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# Dictionary of Vexillology: R (Realm Banner Black-Red-Gold – Religious flag)

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Last modified: 2026-04-25 by martin karner
Keywords: vexillological terms |
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- REALM BANNER BLACK-RED-GOLD
- REARING
- RECONSTRUCTION (or RECONSTRUCTED IMAGE/FLAG)
- RECTANGLE
- RECTANGLE-TAILED
- RECTANGULAR SHIELD
- RECUMBENT
- RED CROSS (CRESCENT or DIAMOND) FLAG
- RED CROSS PATTÉE VOIDED
- RED DUSTER
- RED ENSIGN
- RED FLAG
- REDUCED BEND
- REDUCED BEND SINISTER
- REEVE
- REGARDANT
- REGIMENTAL COLOUR (or COLOR)
- REGIMENTAL COLOURS (or COLORS)
- REGIMENTAL FLAG
- REGIONAL ARMS (or REGIONAL COAT OF ARMS)
- REGIONAL EMBLEM
- REGIONAL FLAG
- REGISTRATION FLAGS (PENNANTS or ENSIGNS)
- REGULAR CROSS
- REICHSBANNER SCHWARZ-ROT-GOLD
- REICHSKRIEGSFLAGGE
- REJECTED DESIGN
- RELIGIOUS BANNER
- RELIGIOUS FLAG

REALM BANNER BLACK-RED-GOLD
  A translation of the German term Reichsbanner Schwarz-Rot-Gold, and originally used to describe a paramilitary flag of the Weimar era (see also political flag 1)).

  Realm Banner, Germany 1924–1933; Flag of the League of Active Democrats, Germany

REARING
  In heraldry and vexillology the term used to describe a horse (or occasionally a stag) standing upon its hind legs – but see salient (also paissant, passant, rampant, statant and trippant).

  Flag of Kent, England; Flag of Rossemaison, Switzerland; Flag of Lepel, Belarus

RECONSTRUCTION (or RECONSTRUCTED IMAGE/FLAG)
  Alternative terms for the image of a (largely but not exclusively) historical flag – or for a reproduction of such a flag – that is based upon written sources or an unreliable visual record – a conjectural/reconstructed image or flag (see also attributed flag, bauceant, putative flag, historical flag, speculative flag, suppositious flag).

  Reconstruction of the Flag of German New Guinea; Reconstruction of the 1812 Flag of Cartagena, Colombia; Reconstruction of the Flag of the Communist Party of Spain c1980

RECTANGLE (or RECTANGULAR)
  A figure composed of four right angles so having its opposite sides parallel – but see note below (also dimensions and square-tongued).

  Please note that the alternative term given in the heading above (rectangular) excludes a square – that is a figure with proportions of 1:1 – whose four sides are of equal – see proportions.

RECTANGULAR SHIELD
  The term used in some European heraldic systems to describe a shield that is rounded only at the bottom corners, but with a point in the centre of its lower edge and sometimes also at its upper corners (see also Gothic shield with its following note, shield 2), Spanish-style shield and triarched triangular shield).

RECTANGULAR-TAILED
  See square-tongued.

  Gonfalon/Ceremonial Flag of Buje, Croatia

RECUMBENT
  A term sometimes used in Continental European heraldry to describe a crescent with its points upward, but see crescent 2).

  Flag of Espite, Portugal; Flag of Albernoa, Portugal; Flag of Cabeça Gorda, Portugal

RED CROSS (CRESCENT or DIAMOND) FLAG
  See safe conduct flag (also Geneva Convention flag).

  Red Cross Flag, Red Crescent Flag, Red Crystal Flag

RED CROSS PATTÉE VOIDED
  A term sometimes (mistakenly) applied to a cross of the order of the knights of Christ – see cross of the order of knights of christ and the note below.

  Putative Banner of the Order

  Please note that this cross is not "voided" in that the entre has been removed, but is correctly described in heraldic terms as "a cross pattée Gules surmounted by a cross-couped Argent".

RED DUSTER
  An affectionate nickname for the British civil ensign (see also red ensign 1) below).

