FLAG OF MONTENEGRO: HISTORY AND MEANING - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The flag of Montenegro is the national symbol of this European republic. It is composed of a dark red cloth surrounded by a golden frame. In the center of the flag there is a large shield of the country, made up of the double-headed golden eagle, which holds a center and an azure orb. This has been the only Montenegrin flag since its independence in 2006.

The current Montenegrin territory has enjoyed different symbols since its time as part of the Roman Empire. By becoming Zeta, different dynasties kept their royal symbols. The double-headed eagle appeared with the Crnojevići dynasty and the lion, on the flag of Venice.

Flag of Montenegro. (B1mbo, Froztbyte).

The properly Montenegrin symbols began with the Principality-Bishopric of Montenegro, having a cross on a red background and later, with the Principality of Montenegro, which reinstated the double-headed eagle. From the Kingdom of Montenegro the Pan-Slavic colors were incorporated, which were maintained in the Yugoslav rule, including communism.

After the fall of the Soviet bloc, Montenegro remained in Yugoslavia with Serbia and they shared symbols. It was not until 2004 that it re-adopted its red flag with the double-headed eagle, and in 2006 it became the flag of the independent country.

History of the flag

The region has been populated since advanced stages of prehistory, with peoples such as the Illyrians. It was not until the seventeenth century BC. C. that the first Greek colonies were established in the place, as well as other Celtic settlements. That did not prevent the Illyrians from founding a kingdom, which was later occupied by the Romans from 168 BC. C.

- Roman empire

Like much of Eastern Europe, present-day Montenegro became part of the dominions of the Roman Empire. Thus, it remained until at least 395, along with the entire Illyrian region. The Roman Empire did not formally have a flag, but a vexillum was recognized, which is a vertical banner with the acronym SPQR, or Roman Senate, Roman People.

Vexillum of the Roman Empire. (Ssolbergj)

The end of the Roman Empire in present-day Montenegro came with the division of the empire and as a consequence, the Schism that divided the Roman church from the Orthodox. Montenegro began to be invaded by nomadic barbarians such as the Avars and Slavs, who settled in Dalmatia.

- Dynasties in Zeta

With the arrival of the Slavs, the political reality of present-day Montenegro definitely changed. The Slavs founded the Principality of Doclea, which over time Christianized its population. Later, the first Bulgarian Empire took control of the area. All this continued to generate instability, so in the 10th century the Serbs came to take control, and later it was the Byzantines who took over the area.

Later, the Byzantine power fell and Doclea remained a Roman Catholic territory and by the year 1077, it was recognized as a state by Pope Gregory VII. Doclea did not have an official flag and surrendered to the Serbs in 1168. From then on, the territory became known as Zeta and had several ruling dynasties.

Until 1360 in Zeta the Nemanjić dynasty ruled. In that and in all periods, the symbols that were used were those that represented the royal dynasty. In the case of the Nemanjić, they used a white double-headed eagle on a red crest. Presiding over the shield, a lion with red and white stripes stood.

Coat of arms of the Nemanjić dynasty. (CarJunakaCg).

Zeta during the Balšić dynasty

Another of the ruling dynasties was the Balšić. These monarchs established themselves in the power of Zeta in the year 1421 and included the country in what became known as the Despotate of Serbia. That state was one of the successors to the Serbian Empire.

The Balšić dynasty used as a shield a black-and-white outline with the head of a black animal on a white crest.

Coat of arms of the Balšić dynasty. (Bratislav).

Zeta during the Crnojevići dynasty

By 1451, the Crnojevići dynasty took control of Zeta. They were a Serbian family. Its power became effective with the arrival to the throne Stefan I Crnojević. Among its symbols were those that had previously identified Serbia, mainly due to the presence of the double-headed eagle.

The flag during the Crnojevići dynasty then consisted of a red cloth with a white double-headed eagle. This was accompanied by four yellow stars.

Flag of the Crnojevići dynasty in Zeta. (B1mbo).

- Republic of Venice (Venetian Albania)

Around the 10th century, the Republic of Venice began to seize possessions in southern Dalmatia. By the 15th century they also settled in present-day Montenegro, especially in the coastal areas. That part was incorporated into Venetian Albania, and remained there until 1797.

The Republic of Venice maintained a flag known as the Lion of Saint Mark. With a garnet background, the silhouette of a lion was incorporated, representing Saint Mark, patron saint of Venice.

Flag of the Republic of Venice. (1489-1571). (By Arch, via Wikimedia Commons).

Furthermore, Venetian Albania kept its own shield. This consisted of three lion heads on a red blazon.

Coat of arms of the Venetian Albania of the Republic of Venice. (Goran tek-en).

