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Other names | Banner of St. Mark, Standard of St. Mark |
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Proportion | 1:2 |
Relinquished | 1797 |
Design | A gold Lion of St. Mark on a field of dark red accompanied by six sestiere on the fly |
![]() The original version of the year 1659 at the Museo Correr |
The Flag of the Republic of Venice, commonly known as the Banner or Standard of Saint Mark (stendardo di San Marco), was the symbol of the Republic of Venice, until its dissolution in 1797.
Its main charge was the Lion of Saint Mark, symbolizing Mark the Evangelist, the patron saint of Venice.[1] A distinguishing feature of the flag is its six fringes, which were added to represent the original six sestiere of Venice. The fringes also serve to prevent damage being caused to the central section of the flag by wind.[2]
During times of peace, the Lion of Saint Mark was depicted alongside an open book. However, when the Republic was at war the Bible was replaced with the lion grasping an upright sword.[1] During the corteo dogale (lit. 'procession of the doges'), four banners of Saint Mark with different background colours, white, purple, blue, and red, were carried, with the one in front representing the state of the republic at that time (at peace, in a truce, in an alliance, at war, respectively). When at war, the war version of the Lion of Saint Mark was used.[3][4]
The flag inspired the modern flag of the Veneto region in Italy.[5]
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