The

national flag A national flag is a flag that represents and symbolizes a given nation. It is flown by the government of that nation, but usually can also be flown by its citizens. A national flag is typically designed with specific meanings for its colours ...

of the

Republic of Moldova A republic () is a "state in which power rests with the people or their representatives; specifically a state without a monarchy" and also a "government, or system of government, of such a state." Previously, especially in the 17th and 18th c ...

( ro, Drapelul Moldovei) is a vertical triband of

blue Blue is one of the three primary colours in the RYB colour model (traditional colour theory), as well as in the RGB (additive) colour model. It lies between violet and cyan on the spectrum of visible light. The eye perceives blue when obs ...

yellow Yellow is the color between green and orange on the spectrum of light. It is evoked by light with a dominant wavelength of roughly 575585 nm. It is a primary color in subtractive color systems, used in painting or color printing. In the R ...

, and

red Red is the color at the long wavelength end of the visible spectrum of light, next to orange and opposite violet. It has a dominant wavelength of approximately 625–740 nanometres. It is a primary color in the RGB color model and a secondar ...

, charged with the

coat of arms of Moldova The coat of arms of Moldova is the national emblem of the Republic of Moldova. Official description Moldovan law describes the arms as follows: ''Per fess gules and azure, an aurochs head cabossed overall, accompanied by a mullet of eight points ...

(an eagle holding a shield charged with an

aurochs The aurochs (''Bos primigenius'') ( or ) is an extinct cattle species, considered to be the wild ancestor of modern domestic cattle. With a shoulder height of up to in bulls and in cows, it was one of the largest herbivores in the Holocen ...

) on the centre bar. The reverse is mirrored. The flag ratio is 1:2. Until further provisions, the State Flag of Moldova is used as the national flag and ensign as well; that is, civil, state and war flag and ensign. The blue-yellow-red tricolour of Moldova is inspired by the

flag of Romania The national flag of Romania ( ro, drapelul României) is a tricolour. The Constitution of Romania states that "The flag of Romania is tricolour; the colours are arranged vertically in the following order from the flagpole: blue, yellow, red". ...

, reflecting the two countries' national and cultural affinity. On Moldova's flag, the yellow stripe is charged with the national arms. Like the Romanian coat of arms, the Moldovan arms, adopted in 1990, features a dark golden eagle holding an

Orthodox Christian Orthodoxy (from Greek: ) is adherence to correct or accepted creeds, especially in religion. Orthodoxy within Christianity refers to acceptance of the doctrines defined by various creeds and ecumenical councils in Antiquity, but different Churche ...

cross in its beak. Instead of a sword, the eagle is holding an olive branch, symbolising peace. The blue and red shield on the eagle's chest is charged with the traditional symbols of Moldova: an

' head, flanked by a rose in dexter and a crescent in sinister and having a star between its horns, all of gold. These two national flags are also very similar to the flags of

Chad Chad (; ar, تشاد , ; french: Tchad, ), officially the Republic of Chad, '; ) is a landlocked country at the crossroads of North and Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic ...

and

Andorra , image_flag = Flag of Andorra.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Andorra.svg , symbol_type = Coat of arms , national_motto = la, Virtus Unita Fortior, label=none (Latin)"United virtue is stro ...

, which are all based on vertical stripes of blue, yellow, and red. File:Flag of Moldova.svg, 1:2 Obverse File:Flag of Moldova, reverse.svg, 1:2 Reverse File:Flag of Moldova, construction sheet.svg, Construction sheet

Colours

Until 2010, the colour shades of the Moldavian flag were not explicitly named. The Regulation regarding the flag stated that the colours of the flag must match the ones shown in the annex. Moldavian heraldist and vexillologist Silviu Andrieș-Tabac stated in an interview that in 1990, when the flag was being created, "it was taken into account that many countries have similar tricolour flags. As a result, it was decided to abandon the ultramarine blue, which is present on the

Romanian flag The national flag of Romania ( ro, drapelul României) is a tricolour. The Constitution of Romania states that "The flag of Romania is tricolour; the colours are arranged vertically in the following order from the flagpole: blue, yellow, red". T ...

, in favour of the emerald-blue, used on the mural paintings of Voroneț monastery...". The French '' Album des pavillons nationaux et des marques distinctives'' (2000) by Armand du Payrat and Daniel Roudaut had suggested the following

Pantone Pantone LLC (stylized as PANTONE) is a limited liability company headquartered in Carlstadt, New Jersey. The company is best known for its Pantone Matching System (PMS), a proprietary color space used in a variety of industries, notably graphic ...

nuances, including those of the

coat of arms A coat of arms is a heraldry, heraldic communication design, visual design on an escutcheon (heraldry), escutcheon (i.e., shield), surcoat, or tabard (the latter two being outer garments). The coat of arms on an escutcheon forms the central ele ...

