Montenegro gained sovereignty not so long ago, but its state symbols have already become famous, and not only in the vastness of Europe. What exactly is depicted on her cloth and coat of arms and what is their significance?
Modern flag of Montenegro
A rectangular standard with a ratio of length to width in a proportion of three to one is made in red with a gold border around the perimeter. In the center is the emblem. This flag of Montenegro was adopted in 2004. The emblem located in the middle depicts a golden double-headed eagle, which symbolizes the royal family of Petrovich. On the chest of the bird is a heraldic shield with a golden lion on a blue background. The crown complements the image above.
At first, the flag of Montenegro caused controversy in society: the country is a republic, and so many monarchical symbols lead to some questions. Those residents of the state who adhere to the idea of unification with Serbia use an unofficial banner. This is a tricolor with stripes of red, blue and white with a coat of arms in the middle.
Historical panel
Antique details are used in modern heraldry by modern Montenegro. The flag and coat of arms, adopted officially, reflect the monarchical history of the state. But still, completely different symbolism was used before. Before the 1918 revolution, the flag looked like a red-white-blue tricolor with a coat of arms in the middle. During the German occupation, a military cloth was used. It was red, with images of a lion and an eagle. The socialist country used tricolor. In those days, instead of the coat of arms, a red five-pointed star was located on the panel . In 1993, the Montenegrins chose a tricolor with red, blue and white stripes arranged horizontally. After separation from Yugoslavia, state policy led to a change in official symbols. So that the flag does not remind of the former unity, a new one was adopted. In 2004, they created a red banner with a gold border, strongly reminiscent of the old military banner. The flag of Montenegro, the photographs and drawings of which are now familiar to every tourist, carries a deep meaning, referring to the history of the twentieth century.
Coat of arms history
Since the modern flag of Montenegro uses this emblem, its appearance is worth exploring. The coat of arms was developed in 2004, but its history goes back to the Middle Ages. Back in the days of the Zeta state, in the fifteenth century, the image of a golden double-headed eagle on a red background was used on the panels. Two centuries later, a power and a scepter appeared in his paws, and on the chest began to draw a lion, which symbolizes episcopal authority. In those days, Montenegro was a theocratic country, uniting the Serbs, professing the Christian religion, against Muslim Turks. The lion and eagle depicted on the coat of arms represent the unity of state and church authority. Even after Danilo the First Petrovich proclaimed himself a secular prince, the symbolism remained unchanged.
At the beginning of the twentieth century, the coat of arms began to look different: the golden eagle was changed to silver, the background for the image of a lion turned red, and the crown was made royal instead of princely. Around the image began to settle ermine mantle. In socialist times, symbolism was completely different. The Lovcen mountain was depicted with a golden laurel wreath in a circle and a red star on top. After 1993, when Yugoslavia broke up, the monarchical coat of arms with an eagle returned.