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 ...

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 ...

( 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 ...

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 th ...

, and red, charged with the coat of arms of Moldova (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 Holocene ...

) 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 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, 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 graphi ...

nuances, including those of the

coat of arms A coat of arms is a heraldic visual design on an escutcheon (i.e., shield), surcoat, or tabard (the latter two being outer garments). The coat of arms on an escutcheon forms the central element of the full heraldic achievement, which in its ...

: 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 s ...

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 ...

, 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 ...

, 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 s ...

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 soldie ...

, 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. M ...

''"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 in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Romania to the west and Ukraine to the north, east, and south. The unrecognised state of Transnistri ...

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 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 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–Novemb ...

File:Flag of Sfatul Tarii obverse.svg, Banner of the Moldavian Congress ( Sfatul Țării), 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 The Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova ( ro, Партидул Комуништилор дин Република Молдова, italic=no, Partidul Comuniștilor din Republica Moldova; russian: Партия коммунистов Р ...

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. ...

(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 Romanian flag 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 t ...

. 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.

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 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 Cahul () is a district ( ro, raion) in the south of Moldova, with the administrative center at Cahul. As of January 2014 estimates, Cahul District had a population of 124,700. History The district has been inhabited since the Stone Age (50-45,00 ...

Rajon_Calarasi_flag.gif, Călărași District Flag of Căușeni District.jpg, Căușeni District Flag_of_Cimișlia_District.gif, Cimișlia District 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 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 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 the ...

Rajon Fălești Flag.gif, Fălești District Flag_of_Glodeni_District.gif, Glodeni District Hincesti_rajon_flag.gif,

Hîncești District Hîncești () is a district ( ro, raion) of Moldova, with the city of Hîncești as its administrative center. As of 1 January 2011, its population was 122,000. History The district has been inhabited since the Stone Age (40,000–30,000 BC). ...

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 Nisporeni_rajon_flag.gif, Nisporeni District 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. Settlement ...

Riscani rajon flag.gif, Rîșcani District 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 settleme ...

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 popu ...

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 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 Transnist ...

Flag of Edineț County.gif,

Edineț County Edineț was a county of Moldova from 1998 to 2003. Its population in 2003 was 279,100. Its capital was Edineț. It was bordered by Romania and Ukraine, and with the Moldovan counties of Bălți and Soroca. It had 165 localities, 8 of which had ...

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