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Ilok (Vukovar-Srijem, Croatia)

Grad Ilok, Újlak

Last modified: 2005-03-12 by dov gutterman
Keywords: vukovar | srijem | ilok | vukovarsko-srijemska | ujlak |
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by Željko Heimer, 5 March 2005



See also:

Other sites:

  • Collection of Croatian Local Flags at FAME

Overview

Ilok (Hungarian Újlak) is the easternmost city in Croatia, in the Vukovar-Srijem County on a hill over the Danube, at the point where Danube leaves Croatia towards Vojvodina. Ilok has just under 10,000 inhabitants, some 7,000 living in the city itself. Ilak was fortified by it medieval rulers, princes of Ilok (knezovi Ilocki, Ujlaky de Illok). In 15th century, members of this family were palatines and kings of Bosnia, letter herzogs of Bosia rulers of Symien and so on. After the Turkish conquest the importance of the family decreaces, and Ilok become the capital of Syrmiean sandjak. After the liberation in 18th century, Ilok becomes property of the family Odescalchi of italian origin, who revitalized the famous vine production and built huge vine cellars, still working until today. Among the most famous Odescalchies is pope Inocent XI - Benderito Odescalchi, died 1689. His nephew gained the hereditary title of a Prince of the Holy Roman Empire, and Herzogs of Sriem. In 1990's it was occupied by Serbs and suffered much. Un organized transitional government that enable peaceful reintegration under the Croatian jurisdiction only on 15th January 1998 following the so called Erdut agreements.
The coat of arms of Ilok originates from middle ages, and is based on the various coat of arms used by the Ilocki family. Their oldest coat of arms is per fess in chief a bar uncoloured preserved on 15th century monuments (and apparently used since most often also uncoloured). Latter the quartered coats of arms were introduced: 1st azure two lions rampant holding together in front paws a crown all or, 2nd and 3rd ancient arms, 4th azure a tower argent on a mount vert. The combination of the 1st and 4th with the escutcheons of the ancient arms is now the coat of arms of the city: Azure on a base vert a tower argent with closed doors or between two lions rampant of the last and in chief two escutcheon all argent per fess in the chief a bar.
It seems that the flag is red with the coat of arms boredered yellow in the middle, but it needs confirmation.
Sources: <www.ilok.info> (20.08.2003), <www.bosut.net> (20.09.2003), Bojnicic (1899) and Atlagic (1982).
Željko Heimer, 25 July 2004

I managed to get a copy of an article on the flags in the Vukovar-Srijem County [sal95]. Regarding the city of Ilok, the coat of arms is determined with the decision: Odluka o privremenom ustrojstvu grada Iloka, 19 travnja 1993, Službeni vijesnik br. 4, 11. listopad 1993.  
The decision has only (an unheraldic) description of the coat of arms and no mention of the flag. I quote: "The City of Ilok has a historical coat of arms from 1525. The coat of arms of the City of Ilok is in shape of a ceremonial shield of blue colour. In the middle is the city wall with a closed doors and with the tower rising from it. The wall and the tower are gray. On both sides are standing two lions facing each other touching the wall and the tower. The lions are brown. Above their heads are white shields horizontally divided into four fields. The entire coat of arms is bordered with a thin ribbon of red, blue, green and brown."
The historical coat of arms from 1525 is found on the civic statutes of Ilok from 1525, preserved today in Vienna. The drawing on the statutes was made by a famous illuminator and miniaturist Julije Klovic (Giulio Clovio), one of important names of European art in 15th and 16th century. (This beautiful miniature can be seen at <www.ilok.info>).  
The document of 1993 is a temporary statutes, and by now I guess Ilok must have adopted the proper statues which would supersed it. However, I do not think that the wording on the coat of arms would have been changed significantly. But I am afraing I have no info if it is so or any hint that there might be a flag...  
Šalic also mentions that Ilok was using an other coat of arms granted in 1836: gules on a base vert a paschal lamb passant argent holding a flag also argent with a cross Latin couped gules. This is not used any more (probably since 1945, and maybe even before that). Šalic also mentions that two other sltlements in vicinity of Ilok had historical coat of arms: Šarengrad since 1874 (azure on a base chequy standing St. Peter and St. Paul facing each other and issuant from the chief a buch of grapes gules slipped proper) and Babska 1854 (gules Madona with child proper).
Željko Heimer, 16 January 2005

Tomislav Šipek located a photo of the flag of Ilok. I have not located any documentation regarding this modern artwork, but it is apparently in use. I estimate that there would be some regulation around 2002 that adopts it and it may well be that the flag was regulated at the same time (surely, the previous regulations and statutes do not mention flag at all).   The flag could be seen on a photo at <www.radio-ilok.hr> on an occasion when president Mesic was visiting Ilok.   The flag is red with the golden bordered coat of arms in the middle.
Željko Heimer, 5 March 2005


Coat of Arms


by Željko Heimer, 25 July 2004