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 a ...

Madagascar Madagascar (; mg, Madagasikara, ), officially the Republic of Madagascar ( mg, Repoblikan'i Madagasikara, links=no, ; french: République de Madagascar), is an island country in the Indian Ocean, approximately off the coast of East Afric ...

( mg, sainan'i Madagasikara; french: drapeau de Madagascar) was adopted on 14 October 1958, two years before the independence as they prepared for a referendum on its status in the

French Community The French Community (1958–1960; french: Communauté française) was the constitutional organization set up in 1958 between France and its remaining African colonies, then in the process of decolonization. It replaced the French Union, which ...

. The colors of the flag represent Madagascar's history and traditional peasant classes. Red and

white White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White ...

were the colors of the Merina kingdom, which was conquered by

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

in 1896. They were used in the flag of the last Merina monarch, Queen

Ranavalona III Ranavalona III (; 22 November 1861 – 23 May 1917) was the last sovereign of the Kingdom of Madagascar. She ruled from 30 July 1883 to 28 February 1897 in a reign marked by ultimately futile efforts to resist the colonial designs of the go ...

Green Green is the color between cyan and yellow on the visible spectrum. It is evoked by light which has a dominant wavelength of roughly 495570 nm. In subtractive color systems, used in painting and color printing, it is created by a combin ...

was the color of the Hova, the largest class of peasant commoners, who played a significant role in anti-French agitation and the independence movement.

Current flags

Ethnic

File:Flag of the Merina people.svg, 2:3 Flag of the Merina people (since 1997)Merina local flag (Madagascar)
Flags of the World (2015-05-20). Retrieved on 2017-10-17.

Military

File:Flag of the Chief of Army Staff of Madagascar (Brigade General).svg, 2:3 Flag of the Chief of Army Staff in the rank of Brigade General File:Flag of the Chief of Army Staff of Madagascar (Divisional General).svg, 2:3 Flag of the Chief of Army Staff in the rank of Divisional General File:Pennant of the Chief of the Naval Air Force Staff of Madagascar (non-flag officer).svg, 1:2 Pennant of the Chief of the Naval Air Force Staff in the rank of Commodore or below File:Pennant of the Chief of the Naval Air Force Staff of Madagascar (Rear Admiral).svg, 1:2 Pennant of the Chief of the Naval Air Force Staff in the rank of Rear Admiral File:Pennant of the Chief of the Naval Air Force Staff of Madagascar (Vice Admiral).svg, 1:2 Pennant of the Chief of the Naval Air Force Staff in the rank of Vice Admiral File:Pennant of the Commander of a Naval Group (Madagascar).svg, 1:2 Pennant of the Commander of a Naval Group File:Pennant of the Commander of a Naval Base (Madagascar).svg, 1:2 Pennant of the Commander of a Naval Base File:Masthead pennant of Madagascar.svg, 1:20 Masthead pennant

Historical flags

File:Flag of the Antankarana Kingdom.svg, 2:3 Flag of the Antankarana Kingdom File:Flag of the Antongila Kingdom (1773-1786).svg, 2:3 Flag of the Antongil Kingdom File:Flag of the Boina Kingdom.svg, 2:3 Flag of the Boina Kingdom, similar to the Peruvian flag File:Flag of the Menabe Kingdom.svg, 2:3 Flag of the Menabe Kingdom, similar to the Austrian flag File:Flag of the Sakalava of Antalaotra.gif, alt=, Flag of the Sakalava of Antalaotra, it uses the Pan-Arabic colours File:Flag of the Tamatave Kingdom (1750-1819).svg, 2:3 First flag of the Tamatave Kingdom, 1750–1819 File:Flag of the Tamatave Kingdom (1819-1822).svg, 2:3 Second flag of the Tamatave Kingdom, 1819-1822 File:Flag of the Tamatave Kingdom (1822-1826).svg, 2:3 Third flag of the Tamatave Kingdom, 1822-1826 File:Flag of the Tamatave Kingdom (1826-1828).svg, 2:3 Fourth and final flag of the Tamatave Kingdom, 1826-1828 File:Flag of the Tanibe Kingdom (1822-1828).svg, 2:3 Flag of the Tanibe Kingdom, 1822-1828 File:Flag of the Merina Kingdom.svg, 2:3 Standard of the Merina Kingdom, –1885 File:Merina Kingdom flag.svg, 2:3 Flag of the Merina Kingdom, –1885, almost identical to the 1928–1980 Polish flag File:Flag of the Madagascar Protectorate (1885-1896).svg, 2:3 Flag of the Malagasy Protectorate, 1885–1896 File:Flag of France (1794–1815, 1830–1958).svg, 2:3 The

French tricolour The national flag of France (french: link=no, drapeau français) is a tricolour featuring three vertical bands coloured blue ( hoist side), white, and red. It is known to English speakers as the ''Tricolour'' (), although the flag of Ireland ...

of the colonial period, 1896–1958

Presidential Standards

Malagasy Republic The Malagasy Republic ( mg, Repoblika Malagasy, french: République malgache) was a state situated in Southeast Africa. It was established in 1958 as an autonomous republic within the newly created French Community, became fully independent i ...

File:Presidential Standard of Madagascar (1959).svg, 2:3

Philibert Tsiranana Philibert Tsiranana (18 October 1912 – 16 April 1978) was a Malagasy politician and leader, who served as the first President of Madagascar from 1959 to 1972. During the twelve years of his administration, the Republic of Madagascar expe ...

, 1959 File:Presidential Standard of Madagascar (1959-1972).svg, 2:3 Philibert Tsiranana, 1959–1972, obverse side File:Presidential Standard of Madagascar (1959-1972, reverse).svg, 2:3 Philibert Tsiranana, 1959–1972, reverse side File:Presidential Standard of Madagascar (1972-1975).svg, 2:3

Gabriel Ramanantsoa Gabriel Ramanantsoa (13 April 1906 Antananarivo – 9 May 1979 Paris) was the President and Prime Minister of Madagascar from 1972 to 1975. Ramanantsoa was a member of the Merina ethnic group, and came from a wealthy family. He graduated from Sai ...

, 1972–1975, obverse side File:Presidential Standard of Madagascar (1972-1975, reverse).svg, 2:3 Gabriel Ramanantsoa, 1972–1975, reverse side

Democratic Republic of Madagascar

File:Presidential Standard of Madagascar (1976-1993).svg, 2:3 Didier Ratsiraka, 1976–1993, obverse side File:Presidential Standard of Madagascar (1976-1993, reverse).svg, 2:3 Didier Ratsiraka, 1976–1993, reverse side

Third Republic of Madagascar

File:Presidential Standard of Madagascar (1993-1996).svg, 2:3 Albert Zafy, 1993–1996, obverse side File:Presidential Standard of Madagascar (1993-1996, reverse).svg, 2:3 Albert Zafy, 1993–1996, reverse side File:Presidential Standard of Madagascar (1998-2002).svg, 2:3 Didier Ratsiraka, 1998–2002, obverse side File:Presidential Standard of Madagascar (1998-2002, reverse).svg, 2:3 Didier Ratsiraka, 1998–2002, reverse side

References

External links

*
Madagascar flag at Flagscorner
{{DEFAULTSORT:Flag Of Madagascar

National symbols of Madagascar