Albania Flag

Albania is a southeast European country bordering on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas and between the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia, and Greece. In ancient times, the Thracians and Illyrians settled in Albania but later the Romans, Byzantine, and Ottoman ruled. It was not until November 28, 1912 that the National Assembly of Vlora declared Albanian independence and became a republic and in 1944, a satellite of the USSR. The Republic of Albania, which is the countries official name, has a population of over three million people and the capital city is Tirane.

The flag of Albania descended from the similar seal of a fifteenth century Albanian named Gjergi Kastriot Skanderbeg, who was the leader of a revolt against the Empire known as Ottoman. Because of this revolt, from 1443 to 1478, Albania had a brief period of independence. On April 7, 1992, Albania officially adopted the current Albanian flag. Previously, the Kingdom of Albania flag used from 1928 – 1939, had a similar Albania flag but with the Helmet of Skanderberg above the eagle. The communist post-war Albania flag also had, from 1946 to 1992, the two-headed eagle but with a yellow-rimmed red star about it. The Albanian pluralist or liberal parliament removed the Albania flags five-pointed yellow star after communism collapsed in 1992.

The image of an Albanian flag is an overall red background with a two-headed or bicephalous black eagle in the very centre. To Albania + flag details, symbolize many different things. According to Heraldic and Ancient traditions, the red on the background of the Albania flag represent valor, strength, bravery, and hardiness. The black, bicephalated eagle symbol on the Albanian flag represents the time when the religiously divided Albanians were Orthodox East and Western Catholic. The Albanian flags open-winged eagle represents the highland Albanians lack of submission to foreign conquest.

Albania’s maritime flags are the naval ensign and the civil ensign and these are different from the Albania national flag. The three horizontal lines on the civil ensign are red, black, and red. The naval ensign has a white background, the two-headed black eagle, and a red stripe covering the lower portion of the naval Albania flag.

To denote mourning or grief, they hoist the Albania flag to half-mast or half-staff. They must first raise the Albanian flag up to the very top and then lower it back down until it reaches half way. Flying the flag of Albania upside down denotes distress.