Flag of Moldova

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Flag of Moldova
See adjacent text.
Use National flag and civil ensign IFIS Normal.svg IFIS Vertical normal.svg IFIS Two-sided.svg (Obverse shown)
Proportion 1:2
Adopted May 17, 1990
Design A blue, yellow, and red tricolor, with the national coat of arms in the center bar on the obverse only
See adjacent text.
Use War flag IFIS Normal.svg IFIS Authorised.svg IFIS Two-sided.svg IFIS Vertical unknown.svg
Proportion 2:3
Adopted March 28, 1991 (?)
Design A blue cloth, bearing a red cross within a larger yellow cross. On the front of the cloth, in the center, lies the Emblem of the National Army. The reverse of the flag has the chromatic layout and features in the center the army motto in golden letters: Romanian: "Pentru Onoare! Pentru Patrie! Pentru Tricolor!" (For Honor! For Country! For the Tricolor!)

The national flag of Moldova is a vertical tricolor of blue, yellow, and red, charged with the coat of arms of Moldova (an eagle holding a shield charged with an aurochs) on the center bar on the obverse side only. The flag ratio is 1:2 [1]. The blue, red, and yellow tricolor of Moldova is almost identical to the flag of Romania, reflecting the two countries' cultural affinity. On Moldova's flag the yellow stripe is charged with the national arms. Like the Romanian coat of arms, the Moldovan arms, adopted in 1990, features a golden eagle holding an Orthodox Chrisitian cross in its beak. Instead of a sword, the eagle is holding an olive branch, symbolizing peace. The blue and red shield on the eagle's breast is also different- on it are an aurochs head, a star, a rose, and a crescent, all traditional symbols of Moldova. These two flags are also very similar to the flags of Chad, Andorra, and the flag of Queen's University in Ontario, Canada which are all based on vertical stripes of blue, yellow, and red.

Along with the flag of Paraguay, the flag of Moldova is the only national flag with differing obverse and reverse sides[2]. Although the reverse of the flag is officially stated as not containing any coat of arms, Moldovan flags with a coat of arms printed on the reverse are also used (see photo).


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[edit] Military flag

TV screen shots of Moldovan flags showing the coat of arms printed on both sides. The first picture is of a flag at an oil refinery; the other two are of a flag flying from a Moldovan military vehicle.

The Flag of the Moldovan National Army represents a unique military vexilologic insignia.

The cloth of the flag has the same chromatics as the State Flag of the Republic of Moldova.

The partition reminds of the old Moldavian military flags. The red central cross reminds of Saint George, the protector of the medieval Moldavian army.

The motto "Pentru Onoare! Pentru Patrie! Pentru Tricolor!" represents the belief of the Moldovan soldiers.

The Flag of the National Army of the Republic Moldova is the symbol of the military glory, of the tradition and continuity, honor and loyalty of the soldiers and officers to the country.coat of arms

[edit] History

Wallachia and Moldova have, in the past, been partially united and culturally similar, as such the flags of Romania and Republic of Moldova are also similar. The flag of Moldova was created in 1990, and is based on the Romanian colours. Indeed, the reverse side differs from Romania's in proportion, and by a lighter blue.

Blue-yellow-red flag of the Moldavian and Wallachian students in Paris, 1848, with the words: DРЕПТАТЕ ФРЪЦІЕ (Dreptate, Frăţie) = Justice, Brotherhood

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ flags.net, Flag of Republic of Moldova
  2. ^ "Drapelul de stat al Republicii Moldova" (in Romanian). The President of the Republic of Moldova. http://www.presedinte.md/simb.php?lang=rom&page=702. Retrieved 9 January 2010.