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Iran: the origin of the tricolor flag (1905-1925)

Last modified: 2000-01-18 by ivan sache
Keywords: iran | lion | state ensign | civil ensign | naval ensign | lion | sword | sun | crown | imperial standard | army flag | wreath |
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Flags in 1905

The horizontal tricolor was introduced around 1905, when a constitution was forced on Shah Muzaffar al-Din (14 August 1905).

Harald Müller, 14 May 1996

The colours of the Iranian flag are traditional, probably dating from at least the 18th century and they can be interpreted as representing the Islamic religion (green), peace (white), and courage (red). The were first designed in tricolour form in 1907.

Source: Shaw, 1994 [shw94]

Carlos de Noronha, 28 March 1998

The national flag was officially adopted on 5 August 1906, with proportion 1:3.
The naval and civil ensign was probably an horizontal tricolor with proportion 2:3 and three unequal stripes (1:4:1), charged in the center with the golden lion with sword and sun directed to fly.

Jaume Ollé, 10 November 1999

Flags in 1907

1907 Admiralty Flagbook reports:

  • Imperial standard: white flag with a red and green border with golden lion, sun and crown in the center.
  • Naval ensign: white flag with a red and green border with golden lion and sun in the center
  • Civil ensign: white flag with a red and green border.

Jaume Ollé, 10 November 1999

Persian civil ensign, 1907by Al Fisher Jr.

The flag is depicted on one of the trading cards manufactured by the American Tobacco Company circa 1910. On these cards, all flags are waving; thus, I was unable to determine the exact dimensions.

Al Fisher Jr., 14 July 1997

Flags in 1910

1910 Admiralty Flagbook reports:

  • Imperial standard: celeste blue field with golden lion, sun and crown in a white disk in the center and two green wreaths.Bicolor border is suppressed and the national flag is added in canton.
  • National flag and civil ensign: horizontal green-white-red tricolor.
  • Government flag and ensign: same with golden lion and sun in the white stripe.
  • Army flag: same with a golden crown and two wreathes touching the red stripe. The crown touchies the green stripe.

Jaume Ollé, 10 November 1999