Flag of Montenegro: history and description

Montenegro has gained sovereignty not so long ago, but its state symbols have already become famous, not only in the vastness of Europe. What exactly is depicted on her cloth and coat of arms and what is their value?

The modern flag of Montenegro

Rectangle standard with a ratio of length to width in proportion of three to one is made in red with a gold border around the perimeter. The center is the coat of arms. This flag of Montenegro was adopted in 2004. Located in the middle of the emblem depicts a golden double-headed eagle, which symbolizes the royal family of Petroviches. On the bird's chest is a heraldic shield with a golden lion on a blue background. On top of the image complements the crown.

At first, the flag of Montenegro caused disputes in the society: the country is a republic, and such a number of monarchical symbols leads to some questions. Those residents of the state who adhere to the idea of uniting with Serbia, use an informal piece of cloth. This tricolor with stripes of red, blue and white with a coat of arms in the middle.

Historical cloth

Old parts are used in its heraldry and modern Montenegro. The flag and the coat of arms, taken officially, reflect the monarchical history of the state. But still quite a different symbolism was used before. Before the revolution of 1918, the flag looked like a red-white-blue tricolor with a coat of arms in the middle. During the German occupation, a military cloth was used. It was red, with images of a lion and an eagle. The socialist country used tricolor. In those days, instead of the coat of arms on the cloth was a red five-pointed star. In 1993 Montenegrins chose a tricolor with a red, blue and white stripes, arranged horizontally. After isolation from Yugoslavia, the state policy led to a change in official symbols. To the flag did not remind of the former unity, a new one was adopted. In 2004, they created a red cloth with a gold border, strongly resembling an old military banner. The flag of Montenegro, photographs and drawings of which are now familiar to every tourist, has a profound meaning, referring to the history of the twentieth century.

History of the arms

Since the modern flag of Montenegro uses this emblem, it is worth exploring its appearance. The coat of arms was developed in 2004, but its history goes back to the Middle Ages. Even in the time of the state of Zeta, in the fifteenth century, on the panels used an image of a golden double-headed eagle on a red background. Two centuries later, a power and a scepter appeared in his paws, and on his chest began drawing a lion symbolizing the episcopal authority. In those days, Montenegro was a theocratic country, uniting the Serbs who professed the Christian religion against the Muslim Turks. The lion and eagle depicted on the emblem represent the unity of state and ecclesiastical authority. Even after Danilo First Petrovich proclaimed himself a secular prince, the symbolism remained unchanged.

At the beginning of the twentieth century, the coat of arms began to look different: the golden eagle was changed to silver, the background for the image of the lion became red, and the crown was made royal instead of princely. Around the image was placed ermine mantle. In socialist times, the symbolism was completely different. Lovcen was depicted with a golden laurel wreath in a circle and a red star from above. After 1993, when Yugoslavia broke up, the monarchic emblem with the eagle returned.