NationStates Jolt Archive


The history of the Xanthalian Flag

Xanthal
06-05-2006, 06:03
In the millenium since the first state calling itself Xanthal was founded, the Xanthalian state has existed in many incranations and suffered long periods of absence. As times have changed, the standard of Xanthal has changed as well. Following is a list of the flags flown to represent Xanthal over the years, and a bit of history behind each.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v88/Zorak950/NS/Flags/XanthalFlag0-79.gif
-Years in use: 1961-2211 (Y.Z. 0-79)
-Xanthalian states that flew this flag:
--The United Socialist State of Xanthal
--The Commonwealth of Xanthal
-Creation: The first flag of Xanthal was designed by the founder of the U.S.S.X., Ezekiel Zabertini. It first flew in 1961, just over a year after the foundation of the Xanthalian state. The opposing colors symbolized a progression from capitalism (blue) to communism (red), and an ascention from Earth (green) to the stars (yellow). The X shape created by the triangular segments also served as a marker of the nation's name.
-Retirement: The flag is generally considered to have stopped representing Xanthal in 2211, which marked the start of the first Xanthalian civil war after the Commonwealth collapsed. Though some factions continued to bear the standard until the end of the war, 2211 was the last time it represented a unified Xanthalian nation.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v88/Zorak950/NS/Flags/XanthalFlag93-202.gif
-Years in use: 2253-2598 (Y.Z. 93-202)
-Xanthalian states that flew this flag:
--The Socialist Empire of Xanthal
--The Dominion of Xanthal
--The People’s Republic of Xanthal
-Creation: The design of Xanthal's second flag is accredited to Empress Fina. It first flew in 2253, though it wasn't until 2254 that Xanthal was reunified and this standard represented the whole Xanthalian nation. The flag's red striped theme represents factions of Xanthal, divided by their differences. The hammer and sickle frame and central X symbolize the forces of a strong socialist state uniting these factions.
-Retirement: This flag survived the second civil war and two government transitions, but fell out of official use when the Age of Disunion began in 2598, though Thanic loyalists continued to look to the standard as a symbol of the Xanthalian ideal throughout the long period of anarchy and war that plagued the former Xanthalian territories until the late twenty-ninth century.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v88/Zorak950/NS/Flags/XanthalFlag315-330.gif
-Years in use: 2954-3004 (Y.Z. 315-330)
-Xanthalian states that flew this flag:
--The Socialist Republic of Xanthal
-Creation: Xanthal's third flag was designed by a Trasnian named Jonas Ruth. It first flew at the signing of the Treaty of Xanthal, which reunified the Xanthalian territories and ended the Age of Disunion in 2954. The forward-facing arrow symbolized progression beyond the failures of Old Xanthal and the troubles of the past centuries, represented by the darker red on the outside of the arrow. The blue lines are the purifying forces of democracy and liberty, which produced the "pure" socialism represented by the bright red of the inner arrow. The central star with the hammer and sickle framed in black and gold represents the state of Old Xanthal and the lost Aellis star, and the three white stars represent the three solar systems of the Socialist Republic: Mirfak, Than, and Trasnia.
-Retirement: This flag was retired in 3004, when the Kanell System was integrated into the Xanthalian state.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v88/Zorak950/NS/Flags/XanthalFlag331-Present.gif
-Years in use: 3004-Present (Y.Z. 331-Present)
-Xanthalian states that flew this flag:
--The Socialist Republic of Xanthal
-Creation: The current Xanthalian flag is a variation on Ruth's design, created by a Mirfakan, Michael Berg. Its symbolism is identical to that of its predecessor, but the arrow theme was abandoned to accomodate a fourth star to represent the Kanell System, Xanthal's newest acquisition.
-Retirement: Though there are no current plans to change the Xanthalian flag again, it seems inevitable that there will be more designs in the future, either due to further expansion or regime changes. Xanthal has been characterized throughout history by a strong federal government, and the Xanthalian flag seems destined to continue inspiring the patriotism of citizens by serving as a symbol of the Xanthalian state.