: blue 549, yellow 143, red 186, green 340 and brown 464. However, a new law from 2010 defined the colours of the flag as ''Berlin blue'', ''chrome yellow'' and ''vermillon red''. The exact matches, according to annex no. 2, are as follows:

Governmental flags

Governmental standards

In 2010 four new governmental standards, derived from the state flag, were established. The standard of the

Minister of Defense A defence minister or minister of defence is a cabinet official position in charge of a ministry of defense, which regulates the armed forces in sovereign states. The role of a defence minister varies considerably from country to country; in som ...

has yet to be defined, its temporary replacement being the state flag. The other three standards, of the

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) *President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ful ...

, President of the Parliament and

Prime Minister A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is not ...

, are described as follows: A square flag with the coat of arms of Moldova on center, whose ''aquila'' is golden (instead of dark gold, or brown). The flag has a border of squares, each one measuring of the flag's width and following the pattern blue-yellow-red-yellow. The background of the flag is purple for the President, red for the President of the Parliament and blue for the Prime Minister. The original flags are kept in their respective offices. Duplicates are hoisted on the official residences when the people entitled to them are inside; also on their respective cars. The design of the standard of the minister of defense and regulations concerning its use is also provided for by Decree No. 1194 of 17 June 2014. File:Flag of the President of Moldova.svg, 1:1 Flag of the President File:Flag of the President of the Parliament of Moldova.svg, 1:1 Flag of the President of the Parliament File:Flag of the Prime Minister of Moldova.svg, 1:1 Flag of Prime Minister

Other governmental flags

Several governmental organizations have flags established by parliamentary or governmental decisions: * The Department of Civil Defense and Exceptional Situations of Moldova * The Customs of Moldova * The Border Guard of Moldova * The Information and Security Service of Moldova * Principal State Inspectorate for Technical Supervising of Dangerous Industrial Objects File:Flag of Civil Defense and Exceptional Situations of Moldova.svg, 2:3 Department of Civil Defense and Exceptional Situations File:Land flag of the Moldovan Customs.svg, 2:3 Customs flag File:Customs ensign of Moldova.png, 1:2 Customs ensign File:Flag of the Border Guard of Moldova.svg, 2:3? Border Guard File:Flag of the Information and Security Service of Moldova.png, 2:3 Information and Security Service File:Flag of Principal State Inspectorate for Technical Supervising of Dangerous Industrial Objects of Moldova.png, 1:2 Principal State Inspectorate for Technical Supervising of Dangerous Industrial Objects

Military flags

(For Honour! For Country! For the Tricolour!) The flag of the National Army of the Republic of Moldova represents a unique military vexillologic insignia. It is the symbol of the military glory, of the tradition and continuity, honor and loyalty of the soldiers and officers to the country. The cloth of the flag has the same chromatics as the state flag of the

. Its partition reminds of the old

Moldavia Moldavia ( ro, Moldova, or , literally "The Country of Moldavia"; in Romanian Cyrillic: or ; chu, Землѧ Молдавскаѧ; el, Ἡγεμονία τῆς Μολδαβίας) is a historical region and former principality in Centr ...

n military flags, from 1834 to 1863. The red central

cross A cross is a geometrical figure consisting of two intersecting lines or bars, usually perpendicular to each other. The lines usually run vertically and horizontally. A cross of oblique lines, in the shape of the Latin letter X, is termed a sa ...

reminds of

Saint George Saint George (Greek: Γεώργιος (Geórgios), Latin: Georgius, Arabic: القديس جرجس; died 23 April 303), also George of Lydda, was a Christian who is venerated as a saint in Christianity. According to tradition he was a soldier ...

, the patron and protector of the medieval Moldavian army. The

motto A motto (derived from the Latin , 'mutter', by way of Italian , 'word' or 'sentence') is a sentence or phrase expressing a belief or purpose, or the general motivation or intention of an individual, family, social group, or organisation. Mot ...

