Albania - Current

The flag of Albania is the silhouette in black of an opened winged double-headed eagle on a red field (Pantone 186c). The flag has the proportions of 5:7. It was adopted on 7th April 1992 and has the nickname of “flamur e Skënderbeut” (Skanderbeg’s flag). It is the only red and black flag of a recognized sovereign state.

The eagle has two possible interpretations. The eagle is said to symbolise the lack of submission of the highland Albanians to foreign conquest or it refers to the territory of Albania as the crossroads between eastern and western cultures and the unity of its peoples despite religious cleavages.

Albania, in its recent history, has used several flags consisting of variations on the black double-headed eagle on a red field.

1914. The eagle has golden beak and claws and is holding golden arrows. Above its head is a white five-pointed star.

1928. The eagle is surmounted by Skanderbeg's helmet in gold.

1939. The flag was changed to plain red with the arms: black eagle on a red shield. The shield was set between two black fasces, above it Skanderbeg's helmet in black. Below the shield a scroll with the motto FERT.

1944. Return to the pre war flag with the addition of a golden star in the upper corner, later replaced by a hammer and sickle.

1946. The symbol in the corner was removed and a red five-pointed star with golden border was set above the heads of the eagle.

1992. Albania again became a Republic, and the star was removed from the flag.