CIRCA - 1787 🇧🇪 - vertical tricolor of black (hoist-side), yellow (middle), and red (fly-side) bands of equal width

HISTORY: Emerging during the 18c uprisings against the Hapsburgs, then revived in the revolution against the Netherlands, the

tricolor was formally adopted in '31 with Belgian independence.

The colors were drawn from the Duchy of Brabant (core of political unity in the Low Countries,

covering much of modern Belgium,) whose coat of arms ⛨ was a golden lion 🦁 bearing red claws

on a black field..

Possibly influenced by regional banners, it was initially configured horizontally (red over yellow

over black), but soon evolved to a vertical tricolor to align with contemporary European standards,

like those of France🔍.

VEXILLOLOGY:* Evoking regional identity to foster unity among the Flemish, Walloon, & Brussels peoples amid the uprising;

• The BLACK Band is said to symbolize armor & resilience amid hardship - in heraldry black = constancy or prudence

• The YELLOW   from the Brabantine lion 🦁 stands for Flemish & Walloon prosperity (🌾 + 💰) - in heraldric tradition it can signify generosity & elevation of mind

• The RED Band is for the blood 🩸of revolutionaries or communal strength (both traditional heraldic interpretations)

   The design is nearly the German flag🔍 turned on it's side, but the resemblance was not intentional.

* The STUDY of FLAGS; their history, symbolism, usage, and design. From Latin vexillum - referring to a Roman military standard / flag (from velum= cloth/ covering/sail/curtain

[PIE🔍 root weg = to weave / to cover]) + Greek suffix -logia = study]