''"Pentru Onoare! Pentru Patrie! Pentru Tricolor!"'' represents the belief of the

Moldova Moldova ( , ; ), officially the Republic of Moldova ( ro, Republica Moldova), is a Landlocked country, landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Romania to the west and Ukraine to the north, east, and south. The List of states ...

n soldiers. The military colours of the Moldavian Army units consists of the state flag, measuring 825×1650 mm, with golden fringes and tassels, having the unit's battle cry inscribed on obverse, above the coat of arms, and the unit's name on reverse, below the coat of arms. The flag is fixed on a wooden rod, measuring 2500 mm, with a standard pole on top. Previous regulation, which hasn't been explicitly repealed in 2010, described the inscriptions on the flag as follows: on obverse, above the coat of arms, ''"PENTRU PATRIA NOASTRĂ"'' (''For our Motherland''), and below ''"REPUBLICA MOLDOVA"'' (''Republic of Moldova''); on reverse, above the coat of arms, the unit's name. The military colours, as well as their regulations, are issued by decree of the President of Moldova. The military colours of the units of the

Ministry of Internal Affairs An interior ministry (sometimes called a ministry of internal affairs or ministry of home affairs) is a government department that is responsible for internal affairs. Lists of current ministries of internal affairs Named "ministry" * Ministry ...

are reproducing the state flag, with golden fringes and tassels, having the motto ''"PENTRU PATRIE"'' (''For Motherland'') inscribed on obverse, above the coat of arms, and the text ''"MINISTERUL AFACERILOR INTERNE AL REPUBLICII MOLDOVA"'' (''The Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Moldova'') on reverse, below the top margin. Also, on reverse, above the coat of arms, is inscribed the name of the unit, all letters being embroidered with golden thread.

Flag Day

Since April 2010, the Flag Day of Moldova is celebrated on 27 April each year. On this day in 1990, the tricolor was officially adopted by the Supreme Soviet of the

Moldavian SSR The Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic ( ro, Republica Sovietică Socialistă Moldovenească, Moldovan Cyrillic: ) was one of the 15 republics of the Soviet Union which existed from 1940 to 1991. The republic was formed on 2 August 1940 ...

as the state flag of the country.

History

Romania and Moldova are historically and culturally almost identical, and due to this, the flags Moldova has or has had are highly similar. File:National flag of the Moldovan Democratic Republic.svg,

State flag In vexillology, a state flag is either the flag of the government of a sovereign state, or the flag of an individual federated state (subnational administrative division). Government flag A state flag is a variant of a national flag (or occas ...

of the

Moldavian Democratic Republic The Moldavian Democratic Republic (MDR; ro, Republica Democratică Moldovenească, ), also known as the Moldavian Republic, was a state proclaimed on by the ''Sfatul Țării'' (National Council) of Bessarabia, elected in October–Novembe ...

File:Flag of Sfatul Tarii obverse.svg, Banner of the Moldavian Congress (

Sfatul Țării ''Sfatul Țării'' ("Council of the Country"; ) was a council that united political, public, cultural, and professional organizations in the greater part of the territory of the Governorate of Bessarabia in the disintegrating Russian Empire, w ...

), 1917–1918 File:Flag of Sfatul Tarii reverse.svg, Banner of the

, 1917–1918 File:Flag of Moldavian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic.svg,

Flag of the Moldavian ASSR The flag of the Moldavian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic was created in 1925, when the All-Ukrainian Congress of Soviets approved the Constitution of the Moldavian ASSR, on 10 May. Thus, in Section VII, Article 48, the Constitution stipula ...

, 1938 File:Flag of the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic.svg, Flag of the Moldavian SSR, 1952–1990 (readopted as the co-official flag of

Transnistria Transnistria, officially the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic (PMR), is an unrecognised breakaway state that is internationally recognised as a part of Moldova. Transnistria controls most of the narrow strip of land between the Dniester riv ...

) File:Flag of Moldavian SSR proposed.svg, Flag of the

, 1990 (early prototype) File:Flag of Moldavian SSR 1990.svg, Flag of the Moldavian SSR / SSR Moldova, 1990 (without emblem) File:Flag project proposed by the communists of Moldova.svg, Proposed flag by the Party of Communists of Moldova in order to replace the current flag (2010) File:Flag of Stephen III of Moldavia (2018).svg, Proposed new flag for Moldova by former President

Igor Dodon Igor Dodon (; born 18 February 1975) is a Moldovan politician who previously served as the president of Moldova from 23 December 2016 to 24 December 2020. He currently serves as the leader of the Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova. H ...

(2018) The current flag of Moldova was created in 1990 and is based on the national colors of Romanians, the blue-yellow-red tricolor. The reverse side differed from the

in proportion, and by having a lighter blue. The flag of Moldova was one of the national flags with differing obverse and reverse sides — the others being the flags of

Paraguay Paraguay (; ), officially the Republic of Paraguay ( es, República del Paraguay, links=no; gn, Tavakuairetã Paraguái, links=si), is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to th ...

