The history of flags is largely fascinating to learn. Therefore, you will certainly be interested to know what gyus is, what its types and significance are on the ships of the navy of our country, and also to plunge a little into the world and domestic history of this sea standard.
What is guis
The word "guis" comes from the Netherlands. geus - "gez", which was the name of the bow flag of the ships of the gez, participants in the anti-Spanish revolution in Holland. Over time, it became a household word. Today, the navy flag of a marine vessel, which together with the naval, commercial, or civilian standards, speaks of the state of the ship’s status is called the navy flag of the Russian Navy and other countries.
The second name of guys is the bowsprit flag, because at the beginning of its history it was raised on the bowsprit or a special flagpole, and the so-called “guysstock”. Today guis can be seen on the tank of the ship. Also, at present, it is mainly used by warships, but some countries also allow guns for their civilian ships.
Another synonym for guis, relevant, however, not in all countries, is the fortress flag, because it is hoisted at coastal fortresses and other important objects on the coast. Gyuis is also called the parking flag, because it determines by and large the moored ships, rather than the vessels on the move.
Guys world history
In the Middle Ages, the guys talked about the port of registry of a particular ship. The first nasal flag is considered to be the Huys of the Prince of Orange, which was mentioned in 1572 when describing the capture of the town of Den-Bril, the first to be liberated from the Spaniards, by the Gezami. However, the characteristics of the guis were not preserved - there is an assumption that its appearance copied the flag of the Oran house - orange, white and blue equal horizontal stripes.
One of the most famous guys was the bowsprit flag of the Union of England and Scotland, which adorned ships in 1634-1707. The symbolism of the Scottish flag of St. Andrew (white inverted letter "X" on a blue background) was superimposed with the symbolism of the English flag of St. George (red cross on a pure white background). Guys in some ways became the prototype of the future flag of Great Britain. He should have fluttered only on warships, which is why Gez was nicknamed "Union Jack" ("union guis"); merchant ships had the right to possess only the flag of St. Andrew or St. George, depending on the membership of the union member country.
Now let's move on to the history of the Guys of the Russian Navy, first of all, familiarizing ourselves with its origin.
The origin of Russian gyus
Guys appeared in the Russian Empire in 1658 - after Peter the Great visited the English Kingdom during the Great Embassy. The flag was supposed to symbolize the power and grandeur of the young Russian fleet, therefore its appearance was chosen in the likeness of the guys of the most powerful maritime alliance - Britain and Scotland, which we examined in detail above.
On the Russian guis, unlike the symbol of the union, the cross of St. Andrew the First-Called dominated the cross of St. George, and not vice versa. This was done because it was from St. Andrew, in the opinion of Peter, that Russia acquired baptism. Also, this cross had a symbolic meaning - at the time of the creation of the Guys, the state already had access to the four seas. That is why the first Russian Order of St. Andrew the First-Called was approved in the form of the same four-sided oblique cross.
The use of this bow flag, which became the prototype of the modern guys of the Russian Navy, began in 1701. His image was also used as a fortress standard for forts and other seaside objects.
Guys during the time of the Russian Empire
In 1712, Peter the Great also indicated the use of the approved guys as a Kaiser flag (Kaisers flag) - a banner that rises on ships if there are Admiral Generals, Grand Dukes, and other important persons. The Maritime Charter of 1720 finally approved its appearance. Such a Kaiser flag could also be used as a boat.
Gyuys of the Russian Navy, according to the "Maritime Charter", could be raised not only on the military, but also on auxiliary ("fins") ships and galleys (in this case, the cross was supplemented with "pigtails"). Now it’s difficult to determine whether merchant ships used such a bow flag in Peter's time.
Without any changes approved by Peter the Great, the gyus lasted until 1913. Then, by order of Emperor Nicholas II, the drawing on the standard was supplemented by a black double-headed eagle, located in the center of the canvas. This type of guis was valid until the February Revolution of 1917.
Guys of the Soviet Union
The Soviet government used guys and serf flags of the times of the empire until 1924, which was slightly surprising against the background of a total change in historical symbols and names. Then the standard underwent a number of changes:
- In 1924, Peter's drawing of Guys was supplemented by a white circle in the middle, in the center of which was a red star with a white sickle and a hammer in its core.
- In 1932, the pattern of the USSR guis was radically changed. The banner began to represent a red banner, the center of which was decorated with a large five-pointed star. A smaller red star was placed in its center, inside of which were crossed a white hammer and a sickle.
- In 1964, an insignificant change in the appearance of guis was followed - a large white star with all its contents was displaced, and its size was also changed.
