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Yaroslavl Region (Russia)

Âroslavskaâ oblasth

Last modified: 2021-07-17 by valentin poposki
Keywords: yaroslavl |
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Ярославская область

Flag of Yaroslavl reg. image by Tomislav Šipek, 02 March 2020
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Presentation of Yaroslavl Region

(Note: You need an Unicode-aware software and font to correctly view the Cyrillic text on this page. See here transliteration details).

  • Name (English): Yaroslavl Region • (Russian): Ярославская область | Âroslavskaâ oblasth
  • Capital (Russian): Ярославль | Âroslavlh • (English): Yaroslavl
  • Area: 36 400 km2 (~14 100 sq.mi.) • Population: 1 402 000 inhabitants in 2000
  • Status: Region (область | oblasth) within the Russian Federation
  • Federal District: Central Region • Economic region: Center (central European Russia)
  • License plate code: 76 • Ham radio code: JA • ISO 3166-2 code: YAR
  • Flag adopted on 2001.02.27 • Coat of arms adopted on 2001.02.27

Yaroslavl is the oldest town on the Volga, first mentioned in writing in 1071 and said to have been founded by Yaroslavl the Wise (978-1054) in 1010. The town emblem is a bear rampant with a halberd on his shoulder. According to legend, when Yaroslav the Wise first came to the place where he later founded the town, the local inhabitants let a bear out of his cage to chase him away, and Yaroslav killed it with his halberd.
Jarig Bakker, 01 Feb 2000, quoting from The complete guide to the Soviet Union, by Victor Louis

The bear is an emblem of Yaroslavl since XVII c. The Legend says that on this place prince Yaroslav The Wise (XI c.) killed the bear, which attacked him.
Viktor Lomantsov, 31 Jan 2000


Description of the flag

According the Law, the colour of flag is «yellow» (not gold).
Victor Lomantsov, 01 Mar 2001

Flag of Yaroslavl oblast has finally been adopted by the regional government. It happened yesterday, i.e. 27/02/2001.
Olga Demidova (Yaroslavl regional administration), 28 Feb 2001, quoted by Pascal Gross, 28 Feb 2001

Why the governor and regional government changed their old decisions?… I don’t know.
Victor Lomantsov, 01 Mar 2001


Previous variant design (2001.02~2001.10)

Flag of Yaroslavl reg. image by Pascal Gross, 01 Mar 2001

At the official website we can notice that the flag of Yaroslavl oblast has been slightly updated.
Pascal Gross, 29 Oct 2001


Incorrect report

Incorrect flag of Yaroslavl Region image by António Martins, 07 Oct 1999

According to Petr Exner’s page (VexilINFO 41, 1999 [vxf]), the flag of the Yaroslavl Region is horizontal tricolore yellow-red-blue. Source — web page of the region, where photo of the governor in front of the flag is published.
Jan Zrzavy, 06 Oct 1999

«Unfortunately it was not realized that the flag was actually that of Russia; the white stripe disappears against the white background, and what appears to be a yellow stripe is actually part of the wall.»
John Ayer, 26 Aug 2000,
translating and summarizing [r9u9X]


State armorial banner / Governor flag

Banner of Yaroslavl Region image by Victor Lomantsov, 24 Oct 2002

On July 15th, 1998 Governor A. I. Lisitsyn signed Decision No458 On start a contest on best drawings of arms, standard and flag of the Yaroslavl Region. The state armorial banner — golden field (1:1) with green border (1/3 of the height), in the center is a bear (from lesser arms). The border charged with oak-wreath tied with white-yellow-green ribbon. The banner is decorated with golden fringe and golden cord with tassel.
Victor Lomantsov, 31 Jan 2000

Isn’t this too wide a border? Shouldn’t it be rather, say, 1/4th? Or perhaps 1/3rd of the flag height is the combined width of the border, thus being 1/6th wide?
António Martins, 24 Oct 2002

Since the flag pattern prescription in this Decision No458 was apparently all but forgotten, is the standard still legal?
António Martins, 24 Oct 2002

This is a not-adopted project. [Project author: M. Medvedev.]
Victor Lomantsov, 04 Oct 2005

Most of these flags are squarish (about 11:12), rigid and fringed variants of the region (Governors) or Republic (Presidents) flags with the regional emblem over all.
António Martins, 02 Oct 2005


Coat of arms

Yarolslavl coat of arms image by Pascal Gross, 01 Mar 2001

On July 15th, 1998 Governor A. I. Lisitsyn signed Decision No458 On start a contest on best drawings of arms, standard and flag of the Yaroslavl Region. The lesser arms — yellow shield, black bear with a long silver axe with red handle. Shield crowned with ancient Prince’s crown (like on 1730 coat of arms). The greater arms — lesser arms with supporters:

  1. silver stag with gold antlers, hoofs, mane and gold jeweled collar with ring;
  2. black bear (full face) with, red langue, crowned with imperial crown both on green compartment.
Viktor Lomantsov, 31 Jan 2000

Since the flag pattern prescription in this Decision No458 was apparently all but forgotten, are the arms still legal?
António Martins, 22 Oct 2002

The first official arms of Yaroslavl adopted in 1729 really had yellow (gold) background. Russian heraldry in XVIII c was not very accurate. We can see yellow, white, light-blue shields of Yaroslavl arms in those times. The silver shield was adopted finally in 1778. The arms of Yaroslavl Governorate (Yaroslavskaya gubernia) were silver too.
Victor Lomantsov, 02 Mar 2001