Westarctica

The National Flag of the Grand Duchy of Westarctica

Adopted: 2014

Meaning of Flag Explained: In late 2014, Westarctica's Grand Duke Travis McHenry decided it was time to bring back some of the old Westarctican Symbols after a simple tricolour being used as the national flag (2010-2014). In a show of solidarity with the old regime, he created a new flag utilizing the old symbology of the old "Cross and Crown". To make the flag more aesthetically pleasing, simple tinctures of blue (with the colorspace in CMYK of C=96.47%, M=75.29%, Y=0.39%, K=0%; in RGB R=16, G=84, B=165; webcolor #1054A5) and white were used instead of the original teal and forest green found on the 2004 - 2010 flags. The specific tincture of blue is called "Westarctica Blue" and is considered a protected official color of Westarctica.

The symbology of the flag should be easily apparent to even the most casual, uneducated viewer and is as follows:

Blue recalls the Freezing temperatures of Antarctica and White the Barren fields of Ice. The Crown stands for the Royal authority of the Grand Duke and the Triple Cross design for the Christian Heritage of Westarctica with hollow portion indicating respect of all religions (or even no religion).

In 2016, the Grand Duke filed a copyright claim with the U.S. Copyright Office attempting to get the new flag design and color copyrighted, however his claim was denied due to their opinion that the design did not contain enough creative merit to qualify as a copyrightable work.

The National Coat of Arms of the Grand Duchy of Westarctica

Adopted: May 2020

Meaning of CoA Explained: In May 2020, after several months of debate and input from various members of Westarctica's government, the Baron of Abele, in his capacity as the Ellsworth King of Arms, created a new version of Westarctica's official coat of arms. After some discussion, it was decided that these arms would serve as both the arms of the nation and also the personal arms of the Grand Duke of Westarctica. This is keeping in line with the policies of many other monarchies.

The arms maintains much of the symbology found on the previous arms, and also incorporates new elements. The shield featured on the center of the arms is the same shield that has been used by the Clan McHenry since the 1600s, and was re-created from the arms found on the 1824 tombstone of Daniel McHenry. It is believed these arms were originally granted to James McHenry, Esq. by King Charles I of England.

The Royal Standard of the Grand Duchy of Westarctica

Adopted: 2018

Meaning of Flag Explained: The Royal Standard was designed in 2018 by the Baron of Abele for use by Grand Duke Travis McHenry both in his personal residence and when traveling abroad.

The flag is based upon the colors and design of the flag of Westarctica, with a crown, representing the royal personage, placed in the center of the standard. The upper left quadrant contains the heraldic device of the McHenry Family as found on both the Scottish and Irish arms of the Clan Henry and Clan McHenry. This device, known as "pelican in her piety" has been used by members of the Clan McHenry for over 200 years and can be found on the tombstone of Daniel McHenry, who settled the Fishing Creek Valley in north eastern Pennsylvania in the 1700s.

The Greater National Coat of Arms of the Grand Duchy of Westarctica

Adopted: 2015 (Technically Replaced by the New National CoA in May 2020)

Meaning of CoA Explained: In early 2015, Grand Duke Travis commissioned a new coat of arms from Michael Richards the Ellsworth King of Arms. These arms were more colorful and more closely resembled the traditional arms of European royal families. The new arms echoed the general layout and composition of the original Langer-created arms, but in a more subdued color scheme with an updated crown symbol. These arms featured lions as supporters surrounded by the ornamental chain of the Order of the Snowflake. Westarctica's national motto, "Fortune Favors the Bold" is written in English along the bottom of the arms.

These arms became known as the Greater Arms of Westarctica and are primarily used only for the highest, most important documents of State. All Letters Patent creating new titles in the Peerage of Westarctica bear the Greater Arms.