. Although the reverse of the flag was officially stated as not containing any coat of arms, Moldovan flags with a coat of arms printed on the reverse were also used. File:Drapel fata.png, 1:2 The obverse of the Flag of Moldova File:Drapel verso.png, 1:2 The reverse of the Flag of Moldova (until 2010) On 26 November 2010, a new law regarding the State Flag of Moldova became effective. One of the most important provisions has the reverse defined as a mirrored image of the obverse. The flags of the Moldavian Democratic Republic (MDR) and some of the proposed flags for the Republic of Moldova display the head of an

, which is derived from the

flag and coat of arms of Moldavia The flag and coat of arms of Moldavia, one of the two Danubian Principalities, together with Wallachia, which formed the basis for the Romanian state, were subject to numerous changes throughout their history. History The recognised emblem belon ...

Flags of subdivisions

Autonomous Territorial Units

File:Flag of Gagauzia.svg,

Flag of Gagauzia The flag of Gagauzia ( gag, Gagauz Yerin bayraa, ro, Steagul Găgăuziei, russian: Флаг Гагаузии) has served as an official symbol of the Gagauz Territorial Unit since 1995, and is recognized as a regional symbol by Moldova. Popularl ...

Districts

Flag_of_Anenii_Noi_District.gif,

Anenii Noi District Anenii Noi District ( ro, Raionul Anenii Noi, ) is a district (''raion'') in the central part of Moldova. As of 1 January 2011, its population was 83,100. Its seat is the city of Anenii Noi. History Localities with the oldest documentary attest ...

Flag_of_Basarabeasca_District.png,

Basarabeasca District Basarabeasca () is a district ( ro, raion) in the south of Moldova, with the administrative center at Basarabeasca. History From 1393 to 1538, the region was part of the principality of Moldavia. In the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, the region ...

Flag_of_District_Cahul.svg, Cahul District Rajon_Calarasi_flag.gif,

Călărași District Călărași () is a district ( ro, raion) in the centre of Moldova, with the administrative headquarters in Călărași, Moldova, Călărași. As of January 1, 2011, its population was 78,800. History The district territory is inhabited since P ...

Flag of Căușeni District.jpg,

Căușeni District Căușeni District ( ro, Raionul Căușeni, ) is a district in the central part of Moldova, with the administrative center at Căușeni. The other major city in the district is Căinari. According to the 2014 Moldovan Census, the population of th ...

Flag_of_Cimișlia_District.gif,

Cimișlia District Cimișlia () is a district ( ro, raion) in southern Moldova, situated between the capital of Chișinău and the autonomous territorial unit of Gagauzia ( ro, Găgăuzia), with its administrative center ( ro, Oraș-reședință) being the town of ...

Drapel Raionul Criuleni.gif,

Criuleni District Criuleni () is a district ( ro, raion) in the central part of Moldova, with the administrative center at Criuleni. As of January 1, 2011, its population was 73,100. Toponimics The history of love of two young Criu and Lenuța - from neighboring ...

Flag_of_Dondușeni_District.gif,

Dondușeni District Dondușeni District () is a district (''raion'') in the north of Moldova. Its administrative center is the city of Dondușeni. As of 2011, its population was 45,100. History The earliest attestations historical towns down in 1437 when the dist ...

Drochia rajon flag.png,

Drochia District Drochia district (), also known as Drokievsky district, is a district in the north of Moldova. Its administrative center is the city of Drochia. As of 2011, its population was 90,100. History The oldest historical attestations about the settleme ...

Dubăsari District flag.svg,

Dubăsari District The Dubăsari District () is a district in the east of Moldova, with the administrative center at Cocieri. As of January 1, 2011, its population was 35,200. This does not include the 715 people that live in the village of Roghi, which is control ...

Steag raionul edinet.svg,

Edineț District Edineț () is a district () in the north-west of Moldova, with the administrative center at Edineț. The other major city is Cupcini. As of 1 January 2011, its population was 82,900. Geography The district is bordered by Briceni District to th ...

Rajon Fălești Flag.gif,

Fălești District Fălești () is a district ( ro, raion) in the north of Moldova, with the administrative center at Fălești. As of January 1, 2011, its population was 92,600. It borders Romania, in Western Moldova. History District towns, with the earliest his ...