The last option lasted until 1992 - in the next paragraph we will talk about the flag-guise of the Russian Navy.
Guis of the Russian Federation
Briefly look at the most modern part of the history of the Russian bow flag of ships:
- In 1992, Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 798 introduced a new type of naval guys - a red panel with the St. Andrew and St. George cross, which was once invented by Emperor Peter the Great. There was one difference - the stripes of the cross of St. Andrew the First-Called were not primordially blue, but blue.
- In 2000, the Guysu of the Russian Navy returned the historical color version of the main cross - blue.
Border ships of the Russian Federation use a slightly modified guys - its white border is three times wider.
Guys Russian Navy currently
Today , the navy of the Russian Navy is owned only by military vessels of the 1st, 2nd rank. It is raised on the bow (tank) of ships and submarines only while stationary.
But in general, the navy of the Russian Navy - what is it? What does he look like? The modern Russian bow and fortress flag is a scarlet cloth with a white background thin vertical cross, over which a blue diagonal (inverted) cross with a white border is depicted. The width / length ratios are as follows:
- 1 / 1,5 - the width of the whole guis to its length;
- 1/10 - the width of the blue stripe of the large cross to the length of the entire flag;
- 1/20 - the width of the white strip of the background cross to the width of the entire panel;
- 1/40 - the width of the white border of the main cross to the width of the whole guis.
You can see the photo of the gyus of the Russian Navy in the modern version further.
At present, the fortress flag is identical to Russia. Although they are both approved by the same normative act, it is not worth considering these concepts interchangeably - at different times, these terms differed in essence, and standards in appearance.
Using
According to Art. 628 of the Russian Ship Charter, gyus can be used only on military and border ships of 1 and 2 ranks. The bow flag is hoisted on guyshtstok at the berths of the vessels on the barrel, anchor, moorings.
Today, guis is raised and lowered by sailors simultaneously with the raising / lowering of the main naval flag of the state - at 8 in the morning and after sunset. It is permissible to lift it also on the masts of salute coastal points when launching salutes.
The value of Guys of the Russian Navy
Peter the First for a reason, modifying the English-Scottish guis, singled out the cross of St. Andrew the First-Called in first place. According to biblical tradition, this apostle was a fisherman, which is why he is considered the patron saint of all sailors. It is also believed that he preached in the territory of future Russia and even left here two of his pectoral crosses - in Kiev and in Volkhov. The image on them was copied as the main element of the Russian gyus.
As for the value of the colors of the navy of the Russian Navy, it is similar to the color symbols of the main national flag of the country:
- white - purity, purity, peace, perfection;
- red - the color of the blood of the defenders of the homeland, energy, just cause, strength;
- blue - faithfulness, constancy, faith.
Collar guis
In addition to the standard, the navy of the Russian Navy also has a collar that adorns the suit of a sailor. The history of its occurrence is quite practical. In the old days, the charter attributed to sailors to wear powdered wigs and oiled horsehair braids. This peculiar headdress made a robe that led to the severe punishment of the sailor. Resourceful sailors began to sew a leather flap under their pigtail-wig on their suit, which protected clothes from pollution. Over time, this patch has transformed into a guis of a modern look.
According to another version, the "ancestor" of the sailor's collar was a hood, a cap, which the sailors put on their heads, protecting themselves from the weather. Tucking guis for clothes, you could also protect yourself from the cold wind, rain and sea spray.
Today, the sailor’s collar is made of dense cotton fabric of dark blue color, supplying it with three decorative white stripes on the sides. Huys lining is also in blue shades. This collar is removable - it is equipped with loops for fastening to the corresponding buttons on the "uniform" and the work jacket.
What do the stripes on the guis collar mean
Guys patterns of the Russian Navy suggest the presence of three white fabric stripes on this collar. Their presence is explained by two unofficial versions:
- The number of bands corresponds to the number of the largest victories of the Russian navy - at Gangut (1714), at Chesma (1770) and at Sinop (1853) It should be noted that there are three stripes on the collars of foreign sailors, the number of which is explained by the similar way.
- The number of bands symbolized the proximity of a squadron to the great Peter. Since there were three of them, the number of stripes was corresponding. The more bands there were, the more the Russian emperor favored the sailors of this squadron.
Thus, the guis of Russia, that of other countries is important - it allows you to determine the nationality of the vessel in the parking lot. In addition, the bow flag option also indicates which ship in front of you is a military or border ship. Guys - both standards and collars - have a rather interesting history of their origin and subsequent modification.