Last modified: 2018-12-15 by rob raeside
Keywords: batavian republic | virgin | lion | naval ensign | jack |
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image by Mark Sensen, 19 January 1999
For a certain time the Batavian Republic was officially called Bataafsch
Gemeenebest (Batavian Commonwealth), but I don't know when exactly.
Mark Sensen, 19 January 1999
Technically it was not a national flag, but a flag of the navy. When
Louis Bonaparte (Napoleons youngest brother) was king of the Kingdom of
the Netherlands (1806-1810) he tried to add the arms (quartered; I and
IV Dutch lion, II and III French eagle) in the plain Dutch flag, but withdrew
his proposal when it was clear to him that it wouldn't be accepted by the
navy.
Mark Sensen, 27 January 1996
In [wiL86] Wilson 1986, p. 60:
... the Netherlands passed under French domination after the French Revolution, and the so-called 'Batavian Republic' was formed. On 14 February 1796 it was ordered that the naval (but not the merchant) flags be altered by the insertion of a panel containing 'a representation of a female figure in a graceful attitude seated in a patch of greenery, and holding a spear on which is the Cap of Liberty ... At her feet a lion in a sitting or rather reclining position with its head turned sideways and with a fierce and grim expression on its face...' A full range of naval flags and pennants featuring this device were used by the navy of the Republic in the years that followed... The Batavian device was abandoned after the Republic gave way to a monarchy in 1806.He cites H.A. Treu "De Koninklijke Hollandse Vlag van 1806-1810", Marineblad 1 (1970), pp. 483-496.
...an image of a Virgin in an elegant poseJarig Bakker, 19 January 1999
sitting on some lover or green
holding a spear
on which the Hat of Freedom is carried, while at her feet a Lion
sitting or perhaps a bit lying down is drawn with the Head turns sideways
with a norse and grim face...
Flag used by Vice Admiral De Winter at the Battle of Camperdown/Kamperduin,
1797: a (very) dark blue flag with the jack in the
canton.
Mark Sensen, 20 May 1999 and Jarig Bakker, 21 May 1999