Flag_of_Glodeni_District.gif,

Glodeni District Glodeni District () is a district () in northwestern Moldova, with its administrative center at Glodeni. , its population was 61,900. The district consists of 35 localities, 18 communes, 16 villages and one city (Glodeni). History The oldest ar ...

Hincesti_rajon_flag.gif, Hîncești District Flag_of_Ialoveni_District.gif,

Ialoveni District Ialoveni () is a district ( ro, raion) in the central part of Moldova, with the administrative center at Ialoveni. As of 1 January 2011, its population was 99,100. History Localities with the oldest documentary attestation of the district are: ...

Leova_rajon_flag.gif,

Leova District Leova District is a district ( ro, raion) in the central part of Moldova, bordering Romania, with the administrative center at Leova. As of 1 January 2011, its population was 53,800. History Localities with the oldest documentary attestation of ...

Nisporeni_rajon_flag.gif,

Nisporeni District Nisporeni () is a district ( ro, raion) in west-central Moldova, with its administrative center at Nisporeni. According to the 2014 census, its population was 53,154; most (82.8 percent) are Moldovans. History The Vărzărești monastery was firs ...

Ocnitar.gif, Ocnita District Orhei2.gif,

Orhei District Orhei () is a district ( ro, raion) in central Moldova, with its administrative center in the city of Orhei. As of 2014 Moldovan Census its population was 101,502. History The Orhei region has been inhabited since the Stone Age. Settlements ...

Riscani rajon flag.gif,

Rîșcani District Rîșcani () is a district ( ro, raion) in the north-west of Moldova, with the administrative center at Rîșcani. The other major city is Costești. As of 1 January 2011, its population was 70,000. History Near the town Costești there are trac ...

Flag of District Rezina.svg,

Rezina District Rezina is a district ( ro, raion) in the east of Moldova, with the administrative center at Rezina. Rezina is situated on the western bank of the Nistru river. As of 1 January 2011, its population was 52,600. History The first human settlement ...

Singerei rajon flag.gif, Singerei District Soldanesti rajon flag.gif, Soldanesti District Stefan voda rajon flag.gif,

Ștefan Vodă District Ștefan Vodă () is a district ( ro, raion) in the south-east of Moldova, with the administrative center at Ștefan Vodă. As of 1 January 2011, its population was 71,900. The district is situated 100 km from Chișinău and 100 km from ...

Straseni rajon flag.gif, Straseni District Flag of Taraclia County.gif,

Taraclia District Taraclia (, ) is a district () in the south of Moldova, with the administrative center at Taraclia. As of 1 January 2012, its population was 44,100, 65.6% of whom were ethnic Bulgarians. The district covers an area of and has the lowest popula ...

TELENESTI DRAP.jpg, Telenesti District Flag of District Ungheni.svg,

Ungheni District Ungheni () is a district ( ro, raion) in the central part of Moldova, bordering Romania, with the administrative center at Ungheni. The other major city is Corneşti. As of 1 January 2011, its population was 117,400. History Villages with an ...

Former counties

Drapel Județul Bălți.gif, Bălți County Flag of Cahul County.gif,

Cahul County Cahul County was a county of Bessarabia. In the Middle Ages, its territory belonged to the Fălciu County, but after the annexation of Bessarabia by the Russian Empire in 1812 it became a county by itself. History Two smaller, Codru County and ...

Flag of Chișinău County.gif,

Chișinău County Chișinău was a county of Moldova from 1998 to 2003. Its population in 2003 was 382,400. Its capital was Chișinău, which was not part of the county. It was bordered by the counties of Orhei, Ungheni, Lăpușna, and Tighina, and by Transnistr ...

Flag of Edineț County.gif, Edineț County Flag of Lăpușna County.gif, Lăpușna County Flag of Orhei County.gif, Orhei County Flag of Soroca County.gif, Soroca County Flag of Tighina County.gif, Tighina County Flag of Ungheni County.gif,

Ungheni County Ungheni County ( ro, Județul Ungheni) was a county of Moldova from 1998 to 2003. Its population in 2003 was 260,300. Its capital was Ungheni. It was bordered by the Moldovan counties of Bălți, Orhei, Chişinău, and Lăpușna, and with Romani ...

References

External links

*
Law no. 217 from 17 September 2010 regarding the State Flag of the Republic of MoldovaParliamentary decision no. 17-XII from 12 May 1990 regarding the approval of the regulation regarding the State Flag of the Republic of Moldova
(Moldovan Presidential website) * Vlad Mischevca,
The National Tricolor. Introduction to vexilology
' in "Akademos", no. 2(17), June 2010.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Flag Of Moldova

National symbols of Moldova