Presentation

At the center of the European continent, Bohemia and Moravia experienced Celtic settlements (including the Boii, eponymous of Bohemia), Germanic and Slavic ones (after 454), the Czichu-Vindones of the Frankish Chronicle of 804. They received the major influences that produced European civilization. The ruin of the Moravian Empire of the 9th century (833–906) did not erase Western Slavic nationality. First a duchy, then a kingdom in 1058, Bohemia became an influential member of the Holy Empire.

The Czech flag takes up the heraldic colors white and red, charged with the shield bearing the lion in order to distinguish it from the Polish flag, also of heraldic foundation. In 1920 the Czechoslovak state added a blue triangle at the hoist to represent Slovakia. This triangle was retained after the dissolution of the Czechoslovak Republic and then evokes Moravia.

The traditional linden leaves (lípa) shown here appeared on the crest of the arms of Bohemia (see J. Carek, Mestské znaky v českých zemích, Prague, 1985).