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- possession of United Kingdom
- crown colony
- own name: British Virgin Islands 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 state flag,
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by:
Wikipedia (EN),
Flags of all Nations,
Corel Draw 4
since 2001,
Merchant flag,
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by:
Wikipedia (EN),
Flags of all Nations,
Corel Draw 4
since 1960,
Flag of the Governor,
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by:
Wikipedia (EN),
Flags of the World,
Corel Draw 4
16th cent.,
The islands belong to the Spanish sphere of influence
Source, by:
Wikipedia (EN)
17th cent.,
The Netherlands try to colonize the islands
Source, by: World Statesmen
1713–1801,
Flag of United Kingdom,
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)
1956–1960,
Flag of the government (state flag),
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by:
World Statesmen
1960–1999,
Flag of the government (state flag),
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by: World Statesmen
Leeward Islands (1833–1958):
1871–1958,
Flag of the government (state flag),
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by: Flags of the World
1874–1959,
Flag of the Governor,
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by: Wikipedia (EN)
Today's British Virgin Islands came to England in 1680 and have been a crown
colony since 1713. From the time the country became a British possession,
individuals, citizens and the authorities represented their status as citizens
or organs of the British nation, embodied in the United Kingdom, through the use
of 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. No such authorisation was granted
to the islands until 2001. Nevertheless, private individuals began to use flags
withe the badge instead of the simple red merchant flag (known as the Red
Ensign) without authorisation. This means that the Union Flag is the national
and state flag on land. On land, the "Blue Ensign" (actually the state flag at
sea) with the country's badge may also be used as the national flag for
decorative purposes if the governor has authorised this, for a limited period of
time, e.g. at an event (even outside the country) or also to distinguish it if
the use of the Union flag would be inappropriate or likely to cause confusion.
On land, however, the aspect ratio of the flag should be 3:5. A "Blue Ensign" is
a dark blue bunting with a representation of the 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.
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.
From 1833 to
1958, the territory was part of the British colony of the Leeward Islands, a
federal colony consisting of individual sub-areas, sub-colonies or islands.
These individual colonies had their own flags, also called "Blue Ensigns" with
their own badge, for use by the governments of these colonies. The overarching
political entity of the British Leeward Islands also had its own Blue Ensign
with its own Leeward Islands badge. This badge was created in 1871 and showed a
pineapple on a coastline with two ships. The governor also used it on his flag.
He was represented locally, in the associated sub-territory, sub-colony or
island, by an administrator. The federal colony ceased to exist when it was
incorporated into the Federation of the West Indies, led by a Governor-General.
Locally, in the associated sub-territory, sub-colony or island, the highest
representative of the Crown retained his rank. He remained an administrator or
even governor. The local flags (e.g. blue or red ensigns, i.e. separate state or
merchant flags) have been retained.
The
British Virgin Islands were given their own coat of arms in 1956, which was used
as a badge on a "Blue Ensign". The green shield shows the "Wise Virgin" holding
an oil lamp and is surrounded by several oil lamps. The wise virgin is St.
Ursula, and the oil lamps symbolise her and the other eleven virgins who were
murdered by the Huns. On 15th of November in 1960, a golden banner with a motto
was added. The motto is "Vigilate", which means "Be vigilant!".
From
1999, the representation of the coat of arms on the flag was significantly
enlarged and the blue flag was also allowed to be designated and used as the
national flag, i.e. on land and also by private individuals. In 2001, instead of
the simple British red merchant flag (the so-called Red Ensign), permission was
granted to use it with the coat of arms as a merchant flag by private
individuals at sea.
Source:
Flags of the World,
Flaggen Enzyklopädie,
Die Welt der Flaggen,
Wikipedia (EN)
since 1960,
Coat of arms of the British Virgin Islands,
Source by:
Flags of all Nations,
Corel Draw 4
The coat of arms of the British Virgin Islands became introduced in 1956 and shows a green shield, on which the "Wise Virgin" is pictured holding an oil-lamp in her hand, as well as being surrounded by eleven additional oil-lamps. The Wise Virgin is the Saint Ursula, and the oil lamps stand for her and the other eleven virgins which were murdered by the Huns. On 15th of November in 1960 was added a golden ribbon with a motto. The motto is "Vigilate", which means "Be watchful!”. Beyond the flag is the coat of arms surrounded by a golden wreath.
Source:
Flags of the World,
Flaggen Enzyklopädie
Location:
Source: CIA World Factbook
Map of the country:
Source: CIA World Factbook
Map of the country:
Source: Hobe / Holger Behr, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons,
tap/click to enlarge
Area: 58 square miles, thereof Tortola 21 square miles, Anegada 15 square miles, Virgin Gorda 8 square miles, Jost van Dyke 3 square miles
Inhabitants: 37.380 (2020), thereof 76% of African descent, 6% Latino, 5% Europeans
Religions: 61% Protestant (of different confessions), 9% Anglican, 9% Roman Catholic
Density of Population: 645 inh./sq.mi.
Capital: Road Town, 9.300 inh. (2010)
official Language: English
Currency: 1 US-Dollar (US$) = 100 Cents
Time Zone: GMT – 4 h
Source: Wikipedia (D),
CIA World Factbook
14th of November in 1493 · the Spanish seafarer Christopher Columbus discovered the islands and takes them for Spain in possession
1625 · Dutchmen establish on Tortola (formerly: Santa Ana) a settlement
1628 · England takes possession of Tortola
1645 · Englishmen establish a settlement on Tortola
5th of February in 1646 · the English settlement on Tortola is destroyed by Spaniards
1648 · the Dutch establish again a settlement on Tortola, Anegada and Virgin Gorda
1665 · English troops occupy Tortola, beginning of English settlement and colonization
1672 · the Dutchmen leave Tortola, Tortola becomes officially an English colony and becomes connected to the Colony of the Leeward Islands
1680 · the English expel the Dutch from Anegada and Virgin Gorda and start the English settlement and colonization
1713 · the British Virgin Islands become a Crown colony
1773 · the British Virgin Islands reach their today's administrative expansion
1816–1833 · the British Virgin Islands are part of the "Colony of St. Christopher, Nevis, Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands"
1833–1960 · the British Virgin Islands are part of the British colony of the Leeward Islands
1st of January 1960 · the British Virgin Islands become an own colony
18th of April in 1967 · United Kingdom grants self-government (autonomy)
Source:
Wikipedia (D),
World Statesmen
The name "Virgin Islands" refers to the Saint Ursula and the eleven other virgins who were once killed by the Huns.
Source: Flaggen Enzyklopädie
