Flag of Albania
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The flag of Albania used from 1946 to 1992 |
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Albanian Kingdom Flag (1928-1939) |
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23px Civil Ensign, Ratio: 2:3 |
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23px Naval Ensign, Ratio: 2:3 |
The national
flag of Albania is a base red flag with a black
two-headed eagle in the centre. It is derived from the similar
seal of
Gjergj Kastriot Skanderbeg, a
15th century Albanian who led the revolt against the
Ottoman Empire that resulted in brief independence for Albania from
1443 to
1478. The current flag was officially adopted on
April 7,
1992, but previous Albanian states such as the Kingdom of Albania and the post-war communist state had used much the same flag, with the former sporting the "
Helmet of Skanderbeg" above the eagle and the latter a red star with a yellow rim.Albania's
civil ensign and
naval ensign, both
maritime flags are different from the national flag. The civil ensign consists of three horizontal lines of red, black, and red. The naval ensign is similar to the national flag, except that the eagle is on a white field, and the lower portion of the flag has a red stripe.
The flag of Albania may be the inspiration for the flag of the fictional nation of
Syldavia in
Hergé's
Tintin cartoons. It also influenced the revival of the
Navarrese arrano beltza.
The presidential flag of the Albanian-populated province of
Kosovo is also based in the flag of Albania.
It should be noted that the flag of Albania is very similar to the Byzantine flag due to its ties to the ancient empire.
*
Emblem of Albania*
The Tale of the Eagle
