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Flags of the World

Page created: 1st October 2000 Last updated: 27th December 2023
The FAME is a site devoted to the systematic and scientific study of flags and coats of arms. Such symbols often bear strong political and other messages. Inclusion of those symbols here does not mean that the author supports or approves of the ideas they may stand for.	This site is harvested for the NSK digital archives.

Map of the Lika and Senj County.

Lika and Senj County - Communities

Ličko-senjska županija - općine

1. Brinje
   • Brinje, 1998 – 2017
2. Donji Lapac
   • Donji Lapac, 200x – 202x
3. Karlobag
   • Karlobag, 1994 – 1995
4. Lovinac
5. Perušić
6. Plitvička jezera
7. Udbina
8. Vrhovine
   • Vrhovine, 2003 – 2010

Since 1993 the Croatian legislation allows the units of local self-government (counties, cities and communities) to have their coat of arms and flag, however these may be legally used only after they are approved by a central state authority. The a flag of a city or community should be of a one colour field with the coat of arms in the centre or offset towards hoist. Some exceptions from this rule are tolerated for the cities with traditional flag established before these rules were made. The coat of arms must follow also a set of rules to be approved. Some cities and communities use unapproved designs nevertheless. See more on the approval dates. Prior to 1993 the coats of arms and flag were not regulated by state legislation.
The official bazon (heraldic descripton) of the coats of arms and descriptions of the flags are according to the approval text of the central state authority, other description according to other community documents.
In 1997 the communities of Donji Lapac, Lovinac, Plitvička jezera (Korenica) and Udbina were moved from Zadar and Knin County to Lika and Senj County. The community of Pag was transferred in opposite direction, and given status of a city.

• Lika and Senj County
• Croatia - Counties
• Croatia

Brinje

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The coat of arms is azure two wolves or rampant reguardant holding a tower-chapel argent roofed gules. The flag is light blue with the arms in its centre. The design is reminiscent to the Frankopan family arms (two lions rampant reguardant holding a loaf of bread). The tower is representation of the 14th century three-storey Gothic chapel of St. Mary (also recorded as the Holy Trinity), part of the Sokolac castle around which Brinje was formed. Brinje was important medieval fortified city held by Frankopan family. A ceremonial version of the coat of arms is ornamented with a fir and juniper branches below the shield. Juniper (Juniperus communis L., Croatian dialect brinje) is canting the community name.
The Ministry approved the design, but in 1998 it was replaced with the hawk as the supporter of the tower. The original design was reintroduced in use since December 2017, after the FAME inquieries regarding the officially approved design, the community officials recognized what the Ministry approved. This was confimred with a 2021 decision.

Brinje, 1998 – 2017

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The coat of arms was changed to Azure an hawk displayed argent beaked and taloned or langued and armed gules holding a tower argent roofed gules. The hawk (Croatian sokol) is canting the name of the castle. Although the descriptions required the tongue to be red, the coats of arms in use all showed it yellow. The flag was light blue with the yellow bordered coat of arms in the centre. Versions with both dark and light blue used for the coat of arms in the flag were recorded in use. Here, the ceremonial version of the coat of arms ornamented with a fir and juniper branches below the shield was also recorded.
This design is still the de jure coat of arms and flag according to the 1998 community regulations, pending to be formally abrogated (?).

Donji Lapac

Доњи Лапац

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The historical coat of arms of Donji Lapac is gules an eagle dispalyed sable armed or and langued of the first. This is based on a seal from 1448 and 15th century grave stones, being the arms of the ancenstral tribe of Lapčani (Genus Lapac). The flag is blue with the coat of arms bordered yellow in its center.

Until 1997 Donji Lapac was part of the Zadar-Knin County.

Donji Lapac, 200x – 202x

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The previous design was based on the 1932. dpepicion of the coat of arms in Laszowski's heraldic album and the flag used a darker shade of blue.

Karlobag

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The coat of arms of Karlobag is azure St. Charles Borromeo clead argent with a chasuble gules lined or and a hat sable holding a cross or in his dexter and a monstrance in front of him in his sinister, issuant from a cloud argent. St. Charles Borromeo is the patron saint of Karlobag. The flag is blue with the yellow bordered coat of arms in the centre of it. The ceremonial flag is a blue gonfalon ending in three rectangular tails, the central one longer, with golden fring along the bottom, with the coat of arms in the centre, the community name above and rosemary ornaments in the tails.
The 2001 Statutes describe the hat as red, but it is probably a typo, however, it is perpetuated into 2006 and 2009 Statutes.