- Ottoman Empire

From 1498, the Ottoman Empire took control of much of Montenegro, ignoring the coastal area that was dominated by Venice. Although the Ottomans made a greater territorial claim, most of the mountainous areas were dominated by unorganized clans with a Serbian population majority.

That part corresponded to an independent Montenegro and they did not maintain unique identifying flags. By 1514, the Ottoman part of Montenegro was declared as Sanjak of Montenegro, being an integral part of the Ottoman Empire. That involved the conversion to Islam of the royal family that ruled until 1528.

From 1528 onwards, the status became Vilayet de Montenegro. The Ottoman power remained in part of the present Montenegrin territory until the year 1696. At that time the Ottoman Empire did not have an official flag, but it is considered that the crescent and the star were already part of the traditional iconography.

- Principality-Bishopric of Montenegro

Since 1516 the Principality-Bishopric of Montenegro was founded, which was the union of different bishoprics that constituted a theocracy, which remained in constant confrontation with the Ottoman Empire in the region. This state was primarily an association of different tribes mediated by ecclesiastical compromise.

The importance of the Principality-Bishopric of Montenegro was noted over the centuries because, despite having had many changes in its evolution, it remained in a linear fashion until 1852. This implies that the form of state managed to maintain itself by more than three centuries, later occupying the part left by the Ottoman Empire.

This state did maintain an official flag, which, in turn, became the starting point for the symbols of Montenegro. The first records of this flag are kept under the mandate of Šćepan Mali, in the 18th century.

The symbol was a red cloth with a rectangular white frame. A white cross was added to the center of the flag. There are also versions of flags with inverted colors: cross and red frames with a white background.

Flag of the Principality-Bishopric of Montenegro. (Spesh531).

- Principality of Montenegro

The nineteenth century made the situation of the theocratic state ruled by religious associated with celibacy untenable. Vladika Danilo Petrović decided to marry, assuming the title of Prince Danilo I and ending the official theocracy. In this way, the Secular Principality of Montenegro was born.

Soon after, Danilo I was assassinated and Nicolás I came to the throne. The conflicts against the Ottoman Empire continued to be seen with force, before which the Montenegrin forces joined the Serbs, Russians, Bulgarians and Rumanians to fight them. Montenegro after these conflicts and the signing of the Treaty of Berlin, increased its territories significantly.

Since the creation of the Principality, a new flag was incorporated. On this occasion, a red background was added on which a double-headed eagle crowned in white was imposed. At the bottom, a golden lion was incorporated.

Flag of the Principality of Montenegro. (1852-1905). (B1mbo).

- Kingdom of Montenegro

Prince Nicholas I promoted the approval of a new constitution for 1905 and five years later, the country was raised to the rank of Kingdom of Montenegro. Nicolás I remained king and had to face the situation generated by the Balkan Wars and the First World War.

Montenegro, during World War I, allied with the powers of the Triple Entente, as did Serbia. For this reason, the Austro-Hungarian Empire invaded Montenegro between 1916 and 1918. In 1917 the declaration that united Montenegro with Serbia was signed, and in 1918 the government in exile of Nicholas I.

Until then, the monarch had supported the union with Serbia, but later with his deposition he became a symbol of Montenegrin nationalism, against annexation.

The will of Nicholas I to incorporate the Montenegrin territory into Serbia could be seen in the flag of the Kingdom of Montenegro which, keeping the double-headed eagle, added the three stripes of the Serbian flag: red, blue and white.

Flag of the Kingdom of Montenegro. (1905-1918). (w: Kingdom of Montenegro (Vector graphics image by B1mbo)).

- Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes and Kingdom of Yugoslavia

The Assembly of Podgorica united Montenegro with the Kingdom of Serbia in 1918. Three days later, on December 1, 1918, the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes was founded, with which Montenegro became part of the Kingdom of Serbia. Montenegro reacquired the Zeta name during the first Yugoslav period. Although there were federalist movements, the centralists prevailed.

Years later, in 1929, the state changed its name to the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. In both cases, the country had a flag, made up of three horizontal stripes of equal size in blue, white and red. This was maintained throughout the existence of these kingdoms.

Flag of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (1918-1929) and of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia (1929-1941). (By Fibonacci, via Wikimedia Commons).

- Italian and German occupation

The political reality of Montenegro once again took a turn as a result of the Second World War. The fascist Italy of Benito Mussolini occupied Montenegro since 1941. Citing his Venetian past and the existence of a small Venetian-speaking community there, Mussolini occupied the territory and created the Kingdom of Montenegro again.

The wife of the Italian King Victor Emmanuel III was of Montenegrin origin and she influenced the decision to create an independent state for Montenegro rather than annex it with others. Similarly, the Kingdom of Montenegro was an Italian puppet state.

