The reason why England adopted Genoa`s flag

[Corvus]

The Cross of St. George is the symbol of the cities of Genoa, Bologna and Milan. The Kingdom of Genoa would allow, for a fee, for ships of other cities, such as London, to fly their flag and therefore sail into their sea lanes and ports to trade. Here's the quote from Wikipedia who got thier info from the Encyclopedia Britannnica:

"The flag of Genoa is the St. George's flag, a red cross on a lime white field, almost identical to the Flag of England. Probably the flag of Genoa was adopted by England and the City of London in 1190 so their ships entering the Mediterranean would benefit from the protection of the powerful Genoese fleet. However, historians agree that the actual origins of the flag are unclear (Encyclopedia Britannica)."

The Flag of Genoa was known to the English before Richard I retuned from the 2nd Crusade that normally attributes the Cross of St. George in England. I'm not going to post it, but you can read it yourself here: http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/gb-en...

Milan is the capital city in the region of Lombardy that borders Liguria, whose capital is Genoa. The friendship of Milan and Genoa is reflected in their city flags. This is a quote from http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/it-ge...

"Maybe it is true that during the crusades we can't speak of official flags but the Republic of Genoa was born in 1099 and all over the Mediterranean Sea a red cross meant Genoa. In 1248 at the battle of Victoria near Parma the Genoese crossbow-men conquered the new imperial city. Milan asked to take the red cross and the allied Genoese allowed them to take the flag.

[quaquaraqua]

stemma_1936.jpg this is the bologna one

[Corvus]

stemma_1936.jpg this is the bologna one

But would you agree. Its basically the same as the English. Also A.C. Milan has this sign as badge on their jerseys

[quaquaraqua]

I just know from Wiki that it comes from the First Cruzades (Secondo quanto riportato nella Historia di Bologna del Ghirardacci la sua origine leggendaria risalirebbe alla prima crociata, quando Lodovico Bianchetti il quale...) font http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stemma_di_Bologna.

I guees yes but Idk.

[Ianus]

The Saint George cross was used by Genoese since Byzantine rule (between 553 and 636), but it's accerted from 1096.

The flag of Milan is this:


Semms that the cross was borrowed during the First Crusader.

[Rudel]

We used it, among other things, during the Crusades (during which the English used more often white crosses on red cloth) and some wars against the English. Everyone kinda battled to have the True Cross and to display the cross of Saint-Georges, the English eventually took it from the Welsh during the XIIIth century and adopted it fully during the XVth century at the end of the War of a Hundred years. It's not related to Genoa.

John II the Good of France and Edward III of England :


In Italy, it's not exclusive to Genoa :

[Ulla]

English flag


This is the symbol of the city of Genoa




Welcome to the British Pavilion at Columbus 92: Ships and the Sea, celebrating the 500th Anniversary of Christopher Columbus' epic voyage.

Italy and the United Kingdom, two sea-faring nations, have long-standing historical and contemporary links. The St. George's flag, a red cross on a white field, was adopted by England and the City of London in 1190 for their ships entering the Mediterranean to benefit from the protection of the Geonoese fleet. The English Monarch paid an annual tribute to the Doge of Genoa for this privilege.

Geoffrey Chaucer came to Genoa in 1376 to trade in wool at the Palazzo San Giorgio and many British artists and writer, including Gibbon, John Eveliyn, Milton, Byron, Dickens, Addison, Smollert and George Eliot, all spent some time in Genoa. British shipping traffic to Genoa intensified during the boom period of the Industrial revolution.

In our display, you will see the seals of the maritime trading companies, references to the Royal Observatory at Greenwich, where the meridian line, probably the most important innovation in navigation techniques, was established; Captain Cook's navigation instruments, the working model of Harrison's chronometer and Marconi's radio communications.

The contemporary section, much the largest, includes satellite Communications, navigational aids and conservation techniques for our natural resources, particularly those related to the sea.

I very much hope that you have enjoyed visiting our display and that it has shown you that we in Britain continue to be your partners in the ever-closer links we are forging together within the European Community.

H.R.H. The Duke of Kent


https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/pr.../LC19930421026

[Ulla]

In Italy, it's not exclusive to Genoa :

The source of that map is Movimento Giovani Padani, Lega Nord's youth movement.

http://www.giovanipadani.leganord.or...li.asp?ID=4304

From the same page:

"La bandiera di Genova era diventata celebre quando le navi musulmane cominciarono ad evitarla per non farsi colare a picco: così altre nazioni trattarono con Genova l'uso della bandiera crociata e Genova lo concesse a due nazioni: l'Inghilterra e la Lombardia. "

stemma_1936.jpg this is the bologna one

Interessante!

Libertas su sfondo blu credo sia un riferimento ai liberi comuni medievali. Penso sia presente un po' ovunque in Italia nel centro-nord.

[♥ Lily ♥]

Interesting, I didn't know this. We learn something new everyday.

[Ulla]

Interesting, I didn't know this. We learn something new everyday.

I suggest you to see this english movie entitled Genova from min 9:40.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genova_%282008_film%29