List of Romanian flags explained

The following is a list of flags used to represent Romania.

National flag and state flag

FlagDateUseDescription
1867—1947,
1989—present
National flag and ensign Current color scheme established in 1995. Ratio: 2:3
1867—1947,
1989—present
Vertical variant Current color scheme established in 1995.

Governmental flags

FlagDateUseDescription
1990—present Presidential flagRatio: 1:1
(unclear use status; seen scarcely during Naval Forces day[1])
1990—present Prime MinisterRatio: 1:1
(no longer seen in actual use)
1990—present Member of the Cabinet (early 1990s)White with the national flag in the canton. The canton relative ratio is 4:5.
(no longer seen in actual use)
1991—present Minister of DefenseRatio: 1:1
1990—present Pilot ensignNational flag bordered white.

Military flag

FlagDateUseDescription
1992—present Flag of the Armed ForcesState coat of arms in the center. In the flag edges are two-branch wreaths.
?—present A yellow flag with coat of arms of Romanian General Staff in the centre with two stars in the left and in the right of coat of arms and surrounded by the four branch elements
?—present Flag of the Romanian Land Forces A red flag with coat of arms of Romanian Land Forces in the centre with two stars in the left and in the right of coat of arms and surrounded by four crossed swords
?—present Flag of the Romanian Naval Forces A dark blue flag with coat of arms of Romanian Naval Forces in the centre with two stars in the left and in the right of coat of arms and surrounded by four anchors
?—present Flag of the Romanian Air Force A light blue flag with coat of arms of Romanian Air Force in the centre with two stars in the left and in the right of coat of arms and surrounded by four air force elements
Naval jackA light blue flag with the national flag in the canton, a vertically set black-outlined anchor in the quarter
?—present Commissioning pennant Tri-colour long pennant of blue-yellow-red
?—present Chief of the General StaffA square national tricolour with four white five-pointed stars one above other in the blue stripe.
?—present Chief of Naval Staff A light blue flag with the national flag in the canton, a diagonally set black-outlined anchor in the fly upper quarter and four yellow five-pointed stars in a horizontal line in the lower half
?—present Deputy Chief of Naval StaffA light blue flag with the national flag in the canton, a diagonally set black-outlined anchor in the fly upper quarter and three yellow five-pointed stars in a horizontal line in the lower half
?—present Fleet or Flotilla CommanderA light blue flag with the national flag in the canton, a diagonally set black-outlined anchor in the fly upper quarter and two yellow five-pointed stars in a horizontal line in the lower half
?—present Major Naval Unit Commander A light blue flag with the national flag in the canton, a diagonally set black-outlined anchor in the fly upper quarter and one yellow five-pointed stars in a horizontal line in the lower half
?—present Naval Unit Commander A triangular light blue flag with the national tricolour near the hoist in the central part and in the fly a black outlined anchor, set vertically.

Historical flags

FlagDateUseDescription
Flag of the Principality of Wallachia Ratio: 2:3
1700s Naval Ensign of the Principality of Wallachia Ratio: 2:3
1859—1862 Civil ensign of the United Principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia Blue-yellow-red horizontal tricolor with blue above.
1862—1866 Civil ensign of the United Principalities of Romania Blue-yellow-red horizontal tricolor with red above.
1867—1947 Civil ensign of the Principality/Kingdom of RomaniaBlue-yellow-red vertical tricolor with blue near the hoist.
Jan-Mar 1948 Flag of the People's Republic of Romania
(never used)
Provisional coat of arms established in January 1948. This is a reconstituted/theoretical model, as the "tractor" coat of arms was never used.
1948—1952 Flag of the People's Republic of Romania The arms had a scroll bearing the letters RPR (no red star).
1952—1965 Flag of the People's Republic of Romania The arms had a scroll bearing the letters RPR and were surmounted by a red star.
1965—1989 Flag of the Socialist Republic of RomaniaThe arms had a scroll with the word REPUBLICA (left), SOCIALISTĂ (right) and ROMÂNIA (center) and were surmounted by a red star.
1967 — 1989 Flag of Chairman of Councils of State and of Ministers of the Socialist Republic of Romania. Ratio: 1:1
1989—1990 de facto State flag and civil ensign during the 1989 revolution The Communist flag with a hole cut out of the middle to remove the coat of arms, as a symbolic protest against the despised Ceaușescu regime

Monarchical flags

FlagDateUseDescription
14 April 1867 – 22 March 1872Royal Standard of the Domnitor Ratio: 2:3
23 March 1872 – 20 July 1898 Royal Standard of the Domnitor Ratio: 2:3
21 July 1898 – 23 April 1922 Royal Standard of the King Ratio: 1:1; Ratio between colors: 1:4:1
24 April 1922 – 30 December 1947 Royal Standard of the King Ratio: 1:1
24 April 1922 – 30 December 1947 Royal Standard of the Queen Ratio: 1:1
19 February 1941 – 30 December 1947 Royal Standard of the Queen Mother Ratio: 1:1
21 July 1898 – 23 April 1922Royal Standard of the Crown PrinceRatio: 1:1; Ratio between colors: 1:4:1
24 April 1922 – 30 December 1947 Royal Standard of the Crown Prince Ratio: 1:1
2007 – present Royal Standard of the Crown Princess
(Margareta of Romania)
Ratio: 1:1
1927 – 1930 Royal Standard of the members of the Regency Ratio: 1:1
24 April 1922 – 30 December 1947 Royal Standard of a Member of the Royal House Ratio: 1:1

