Today’s Doodle commemorates Belgium’s National Day in commemoration of the date on which Leopold I, Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, swore his allegiance to Belgium’s new constitution in 1831. With this oath he was named the first king of the Belgians, marking the official genesis of an independent Belgian state under his rule.
Illustrated in the Doodle artwork is Belgium’s tri-colored, vertically striped flag. Elements of the flag’s design are believed to date back over 800 years, as its yellow and black stripes reflect the gold shield and black lion found on the seal of Count Philip of Flanders as early as 1171. The combination of all three colors can be traced to the coat of arms of the dukedom of Brabant, which depicts a golden lion with a red mouth and claws against a black background.
In honor of Brabant’s integral early role in Belgium’s fight for independence, these historic colors were selected with the adoption of Belgium’s 1831 constitution to make up the official flag of the newly sovereign nation.
Happy National Day, Belgium!
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