List of Albanian flags

This is a list of historical flags used in Albania. For more information about the national flag, visit the article Flag of Albania.

Historical flags

Flag of the Bajrak of Kashnjeti (1878)

Ded Kol Bajraktari, the chieftain of the Bajrak of Kashnjeti (Dibrri) had unfurled this flag, on 10 June 1878, at the event known as the Albanian League of Prizren, swearing in the name of his bajrak, to preserve it with honor and glory. The flag with the inscription "Mirdita", is considered an object of great historical importance and a symbol of resistance for the people of the Mirdita region and areas of Northern Albania. The flag's dimensions are 95 cm x 75 cm. A field of blood-red cloth is made of a two-piece loom, of cotton thread. In the middle of the flag is the black double-headed eagle, above it is a silver shining sun and below the eagle is embroidered with Latin letters the name "MIRDITA". It is the only surviving flag of the twelve bajraks of Mirditë.

Flag of Aladro Kastriota (1902)

A document from the Ottoman archives of 1902, explains how Juan Pedro Aladro Kastriota, a Spanish citizen who claimed descent from Skanderbeg, a famous 15th century Albanian nobleman that rebelled against the Ottomans and became an obstacle to their early expansion — thus making him a pretender to the Albanian throne — distributed postcards throughout several European capitals, namely Paris, Rome, Athens and Saint Petersburg, featuring a photograph of himself next to a variant illustration of the Albanian flag. The postcards were found alongside a calendar printed in Albanian and were in the possession of two individuals, Nuri Frashëri and Basco Barbatassi, who attempted to distribute them throughout the Ottoman Empire. In excerpts published by the French literary journal "L'Écho des Jeunes" from its 238th issue, dated 1 October 1903, a brief profile of Don Juan de Aladro Kastrioti is given which includes a speech he had made on 31 January 1902 and addressed to the Albanian people that mentions the following: "The glorious name of Skanderbeg is our banner. With that cry on my lips, in the shade, with this flag, let us all unite..." The double-headed eagle in Aladro's flag is later seen in a publication of the nationally syndicated Minerva Magazine, Issue 004–005, Page 26, Year 1932.

Flag of Isa Boletini (1910)

The flag of Isa Boletini was used for the first time at the Assembly of Isniq in 1910. It was later raised on top of a hill in Visekovc and on 12 August 1912, Boletini with thirty of his men, carried it through the streets of Skopje, which at the time was part of the Vilayet of Kosovo. The same flag was used in Vlorë, when Boletini and a cavalry of four hundred fighters entered the city on the day Albania declared its independence. The flag is made of red silk, edged with golden fringes and has in the center a black double-headed vulture with the heads of a serpent looking down. Awarded the Hero of the People title, Boletini was a prominent figure in the movement for an independent Albania. He is featured in a painting by Nikolet Vasia which inspired the famous scene in the 1982 film Nëntori i Dytë, where Boletini is seen kneeling down and kissing the Albanian flag while Ismail Qemali and other participants look on.

Flag of the Albanian revolt of 1911

In the spring of 1911, teacher and poet Palok Traboini, then serving as personal secretary to Ded Gjo Luli, while journing through Dalmatia brought along with him three flags and delivered them to Ded Gjo Luli of Hoti, Dok Ujka of Gruda and Prel Luca of Triepshi respectively. The flags had been fabricated in Vienna, Austria at the request of Aladro Kastriota and were a gift for the fighting insurgents of Malësia e Madhe. One of the flags was first unfurled at the Church of Traboini in Hot on 6 April 1911 by Kol Ded Gjoni, son of Ded Gjo Luli and later raised several times by his fighters on top of the Bratila peak. Placed on the flag was a piece of cloth with the inscription "Flamuri i Liris" Mars 1911 and on the carrying spear can be seen the figurine of an eagle with flapping wings. The flag appeared in the form of a labarum, in the style of Roman legions. On 13 July 1911, the Basque magazine Euskal-Herria published a letter addressed to the senior editor of the magazine that was written by Juan Aladro de Kastriota and signed in Euskara: «The signs of sympathy that I have received from everywhere on the occasion of my last campaign, are to me comforting in a high degree and give me strength to continue the titanic and unequal struggle to give my poor Albania her freedom. God will have mercy on us and he will surely help us. The Battle of Derelik, new Albanian Covadonga, confirms my faith. Now I am here, resting my old bones and ready to start the fight, if the Turks do not give us the promised autonomy." Milloi bat ezker bere maitagarria gatik ta eskumuñak. — ALADRO.» The only remaining evidence of the flag is a photograph by Kel Marubi which is presently archived at the National Museum of Photography.

