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Dispatch → Account → Culture
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The Realm of Serpens Land.
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www.gov.sp/heritage/national-flag
Use | National flag and state ensign |
Proportions | 1:2 |
Adopted | 20 May 1965 |
Design | A Blue Ensign defaced with |
Updated: March 2021
OVERVIEW
The Flag of Serpens Land, also known as the Serpens Land Blue Ensign is the national flag of Serpens Land. It is based off of the British Blue Ensign - a blue field with the Union Jack in the canton defaced with the shield of Serpens Land. There are also other flags of Serpens Land used to represent various functions of the government and various peoples of Serpens Land.
The current flag of Serpens Land was adopted in 1909, after Serpens Land became a dominion of the British Empire. It included the part of the Arms of Serpens Land granted by Royal Warrant in 1908.
DESIGN
flag of Serpens Land
Flags making up the Union Jack
Shield of Serpens Land
Colonial ensign 1832 - 1908
Colonial ensign 1908 - 1909
The Flag of Serpens Land contains 2 main devices (symbols), the Union Jack, and the Shield of Serpens Land. In it's original usage as the flag of the United Kingdom, the Union Jack combined three flags to represent the constituent countries of the United Kingdom.
- The red St. George's Cross of England
- The white St. Andrew's Cross of Scotland
- The red St. Patrick's Cross of Ireland
The Union Jack is said to symbolize Serpens Land's historic connection to the United Kingdom, although historically it was viewed as a symbol of loyalty to the British Empire. The shield is derived from Serpens Land's coat of arms which was granted by Royal Warrant in 1908. The shield contains a Serpens Land rattlesnake - the national animal of Serpens Land. It also contains a sun which represents the sun that never sets on the British Empire.
The current flag is very similar to the short lived colonial ensign used prior to independence. With the main difference being the larger shield defacing the flag.
The first unique Serpens Land flag was the colonial ensign used when Serpens Land became a crown colony in the British Empire. Like the current flag, it had a field of red and the Union Jack in the canton. In the fly, it had the seal of Serpens Land. Before Serpens Land was granted it's coat of arms in 1908, it used a seal containing a tall ship, a mountain and a sun. When Serpens Land was granted it's own unique coat of arms, it switched to using a Red Ensign defaced the shield of Serpens Land within a white roundel. Only a year later when Serpens Land was granted dominion status, the shield was enlarged and the roundel deleted.
OTHER SERPENS LAND FLAGS
The Serpens Land White Ensign
Flags like the White Ensign and RSLAF Ensign usually come 5th in the order of precedence. This can change varying on circumstances. For example, on events of military signifigance, the White Ensign and the RSLAF Ensign may follow the national flag in the order of precedence. Serpens Land's other flags can also be flown instead of the national flag in certain circumstances. On naval and air bases, the Serpens Land national flag may be replaced by the White Ensign and RSLAF Ensign respectively. On civil aviation establishments, the Civil Aviation Ensign may be flown in place of the national flag. In each of these cases, their respective flags still follow the national flag in order of precedence should the national flag be chosen to be flown.
Flag | Flag Name | About |
| Royal Standard | To be flown to indicate the presence of the monarch in a specified location like a vehicle, or building. |
| Red Ensign | The Serpens Land Red Ensign is the proper ensign to be flown by Serpens Land merchant and civilian vessels. |
| White Ensign | The White Ensign is the proper ensign to be worn by commissioned vessels of the Royal Serpens Land Navy. It is prohibited for a civilian vessel to fly the White Ensign |
| RSLAF Ensign | The Royal Serpens Land Air Force Ensign is the official flag of the RSLAF. It is flown from all Serpens Land air bases, and from vessels operated by the RSLAF |
| Civil Air Ensign | The Civil Aviation Ensign is the proper flag to be flown at civil aviation establishments, and to be displayed on aircraft registered in Serpens Land. It should be flown at civil aviation facilities as the national flag in place of the red ensign. |
FLAG PROTOCOL
Respect for the Flag
The national flag must always be flown in the superior position when being flown in Serpens Land or on Serpens Land territory. The national flag takes precedence over all other flags when flown on Serpens Land soil. The only flag that takes precedence over the national flag is the Royal Standard.
The national flag whether it is made of paper, cloth, or some other fabric or material should never:
Be used as a tablecloth or seat cover;
Be used to cover up a monument or some other object for an unveiling ceremony;
Have anything pinned or sewn into it;
Be signed or marked in any way;
Used as wearing apparel;
Flown when faded or tattered;
Be burned in effigy;
Be placed or dropped on the ground;
Be stepped on;
Be flown upside down (except as a signal of distress in instances of extreme danger to life).
Display
It is recommended that the flag be flown from sunrise to sunset unless it can be illuminated during night time. The national flag should always be flown on it's own flag pole.
When displayed horizontally against a vertical surface like a wall, the flag should be displayed the right way up with the hoist to the observer's left. When displayed vertically against a vertical surface, the flag should be displayed with the hoist at the top, and the top of the flag to the observer's left. This the done because the canton (top left corner) is always shown on the top left.
When flown on a flagpole or mast, the canton should be placed in the closest position to the top of the pole. The flag should be pulled all the way to the top of the pole, so to not mistake it for being at half mast.
