mobile View, to the German Version tap the flag
- possession of Great Britain
- own name: The Bermuda Colony
• Flags
• Historical Flags
• Meaning/Origin of the Flag
• Coat of Arms
• Meaning/Origin of the Coat of Arms
• Map
• Numbers and Facts
• History
• Origin of the Country's Name
since 1801,
Union Flag → quasi national flag,
Flag of United Kingdom,
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by: Wikipedia (EN)
since 1999,
National and merchant flag,
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by:
Wikipedia (D),
Flags of the World,
Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
since 1999,
Flag of the government (state flag),
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by: Flags of the World,
Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
since 1910,
Flag of the Governor,
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by: Flags of the World,
Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
1655–1660,
Flag of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland,
Source, by:
Die Welt der Flaggen
1660–1801,
Flag of the United Kingdom (to 1707 of England),
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by: Die Welt der Flaggen
since 1801,
Union Flag → quasi national flag,
Flag of United Kingdom,
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by: Wikipedia (EN)
1864–1910/1915,
Merchant flag of United Kingdom,
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by: Flags of the World
1875–1910,
Flag of the government (state flag),
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by: Flags of the World
1910–1999,
Flag of the government (state flag),
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by:
Flags of the World,
Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
1915(?)–1967,
Merchant flag,
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by: Flags of the World, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
1915(?)–1967,
Unofficial national flag,
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by: Flags of the World, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
1967–1999,
National and merchant flag,
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by: Flags of the World, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Bermuda Islands have been an English possession since 1684 and belong to the
United Kingdom since 1801, so that from that year the flag of the United Kingdom
flew over the islands. From that time onwards, individuals, citizens and the
authorities represented their status as citizens or organs of the British
nation, embodied in the United Kingdom, by using the Union Jack, then called the
"Union Flag". At sea, the British merchant flag, the Red Ensign, was intended
for British citizens from 1864. In a few cases, the citizens of a colony were
authorised by the Admiralty to use their own Red Ensign with the colony's badge
at sea. The Union Jack in the top corner of these flags signalled the
connections to United Kingdom.
United Kingdom introduced a flag system in
1864 in which:
• war ships fly the "White Ensign" (naval flag), a white flag
often with an uninterrupted red St. George's-Cross and with the Union Jack in
the upper staff quadrant of the flag,
• merchant ships fly a "Red Ensign"
(also named "Civil Ensign" → civil flag, the real merchant flag), a red flag
with the Union Jack in the upper staff quadrant of the flag, and
•
governmental ships fly the "Blue Ensign" (flag for the use by the gouvernment →
the actual state flag), a blue flag with the Union Jack in the upper staff
quadrant of the flag.
From 1865, the ships of the colonial governments
were allowed to use a Blue Ensign with a badge at the flying end. The respective
governments were to provide appropriate badges. Merchant ships and seafaring
privateers from colonies were only allowed to use a Red Ensign with a badge if
the British Admiralty had issued a corresponding licence for that colony.
Such a badge was often a regional landscape depiction on a disc, often
showed ships, historical events or could simply be a kind of logo. Very often a
badge also contained the name of the country or a motto. However, some
possessions had a coat of arms from the beginning or were given their own coat
of arms over the years and the badge was abolished. To ensure a largely uniform
appearance in the flying end of the flags, coats of arms and other symbols were
displayed on a white disc in the size of the former badges.
However,
there were also exceptions, as some colonies dispensed with this white disc and
placed their coat of arms or even just the shield – sometimes enlarged –
directly on the bunting. As early as the 1940s, the white disc was removed and
the coat of arms was applied directly or enlarged. This conversion process took
place gradually, nowhere simultaneously and completely. In some British
possessions flags with the white disc are still in use today, in others no
longer and in some areas both variants exist side by side.
The Bermuda
badge, introduced in 1875, shows three sailing ships in the roadstead, one of
which is waiting in front of a closed harbour gate. According to other sources,
this is a dock. Also in 1875, an own "Blue Ensign" was introduced as the
national flag at sea, a dark blue bunting with a flag depiction – the British
Union Jack – in the upper corner, which showed the badge in the flying end of
the flag. The current coat of arms was introduced in 1910 and the badge was
replaced in the "Blue Ensign" by the newly introduced escutcheon.
