Russian American Company Flag
The Russian American Company flag was authorized under Czar Alexander I in 1806. It was the first special flag granted by the Russian Government to any private company. The proposal to establish the flag was submitted by the Minister of Trade N. R. Rumiantsev, who devoted much attention to the Company and personally financed several scientific expeditions. (Port Rumiantsev, the Russian shipping and harbor facility at Bodega Bay was later named for him.) The flag was granted on September 19, 1806 by the St. Petersburg offices. The RAC flag was authorized to be raised over Russian fortifications and on Company ships in place of naval flags. This gave special recognition to the Company in the international trade world.
The flag flew over all Russian American Company settlements, including Fort Ross. The RAC flag has three stripes, the lower red, the middle blue, and the upper and wider stripe white. Painted on the flag is the Russian imperial crest, the double headed eagle. A ribbon hanging from the talons of the eagle is the inscription ‘Russo-American Company.’ On the breast of the double headed eagle is a square with a red shield and St. George on a white steed looking to the left. Between 1818 and 1831 a professional artist was hired by the Company specially to make and draw the emblem on the flags. The Company used six to ten flags annually.
Flags were probably flown on a daily basis at the Ross Colony and in Alaska. Certainly, they were always flown for special occasions such as the arrival of ships and visiting dignitaries, and celebrations of any sort.
The flag flew over Alaska until October 18th, 1867 when all Russian American Company holdings in Alaska were sold to the United States.
Flag making is a great project for the class. Students can fly their
flag in the classroom or on outings. Use heavy cloth (or even a large piece of paper) for
the backing and either sew or paint the eagle and emblem. The kids could also create and
design their own company flag.
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For a comparison of flags and history during this time, click here. During 1812 to 1840, the Russian American Company years at Colony Ross, the United States Flag was a thirteen star flag. The thirteen star flag was in a row design of 4 stars, five stars, and four stars. The stars and stripes represented the original 13 states: Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, and Rhode Island. For more information on the United States flag click here.