Subscribe to download
Tunisia

Flag of Tunisia (Arabic. It is a rectangular panel of red color with an aspect ratio of 2:3. in the center of the panel, a red Crescent is placed in a white circle, surrounding a red five-pointed star on three sides. The Bey of Tunis, al-Hussein II Ibn Mahmud, decided to create the flag of Tunisia, similar in appearance to the modern one, after the battle of Navarino on October 20, 1827; in 1831-1835, it was officially approved. In this form, the flag existed during the French protectorate, and on June 1, 1959, it was proclaimed the national flag of the Republic of Tunisia (in accordance with the country's Constitution). On June 30, 1999, the proportions and design of the flag were clarified by a special law; the overall appearance of the flag remained virtually unchanged.

The Crescent moon and star depicted on the Tunisian flag are traditional symbols of Islam, and are also considered symbols of good luck. The Crescent and star were depicted on the flag of the Ottoman Empire, of which Tunisia was a part; the current symbols of Tunisia reflect this historical connection, which is why it is similar to the flag of Turkey.

The exact type of flags hoisted on Tunisian ships before the mid-18th century is unknown. However, various sources note a certain similarity between them: they all had a Crescent pattern and used blue, green, red and white colors[1]. Then, from the second half of the XVIII century and the beginning of the XIX century, the flag was made up of horizontal stripes of blue, red and green, symbolizing the power of the Ottoman Empire over Tunisia. Such flags of complex shape with numerous stripes were raised on ships all over the coast of North Africa; similar flags, but in different colors, were also used on the continent[1].

According to Ottfried Neubecker[2], the Bey of Tunis had a personal flag. This flag was a kind of personal standard [3]; it was raised over the Bardo Palace, the fortress of Tunis, on warships; its image was the Central figure of the Tunisian coat of arms. In addition, it was used for public ceremonies-from the solemn proclamation of the Constitution of the Ottoman Empire on March 21, 1840[4] until Bey's deposition on July 25, 1957. [2] [5]

It is believed that it was introduced by al-Husayn II Ibn Mahmud, although some sources, such as Abdel-Wahab, claim that it was used for three centuries preceding al-Husayn[3]. The flag had a rectangular shape and was divided into nine horizontal stripes: the middle one was green, twice as wide as the other stripes, and eight alternating stripes of red and yellow[2]. In the center of the green stripe was Zulfiqar, the legendary Islamic sword of Ali, with a white blade and a multicolored hilt. Five figures were drawn on each of the red and yellow stripes, and the order varied from stripe to stripe. These figures can be divided into two categories: six — pointed stars with circles inscribed in their center (red stars contained a green circle, and white — blue) and circles containing another smaller circle, slightly shifted down and to the right (a large blue circle — a circle of red color, and green-yellow color)[2]. The first yellow stripe showed three red stars and two blue circles, while the second (red) stripe showed three green circles and two white stars. The third band (yellow) was similar to the first, but the Central star was depicted as white, while the fourth band was identical to the second[2].