{{Short description|Historical flag}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}{{use British English|date=April 2016}} [[File:Flag of the navy of the Batavian Republic.svg|thumb|right|{{FIAV|historical}} Batavian flag.]] The '''Batavian flag''' (contemporary Dutch: {{lang|nl|Bataafsche vlag|italics=yes}}; also called {{lang|nl|Nationale vlag|italics=yes}}, "National flag"<ref name="De Jonge">{{cite book |last=de Jonge |first=J.C. |url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_2oQ6AAAAcAAJ |title=Over den oorsprong den Nederlandsche vlag |publisher=bij de Gebroeders van Cleef |location=The Hague |date=1831 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_2oQ6AAAAcAAJ/page/n80 73]–5 |accessdate=21 April 2016}}</ref>) is a Dutch [[List of Dutch flags|historical flag]]. It was designed by [[Dirk Langendijk]] in January 1796,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/nl/collectie/RP-T-00-1753 |title=Model voor de vlag van de Bataafse Marine |author=Dirk Langendijk |publisher=[[Rijksmuseum]] |date=3 January 1796 |accessdate=21 April 2016}}</ref> and introduced in March 1796 as the official flag of the [[Batavian Navy|navy]] of the [[Batavian Republic]], replacing the [[Statenvlag]] (itself originating from the [[Prince's Flag]]).
== Description == [[File:Statutory decree No 135 - New national flag Batavian Republic (p. 02).jpg|thumb|Decree of the States General, describing the ''Jack''.]] The flag's colours and rows remained exactly the same (although the red and blue appear to have grown darker), but an important alteration was done by adding a [[jack (flag)|jack]] in the upper left corner, several thumbs from the flagpole. This constituted a white rectangle, containing:<ref name="De Jonge"/><ref>Publicatie der Staaten Generaal, bij welke de nationaale vlag van deezen staat voor het vervolg bepaald wordt. Geärresteerd den 14. februarij 1796.</ref> *the [[Dutch Maiden|Dutch, Batavian or Freedom Maiden]]; *the [[Leo Belgicus|Dutch or Batavian Lion or ''Leo Belgicus'']]; *a spear, held by both the Maiden and the Lion; *a [[Phrygian cap|liberty hat]] on top of the spear; *a shield with a [[fasces]], held by the Maiden; *some green and [[leaf|leaves]] as base and background.
== History ==
On 1 March 1796, the Batavian flag was introduced as the [[Batavian Navy]]'s ensign. The flag, without the [[Dutch Maiden]] in the upper left-hand corner, was adopted as the [[Kingdom of Holland]]'s flag on 5 June 1806. This angered many Dutch sailors as they were used to the ''[[Statenvlag]]'', under which they had won many battles in decades past. In August 1806, a riot broke out amongst the crews of the [[navy of the Kingdom of Holland]]'s [[Texel]] and [[Amsterdam]] squadrons, stating they no longer wished to sail under the new flag. Several sailors refused to take an oath of loyalty to King [[Louis Bonaparte]], and declared they did not want to take orders from his officers.<ref name="De Jonge"/>
The mutiny was severely punished, with one mutineer being shot through the head at point-blank range by [[Vice admiral|Vice-admiral]] [[Jan Willem de Winter]]. To calm the mutineers down, the ''Statenvlag'' was hoisted on the Dutch navy's warships, bringing the mutiny to an end. As a result of the mutiny, the ''Statenvlag'' became the Dutch navy's ''de facto'' flag, which was affirmed by a royal decree issued on 1 December 1807. However, its name was changed to ''Koninklijke Hollandsche Vlag'' ("Royal Flag of Holland").<ref name="De Jonge"/>
== References == {{Commons category|Flags of the Batavian Republic}} {{Reflist}} {{Dutch flags}}
[[Category:Batavian Republic]] [[Category:Obsolete national flags|Batavian Republic]] [[Category:Flags of the Netherlands]] [[Category:1796 in art]] [[Category:1796 in politics]] [[Category:1790s introductions]] [[Category:1796 beginnings]] [[Category:Flags introduced in the 18th century]] [[Category:Flags displaying animals]]