Flag of Malta

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Flag of Malta
Flag of Malta.svg
Vexillological symbol : Vexillological symbol?
Aspect ratio: 2: 3
Officially accepted: September 21, 1964

The flag of Malta was officially hoisted for the first time on September 21, 1964.

description

The flag consists of two vertical stripes of equal size: white on the left and red on the right. In the upper left corner of the white color field, the Georgs cross is shown, with a red border in order to comply with the heraldic rules.

history

The vertically divided red and white flag has a centuries-old tradition in Malta. It is said to go back to the Norman ruling family Hauteville , who conquered Sicily around 1090 under Roger I.

Malta was a British colony between 1814 and 1964 and therefore used a Blue Ensign with the colonial coat of arms. The governor's flag consisted of the Union flag with the crest shield in the center.

  • Maltese Blue Ensigns and Governor's Flags

  • Historic flag? State flag of the British colony of Malta, 1875 to about 1898

  • Historic flag? Flag from about 1898 to 1923

  • Historic flag? Flag from 1923 to 1943

  • Historic flag? Flag from 1943 to 1964

  • Historic flag? Governor's flag from 1875 to about 1898

  • Historic flag? Governor's flag from about 1898 to 1943

  • Historic flag? Governor's flag from 1943 to 1964

In addition, Malta continued to use the red and white flag as a civil flag , which was usually placed next to the Union Jack . From December 28, 1943, the George Cross, awarded to Malta, was added to the flag on a blue square in the Gösch. The cross is a military decoration in coat of arms and flag given to the entire population of Malta for their courage and valor during the Italian and German air raids in World War II by the British King George VI. was awarded. The flag remained in use until Malta's independence in 1964. The blue field has been removed from the new national flag .

Until Malta became a republic in 1974, Queen Elizabeth II was the head of state of the former colony. Her standard showed her personal emblem. The governor general also had its own flag.

  • Historic flag? Unofficial, civil flag until 1943,
    today the flag of Mdina

  • Historic flag? Unofficial, civil flag, 1943-1964

  • Historic flag? Royal Standard of Elizabeth II, October 31, 1967 to December 12, 1974

  • Historic flag? Flag of the Governor General, 1964 to 1974

Trade flag

The trade flag of Malta shows the Maltese cross in white on a red background, surrounded by a white border. The cross comes from the Hospitallers , known as the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Rhodes and Malta ruled the islands from 1530 to 1798. This design, which differs significantly from the national flag, is due, among other things, to the fact that the national flag of Malta - apart from the George's Cross - is identical to the signal flag "H" of the international flag alphabet , which in shipping also means "I have a pilot on board " . Using the national flag on seagoing vessels would therefore cause a constant risk of confusion.

source

  • Smith / Neubecker: Coats of arms and flags of all nations, Munich 1980, ISBN 3-87045-183-1

Web links

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