The flag of the Dominican Republic, approved in 1863, is its state symbol, like the coat of arms and anthem of the country.
Description and proportions of the Dominican flag
The rectangular flag of the Dominican Republic has an aspect ratio of 8: 5. The flag field is divided into four parts of equal size and shape by white stripes forming a cross in the center of the rectangle.
The upper part of the Dominican flag, adjacent to the pole, and its lower part at the free edge, are dark blue. Top right and bottom left - fields are red.
The blue color on the flag of the Dominican Republic symbolizes the freedom and independence of its people, red reminds of the blood spilled by patriots in the struggle for sovereignty. The white cross is faith in the best and the hope of salvation.
In the center of the flag of the Dominican Republic is the country's coat of arms, the main colors of which repeat the colors of the cloth. The coat of arms depicts a shield with religious symbols important to the citizens of the Dominican Republic. It is an open Bible and a golden cross. On either side of the book are four Dominican flags and four spears. Laurel and palm branches on the coat of arms symbolize peace, and spears remind of glorious victories over foreign oppressors. Above and below the shield there are blue and red ribbons with the national motto and the name of the state inscribed on them.
History of the Dominican flag
The Dominican Republic broke free of nearly three hundred years of Spanish colonial rule in 1821. Then the flag of the country was a red-white-yellow tricolor. Stripes of equal width were located horizontally on the panel.
Soon the territory of the modern Dominican Republic was captured by the neighboring state. To restore independence, now from Haiti, the patriots created a secret society, the symbol of which, in contrast to Haitian cult rites, was chosen by the Catholic cross. The society also received its own flag, which was invented by its head. It was Juan Pablo Duarte who later became the country's first legitimate president, and his flag received state status after the victory of society in 1844 in an uprising against the invaders from Haiti. There was a white cross in the center of the flag, the two lower fields were blue, and the upper ones were red.
A few years later, the coat of arms of the country was applied to the flag of the Dominican Republic, and the colored fields were arranged in a checkerboard pattern. In this form, it was finally approved in 1863 as a state symbol.
