Flag of Albania
The flag of Albania is red with a black double-headed eagle in the middle.
At a glance
- Adopted
- April 7, 1992the communist star was removed in 1992; the red flag with a black eagle has been Albania's symbol since independence in 1912 and goes back to Skanderbeg in 1443
- Shape (height : width)
- 5:7
- Capital
- Tirana
- Continent
- Europe
- Colours
- red
- black
What it means
- Red field: bravery, strength and the blood shed for the country
- Double-headed eagle: the Albanian people and their state; Albanians call their country Shqiperia, which is often linked to shqipe, the word for eagle
Where it came from
The design comes from Skanderbeg, Albania's national hero. In 1443 he left the Ottoman army and raised the red banner of his family, the Kastrioti, which showed a black double-headed eagle. The double-headed eagle itself is usually thought to come from the Byzantine Empire.
In the 1800s and early 1900s, Albanians fighting for independence used Skanderbeg's flag again. It was raised when Albania declared independence in Vlora on 28 November 1912.
History
The eagle has stayed, but the extras around it kept changing. A crown was added under King Zog, and fasces (a bundle of rods) during the Italian occupation from 1939.
From 1946 the communist government put a gold-edged red star above the eagle. After communism ended, the star was removed on 7 April 1992, bringing back the simple black eagle on red. A 2002 law fixed the exact design.
Fun facts
- Albania is nicknamed the "Land of the Eagles".
- The flag is not a common shape: it is 5 units tall and 7 long.
- No piece of the very first flag raised at independence in 1912 is known to survive, and people tell different stories about where it came from.
- Albanians often make an eagle sign with their hands, called the "flag sign": they cross their hands and spread their fingers like wings.
Easy to mix up with
Montenegro: Montenegro also has a double-headed eagle on red, but it is gold, wears a crown and the flag has a gold border
Serbia: Serbia's coat of arms has a white double-headed eagle, on a red, blue and white striped flag
Questions
What does the flag of Albania look like?
The flag of Albania is red with a black double-headed eagle in the middle.
What do the colours and symbols on the flag of Albania mean?
Red field: bravery, strength and the blood shed for the country; Double-headed eagle: the Albanian people and their state; Albanians call their country Shqiperia, which is often linked to shqipe, the word for eagle.
When was the flag of Albania adopted?
The current flag of Albania was adopted on April 7, 1992. (the communist star was removed in 1992; the red flag with a black eagle has been Albania's symbol since independence in 1912 and goes back to Skanderbeg in 1443)
What colours are on the flag of Albania?
The flag of Albania uses red and black.
Which flag is easy to mix up with the flag of Albania?
It is easy to mix up with the flag of Montenegro. Montenegro also has a double-headed eagle on red, but it is gold, wears a crown and the flag has a gold border
Famous landmarks in Albania
🎯 Play the flag quiz 🌍 Play the globe
Sources
- en.wikipedia.org
- crwflags.com
- en.wikipedia.org
- Flag picture: flagcdn.com (Wikimedia Commons)