This is a comprehensive list of flags used in Albania.
| Flag | Description |
|---|---|
| Presidential Flag (1925–1928) State symbols during the period of the First Republic were always shown in square form. This was preponderant with the national flag, state emblem, presidential insignia and even symbols used in commerce. The flag of the president of the republic is seen for the first time in Teki Selenica's encyclopedic guide book Shqipria më 1927, e illustruar, page 124.[20] | |
| Flag of his Royal Highness and of the Army (1929–1939) | |
| Presidential Flag (2014–present) The predominant colors are the colors of the national flag (red background and black eagle) and the golden color has been added which symbolizes strength, prosperity and endurance. The decorative symbols of the flag are the black eagle taken from the coat of arms of the House of Kastrioti, accepting it as one of the most ancient symbols used by the Albanian leader, the (golden) Skanderbeg helmet positioned in a straight frontal stance, symbolizing impartiality and determination in representing national unity, as well as oak (golden) leaves which represent longevity, strength and dignity, also taken as a symbol from antiquity used by King Gentius of the Illyrians. The use of the crown-shaped oak branches is also seen as a plinth which holds the other elements in place. Dimensions are specified as 140 cm x 100 cm.[21] | |
| Flag | Description |
|---|---|
| Historical military flags of Albania | |
| Flag of the 6th Detached Regiment (1916) The flag used by the 6th detached regiment (c.1916) during World War I is made of a red woolen cloth, with a black eagle in the center. Below the eagle is the number 6. Three sides of the flag are outlined by a row of triangles. On the left side is the place where the spear or the rope is inserted. This part of the flag is made of cotton fabric, gray to blue in color. Its dimensions are 120 cm by 85 cm.[22] | |
| Flag of the Albanian Militia Units (1917) Flag of the Albanian militia units assigned to the Italian army during World War I. This specimen dating from 1917 was placed at the unit headquarters. | |
| Flags of the Battalions of the First Republic (1927–1928) The first military battalions during the period of the Republic were inaugurated in the spring of 1927. In accordance with the military tradition of the time, they were given the names of rivers such as Erzen, Shkumbin, Vjosa, etc.The flags awarded to these battalions were made of a high quality silk material. The fiery red fabric gleams from within, extending across the surface. On each side is embroidered in black the stylized double-headed eagle. The embroidery was done conjointly, passing the black thread from one side to the other, which made the flag stronger. On one side, a lining is open for the pole to be inserted, while the other three sides are embroidered by a band of black triangles, which perhaps emulated fringes.Their dimensions are unequal, varying in length from 120 cm to 130 cm, with the width ranging from 96 cm to 98 cm. There were no set rules applied during this time period in standardizing the size of the flags. Each flag is accompanied by a dual stripe ribbon, in black and red, measuring 220 cm to 230 cm in length and 8 cm in width. The bottom of the ribbon is decorated with tassels, made of brass threads, imitating gold.On the red part, is inscribed in large yellow letters, of cotton thread, the word BATALIONI and on the black part, the name of the respective battalion.In one of the ribbons, the name of the battalion is absent, likely damaged from deterioration. It was later discovered that it belonged to the Vjosa battalion. The awarding flag ceremony took place on June 9, 1927.[23] | |
| Flags of the Albanian Armed Forces (2011) The decorative flags of the Albanian Armed Forces consist of the national flag with the black double-headed eagle on a red color background. Each flag has in the center the symbol of the military branch it represents:
The standardized dimensions of each flag are 107x150 cm, enclosed on all sides by a golden lace.[24] | |
| Flag | Description |
|---|---|
| Flag of the Albanian State Police (2016) The Regulation of the State Police in Chapter II, Article IX, describes the flag of the State Police as a distinctive flag, a symbol of honor, bravery, glory, sacrifices in the name of law and the spiritual unity of Albanian Police employees of all generations.The flag is handed over to the Director of Police by the Minister of Internal Affairs, on the occasion of his or her appointment. It is then placed on a cylindrical pole, with a pointed finial, silver in color, which is displayed in the office of the Director of the State Police and in the offices of the heads of the local police directorates.[25] | |
| Flag of the Republican Guard (2021) The flag appears in a red color background, surrounded by a golden decorative cord, in the center of which is the eagle, used by the Guard since its establishment in 1928. The black double-headed eagle is outlined by a thin yellow thread, which makes it stand out inside the red background and rests on a golden floral decoration, often used in Albanian state emblems. Above the eagle is placed the stylized helmet of the Albanian national hero, Skanderbeg, in gold. Right beneath it, is printed in capital letters GARDA E REPUBLIKËS.[26] | |
| Flag | Description |
|---|---|
| Maritime Flags of Albania (1914) Two model drawings of the Albanian Maritime Flag dating from the Spring of 1914:
| |
| Royal Marine Flag (1941) This royal marine flag used briefly on the occasion of Vittorio Emanuele III's visit to Albania on 12 May 1941, was made of an unusually elaborate, colored crank embroidery, depicting the Albanian double-headed eagle with Skanderbeg's helmet, a banding of the acronym "FERT" replicated three times, flanked by the fascist lictor fasces and inflated by the Savoy royal crown. Its dimensions are approximately 130 x 220 cm.[29] | |
| Flag of the Albanian Merchant Marine (1942) The Leadership of the Council of Ministers during the adjoining session of October 28, 1942, in response to letter nr. 7/31812 by Vice Secretary General Nonis of the diplomatic cabinet, has set forth with decision nr. 1515, that the Flag of the Albanian Merchant Marine, which consists of three straps, red–black–red, placed horizontally as it were before the unification, be used going forward.[30] | |
| Flag of the National Combat Navy (1946) The flag of the National Combat Navy (Albanian: Marina Luftarake Kombëtare) was approved by decree nr.193 of the People's Assembly, dated October 19, 1946. Similar in appearance to the merchant steamship flags of the early post independence period, it featured three horizontal stripes, red–black–red, fixed by a golden anchor with a red five-pointed star as the centerpiece.[31] | |
| Merchant Flag of the People's Republic of Albania (1955) The merchant flag of the People's Republic of Albania, designed for naval and maritime use, measures 142 cm by 102 cm in size. Made of red wool bunting, it features a factory printed black double-headed eagle alongside a five-pointed star in gold, both symbols which constitute the state emblem. On the left side, a hoist sleeve in rough grey cloth, with a rope intact and complete with loops, has imprinted the name of the Vozrozhdenie Factory, a quality control stamp and a 1955 date of manufacture. The model of the stamp as well as the material of the cloth are characteristic of the very early Soviet era flags, subtly different from those made in the 60s and thereafter.[32] | |
| Nautical Signal Flag of the People's Socialist Republic of Albania (1970s) Nautical signal flags are internationally recognized methods of communication used between ships, while at sea, to exchange short messages, often used individually or in combination with, that convey specific meanings. Most ships and other recreational vessels are equipped with such flags, formally known as "Marine Signal Code" flags, to identify themselves but also to communicate with other vessels.[33] The nautical signal flag used during the communist period, upholds the design principles of its predecessors. A conspicuous three stripe layer, red–black–red, is bound to a thin cotton fabric lining which hangs vertically from a rope. The flag shown here has a slightly weathered look from actual use and measures 91 cm by 142 cm in length.[34] | |
| Flag | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| Flag of Mercurio Bua (1510) The red insignia with the eagle and the Cross of Saint Andrew was a gift by his Majesty Emperor Maximilian I to Captain general Mercurio Bua of the Leggeri cavalry. Found in a manuscript written by Ioannes Coroneos, a contemporary of Bua, the flag features a crowned black double-headed eagle, symbol of the Byzantium, the Holy Roman Empire and of the Kastrioti, the Cross of Burgundy and the four "B"s or firesteels, used in the Paleologi arms but also linked to the House of Habsburg's Order of the Golden Fleece.[48] | ||
| Flag of Skanderbeg by Hieronymus Henninges (1598) A printed graphic illustration from the medieval period found in the major Latin work of German humanist-genealogist Hieronymus Henninges, published in Magdeburg in 1598 and titled "Theatrum Genealogicum ostentans omnens omnium aetatus familias…", shows the standing figure of Skanderbeg, with a sword in his belt and a flag on his right hand, depicting the image of the double-headed eagle, which in terms of its form, appears to be of the Middle European tradition.[49] |
| Flag | Description |
|---|---|
| Flag of Aladro Kastriota (1902) A document from the Ottoman archives of 1902, explains how Juan Pedro Aladro Kastriota, a Spanish citizen who claimed descent from Skanderbeg, a famous 15th century Albanian nobleman that rebelled against the Ottomans and became an obstacle to their early expansion — thus making him a pretender to the Albanian throne — distributed postcards throughout several European capitals, namely Paris, Rome, Athens and Saint Petersburg, featuring a photograph of himself next to a variant illustration of the Albanian flag.[55] In excerpts published by the French literary journal "L'Écho des Jeunes" from its 238th issue, dated 1 October 1903, a brief profile of Don Juan de Aladro Kastrioti is given which includes a speech he had made on 31 January 1902 and addressed to the Albanian people that mentions the following:[56] The double-headed eagle in Aladro's flag is later seen in a publication of the nationally syndicated Minerva Magazine, Issue 004–005, Page 26, Year 1932. | |
| Flag of Spiridon Ilo (1920) The flag model that is sometimes thought of as the most proximate in likeness to the one raised in Vlorë on Independence Day, is based on the illustration found in a 1920 postcard, produced by Spiridon Ilo. Titled "Flamuri Kombëtar", the flag has the following description:[57] | |
1912
. Dielli . 29 November 1929.