Karlobag, 1994 – 1995

The coat of arms adopted initialy included also St. Charles slightly differently depicted. There was a bihsop's mitre on his head and he was standing on a white base with black grahical representation of sea waves. The flag was vertically divided into light blue and dark blue with the coat of arms in its centre (probably the vertical flag was intended). The ceremonial flag was also light and dark blue, but divided diagonally in a raising diagonal. The coat of arms was in the centre, the inscription SCRISSA (ancient name of Karlobag) above and white wavy ornaments below it. Edged with golden outline and with three golden tassels in the fly.
The community commission determined in 1993 that such ceremonial and official flags were in existance and it was so then also formally prescribed.

Lovinac

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The coat of arms of Lovinac is vert a goutte d'eau. The charge is chosen to represent the wealth of fresh water of which Lovinac in abundant. The flag is white with the coat of arms bordered yellow in the centre of it. Some earlier depictions (proposals) shows the variant where the drop is light blue with a white "reflection". While the description still mentions the "reflection", however, the accompanying illustrations show none. The table flag is white vertical ending triangularly with the coat of arms in the centre, the community name inscribed green in two arches above and branches of linden and oak below.

Until 1997 Lovinac was part of the Zadar-Knin County.

Perušić

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The coat of arms is Azure a lion passant or holding a feather argent. While the feather (Cro. pero) also cants the name, it also refers to the oldest printed book in Croatia, printed in the nearby village of Kosinj in 1448. The lion passant or in a shield argent are the 15th century arms of the ancient noble family of Perušić, which established the place. The flag is light blue with the yellow bordered coat of arms in the middle.
The incorrect claim that the coat of arms is a historical one (althoug it is based on historical elements), present in previous Statutes was later changed.

Plitvička jezera

Seat of administration: Korenica

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The coat of arms of Plitvička jezera is over the rocks vert pouring from the chief and flanks multiple waterfalls joining in the base where on a mount also vert is standing a brown bear rampant proper. The coat of arms in heraldic form pictures the Plitvice lakes with its numerous waterfalls, the national park forming a greater part of the community. The bears are native of the region and also represent the protection of nature. The flag is blue with the coat of arms bordered yellow in the centre.
The ceremonial flag is a blue gonfalon ending triangularly with fringe, the coat of arms in the centre, the name of the community above and branches of beech and fir trees below. The table flag is of the same general design.

Until 1997 the community was administratively part of the Zadar-Knin County, bearing name Titova Korenica.

Udbina

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The coat of arms of Udbina is or a phoenix azure issuing from flames. The mythical bird represents the suffering of the town though its history and rebirths in spite of them. The flag is blue with the coat of arms bordered white in its centre. There is also a ceremonial flag, details unknown.
Unsubstiated claim from the 2001 Statutes was later dropped.

Until 1997 the community was administratively part of the Zadar-Knin County.

Vrhovine

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The coat of arms of Vrhovine is azure between two pine trees vert trunked argent on a pile inverted argent a pine tree vert trunked sable and in chief a hellebore flower argent. The pile cants the community name (vrh meaning peak, summit), and the trees and flowers represent evergreen local flora of highlands of central Croatia, the hellebore (Christmas rose, Cro. kukurijek božićnjak, Lat. Helleborus niger) representing resistance to harsh conditions, keeping it white petails often long into the winter. The flag is light blue with the coat of arms bordered yellow in its centre. The ceremonial flag is light blue gonfalon with three triangularly ending tails with golden tassels, all bordered golden, with the coat of arms in its centre, the name of the community above and branches of oak and fir below. The table flag is prescribed as well, a vertical version of the flag sized 20×10 cm with the inscription VRHOVINE along the bottom.

Vrhovine, 2003 – 2010

The coat of arms of Vrhovine adopted in 2003 was per pale gules a squirrel or and of the second a headgear from Lika gules trimmed and with five fringes sable, in base overall a mount vert. A ribbon in the base is bearing the name of the community.
The flag was vertical, red bordered yellow with the coat of arms in the centre. The table flag was equal with additional yellow inscription VRHOVINE in the lower part. There was also prescribed a "car and souvenir flag" of irregular shape 8x15 cm diagonally divided into red field with the squirrel and yellow field diagonally inscribed VRHOVINE. There was also a ceremonial flag that was basically a banner of arms.
All these symbols were not approved by the central authorities and the community eventually adopted a new set of symbols in 2010.

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Flags of the World