Flag of the Albanian Congress of Trieste (1913)

On March 1, 1913, the Albanian National Assembly, known as the Albanian Congress of Trieste, convened in the city of Trieste, then Kingdom of Italy. It was attended by over 150 delegates from all provinces of Albania and representatives from the Albanian colonies. The assembly was called in face of the dangers that threatened the territorial integrity of the new Albanian state. One of the four key points in the congress' agenda was the Vlach issue, which decomposed more broadly, was to announce that the Vlachs, next to their Albanian brethren, were determined to live in this new and free Albanian state, encompassing all unified vilayets. The active participation of the vlach delegates in this political assembly showed a high sense of responsibility for the future of the common homeland and reached its climax in the speech delivered by prince Albert Ghica of the noble Ghica family of Romania who declared the following: "If we want to be worthy descendants of Skanderbeg, we must take up arms for a unified Albania within the four vilayets”. The flag used at the congress is found in a photograph attributed to Atelier A. Gerkic.

Flag of the Committee for the National Defence of Kosovo (1918)

The Committee for the "National Defence of Kosovo" was established in Shkodër on 1 May 1918. Its main goal was an independent Albania that was excluded from any kind of protectorate and the inclusion of Kosovo within its borders. The general program of the NDK Committee in Article II stated: "That this Albania will have the same borders that belong to it geographically according to the Wilson principles, which aim to fully ensure the undeniable rights of the Albanian nation". The top symbol of the flag used by the committee, a pentas flower shaped star, can be seen in a 1916 photograph of a banner hanging at a children's school in Gjakovë which indicates that it was a commonly used symbol in this region. The black double-headed eagle is an exact replication of the eagle found in the flag used by the "Besa-Besën Society".

Diaspora flags

Flag of the Drita Society (1884)

Shoqëria Drita was a pan-Albanian organization which aimed to promote Albanian education and political activism. Based in Istanbul, the society had a separate branch in Bucharest, Romania and was led by Pandeli Sotiri. It had a printing house located in Politieri Street, inside the home of an Albanian merchant named Sotir Tarpo. The flag used to identify the branch was submitted in 1946 to the archives of the Institute of Sciences by an anonymous source. The flag's dimensions are 158 cm by 117 cm. Yellow fringes hang on the sides. In the center, painted in a golden yellow brush is the following text: SOQÈRÍA E SQIPÈTAREVÈT “DRITA” PÈR MÈSIM NÈ SQIP FILUARÈ NÈ BUCUREȘT 1884 ȘÈ NDREUT 16 Decorations like the laurels, the crescent with the eight-pointed star and the one-headed eagle are also painted in golden yellow. Noticeable to the naked eye is that above the eight-pointed star is drawn with a carbon pencil an orthodox cross-shaped symbol, which is an overlap from a later period. The crescent was likely used as a symbol of the Ottoman Empire, of which Albania was still a part of. In explaining the spelling changes in Latin, the Romanian letter "ș" is used, which is pronounced as "sh" in Albanian.