The
Union Flag is actually the national and state flag on land. Merchant ships and
private seafarers from colonies may only fly a Red Ensign with badge if the
British Admiralty has issued a corresponding licence for the colony. Bermuda was
allowed to do so from 1910, according to other sources from 1915. This created
an own merchant flag with the country's own badge. In addition, private
individuals quickly and to a considerable extent began to use the actual
merchant flag on land instead of the British Union Jack, as a kind of national
flag. The government was aware of this practice, but no action was taken against
it. Ultimately, the use of the Red Ensign with badge was authorised as the
national flag in 1967. The "Red Ensign" (actually the merchant flag) with the
country's badge may now also be used on land as the national flag for decorative
purposes if the governor has authorised this, and for a limited period of time,
e.g. at an event (including outside the country) or to distinguish it if the use
of the Union Flag would be inappropriate or likely to cause confusion. A "Red
Ensign" is a red bunting with a representation of a flag – the British Union
Jack – in the upper corner and the country's badge in the flying end of the
flag. The Union Jack emphasises the links with United Kingdom.
Source: Die Welt der Flaggen,
Flaggen Enzyklopädie,
Flags of the World
since 1910,
Coat of arms of the Bermuda Islands,
Source, by:
Wikipedia (EN), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
1875–1910,
Badge of the Bermuda Islands,
Source, by: Flags of the World
The Coat of Arms of the Bermudas – awarded on 4th of October in 1910, shows a bear, holding a shield with an allegorical scene: A sinking ship in front of cliffs. The ship is the "Sea Venture". She foundered in 1609 and left behind the first involuntary residents on the islands for two years. The golden banner below the coat of arms shows the motto "QUO FATA FERUNT" → "Where fate drives us". The Badge was introduced in 1875 and showed three sailing ships at anchor, and one of them is waiting outside a closed port gate. According to other sources, is that a dock.
Source: Flaggen Enzyklopädie,
World Statesmen,
Wikipedia (DE)
Location:
Source: CIA World Factbook
Map of the country:
Source: CIA World Factbook
Area: 20 square miles
Inhabitants: 63.779 (2016), hereof 54% of African origin, 31% Europeans
Religions: 45% Protestant Christians (thereof 30% Anglican), 15% Catholics
Density of Population: 3.117 inh./sq.mi.
Capital: Hamilton, 854 inh. (2016)
official Language: English
Currency: 1 Bermuda Dollar (BMD, BD$, B$) = 100 Cents
Time Zone: GMT – 4 h
Source: Wikipedia (D)
1503 · The Spanish navigator Juan de Bermúdez suffers nearly shipwreck at the coast and discoveres in this way the islands
1609 · The "Sea Venture", a ship from England on his way to Virginia, suffers shipwreck off the coast
from 1612 · colonization by the British Virginia Company, and later by the Bermuda Company, Headquarters: Saint George
1684 · crown colony with its own governor
1790 · foundation of Hamilton
1815 · Hamilton becomes capital
1941 · construction of naval bases (USA, Canada, United Kingdom)
8th of June 1968 · autonomy
1995 · closure of the naval bases
15th of August 1995 · a referendum decides against independence
Source: Wikipedia (D),
World Statesmen,
Länder der Erde
The Bermuda Islands are named after the Spanish navigator Juan de Bermudez who in 1503 off the coast nearly suffered shipwreck, and discovered the islands in this way. A settlement was not done. In 1609, suffered the "Sea Venture" – a ship from England on the way to Virginia – shipwreck off the coast, and the castaways, who escaped to land, named the islands after their leader: Somers Islands. Although the islands were colonized from 1612 by Britain, the name retained as Bermudas. This name appeared on maps for the first time in the year 1511.
Source: Wikipedia (D),
Handbuch der geographischen Namen
