Union of Myanmar

The National Flag of Myanmar

The first flag in use for the whole of the Burmese region was the flag of the Konbaung Dynasty, who controlled an empire from current-day Burma, to Vietnam. They uses a red 3 point flag, with a black cross in the centre, and introduced in 1752.

This Empire, however, was soon pressed back, coming into conflict with the French, from Vietnam, and the British, from India. Trying to maintain its independence, the Dynasty tried to balance between the two. However, after 3 major battles, and 3 defeats. Towards the end of the Dynasty, in the 1880's, infighting broke out, and in 1885, the Royal family was forced to abdicate, and the British annexed Burma, and added it to their Indian territories.

The new Burmese flag whilst part of the British Empire took the standard blue ensign, and placed a Burmese coat of arms in the fly. This was a roundel, on which was a Burmese Peacock.

British rule lasted in Burma until independence in 1948, however, Burma came under Japanese rule for a short time during WWII, from 1943, to 1945. The Japanese army helped set up a new pro-Japanese government in a new State of Burma. Though this only lasted until 1945, when the British where able to push the Japanese out. They State of Burma adopted a new tricolour flag, of yellow, green, and red. They decided to keep the Peacock logo, and placed it in the centre of the flag.

During the war, the Burmese resistance fighting the Japanese adopted a red flag with a white star upon it. At independence in 1948, the red flag was kept, but the white star was now placed on a blue field and moved to the upper hoist of the flag. Also, 5 smaller stars where placed around it. The red of the flag stands for the courage of the people, the blue for peace, and the white for purity. The 5 stars represented the unity of the people in Burma (the central star).

In 1962, the Burmese Military overthrew the civilian government and established a Military Junta. The military leaders soon quit to take up civilian posts, and set about creating the new Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma. This new one-party state concentrated power in the hands of the government, protests where brutally suppressed, the economy became centrally-planned, and Burma slowly slipped deeper down into poverty. 

In 1974, a new flag was adopted. Keeping the red, and blue, the symbol in the blue field was altered. Instead of the 6 stars, a new logo was placed. This consisted of a cogwheel with a bushel of rice superimposed on it. Surrounding the wheel is 14 stars, representing the 14 districts of Burma.

In 1988, unrest at the governments handling of the country blew up, leading to another Military coup, with the creation of the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC). One of this councils moves was to re-name the country from the Union of Burma, to the Union of Myanmar. But given that Military leaderships are rarely recognised internationally, this name change has only seen patchy recognition. For example, Japan refers to the nation as Myanmar, but Britain still refers to it as Burma. 

In 1990, the SLORC organised the first multi-party elections since the 60's, and the National League for Democracy, led by Aung San Suu Kyi, won handsomely. However, the SLORC refused to recognise the results, and refused to step down. Maintaining military rule. 

In 2008, finally, after 10 years, a referendum was held on a new constitution. A constitution that would see a movement from military to civilian rule. However, the constitution keeps many protections for the military, preventing reprisals, and still gives the military enormous power.  part of the debate over the new constitution was the creation of a new flag. In 2006, the first idea was to bring back the yellow, green and red colours from the State of Burma Flag.

The first one assembled the colours green, yellow, and red. A small white star was placed on the hoist side of the green stripe. The green represented the lush nature of the lands, the yellow represented solidarity, and the red for valour. The star represents the Union of Myanmar.

However, the new flag that will be introduced when the constitution goes live upon elections in 2010 sees the stripes arranged yellow, green, and red. With a much larger white star in the centre. 

The constitution has widely been criticised as largely worthless, and gives the military the power to maintain control, the elections decried a sham. We wait to see if all political parties will be included, and will there actually be elections?

*Update*

With the referendum for Myanmar's new constitution being passed by 94%, the new flag was introduced with the start of Myanmar's new democratically elected government. (Though 25% of seats where reserved for the military, and the rest pretty much went to ex-military supporters in the "election.")

The Republic of Mozambique

The National Flag of Mozambique

FRELIMO, was a Communist party set up in 1962 to fight for Mozambiques independence from Portugal. They initially adopted a banner the same as many other Communist parties, a red banner. In the hoist, they placed their version of the hammer and sickle. They used a crossed hoe and hammer, topped with a golden star.