  Civil Ensign, UK

RED ENSIGN
  1) In English then British maritime usage the ensign usually (but not invariably) now worn undefaced by all privately owned merchant vessels and yachts – the red duster – but see 2) plus notes b) and c) below (also armorial ensign 2), ‘civil ensign’ under ensign, blue ensign 1), gridiron flag, meteor flag, undefaced, white ensign 1).
  2) In English then British RN usage, now obsolete (and largely – but not exclusively – dependent upon the rank of the admiral in command), the senior of three alternative ensigns carried (undefaced) by a warship until 1864 – see blue ensign 2), common pendant, white ensign 2), yellow admiral and the notes below.
  3) Generically, any canton flag (either plain or defaced) with a red field – particularly (but not exclusively) if flown at sea – a British-style ensign (see also canton flag 1), blue ensign 3), deface, white ensign 3)).

  Red Ensign, England c1625–1707, England; Red Ensign 1707–1801, UK; Civil Ensign of India

  Notes
  a) Red ensigns were introduced into the English Royal Navy c1625, they were adopted (unofficially) by the merchant service shortly thereafter, and any such use was made both official and compulsory in 1674.
  b) With regard to 1), while most Warranted organizations fly the blue, the red ensign is flown defaced by a few yacht clubs, as a civil ensign by some dependent territories etc., and by some non-governmental bodies (see also defaced, yacht ensign under ensign and warrant).
  c) Regarding 2), before 1864 an Admiral’s seniority was outwardly displayed by the colour of his command flag and by the ensigns flown by any ships under his command – the junior colour being blue, the next white and the senior red – however, in 1864 this colour system was abolished, and thereafter all flag officers flew a white command flag from the appropriate masthead where applicable, and all Royal Naval ships the white ensign (see also distinction of colour and flag of command 1)).
  d) Furthermore, and also before 1864 a red ensign was also worn by naval vessels under the direct command of the Admiralty, rather than under that of a local flag officer (see also admiralty flag 1), common pendant and flag officer 2)).
  e) In addition, the ensigns worn within a fleet could be arbitrarily changed (if the tactical situation required it) by order of the Flag Officer in overall command of that fleet irrespective of the grade held by any of his subordinate admirals.
  f) It should be further noted that the rank of admiral of the red squadron was introduced (following the Battle of Trafalgar) in 1805, prior to this there was no grade between admiral of the white and admiral of the fleet (who flew, and still flies, the union jack) – see union jack 2)).

  Royal Dart Yacht Club, UK; Civil Ensign of Gibraltar

RED FLAG
  1) A plain red flag used in a variety of circumstances to signify danger (see also beach flag, fire alert flag, range flag, warning flag, storm warning flags).
  2) The colloquial term for a predominantly or wholly red flag signifying revolution – the bloody flag.
  3) Flag Bravo in the International Code of Signals – see note b) below (also international code of signals).
  4) A colloquial term for the national flag of the former Soviet Union (see also banner of victory 1)).
  5) See flag of defiance.

  Danger/Revolutionary Flag; National Flag of The Soviet Union 1924–1991; Flag Bravo

  Notes
  a) With regard to 2), the first recorded use of such a flag (with political motives) was when it was flown by some ships during the mutiny at the Nore in the Royal Navy of 1797 (see flag of defiance and its following note) and thereafter during several revolutionary situations until becoming firmly associated with Socialism during the Paris Commune of 1871. This red flag was the direct ancestor of the later Soviet and other Communist flags – see 'red flag 4)' above.
  b) Regarding 3) the International Code of Signals stipulates flag bravo – a plain red swallow tail – should be flown when loading, discharging or carrying a dangerous cargo.

REDUCED BEND
  See west-east diagonal (also Appendix IX).

REDUCED BEND SINISTER
  See east-west diagonal (also Appendix IX).

REEVE
  (v) To thread the halyard through a block (or over a pulley) fitted into the truck and thereby raise or lower a flag.

REGARDANT
  The heraldic term used when an animal is looking to the rear over its shoulder irrespective of its attitude (see also guardant).

  Flag of Wölflinswil, Switzerland; Flag of Russikon, Switzerland; Flag of Remetschwil, Switzerland

REGIMENTAL COLOUR (or COLOR)
  See colour 2) and colours 2).

