What is it called, i need it for a project of mine.
I know that national flags are somewhat a new concept, but I will expand on my question in the context of Europa Universalis IV, which starts in 1444 and ends in 1821. I have recently installed and examined some mods that change either coats of arms or national flags of nations in the game.
According to two different mods, in 1444, for example, England is either represented by St. George's flag or its royal coat of arms adopted during the reigns of Henry IV and Edward IV with three fleur-de-lys and three lions on a shield. Similarly, Netherlands is represented either by The Prince's Flag in one mod or by a single red lion standing on its hind legs in another. Moreover, Great Britain is represented by the early design of the union flag in one mod and its royal coat of arms in another.
It's said that national flags represent the people living in that country whereas coats of arms and heraldy represent the ruling dynasty and government. Furthermore, I know that some countries in history used different flags in their ships for maritime purposes, e.g. Spain used Cross of Burgundy, Great Britain used the union flag even before the Acts of Union 1707 and Netherlands used the Prince's flag.
Which one is historically more accurate in representing countries in early and late modern period? Should I approve if I see the coat of arms of England flying in Sussex in, say, 1600?
We on this sub are usually more inclined toward classical heraldry that are more individually and lineage oriented, but whats your opinions on the national arms and emblems that exist today, for example the whole landscape painting of the south american republic, exotic elements in the african republic and etcs. (excluding dynastic arms like the UK or originally dynastic like some balkan states)
