Flag of Albania

The national flag of Albania is a base red flag with a black two-headed eagle in the centre. It is derived from the similar seal of Gjergj Kastriot Skanderbeg, a 15th century Albanian who led the revolt against the Ottoman Empire that resulted in brief independence for Albania from 1443 to 1478. The current flag was officially adopted on April 7, 1992, but previous Albanian states such as the Kingdom of Albania and the post-war communist state had used much the same flag, with the former sporting the "Helmet of Skanderbeg" above the eagle and the latter a red star with a yellow rim.

The symbolism of the bicephalated eagle is that of the religiously divided Albanians, when the Albanians were divided into Christians of the Western Catholic tradition and the Orthodox East. The National Assembly of Vlora which proclaimed Albanian Independence on 28 November 1912 approved the flag as a symbol of the Albanian nation.

The horizontal open-winged eagle symbolises the lack of submission of the highland Albanians to foreign conquest. The communist regime added a yellow five-pointed star to the flag, which was removed by the first Albanian pluralist parliament in 1992 after the communism collapsed.

Albania's civil ensign and naval ensign, both maritime flags are different from the national flag. The civil ensign consists of three horizontal lines of red, black, and red. The naval ensign is similar to the national flag, except that the eagle is on a white field, and the lower portion of the flag has a red stripe.

The flag of Albania may be the inspiration for the flag of the fictional nation of Syldavia in Hergé's Tintin comics. It also influenced the revival of the Navarrese arrano beltza.

The presidential flag of the Albanian-populated province of Kosovo is also based on the flag of Albania.

It should be noted that the flag of Albania is very similar to the Byzantine flag due to its ties to the ancient empire.

See also

• Emblem of Albania
• The Tale of the Eagle

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