 | |
| Use | Civil andstate flag |
|---|---|
| Proportion | 2:3 |
| Adopted | 4 November 1995 |
| Design | A white field with the regional emblem of Marche. |
Theflag ofMarche is one of the official symbols of theregion ofMarche,Italy. Like many Italian regional flags, it was adopted on 4 November 1995 forArmed Forces Day of Italy (it). In absence of a law on the subject, the regional emblem that had been adopted on 15 March 1980 was simply inserted on a white background.[1][2]
The emblem of Marche bears a stylizedwoodpecker, overlapping a black shape to form a capital letter M, against a green-bordered shield with a white field.[1][3] The flag was designed by Maurizio Catani and Gianni Veroli.[citation needed]
The woodpecker was the tribaltotem of thePicentes, anItalic tribe who lived in most of the territory of present-day Marche.
The bird's connection to the region is attested to inGreek andRoman literature:
—Strabo,Geografia, 5. 4. 2.
—Sextus Pompeius Festus,De verborum significatu, 235 L.
The only historical evidence (around 1508) of theDuchy of Urbino flag is in a painting byTimoteo Viti stored at the Accademia di Brera inMilan.[4] It appears to have two elongated tails. The background is golden yellow, the wheel located closer to the mast, essentially imitating the coat of arms ofHouse of Montefeltro - blue and gold stripes, with a second stripe containing a black eagle, which has been the coat of arms of the city of Urbino for centuries.[5]
The flag of therepublic, which appeared in the second half of the 12th century and survived until its annexation to thePapal State (1532). The imperial gift ofByzantium, as a reward for merit and loyalty toManuel I Komnenos, mirrored theByzantine insignia, devoid of B-shaped symbols in the cantons. In more recent times (1934),Ancona took over the ancient nautical insignia, placing them on its city symbols, but thecross is Greek.[6]
Following the loss of independence,Ancona entrusted its maritime tradition to thePope and lowered its flag, replacing it with a simple red-yellow bicolor. Sometimespapal insignia were added.
TheAnconine Republic was established in 1797 and existed as a provisionalsister republic. The flag in use from the proclamation of independence on 19 November 1797 until the union with theRoman Republic on 7 March 1798. It was intended for general use, but for the merchant fleet it was preferred to pick up theFrench tricolor. Yellow and red referred to the historicmaritime republic. Blue has been added in tribute toFrance.[7]
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The gonfalon and the emblem were adopted on the 15th March 1980. The emblem has the shape of a white shield bordered green with a big black M in the middle, which left part represent a stylized woodpecker. The gonfalon is white with the emblem in the middle and the words Regione Marche in green above.
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