As FRELIMO moved closer to winning independence for Mozambique, they adopted new colours. Taking the gold, black, and green of South Africa's ANC, they arranged them as a horizontal tricolour. Running green, black, and yellow. Each line divided by a thin stripe of white. With a red (Communism) triangle at the hoist side.

Upon independence in 1975, the flag was altered. Now, in the upper hoist canton, the new emblem for Mozambique. A cog wheel formed the surround, representing industry. Inside, a book, representing the educated, a hoe, representing agriculture, and an AK47, representing the struggle for independence. Also included is a red star for Communism. The flags colours of green, black, red, and yellow are now arranged in rays stretching from the top corner of the flag.

From April to MAy in 1983, the flag was altered again, switching back to the flag first used by FRELIMO. Placing the cogwheel logo in the red triangle. This time, placing it over the top of a gold star.

Finally, in May 1983, the flag underwent its final change, with the removal of the small red star, and the cogwheel. Placing the book, hoe, and AK47 directly on the gold star.

The green stands for the richness of the land, the black represents the continent of Africa, and the yellow represents the lands minerals. The red represents the nations struggle for independence. The thin white lines represent peace.

The hoe represents agriculture, the gun represents the determination to defend their land, the book represents education, and the gold star represents Marxism, and internationalisation.

The Kingdom of Morocco

The National Flag of Morocco

علم المغرب

The earliest flag in use in Morocco was a red banner, with a 64-square chessboard design. The red is believed to stand for the Fatimids, the black for Abasids, and the white for the Umayyads. Three tribes who established a protectorate over the territories of Kairuan, and Fes.

In 1215, the Marinids took control over the territory that lies approximately round the current nation of Morocco, expelling the Berber Almohad Dynasty. They also managed to extend their control over the Straights of Gibraltar, by capturing several cities on the opposite side of the straight, including Gibraltar. The flag of the Marinids was a plain white banner. However, they also took to using a red square, which had a thin gold line running round its edge, and in the centre, an 8 pointed star.

These banners where in use from 1215, all the way through to the Saadi Dynasty, ending in 1465.The Alaouite Dynasty that took control, and around 1666, switched the white banner to deep red. The red being a colour synonymous with the descendants of the Prophet Mohammed. The red banner remained the flag of Morocco up to 1912.

In 1913, with part of Morocco under Spanish control, the flag was altered. With the rise of Communism across Europe, red banners where proliferating all over the world. It was decided to alter Morocco's flag to move it away from such an easy link with a philosophy that Morocco did not agree with. In the upper hoist, they placed a green square, edged in white. In the centre of the square is a white pentangle.

Muhammad Abd El-Krim rose to power in the Berber tribes in the Rif region of Morocco, and managed to united the tribes. The Berber tribes had been fighting against the Spanish for very many years, but unable to throw them out, because of their continued failure to work together due to infighting. However, under Muhammad, they finally united, and where able to push Spain out of large parts of their territories. His new republic introduced its new flag. Over the red field was a white diamond, on which was a green  crescent and star symbol. The republic, however, was short-lived. Being established in 1921, and collapsing in 1926, under the combined attacks of the French and Spanish.

Another flag that had been on the rise from the mid 1800's, took the plain red banner of Morocco, with the addition of a green "Seal of Solomon" 6-point star. Whilst this does have strong links with Judaism as the "Star of David," The six-point star is a symbol of wisdom, health, and long life in all three of the major religions. Then, in 1915, a Royal decree was issued changing the star from 6, to 5 points. The switch now brings the star closer to Morocco's religion of Islam. The 5 points representing the 5 pillars of Islam. 

Then, in 1956, with Morocco gaining independence, the red banner with the 5-point interwoven star was adopted as the national flag.

Montenegro

The National Flag of Montenegro

Montenegro, a small nation located in the Balkans, never really had a single national flag until the late 1880's. Up to that point, tending to use military colours as representative of the Montenegrin people.

From 1876, one widely recognised design used the pan-Slavic colours of red, blue and white in a horizontal tricolour design. 

In 1910, Prince/King Nikola introduced his Royal flag. Taking the Montenegrin horizontal tricolour, and placing his double headed eagle at its centre, with a crown over the eagle, and his cypher "H.I" underneath.