Flag of the Dëshira Society (1904)

In the beginning of the 20th century, the Albanian community in Sofia, then Principality of Bulgaria, commissioned the design and creation of a national flag to represent the recently formed Dëshira Society. A total of 45 gold napoléon coins were collected to fund the project. No information exists of the author who conceived the flag but records show that it was embroidered in silk by Polikseni Luarasi. Its dimensions are 110 cm by 100 cm. With holes on the left side where the stick pole is inserted, it has a field divided into two equal parts, one red and the other white (in concept) but actually having more of a cream or beige hue. The idea was perhaps borrowed from the design of the Bulgarian flag. In the center lays skillfully stitched a large black eagle, unlike today's official eagle found in the national flag. At the time, the design of the double-headed eagle did not have a unified standard which led to the creation of different variants. Under the eagle is written in gold, bright metallic thread the following: СOQERIA E CQIПETAREVET “DECIRE” FlɅUAR ME 1 KOɅOZEG 1893 NE SOFJE. On the sides hang yellow, heavy fringes, which, like the letters and the two upper tassels, are considered golden. The darkening that the letters have undergone over the years may indicate a metal of low quality. The flag stays taut in any hanging position and weighs 1.5 kg. The unveiling of the flag took place on August 28, 1904.

Flag of the National Band "Vatra" (1918)

The flag was donated by the Drenova Society "Bashkimi" in 1918. On April 2, 1920 the society's musical band arrived in Albania with a group of volunteers at the request of prime minister Sulejman Delvina and participated in the events for the liberation of the country. The flag dangled on a wooden rod, preceding the band's marches. Produced in 1918, the symbolic flag is of average dimensions, 101 by 66 cm. On the red background of the silk fabric is printed the following: BANDA KOMBETARE VATRA DHURATE NGA SHOQERIA DRENOVARE BASHKIMI 1918 A real lace material made of yellow metallic yarn that mimics gold, surrounds the entire flag. The small, round temples sparkle in the lace mesh, giving it an appealing look. On the bottom, hang long, spiral fringes of metal thread. In between, a lyre that shines like gold is made of yellow foil, while the metal thread is in copper, the surface of which is enriched with zinc, giving the brass a golden appearance. For centuries, pure gold was no longer used in embroidery, not even in royal clothing.

Flag of the Djelmoshe Society (1919)

Shoqërija Djelmoshe (Albanian: Youth Society), as its name was written in the society's official statute but commonly referred to as Shoqnia Djelmënia was an Albanian organization that promoted education in the mother tongue to the Albanian community living in Istanbul, Turkey, mainly in and around the areas of Topkapı, Eyüp, and Üsküdar. Established on August 1, 1919, its first elected president was Remzi Qyteza. The flag used by the society is 156 cm long and 90 cm wide. Two very high quality silk fabrics are sewn on top of each other. Small red and black tassels hang on the edges, four of which located in all corners are larger in size. In the center is painted with tempera a dark gray patterned eagle and below it the following text: RROFT SHQIPNIA GUSHT 1919 The eagle is different from that of the official flag since at the time there were no laws to define the shape of the national symbols. We notice that in this flag there is no place to insert a spear, nor a rope. Was it meant to be hung on a wall or perhaps used as a banner of manifestation? The flag was donated as a gift to the National Museum in 1931 by Riza Drini, then serving as mayor of Voskopojë and is currently preserved at the ethnographic fund of the Institute for Cultural Anthropology and Art Studies. Owing to laboratory interventions once made, it is in good condition although the tempera paint with which the eagle and the writing are made has long since cracked and splintered.

Other flags

Flag of Mercurio Bua (1510)

Illustration of a flag given in 1510 to Mercurio Bua, (naval commander of Arvanites origin) by Emperor Maximillian I, found in a manuscript written by Ioannes Coroneos, a contemporary of Bua. It features a double-headed eagle, symbol of the Byzantium the Holy Roman Empire and of the Kastrioti, the Cross of Burgundy and the four "B"s or firesteels, used in the Paleologi arms but also linked to the House of Habsburg's Order of the Golden Fleece.

Minority flags

Albania currently recognizes two types of minorities, national ethnic minorities and cultural and linguistic minorities. Non-Albanian nationality is recognized as such by the Albanian state if it is registered in the civil status register. Reporting of minority statistics began with the 1960 census. In the last census of 2011, a total of 52,700 inhabitants were accounted from minority communities.

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  Flag of the Aromanian minority
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  Flag of the Egyptian minority
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  Flag of the Roma minority
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  Flag used by the Morača-Rozafa Association representing the Montenegrin minority.

See also

• Flag of Albania
• List of flags of Kosovo
• Coat of arms of Albania