The Flag of Calsahara, Colony of the Grand Duchy of Westarctica

Adopted: 2017

Meaning of Flag Explained: The flag of the Colony of Calsahara was designed by Grand Duke Travis and is based upon the Original Flag of the Realm of Calsahara, which in turn, was simply the flag of Madagascar turned upside down.

The white of the flag represents both surrender and peace, as the Calsaharan surrendered their territory to the liberating Westarctican Royal Guards without a single drop of blood spilled. The cross and crown are carried directly from the flag of Westarctica, however the colors are inverted to blue instead of white. The two smaller outer crosses are green and red, which were the two colors of the Realm of Calsahara's original flag. Those colors symbolized passion (red) and love of nature (green).

The Coat of Calsahara, Colony of the Grand Duchy of Westarctica

Adopted: 2017

The Flag of the Balenny Islands, Colony of the Grand Duchy of Westarctica

Adopted: 2005

Meaning of Flag Explained: The flag of the Balleny Islands was created by Jorge Fernandenz Vidal shortly after assuming the role of Governor of the Balleny Islands.

The flag of the islands is the 2004 - 2008 flag of Westarctica with the colors reversed andthe coat of arms of the Balleny Islands in the upper left quadrant in place of the crown of Westarctica.

The Coat of Arms of the Balenny Islands, Colony of the Grand Duchy of Westarctica

Adopted: 2005

Meaning of CoA Explained: This coat of arms features heraldic devices from Spain, France, and the region where Mr. Vidal was born, as well as an emperor penguin, a symbol of Westarctica. .

The Flag of the Achaean Territory of Antarctica

In Use: 2001 - 2004

Meaning of Flag Explained: The flag of the Achaean Territory is generally considered to be one the ugliest, most confusing flags in vexillological history. The pattern and colors of the lines (which strongly resemble a barcode) were actually based upon the medal / ribbon for the U.S. military's Antarctic Service Medal. Instituted in 1960, the ribbon has black stripes on each edge and is graded from a white stripe in the center to a pale blue, light blue, greenish blue, and medium blue. The outer bands of black and dark blue represent five months of Antarctic darkness; the center portion, by its size and colors – grading from medium blue through light blue and pale blue to white – symbolizes seven months of solar illumination, and also the aurora australis.

This flag was only ever created as a digital representation and was placed prominently on the letterhead of the 2 November 2001 Claimant Letter.

The First National Flag of the Grand Duchy of Westarctica

In Use: 2004 - 2008

Meaning of Flag Explained: The first flag of Westarctica was designed by Grand Duke Travis McHenry in June 2004 after he was inspired by a vision of an interlinked cross and crown during a Presbyterian church service. The color teal, aside from being wildly popular during the early 2000s, was selected to represent the icy cold of the Antarctic climate. The color green was chosen because it is the Grand Duke's favorite color.

The overall design of the flag was based upon the flags of Nordic countries as well as the flag of Liechtenstein, which features a similar crown. The cross represents Christianity, as Westarctica was founded as a Christian Nation. The crown represents the authority and person of the Grand Duke.

This flag also was never flown on a flagpole or created as anything other than an electronic representation. However, in 2005, an online flag retailer did make physical flags available for sale, but because each element was sewn separately together, the flag cost hundreds of dollars. So far as it known, no actually flags were ever created in this design.

The Second National Flag of the Grand Duchy of Westarctica

In Use: 2008 - 2010

Meaning of Flag Explained: The second flag used by Westarctica was created by Grand Duke Jon-Lawrence Langer, who assumed the throne on 30 December 2008 following the abdication of Grand Duke Phillip Karns. The design is very similar to the original flag, with the most notable change being the addition of a gold cross outlining the original green cross. The tincture of blue was also lightened slightly to be less teal and more sky blue.

This flag was never sold to the public and remained a strictly digital creation.

The First National Coat of Arms of the Grand Duchy of Westarctica

In Use: May 2005 - 2014

Meaning of CoA Explained: The first coat of arms for Westarctica was created by Jon-Lawrence Langer in January 2005 in his capacity as Chief-Herald. The colors and design were based upon the first Flag of Westarctica: A green cross upon a field of teal. Instead of green and teal, however, Langer chose the colors yellow and sky blue to help set it apart from the flag.