However, from 1905, a new state flag was brought in. To differentiate from the Serbian flag, the central blue stripe was switched to a lighter shade. Legend has it that someone had a Montenegrin flag out in the sun for a long time that the sun bleached the blue stripe. One day, Nikola spotted it, and loved this shade of blue, and adopted it for the new flag of Montenegro.

The Balkan Wars of 1912-13 where initiated by Montenegro, and it sided with Serbia during WWI. However, after the war, Montenegro was merged with Serbia, into the new Kingdom of Yugoslavia. The flag for Montenegro was subsequently dropped.

In 1946, Yugoslavia moved from being a Kingdom, to being a socialist republic. Montenegro adopted a new flag. Returning to their old tricolour of red, blue, and white, but this time, with a large, gold edged, red star in the centre.

With the collapse of Yugoslavia, Montenegro remained in union with Serbia in a rump Yugoslavia, and in 1993, adopted a new flag. Bringing back the tricolour with the lighter shade of blue. However, to really make sure it was different from Serbia, the flags ratio was altered to make it longer. 

After the Balkan crisis of the 1990's, and the Kosovan crisis in the late 90's, Yugoslavia was replaced with a looser union of nations, called the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro, and then after a long campaign, Montenegro gained its independence from this State Union after a referendum which saw support for independence at 55.3%, narrowly surpassing the limit of 55%, set by the EU monitors for the referendum.

Upon independence, a new flag was adopted. Combining the 2 headed eagle that has been used in the past to represent Montenegro, and the red banner of the earliest military flags that represented the Montenegrin people. The eagle itself features a crown above, and a shield in the centre, with a lion on the shield. The red banner is bordered on all four sides in gold.

Mongolia

The National Flag of Mongolia

Mongolia has had a long and expansive history, at one point in its history, controlling an empire from Korea to Hong Kong, to Baghdad, and Eastern Europe. However,that empire soon began to unravel, and Mongolia shrank back to its homelands between northern China, and southern Russia. 

Soon, Mongolia fell under the control of the Qing Dynasty of China, and remained there until the rise of the Bogda Khaanate in Mongolia, and in 1912, they where able to declare independence from China. The flag they adopted took the Soyombo symbol, in gold, and placed on a red banner edged in gold. The Soyombo symbol is deeply important in Mongolian history.

Unfortunately, the Kyakhta Treaty of 1915 was hugely damaging for Mongolia. Mongolia wanted independence, China wanted all of Mongolia to be subsumed as provinces within China, and Russia was willing to hand the Inner Mongolia territories to China, and the Outer Mongolia territories to be autonomous, but within China. Unfortunately for Mongolia, the pressure was so great, they had to agree to Russia's proposal. 

The Russian Revolution of 1917 saw China send troops into Mongolia to "protect" Mongolia from the Red Army. However, the Chinese soon forced the Mongolian government from power, and set up a puppet regime, and set about subjugating the population using any and all means necessary. Including force.

The Mongolian Peoples Party was formed after 2 Revolutionary groups merged, and they sought to get help from Soviet Russia to drive out the Chinese. Bogda Khaan did not want to agree to any arrangement with this new group, but in the interest of driving the Chinese out, he stamped the letter to Moscow.

Moscow sent the Red Army into Mongolia to assist with driving out the Chinese, and to chase elements of the Russian White (Czarist) forces that had fled to Mongolia, and sided with the Chinese. The battle was fierce, but swift, with the Chinese soon expelled. Bogda Khaan was kept as the head of state, but the real power now lay in the hands of the Mongolian Peoples Party who set about turning Mongolia into a Communist, one-party state, complete with a new flag. The first flag was the red banner of Communism, with a golden sun disc and crescent emblem in the upper hoist on the flag. The logo was part of the Soyombo symbol of Mongolian lore.

In 1924, with power consolidated in the hands of the Mongolian Peoples Party, they brought in a new flag. Again, a red banner, but placing the whole Soyombo symbol in the centre of the flag, in blue. They also placed the star of Communism at the top of the symbol.

In 1940, Mongolia adopted yet another flag. This time, a tricolour banner, of red, blue, and red. The Soyombo symbol is now gold, and placed in the red stripe on the hoist side of the flag. Again, with the star of Communism set atop.

