Artists restore the Grunwald gonfalon banner (painting)

The reconstruction of the Grunwald gonfalon banner was performed by the artist Mikola Kupava and by the scientist and heraldry expert Anatol Tsitou.

 

An example of a gonfalon banner of military formations of the Great Kingdom of Lithuania in 1410.

 

Such gonfalon banners were used by the Belarusian armies of the Great Kingdom of Lithuania (GKL)  when they fought near Grunwald village, and gained the Great Victory that brought fame and honour to our country and to its ancient symbols.

 

The centre of the composition of the Belarusian military gonfalon banners was most often occupied by the ancient coat of arms named “Pahonia” (“the Pursuit”). Gonfalon banners had minor differences in details or colours.

 

The fabric of the gonfalon banner is carmine (silk). The centre of the gonfalon banner is occupied by “the Pursuit” coat of arms. Both the steed and the cavalier are of white (silver) colour. The cross at the cavalier’s shield is golden. The steed’s harness and the cavalier’s shield are of light-blue colour with a warm shade. The gonfalon banner’s size is 110 х 160 cm. The rest of the details are in proportion to each other and are based on the example. This is a classic military gonfalon banner of 1410 that was used by the regiments of the GKL. Such were the following gonfalon banners: Ashmiany, Vilnia , and Lida (Vilnia land). Other gonfalon banners have certain differences: Amstsislau (now Mstsislau) and Mahilou land − the steed’s bridle is orange; Vorsha and Vitsiebsk − the steed’s bridle is green; Bierastsie (now Brest), Vaukavysk, Slonim and Darahichyn (now Drahichyn) (Bierastsie land) − the cavalier’s armour is black; Harodnia (now Hrodna) − both the steed and the cavalier are black; Mazyr − the gonfalon banner is green; Miensk (now Minsk) − the steed is of body-colour, and the steed’s harness is gold; Navahradak (now Navahrudak) − the cavalier is black, and the steed’s harness is golden; Polatsak (now Polatsk) − the cavalier is of steel colour; Pinsk − the cavalier is blue, and the steed’s harness is golden; Smalensk  (now Smolensk) − the steed’s bridle is orange.

 

The reverse sides of the Bierastsie and the Vilnia gonfalon banners have the coat of arms of these cities since they received the Magdeburg right in the late 14th century. All other gonfalon banners have “the Pursuit” on both sides made by way of application: “the Pursuit’s” profile is cut in the red field, and the image of the steed with the cavalier is sewn into the aperture.

 

“Belarusian delegations will take part in the trip to the Grunwald field under such reconstructed gonfalon banners on July 15-18, 2010”, Mikola Kupava, the deputy head of the organizing committee on the celebration of the 600th anniversary of the Grunwald Victory, said.

 

For reference – the Movement for Freedom (the MFF) and several other organizations joined the preparation of the celebration of the 600th anniversary of the Grunwald Battle.

 

If you have any questions about the participation in the preparation or the celebration of the 600th anniversary of the Grunwald Victory, please, phone at (8 029) 551 3236, (8 029) 335 2494, or write to dubrouna@gmail.com.

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