The national flag of the country, officially adopted on April 4, 1881, serves as the state symbol of the Principality of Monaco, along with its anthem and coat of arms.
Description and proportions of the flag of Monaco
A rectangular panel with an aspect ratio of 4: 5 and two equal horizontal stripes of white and red is the official state flag of Monaco. The white stripe is located at the bottom of the flag, the red stripe forms its upper part.
The government flag of the Principality of Monaco is a white cloth, in the center of which is the full coat of arms of the country. It is customary to use this flag not only in state and government institutions, but also in the palace of the Prince of Monaco and on his yacht as a top flag.
The coat of arms of the Principality of Monaco, woven on its government flag, is a shield cut with red and white diamonds. It is framed by the chain of the country's highest state award - the Order of St. Charles, which is awarded in recognition of special services to the state or the Prince of Monaco. The shield is held by armed monks, reminiscent of the conquest of the country by the soldiers of the Grimaldi, who were dressed in robes. The monks lean on a ribbon with the motto "With God's help", and the background for them and the shield is an ermine mantle with a scarlet top. The coat of arms on the flag of Monaco is crowned with a princely crown with precious stones.
History of the flag of Monaco
The flag of Monaco was adopted as the state flag during the reign of the principality of Charles III. This man is famous for many reforms that he carried out in the country's economy. During his reign, he founded the famous casino in Monte Carlo.
The white and red colors of the flag of Monaco belong to the colors of the Grimaldi family, one of the branches of which rules the principality. The Grimaldi ruled the Republic of Genoa in the XIV century and trace their ancestry back to the XI century.
The flags of Monaco have always been made in red and white colors and have been panels woven with white and red rhombuses since the advent of the first representatives of Grimaldi in the XIV century. The accession of the Principality of Monaco to France at the end of the XVIII century did not affect the traditions of the country too much, but already in 1814 the Grimaldi returned to the throne. At this time, the current version of the flag appears in the country, officially approved after almost seventy years.
The protest of the Principality of Monaco over the identity of its own flag with the flag of Indonesia, adopted in 1945, was rejected due to the ancient origin of the official symbol of this state in Southeast Asia.