With Gorbachev's Glasnost, and the loosening of state control in Russia, so Mongolia followed. The Mongolian Peoples Party amended the constitution in 1992, allowed the formation of opposition parties, and relaxed many of the previously tight controls. The "People's Republic of" in the name of the country where dropped. The first free elections saw the Mongolian Peoples Party win, and it was not until 1996 that they began to lose seats. Another part of the change was the introduction of a new flag. However, the change of the flag simply meant to take the flag from the People's Republic of Mongolia, and remove the star of Communism. Leaving the Soyombo symbol as the primary element.

The Soyombo symbol is hugely important in Mongolia, appearing all over the country, including on a hillside outside the capital of Ulanbaatar.

The Soyombo symbol is a geometric design that represents the basic elements. At the top, is fire. A symbol of growth and success. The three tongues of flame represent the past, present, and future. The sun and moon symbols underneath represent the Father Sky, taken from the shamanistic religion of Tengriism. The two triangles represent spears. They point down to announce the defeat of Mongolia's internal and external enemies. The two horizontal rectangle shapes give stability, and represent honesty, and justice. The Arga-Bilig (Yin-yang) represents the mutual compliment of man, and woman. The two vertical rectangles offer protection, representing unity and strength. It relates to a Mongolian proverb. "The friendship of two is stronger than stone walls."

The Principality of Monaco

The National Flag of Monaco

Monaco is the second smallest nation in the world, and essentially a city-state. Claimed by the House of Grimaldi back in the late 1200's, and under their control from 1339. Monaco as a nation has 2 flags. A National flag, and a state flag. The state flag is a white banner with the national coat of arms placed at its centre.

The coat of arms holds a shield in the centre with the House of Grimaldi colours of red and white arranged in lozenges. Supporting the shield are 2 monks with drawn swords. These allude to how the House of Grimaldi took control on Monaco. In 1297, when Francois Grimaldi led a group of soldiers within the city walls, dressed as monks. Surrounding the shield and supporters is a collar representing the Order of St Charles.

In 1881, Prince Charles III introduced a simpler national flag. A horizontal bicolour of red, and white. The same as Singapore, but without the stars and crescent. And similar to Poland, and Indonesia.

Monaco has a third, unofficial flag.

This unofficial flag has been seen, and is quite common. But has no formal role, and represents no Monegasque official. A banner based on the shield of the House of Grimaldi.

The Republic of Moldova

The National Flag of Moldova

In the 1800's, Moldovan territory was annexed by the Russian Empire, only to declare its independence in 1917 with the collapse of the Russian Empire. Upon independence, the flag that was flown was a horizontal tricolour of light blue, yellow, and red. In the centre is a shield with a bulls head. Over the shield is written "The Independent Democratic Republic of Moldova." 

Very soon after independence, Moldova voted to unify with the Greater Kingdom of Romania. Moldova and Romania shared a long history, with the peoples sharing a common history. However, Soviet Russia did not recognise this move, and finally, in 1940, issued an ultimatum to Romania to hand back the territory. With Nazi Germany's moral support, the Soviet Union moved in, and re-established control over Moldova.

The Moldovan SSR adopted a new flag. Like all the other SSR's, it took the Soviet banner of red with the golden hammer and sickle, and the letters PCCM placed above. 

Then, in the 50's, in line with many other SSR's, they adopted a new flag. This removed the text, and placed a green stripe running through the centre of the flag, horizontally.

Finally, with the ending of the Soviet Union, Moldova became independent once more. And with independence, a movement began to push for unification with Romania. This led to Moldova's eastern province to declare independence from Moldova. This province being predominantly Russophone, and not wanting unity with Romania. Transnistria adopted the Moldovan SSR flag, removing the hammer and sickle.

Moldova adopted its national flag in 1990. Taking the Romanian tricolour, Moldova placed its national coat of arms in the centre. The Romanian tricolour of blue, yellow, and red, is to show a common history of the Romanian and Moldovan peoples. 

The eagle is grasping a cross of orthodox Christianity, and in its talon are an olive branch of peace, and a sceptre. In the centre of the eagle is a shield. The shield itself is bi-colour, red and blue. On the shield is an aurochs head, a star, crescent, and a rose. All symbols of Moldova. 

Along with Saudi Arabia and Paraguay, Moldova is unique amongst nations, in that the obverse and reverse of the flag are different. The national crest is officially emblazoned on one side only!

However, it is common to see flags with the crest printed on both sides. Though this does not follow official practise.