The country was completely destabilized in a guerrilla war between monarchists, Serbs and Italians. The troops of Nazi Germany had to arrive in 1943 to regain control of the country. The Kingdom of Montenegro under Italian rule maintained a tricolor flag, with three stripes of red, blue and white. This was in force until the Nazi occupation.

Flag of the Kingdom of Montenegro. (1941-1944). (Guilherme Paula).

After Nazi control of the country, the flag of Nazi Germany began to fly. This was made up of a red cloth with a white circle and a black swastika.

Flag of Nazi Germany. (By Fornax, from Wikimedia Commons).

- Socialist Republic of Montenegro as part of communist Yugoslavia

Socialist partisans liberated Montenegro in December 1944. Josip Broz Tito emerged as the communist leader of the region, and recognizing the value of Montenegro, he incorporated it as one of the six republics of the nascent Federal Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia.

Since then, a communist regime led by Tito was established in Montenegro. The Montenegrin republic enjoyed benefits inherent to its status that allowed it to develop tourism and its economy. Due to its port condition and its proximity to Serbia, Montenegro developed trade and industry oriented to this sector.

During the entire period of Yugoslav communist rule over Montenegro, a flag was used in the People's Republic of Montenegro, until 1963 and from that year on, as the flag of the Socialist Republic of Montenegro, after the name change.

This consisted of three horizontal stripes of red, blue and white with the red star in the central part, with a yellow border. The star is one of the symbols of communism and socialism.

Flag of the People's Republic of Montenegro (1946-1963) and of the Socialist Republic of Montenegro, a member of the Federal Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia. (1963-1992). (w: User: CrnaGora).

- Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

The Soviet bloc fell from the late 1980s to the early 1990s. Yugoslavia was no exception and between 1991 and 1992 its conception as a communist federal state dissolved, starting one of the bloodiest wars in history. of Europe.

When communist Yugoslavia ceased and multipartyism began, the Montenegrin communists formed the Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro. Many of the communists and leaders of Montenegro supported the troops of Slobodan Milošević, then president of Serbia as part of Yugoslavia.

The fall of communism gave birth to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, which Montenegro voluntarily entered after a referendum in April 1992.

Montenegro's collaboration with Milošević's troops was determined, allowing episodes of torture against Bosnians and Croats. The embargoes against Yugoslavia left Montenegro economically isolated.

The flag of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia had three stripes of blue, white and red. This was maintained after the name change to Serbia and Montenegro in 2003.

Flag of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. (1992-2003) and the Republic of Serbia and Montenegro. (2003-2006). (See File history below for details.).

Flag of the Republic of Montenegro in Yugoslavia

Additionally, since 1993, Montenegro enjoyed its own flag within the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. This was in force between 1993 and 2004, when the country had already changed its name to Serbia and Montenegro. The flag was extremely elongated and kept three stripes: red, cyan and white.

Flag of the Republic of Montenegro, part of Yugoslavia. (1993-2004). (Zirland).

In 2004, even though the Republic of Montenegro was part of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro, the new flag was approved. This is made up of a dark red cloth with a golden edge and the double-headed eagle in the central part, also in gold. That flag remained unchanged with the country's independence in 2006.

- Independent Montenegro

Since the controversial election of Milo Đukanović as president of Montenegro in 1997, a distancing from Milošević's war policies began to develop. Montenegro began to isolate itself from the conflict, which had led to a NATO intervention and a new war in Kosovo.

In 2003, Serbia and Montenegro was founded and by 2006, an independence referendum was called for Montenegro. The minimum threshold to access independence was 55%, and the affirmative votes for independence managed to get 55.5%. Given this, Montenegro formally became independent on June 3, 2006.

Montenegro as an independent nation continued to use the same flag. This became formally established in the constitution as of 2007.

Meaning of the flag

The most important symbol of the flag is the country's coat of arms, located in the central part. This is made up of a double-headed eagle, which is a symbol of Byzantine origin. Its composition of two heads and a single crown represented at the time the unity between Church and State. In Montenegro, this eagle has been around since the Crnojević dynasty.

The lion located in a blazon in the central part is one of the differentiating symbols of the Montenegrin shield from other similar ones. In this case, the lion was an episcopal symbol and was conceived as a metaphor for the Lion of Judea. Its origins can be in the lion of the flag of San Marcos of the Republic of Venice.

Although today Montenegro is a republic, its symbols represent the greatness of its past and the permanence of that spirit today. Like much of the European symbols, the colors do not have a specific meaning, but are a historical heritage.

References

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4. Reuters. (July 16, 2004). Montenegro: The New (Old) Flag Is Unfurled. Government of Montenegro. Recovered from gov.me.
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