These arms were quickly embraced by Grand Duke Travis McHenry, who integrated the new arms into a more robust version with gilded lions as supporters. This version was actually just an edited graphic of the coat of arms of Luxembourg, but it graced the letterhead of many of the Grand Duke's early decrees, correspondence, Proclamations of Titleage, and Courtesy titles. An even more colorful and original crest was later created to frame the arms which featured a grand ducal crown atop a knight's armorial helmet. This would become the most publicly recognizable variant of the arms and remained in use throughout the reigns of subsequent Grand Dukes.

The National Flag of the Protectorate of Westarctica

In Use: 2010 - 2014

Meaning of Flag Explained: On 2 June 2010, the government of Grand Duke Jon-Lawrence Langer was overthrown in a coup led by the Grand Ducal Cabinet and the former Grand Duke Travis McHenry.

After the coup was completed, a Transitional Government was announced on 4 June 2010. This new government swept away the monarchy in the nation and removed all elements of the crown and religion from the national symbols. No longer a Grand Duchy, Westarctica was declared a territorial protectorate.

The flag of the Protectorate of Westarctica was the flag of Estonia turned upside down. A tri-color theme was selected to emphasize the departure of the monarchy and the rise of a civilian government administered by the people. The flag of Estonia happened to contain the colors of previous Westarctican flags with Black symbolizing the long night of the Antarctic winter, Blue the the cold temperatures of the Antarctic climate and White recalling the polar ice cap which covers most of Westarctica's surface.

It was the first flag of Westarctica to be created as a physical item and to fly on an actual flag pole. It flew outside the Consulate of Westarctica to Orange County (located in Garden Grove, California) for one hour in 2012.

The Former Lesser National Coat of Arms of the Grand Duchy of Westarctica

In Use: 2015 - May 2020

Meaning of CoA Explained: Shortly after the Greater Arms had been created, Grand Duke Travis McHenry was approached by Erik White, the Baron of Forrester with a variant version of arms that His Lordship felt would be an appropriate alternative. The Forrester arms featured white Snowflakes upon a field of dark blue with two Orcas as supporters topped with a royal crown.

Grand Duke Travis liked these arms so much that he decided to add them to the National Symbols of Westarctica for more casual, presentational uses and called them the Lesser Arms of Westarctica. For example, the Grand Duke has a coffee mug bearing the Lesser Arms, and they are used in Westarctica's Honorary Consulates around the world. These arms may be utilized by any citizen, Knight or Noble Peer who wishes to display a general coat of arms that symbolize their loyalty to the nation.

The Lesser Arms have also been featured on Westarctica's Stamps and the newly-created 20 Ice Mark Banknote. All Proclemations of Titelage issued by the Grand Duke after 2015 bear the Lesser Arms at the top of the certificate.

The Former National Flag the Kingdom/Realm of Calsahara

In Use: 2009 - 2017

Meaning of Flag Explained: The first flag of Calsahara was adopted in November 2009. It is the flag of Madagascar turned upside down. This decision was a deliberate attempt by the government to lower the cost of obtaining flags for the new nation.

In May 2010, the flag was raised for the first time over Calsahara's soil in a ceremony in Otisburg, the capital of Calsahara.

The following year, the flag was raised at the Embassy of Calsahara to Vikesland during the 2010 state visit to that country.

The symbology of the flag is: White stands for peace and desolation, red for Passion and green for Calsahara's Nature.

The Former National Coat of Arms the Kingdom/Realm of Calsahara

In Use: 2009 - 2017

Westarctica Website: www.westarctica.info/

Calsahara Website: travisdmchenry.wixsite.com/calsahara

Westarctica Established on the 2nd of November 2001 (As Achaean Territory of Antarctica)