecration is more visibly practiced and accepted in certain parts of the Styxie where communities of Sierran republicans actively oppose the flag due to its monarchist connotations, and fly alternative flags. The flag carries important significance among many Sierrans, some of which may even treat it as a quasi-religious icon.

Colors

Name Color Hex code RGB Pantone CMYK
Majestic Blue (Resolution Blue) #003389 0, 51, 137 Pantone Solid Coated 2746 C 100, 63, 0, 46
Sierran Gold (Supernova) #FFCC00 255, 204, 0 Pantone Solid Coated 7405 C 0, 20, 100, 0
Royal Crimson (Bright Red) #AA0000 170, 0, 0 Pantone Solid Coated 7627 C 0, 100, 100, 33
Standard Purple (Pigment Indigo) #660080 102, 0, 128 Pantone Solid Coated 2597 C 20, 100, 0, 50
Ghost White (Titan White) #F8F8FF 248, 248, 255 Pantone Solid Coated 663 C 3, 3, 0, 0

Display and use

When displayed vertically, a vertical version of the flag must be used instead of the normal flag.

There are no federal laws governing the private display or use although there are official protocols regarding the flag or its variants for observation by government officials and bodies. The Flag Code of Sierra provides recommendations and guidelines for proper display and care of the flag, and also describes the materials, design, and dimensions of the flag.

According to protocols, for government buildings, the flag must be flown continuously year-round during the daytime and at night provided it is properly lit at its display site. The flag should never touch the ground or another object, should never be stepped on, should never be used as an attire, tool, or disposable item, and should be maintained in good shape. The flag may be properly discarded by burning if it has become damaged enough.

During public holidays, the display of flags by private persons and properties become much more prominent and widespread. During times of mourning, remembrance, or emergency, the flag is flown as half-mast.

When the flag must be displayed vertically, it is encouraged that a vertical version of the flag be displayed instead of using the normal flag. The rationale behind this is because when one displays the normal flag vertically, the star appears to be a pentagram which is considered to be the sign of Satan. Tied with Sierra's strong Christian traditions and superstition, it is considered an omen to display the normal flag vertically. The vertical flag properly centers the star in relation to the flag and conversely; it may not be displayed horizontally. An exception to this superstition is when the flag is flown in an inverted state to indicate the universal practice of distress at sea. The inverted flag results in the blue and red stripes switching positions, while the star's inversion results in the appearance of a pentagram and slightly elevated due to the star's slight off-centeredness.

The flag as it appears when inverted

The flag may be adorned with a golden fringe around its perimeter and/or purple pennons when on display. Both decorations are purely ceremonial and have no official purpose other than to enhance the appearance of the flag. At sporting events, particularly international events, the flag may be defaced with text or additional visual elements. Private businesses, individuals, and organizations often modify the appearance of the flag as well for commercial or private purposes. Clothing, furniture, paraphernalia, and other items may utilize the design or color schematics of the flag freely, although certain items have been met with controversy and criticism (for instance, Sierran flag-themed toilet paper). Although the Flag Code of Sierra discourages the use of clothing that incorporates the Sierran flag into its design and distorts it beyond its standard appearance, such clothing can be seen being worn by citizens for patriotic events and celebrations.

Pledge of Allegiance

I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the Kingdom of Sierra, and to the Queen, the Protector of Sierrans. I swear (or promise) to defend and preserve the liberties of the Kingdom, and to the Five Races, One Culture, Many Tongues, and One Nation under God, long may it last, may there be honor and justice for all. So help me God.
“
”

Flag of Sierra (wavy).svg – Pledge of Allegiance to the Sierran Flag (Last modified in 1958)

The Pledge of Allegiance is an officially promoted form of expressing allegiance to the flag of Sierra, and to the Queen and her kingdom. Originally composed by Tristan Jasna in 1908, Parliament formally adopted Jasna's allegiance as the national pledge. The pledge, along with other ceremonial rituals, are officially used to open sessions in Parliament, meetings in the Supreme Court, and other major government functions. Many provincial, state, areal, territorial, or local governments also carry out the pledge to begin business. Some private organizations and businesses have also incorporated the pledge into their own meetings. The allegiance as part of both public and private school schedule is common throughout the Kingdom except in the Deseret and the Styxie where the latter regions have no laws allocating time for the pledge at schools. Pursuant to the constitutional protections of free speech and expression, the pledge is not mandatory although non-participants are encouraged to stand in silence while others recite the pledge as a form of respect and camaraderie. During the pledge, it is customary for one to place one's hand over the heart, and to remove any headgear that may obstruct the views of others. The end of the pledge is often concluded with a bow in the direction of the banner.

