Flag of Monaco
Encyclopedia
The national flag
of Monaco
(French
: Drapeau de Monaco) has two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white, both of which have been the heraldic
colors of the House of Grimaldi
since at least 1339. The present bicolor design was adopted on April 4, 1881, under Prince Charles III
.
Monaco's original flag, which was similar to its current state flag but bore an older version of its coat of arms
, was in use from the principality's early days (except during its annexation to France
from 1793 to 1814) until the present, simpler design was adopted in 1881.
Another design (below), the banner of the state arms (lozenge
s in the Grimaldi family colors, in heraldic terms "lozengy argent
and gules
"), was used at various times, particularly in the 17th century, as an unofficial flag, and still appears in some royal photographs. However, it has no designated use, and does not represent any Monegasque official in particular.
on a white background with a red line, is flown at government offices, the Prince's palace, in the presence of government officials, and as an ensign
on the Prince's yacht.
The princely standard, which consisted of the Crown of Monaco over two opposing letters A
on a white background, is the personal flag of Prince Albert II
, and is only used in his immediate presence, particularly on cars in which he travels. It is often seen with a gold fringe on the top, bottom, and right, which is one-ninth the height of the white field.
and the German
state of Hesse
(both of which are longer). It is also similar to the flags of Singapore
(which has a crescent and five stars in the top left), Poland
and the German state of Thuringia
(the order of the colours is reversed on the latter two). Monaco's flag is one of the world's oldest flags.
Flag
A flag is a piece of fabric with a distinctive design that is usually rectangular and used as a symbol, as a signaling device, or decoration. The term flag is also used to refer to the graphic design employed by a flag, or to its depiction in another medium.The first flags were used to assist...
of Monaco
Monaco
Monaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the...
(French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
: Drapeau de Monaco) has two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white, both of which have been the heraldic
Heraldry
Heraldry is the profession, study, or art of creating, granting, and blazoning arms and ruling on questions of rank or protocol, as exercised by an officer of arms. Heraldry comes from Anglo-Norman herald, from the Germanic compound harja-waldaz, "army commander"...
colors of the House of Grimaldi
House of Grimaldi
The House of Grimaldi is associated with the history of the Republic of Genoa and of the Principality of Monaco.-History:The Grimaldi family descends from Grimaldo, a Genoese statesman at the time of the early Crusades. He might have been a son of Otto Canella, a consul of the Republic of Genoa in...
since at least 1339. The present bicolor design was adopted on April 4, 1881, under Prince Charles III
Charles III, Prince of Monaco
Charles III was Prince of Monaco and Duke of Valentinois from 20 June 1856 to his death. He was the founder of the famous casino in Monte Carlo, as his title in Monegasque and Italian was Carlo III.-Birth:...
.
Monaco's original flag, which was similar to its current state flag but bore an older version of its coat of arms
Coat of arms of Monaco
The Royal Arms of His Serene Highness Prince Albert II are his arms of dominion in right of Monaco.-Interior:The central shield is "blazoned" , fusily argent and gules.-Exterior:...
, was in use from the principality's early days (except during its annexation to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
from 1793 to 1814) until the present, simpler design was adopted in 1881.
Another design (below), the banner of the state arms (lozenge
Lozenge
A lozenge , often referred to as a diamond, is a form of rhombus. The definition of lozenge is not strictly fixed, and it is sometimes used simply as a synonym for rhombus. Most often, though, lozenge refers to a thin rhombus—a rhombus with acute angles of 45°...
s in the Grimaldi family colors, in heraldic terms "lozengy argent
Argent
In heraldry, argent is the tincture of silver, and belongs to the class of light tinctures, called "metals". It is very frequently depicted as white and usually considered interchangeable with it...
and gules
Gules
In heraldry, gules is the tincture with the colour red, and belongs to the class of dark tinctures called "colours". In engraving, it is sometimes depicted as a region of vertical lines or else marked with gu. as an abbreviation....
"), was used at various times, particularly in the 17th century, as an unofficial flag, and still appears in some royal photographs. However, it has no designated use, and does not represent any Monegasque official in particular.
State flag
Monaco's state flag, which consists of the full achievement of the coat of armsCoat of arms of Monaco
The Royal Arms of His Serene Highness Prince Albert II are his arms of dominion in right of Monaco.-Interior:The central shield is "blazoned" , fusily argent and gules.-Exterior:...
on a white background with a red line, is flown at government offices, the Prince's palace, in the presence of government officials, and as an ensign
Ensign
An ensign is a national flag when used at sea, in vexillology, or a distinguishing token, emblem, or badge, such as a symbol of office in heraldry...
on the Prince's yacht.
Princely standard
A
A is the first letter and a vowel in the basic modern Latin alphabet. It is similar to the Ancient Greek letter Alpha, from which it derives.- Origins :...
on a white background, is the personal flag of Prince Albert II
Albert II, Prince of Monaco
Albert II, Sovereign Prince of Monaco is the head of the House of Grimaldi and the ruler of the Principality of Monaco. He is the son of Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, and the American actress Grace Kelly...
, and is only used in his immediate presence, particularly on cars in which he travels. It is often seen with a gold fringe on the top, bottom, and right, which is one-ninth the height of the white field.
Similar flags
Except for its proportions, the flag of Monaco is identical to the flags of IndonesiaFlag of Indonesia
The national flag of Indonesia, which is known as Sang Saka Merah-Putih or Bendera Merah-Putih or simply Merah-Putih in Indonesian, is based on the banner of the 13th century Majapahit Empire in East Java...
and the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
state of Hesse
Flag of Hesse
The civil flag of Hesse consists of a bicolor of a red top and a bottom white stripe, in the proportion 3:5. The state flag is similar, except it is defaced with the coat of arms in the centre, and may only be used by government departments and services...
(both of which are longer). It is also similar to the flags of Singapore
Flag of Singapore
The national flag of Singapore was first adopted in 1959, the year Singapore became self-governing within the British Empire. It was reconfirmed as the national flag when the Republic gained independence on 9 August 1965...
(which has a crescent and five stars in the top left), Poland
Flag of Poland
The flag of Poland consists of two horizontal stripes of equal width, the upper one white and the lower one red. The two colors are defined in the Polish constitution as the national colors. A variant of the flag with the national coat of arms in the middle of the white stripe is legally reserved...
and the German state of Thuringia
Flag of Thuringia
Both the civil and state flag of the German state of Thuringia feature a bicolour of white over red, comparable to many other flags such as that of Poland. The design is historical...
(the order of the colours is reversed on the latter two). Monaco's flag is one of the world's oldest flags.