  Regimental Colour, The South Gloucestershire Regiment, UK c1900; Regimental Colour, 10th Infantry Regiment, Prussia c1750

REGIMENTAL COLOURS (or COLORS)
  1) In British army usage and in some others, the plural form of regimental colour and in this form usually used when referring to the second or unit flag of a battalion/regiment (see colour 2), colours 2) and following note).
  2) In British army usage, those shades or colours that are considered representative of a particular regiment, and which are usually employed on their stable belt, arm flash, camp flag and regimental ties etc., in addition to the formal regimental colour as defined in colour 2), colours 2) and in 1) above (see also camp flag and fanion 2)).

  Regimental Colours of the Bermuda Regiment; Stable Belt/Regimental Colours of The Light Dragoons, UK

REGIMENTAL FLAG
  See camp flag.

  Flag of the Royal Irish Regiment; Flag of the Royal Gurkha Rifles, UK

REGIONAL ARMS (or REGIONAL COAT OF ARMS)
  The term for that coat of arms which represents a geographic area within a country – see regional flag.

  Flag of the Volyinia County, Ukraine; Arms and Flag of Zagłębie Dąbrowskie Region, Poland

REGIONAL EMBLEM
  The symbol of that geographic area which is not a coat of arms as defined herein – see coat of arms and emblem (also regional flag and emblem, state, national, provincial or royal).

  Flag of Ferizli, Turkey; Flag of Bartın, Turkey; Flag of Karabük, Turkey

REGIONAL FLAG
  The term for that sub-national flag which represents a geographic area within a country (see "regional arms" (above), "regional emblem" (above), sub-national flag).

  Flag of Ziemia Dobrzynska, Poland; Flag of Region Normandie, France; Flag of Hannover Region, Germany

REGISTRATION FLAGS/PENNANTS
  In French, Spanish and in some other maritime usage the term for those flags or pennants, now obsolete, which were flown from the main masthead of merchant vessels to show in which district, maritime province or in which sector of that province/arrondissement or colonial area they were registered, and in French use (for example) from 1817–c1929 – arrondissement, sector or matricular flags, pennants or ensigns – but see merchant ship pendant (also main, masthead, pennant 2)).

  Registration Flags of: Puerto Libertad, Mexico c1858–1888; Brest Arrondissement, France; La Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain c1870

  Please note, it has been suggested that this type of flag/pennant may have had wider European usage than is indicated above, however, no further information can be confirmed at the present time.

REGULAR CROSS
  See cross 1).

  Flag of Savoy, France

REICHSBANNER SCHWARZ-ROT-GOLD
  See realm banner black-red-gold.

  Reichsbanner Schwarz-Rot-Gold, Germany 1924–1933

REICHSKRIEGSFLAGGE
  The German for State War Ensign/Flag – see war flag 1) and war flag 2).

  Reichskriegsflaggen/War Flags of Germany 1892–1903 and 1919–1921 (adopted but never used | photo*)

REJECTED DESIGN
  See flag proposal.

  Rejected design for the National Flag of Canada, 1964

RELIGIOUS BANNER
  See banner 3), gonfalon 1) and "religious flag" (below).

  (artfromthesoul.com)

RELIGIOUS FLAG
  The generic term for any flag that is used in religious worship, or that represents a particular faith or denomination within that faith (see note below and also banner 3), buddhist flag, christian flag, church flag 2), dhvaja, ex-voto flag, khanda, marian flag, prayer flag, thangka).

  Flag of the Anglican Communion ; "Standard" Buddhist Flag; Flag in the Papal Colours

  Notes
  a) A Roman Catholic church may sometimes fly either the flag of the Vatican City State or a bicolour in the Papal colours of white and gold, whilst an Islamic mosque usually displays one or more crescent vexilloids and a Jewish synagogue either the Menorah or the Magen David (see also crescent, Magen David, Menorah, vexilloid).
  b) Religious flags in the US are often displayed within the church building as well as outside, whereas in the UK churches, with the exception of those religious banners carried in procession (and laid up military colours), usually (but not invariably) fly such flags outdoors.

* provided by William Garrison (source: hermann-historica.de)

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