When suspended vertically in the middle of a street, The top of the flag should face north in an east-west street. The top of the flag should face east in a north-south street.
When displayed horizontally, or at an angle projected out of a building or a balcony, the canton should face outwards.
When flown from a motor vehicle, the flag must be flown on a pole firmly fixed to the vehicle on the front right side.
When Flown on Ships and Boats
The Serpens Land Red Ensign is the proper ensign to be flown from any civil or merchant vessel. A Serpens Land vessel must hoist her ensign when entering or leaving a foreign port, or upon signal by one of His Serpens Land Majesty's ships, or by any vessel operated by the government of Serpens Land.
Foreign vessels should fly the Red Ensign as a "courtesy flag" when docked in a Serpens Land port. A courtesy flag is commonly flown on a vessel's foremast. Vessels without a mast may fly a courtesy flag on her jackstaff.
A vessel's ensign should be flown from the stern, or a close to the stern as possible. When underway, the ensign may be flown from a gaff, or a mast amidships.
Position of Honour
The national flag should always be flown in the superior position on Serpens Land soil. This position varies depending on the type of flag pole and the number of flags.
When the national flag is flown along side another flag, it should be placed to the observer's left. Both flags should be the same size and flown at the same height. (If the other flag has different proportions to those of the national flag of Serpens Land, both flags should be the same height)
When the national flag is flown with in a group of three flags, the national flag should be in the centre. The other flags should be flown in order of precedence.
When the national flag is flown in a group of more than three poles, the national flag should be placed on the left of the observer facing the flags. The remaining flags should be flown in order of precedence from left to right. If available, an additional national flag may be flown at the end of the line.
When crossed with another flag, the national flag of Serpens Land should be on the left of the observer. The pole should be in front of the other flag.
When flying the national flag in a semi circle of flags, the national flag should be placed in the centre.
When flying the national flag in an enclosed circle of flags, the national flag should be flown on the pole directly opposite the main entrance to the building.
Order of Precedence
The order of precedence for Serpens Land flags is:
Personal flag of the sovereign. Only when indicating their presence at a location.
The national flag of Serpens Land.
Flags of other sovereign nations in alphabetical order.
Flags of the Serpens Land provinces in alphabetical order.
Other Serpens Land flags and ensigns to be flown in the following order:
The Serpens Land White Ensign
The Royal Serpens Land Air Force Ensign
The Serpens Land Red Ensign
The Serpens Land Civil Aviation Ensign
Flags of cities and municipalities in alphabetical order.
Historical flags in order from most recent to least recent.
******************************* | ******************************* | ******************************* | ******************************* |
National Flags | ****************** | ****************** | ****************** |
Standard National Flag | Alternate National Flag | ****************** | ****************** |
Personal Flags | ****************** | ****************** | ****************** |
Royal Standard | Prince Royal's (heir apparent) standard | Flag of the Lieutenant Governor of Atonia | Flag of the Lieutenant Governor of Camridia |
Flag of the Lieutenant Governor of Chatham | Flag of the Lieutenant Governor of Fort Charlotte | Flag of the Lieutenant Governor of Northland | Flag of the Governor of the North Mesder Island Territories |
Flag of the Governor of Diachen Territory | Car Flag of the Prime Minister of Serpens Land | ****************** | ****************** |
Provincial and Territorial Flags | ****************** | ****************** | ****************** |
Flag of Atonia | Flag of Camridia | Flag of Chatham | Flag of Fort Charlotte |
Flag of Northland | Flag of the North Mesder Island Territories | Flag of Diachen Territory | ****************** |
Civil Ensigns | ****************** | ****************** | ****************** |
Serpens Land Red Ensign | Serpens Land Civil Air Ensign | Maritime Ensign of Diachen Territory | Serpens Land Civil Jack |
Military Flags | ****************** | ****************** | ****************** |
Flag of the Serpens Land Armed Forces | Serpens Land White Ensign | Royal Serpens Land Air Force Ensign | Flag of the Serpens Land Army |
Police and Border Service Flags | ****************** | ****************** | ****************** |
Flag of the Royal Serpens Land Constabulary | Serpens Land Customs Flag | Flag of the Atonia Police Service | Flag of the Camridia Police Service |
Flag of the Chatham Police Service | Flag of the Royal Fort Charlotte Police | Flag of the Northland Police Service | Flag of the Serpens Land Territorial Police |
Cities, Towns and Areas | ****************** | ****************** | ****************** |
Flag of the City of Fort Charlotte | Flag of New Plymouth | Flag of Duncan | Flag of Eaton |
Flag of Richmond | Flag of Carisbrooke | ****************** | ****************** |
Historical Flags | ****************** | ****************** | ****************** |
Crown Colony of Serpens Land (1832 - 1908) | Dominion of Serpens Land (1908 - 1909) | Dominion of Serpens Land (1909 - 1957) | Republic of Erodesia (1915 - 1957) |
Republic of Serpens Land (1957 - 1965) | Serpens Land Naval Ensign (1957 - 1965) | Serpens Land Air Force (1957 - 1965) | ****************** |
Sporting Flags | ****************** | ****************** | ****************** |
Royal Serpens Land Yacht Squadron Ensign | Royal Serpens Land Yacht Squadron Burgee | Serpens Land Yachting Ensign (plain) | Serpens Land Yachting Ensign (customised) |
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