Military flags of the Kingdom of Romania

FlagDateUseDescription
1862—1866 Flag of the Prince of the United Principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia Blue-yellow-red horizontal tricolor with red above. Coats of arms of Wallachia and Moldavia crowned and surrounded by Romanian tricolors.
1863—1866 Army flag of the United Principalities of Romania and after 1866 Principality of RomaniaBlue-yellow-red horizontal tricolor with red above. Flying crowned aquila with the coats of arms of Wallachia and Moldavia over it. The aquila holds the sceptre and the sword. In the corners, the monogram of prince Alexandru Ioan Cuza, surrounded by a laurel wreath. On the red scarf it is written: HONOR ET PATRIA.
1866—1874 Army flag of the Principality of Romania Blue-yellow-red horizontal tricolor with company's number in corners and name in the middle.
1867—1872/3 Army flag of the Principality of Romania/Princely standard, official model. Used as military ensign. Not used as war or state flag. Blue-yellow-red vertical tricolor with the country's coat of arms in the middle.
1867—1875 Flag of Focșani civic guard. Blue-yellow-red vertical tricolor with the city's coat of arms in the middle, and company number in corners.
1872—1921 Army flag of the Principality of Romania/Princely standard, official model. Several other models were used instead (see above). Used as military ensign. Not used as war or state flag. Blue-yellow-red vertical tricolor with the country's coat of arms in the middle.
1874—1881 Army flag of the Principality of Romania Blue-yellow-red vertical tricolor with the country's coat of arms in the middle, surrounded by a laurel wreath. In corners, the monogram of king Carol I of Romania, crowned and surrounded by a laurel wreath. Ratio: 1:1.
1877—1878 Army flag of the Principality of Romania Blue-yellow-red vertical tricolor with the medium country's coat of arms in the middle, on a purple background, surrounded by a laurel wreath. In corners, the monogram of king Carol I of Romania, crowned and surrounded by a laurel wreath. Used during the Romanian War of Independence. Ratio: 1:1.
1882—1897 Army flag of the Kingdom of Romania Blue-yellow-red vertical tricolor with the country's coat of arms in the middle (slightly modified de facto). In corners, the monogram of king Carol I of Romania, crowned and surrounded by a laurel wreath. Ratio: 1:1.
1897—1902 Army flag of the Kingdom of Romania Blue-yellow-red vertical tricolor with the country's coat of arms in the middle (slightly modified de facto). In corners, the monogram of king Carol I of Romania, crowned and surrounded by a laurel wreath.
1902—1914 Army flag of the Kingdom of Romania Blue-yellow-red vertical tricolor with the country's coat of arms in the middle (slightly modified de facto), surrounded by a laurel wreath. In corners, the monogram of king Carol I of Romania, crowned and surrounded by a laurel wreath.
1914—1921 Army flag of the Kingdom of Romania Blue-yellow-red vertical tricolor with the country's coat of arms in the middle (slightly modified de facto), surrounded by a laurel wreath. In corners, the monogram of king Ferdinand I of Romania, crowned and surrounded by a laurel wreath.
1921—1927 (1930?) Army flag of the Kingdom of Romania. First awarded in 1926 Blue-yellow-red vertical tricolor with the country's coat of arms in the middle, surrounded by a laurel wreath. In corners, the monogram of king Ferdinand I of Romania, crowned and surrounded by a laurel wreath.
1930—1940 Army flag of the Kingdom of Romania Blue-yellow-red vertical tricolor with the country's coat of arms in the middle, surrounded by a laurel wreath. In corners, the monogram of king Carol II of Romania, crowned and surrounded by a laurel wreath.
1940—1947 (and 1927—1930?) Army flag of the Kingdom of Romania Blue-yellow-red vertical tricolor with the country's coat of arms in the middle, surrounded by a laurel wreath. In corners, the monogram of king Michael I of Romania, crowned and surrounded by a laurel wreath.
1922—1947 Naval ensign. Not used as war or state flag. Blue-yellow-red vertical tricolor with the country's middle coat of arms in the center.
1922—1947 Naval jack Blue-yellow-red vertical tricolor with the country's middle coat of arms in the center.

Military flags of the Socialist Republic of Romania

FlagDateUseDescription

1952—1965 Battle flag of Romania

1952—1965 Air Force flag of Romania

Subdivision flags

FlagDateUseDescription
1990—present Bucharest (City)
1990—present Arad (municipality) A bright yellow flag with a blue horizontal wavy strip, symbolizing the Mureș river and the city coat of arms centered.
1990—present Alba Iulia (municipality)
1992—present Brașov (municipality)
1990—present Carei (municipality)
1997—present Constanța (municipality)
1992—present Oradea (municipality)
1998—present Târgu Mureș (municipality)

Political flags

FlagDatePartyDescription
Current
2014–present
2000—present
1989—present
Former
2015-2022
1993-2015
1965-1989
1938-1940
1933-1953
1932-1934
1927-1941
1926-1947
1920s-1938
1910-1946

Notes and References

  1. http://www.presidency.ro/pop.php?_RID=img&img=16175.jpg Photo at the website of the Presidency