Observe above the flag of Russia which is a tricolor of three equal horizontal fields, white on the top, blue in the middle and red on the bottom. The flag of Russia is the source of the Pan-Slavic colours.

The "coat of arms flag", sometimes called "Romanov dynastic flag": the official national flag of the Russian Empire from 1858 to 1883.This flag was utilized as naval and military ensign since 1693 at least, and was adopted as a merchant flag in 1705. On May 7, 1883 it was authorised to be used on land. However, it did not became an official national flag (State Flag) until the coronation of Tsar Nicholas II in 1896.

Myth traces the origin of the Russian flag to Tsar Peter the Great's visit to the Netherlands in 1699. The tsar, who went there to learn about shipbuilding, realised the need for Russia to have a flag for its navy too. Allegedly, he based Russia's flag on the flag of the Netherlands, making it a tricolour with three equal horizontal fields, but he chose Russian colors for it (the flag of the Netherlands, for that time, was orange, white and blue).

This story, while widely publized, is probably a myth, as a German flag book of 1695 (predating Peter's trip to Western Europe) already describes flags of a similar design belonging to the Tsar of Muscovy. While the Russian tricolour is allegedly based on the Dutch civil ensign, it was used earlier than is commonly presumed (in fact, it was already flown by the Oriol - "Eagle" - the first battleship of the Russian Navy, in 1667).

The three colors came from the coat of arms of the Duchy of Moscow, which depict Saint George wearing white (silver) armour, riding a white horse, wearing a blue cape and holding a blue shield, on a red field. According to another version, these three colours were associated with the robes of the Virgin Mary, the holy protectress of Russia.

Another interpretation of the three colors is the order that they are placed reflected the Russian social system while under the monarchy: white represents God, blue represents the Tsar and red represents the peasants. An extremely common interpretation is the association of colours with the main parts of the Russian Empire: White thus represents White Russia (Belarus), blue the Ukraine or Small Russia ("Malorossia"), Red the Russian mainland.