The Arabic Republic of Egypt

The National Flag of Egypt

 مصر

The development of the Egyptian flag can be traced all the way back to the Mohammed Ali Dynasty, a long time ago, from 1805 to 1923.Mohammed Ali seized power in Egypt, Egypt was actually a territory in the Ottoman Empire, which used a red banner mounted with a white crescent and star.

However, during Mohammed Ali's reign, and that of his family, Egypt was virtually independent as a Khedivate. To mark his power, Mohammed Ali introduced a new flag. This time, a red banner with 3 small crescent and star combinations. The number 3 was used to signify the victories of his armies in Europe, Asia, and Africa. Also, keeping the flag similar to the flag of the Ottoman Empire was deliberate. Mohammed Ali harboured the ambition of overthrowing the Sultan of the Empire, and claiming the throne for himself.

In 1914, with the Ottoman empire collapsing, Egypt was declared independent of the Empire, it became a Sultanate in its own right, and a British protectorate. However, the flag of Mohammed Ali was kept. In 1922, Britain finally agreed to recognise Egypt's independence, on the proviso that the Sultan drop the title, and become a King. The newly re-titled King Faud I instituted a new flag for Egypt. A green banner, with a white crescent, and 3 white stars. The green represents Islam, and the 3 stars represent the 3 territories, Egypt, Nubia, and Sudan. Another story suggests that the 3 stars represent the 3 religious communities that make up the nation. Muslims, Christians, and Jews.

In the late 1940's, the Free Officers Movement was set up with the specific goal of overthrowing the King, and his British advisors. All this on the back of Egypts failure in the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. Colonel Gamal Abdel Nasser was picked as the head of the Movement, and in 1952, led a revolution which overthrew the King. Upon the Kings overthrow, they kept the Kings green flag, but also brought in the new Arab liberation flag. The Arab liberation flag had specific symbolism to each of the stripes in the tricolour. The red band stood for the time before the revolution, the struggle against the monarchy. The white stood for the bloodless nature of the revolution, and the black band stands for the ending of the oppression of the Egyptian peoples.

Later, the Eagle of Saladin was added to the flag. The shield in the centre comes from the Kings flag, green, with the white crescent and 3 white stars.

From 1958 to 1971, Egypt and Syria united to create the United Arab Republic. The Eagle was removed from the flag, but kept as the national shield. In its place where 2 green stars placed on the white band. Each star representing the constituent nations of the United Arab Republic.

In 1961, Syria withdrew from the Union, however, Egypt kept using the name until 1971, when Egypt took the name of the Arab Republic of Egypt. In 1972, Egypt, along with Libya, and Syria, formed a new Federation of Arab Republics. A new common flag was created. Again, using the Arab Liberation flag, the green stars where dropped.They where replaced by a golden Hawk of Qureish. Also, the red at the top of the flag was lightened in shade.

The Federation was finally dissolved in 1977, however, Egypt kept the flag until 1984. Then, in 1984, the flag had its final changes. The red was restored to the original darker shade as used in the Arab Liberation flag, and the Eagle of Saladin replaced the Hawk of Qureish. It is worth noting that sometimes, the shield that the is at the centre of the Eagle could be either gold/white/gold, or black/white/red.