Variants

War flag

The flag of the Sierran Crown Armed Forces is the designated war flag and ensign for the Sierran national government during times of war or emergency.

Through the Military Flag Act of 1894, the flag of the Sierran Crown Armed Forces may be flown or used alongside the national flag atop of government buildings or properties whenever a state of war or emergency is declared. While the Armed Forces uses the flag for both peacetime and wartime operations, government and civil buildings generally do not fly the flag during peacetime. In times of war, while civilians are not obligated to the fly the flag in place of the national flag, most government buildings are obligated to fly it alongside the national flag. Some public institutions including schools, parks, or community centers are exempted from this obligation.

Introduced by General Tyler Sherman for use by the Sierran Crown Armed Forces in 1893, the flag has been informally called "Sherman's Flag". As it was intended, the flag has become analogous with the military. A distinctly contrasting look to the national flag, it nevertheless maintains a distinctly Sierran appearance and is popularly toted by civilians who see it as a defiant and bold symbol of Sierran nationalism. While the flag is mandated during times of war or distress, the Flag Code makes no mention towards the conduct or handling of the military flag as it does with the national flag.

Flags of countries in the Kingdom of Sierra

Bajaría

Main article: Flag of Bajaría

–

Flag of Bajaría

The national flag of Bajaría consists of a tricolor flag that features diagonal stripes, with red, blue, and yellow from hoist side to fly side, as well as a seven-pointed silver star on each corner of the flag. The flag was adopted by the Commission on Devolution in El Norte, which operated as the provisional government of Bajaría in February 2021, just a month prior to the country's official ascension March 6, 2021. The stars represent the unity of the four former territories of El Norte, while the colors were selected to reflect Bajaría's history under Sierran colonization.

State flags

Deseret

Main article: Flag of the Deseret
Flag of the Deseret

The national flag of the Deseret is a white field with seven equal horizontal dark blue stripes, with a dark blue canton consisting of a large white star encircled by twelve smaller stars. The national government of the Deseret officially adopted the flag on August 17, 1950, although the Deseret had been using the flag since at least 1873 when it was still a territory of Sierra. The white symbolizes the purity and humility of the Deseret people while the blue represents the faith the people have in God and Jesus. The twelve outer stars in the canton represent the Twelve Apostles while the centered star represents Jesus Christ. Alternatively, the twelve stars may represent the executive body of the Deseret, the Quorum of Twelve and the centered star, the President of the Church.

The design is deliberately similar to the flag of the former United States as it pays homage to the fact that the majority of the Deseret's inhabitants are descendants of the Mormons who fled the United States (mostly the present-day Continental republics of Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, and Pennsylvania) from persecution.

Areal flags

Hawaii

Main article: Flag of Hawaii
Flag of Hawaii

The flag of Hawaii is known as the Kanaka Maoli flag (Hawaiian: Native Hawaiians' Flag). The flag consists of a field of nine stripes alternating in the colors green, red, and yellow from top to bottom, and a green shield placed in the center, featuring a royal kahili diagonally crossed by two paddles. Claimed to be the original flag of the Kingdom of Hawaii, the flag was adopted on October 9, 1950 following Hawaii's ascension as a constituent state.

The yellow represents the people's wariness of danger and the spirituality of the Aliʻi; the red represents the strength of the Konohiki class; the green represents the land and the people of Hawaii (the Maka'ainana).

State flags

Sierra

Main article: Flag of Federal Sierra
Flag of Sierra

The national flag of Sierra was officially adopted on June 23, 1950, the day Sierra was demoted to a fellow constituent country of the Kingdom. As Sierra's old flag would be used by the Kingdom, lawmakers sought to differentiate the flag of Sierra from the Kingdom. A simple tricolor variant of the Kingdom flag without the signature encircled star was chosen to represent Sierra. Bearing very close resemblance to the flag used by Republicans during the Sierran Civil War and republican advocates, the flag is devoid of the royal elements now exclusively tied to the Kingdom at-large. As such, the flag is commonly referred to as the "Republican Flag" while the Kingdom's flag, the "King's Flag" or the "King's Standard". Although the use of the Kingdom flag is still favored and used more extensively by government officials and institutions, the national flag has gained traction among Sierran civilians, especially in sports gatherings and other international events where Sierra competes separately from the Deseret and Hawaii.

Provincial flags

Territorial flags

Other flags

Government and military flags

City and county flags

Similar flags

See also

Retrieved from "https://wiki.conworld.org/index.php?title=Flag_of_the_Kingdom_of_Sierra&oldid=448303"