Symbols of Brussels
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
There are various symbols of the Brussels; a flag representing the City of Brussels (municipality), another flag representing the Brussels-Capital Region (region), and a coat of arms representing the settlement itself.
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[edit] Coat of arms
| Coat of arms of Brussels | |
|---|---|
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| Details | |
| Escutcheon | Archangel Michael slaying the Devil |
The coat of arms of the Brussels shows a golden Archangel Michael, the patron saint of Brussels, slaying a black Devil by piercing it with a spear shaped like a cross, on the red background of the shield.
[edit] City flag
The municipal flag of Brussels (City of Brussels), as flown from the Town Hall and other buildings is a square, horizontally divided green over red flag, with on its centre a very large version of the municipal logotype, a stylized, disc-shaped silhouette of St. Michael trampling the devil, in dark yellow. Ergo the same motif as the coat of arms.
[edit] Region
The flag of the Brussels-Capital Region depicts the Iris pseudacorus (yellow iris), which is native to the Brussels area, against a blue backdrop.
The valley of the river Senne has been housing Brussels for more than1,000 years. With time, the lower town has progressively spread through the marshy bottoms. In the Dukes of Brabant's times, the marshy plains covered with golden irises encircled the town walls. According to a legend, this simple plant gave a great strategic victory to the Duke's soldiers. Those knew that iris can grow immersed only in a few centimeters of water. They broke into a gallop through the flooded plains but carefully let their horses stamping iris hills. Their opponents, less knowledgeable in botanics and encouraged by the apparently careless gallop of the Duke's soldiers, got definitively bogged into the marshes.
Iris pseudacorus is the scientific name of the golden iris, the symbol of the region of Brussels-Capital, which is widely used (tramways, subway, taxis etc...) but ill-known.
The choice of this marsh iris as the symbol of Brussels did not occur for the creation of the region of Brussels-Capital (18 June 1989), as often believed. In 1924, R. Cornette wrote that "this flower was chosen because it grows in the marshes, recalling that the capital was funded on the marshy banks of the Senne river and its tributaries" (Maalbeek, Roodkloosterbeek, Geleytsbeek, Kerkebeek, Leybeek, Woluwe...). Nowadays, in spite of the ultra-rapid urbanisation, the iris can still be found in its naturel habit in the vale of Vuylbeek, in the forest of Soignes.
On 5 March 1991, the Regional Council of Brussels-Capital decided to chose an iris as emblem for the region. A public contest was organized to define its design. After several adventures, the proposal of Jacques Richez was granted by the authorities."[1]
The iris is a bulb that blossoms into large, decorative flowers. It grows particularly well in marshes, with which the territory of Brussels was originally covered. This flower was also prominent on the sceptre of the descendants of Charlemagne, including Charles of France, who set up his fortified camp in Bruocsella, which the emperor Otto II had invested as the Duchy of Basse-Lotharingie in 977. The site was chosen as capital by Charles of France in 979, a date considered to be that of the foundation of Brussels. So the iris is a symbol of Brussels ancient origin. And it was the inspiration for France fleur-de-lis. Note also that Brussels, shortly after its foundation, became the unfortunate rival of Paris in the struggle of the pretenders to the throne of France, the Carolingians and the Capetians.
The iris as "inspiration for France fleur-de-lis" is a widely used explanation, without any serious evidence. The case of the fleur-de-lis is deeply scrutinized by M. Pastoureau [pst98], in 16 pages of well-documented text. Whether the fleur-de-lis was inspired by a real iris, broom, furze or lotus is not known and not really important.
Law of the 16th of May 1991. The emblem of the region is the iris flower. The flag is blue with a yellow iris flower bordered white. Proportions 2:3.
The law gives the possible different versions of the flag and emblem(colour specification according to Pantone system):
[edit] Flag colours
| field | iris | border | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blue 280 | Yellow 116 | White |
| 2 | Blue 280 | Gold 874 | White |
| 3 | Black | Black* | White |
- with 50% screen effect.
[edit] Emblem colours
| 1 | Yellow 116 | Blue 280 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Gold 874 | Blue 280 |
| 3 | White | Black |
[edit] References
[edit] See also
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