The Turkish Flag is a red flag with a white crescent and a star, the shape of which is specified in the law, according to Article 3 of the Constitution of the Republic of Turkey.
The Turkish flag gets its color from the blood of the martyrs. The red color also represents independence and sovereignty according to ancient Turkish traditions. And the white color reflects justice and cleanliness. There are many poems and anthems describing these features of the Turkish flag.
The color and shape of each flag have a meaning. Each nation designs its own flags based on their culture and the events they have experienced in the past. Today we will tell you about the meanings and characteristics of Turkish flags from past to present.
First Turkish Flags
In Central Asia, a flag called a “tug” was used in the Turkish history before Islam. The flag, usually made of silk, was tied to the tip of a spear. The flag, which is also known as “batrak” and “badruk“, (In modern Turkish, its “bayrak” now) was used in different colors as the Turks started to become a state and spread. However, after the transition to Islam, Islamic elements were at the forefront in all of them. For example, the Ghaznavids used a white crescent and a bird on a green background. In the Great Seljuk State, there were flags with a pair of white eagle, bow and arrow figures on a blue background as in the photo.
First Flag of Ottomans
The first flag of the Ottoman Empire was white in color. The Anatolian Seljuk ruler, Giyaseddin Masud Osman Bey, had sent gifts and these gifts had a white flag inside. This flag of white color was used for years. The green flag, which started to be used after the Battle of Chaldiran, is considered one of the most used flags in Ottoman history. The red flag, which is closest to the Turkish flag, was used during the reign of Selim III. There was a crescent and eight-pointed star on this flag.
The Turkish Flag of the First Five-Pointed Star
The flag, consisting of a crescent and an eight-pointed star, was first adopted in 1793 as the official flag of the Ottoman Empire. in 1842, Sultan I.Abdulmecit, on the other hand, it was decided that the eight-pointed star should be five-pointed. since 1844, this flag has been considered the official flag of the state.
When Was The Turkish Flag Adopted ?
After talking about the history of the Turkish flag, the flags used before Islam and in the Ottoman Empire, let’s find out when we started using the Turkish flag in an official way. in 1922, the Grand National Assembly of Turkey was established, and the 600-year reign of the Ottoman Empire ended, and the republic was proclaimed the following year. The flag with a crescent and a star on it has also been used in the Ottoman Empire since 1844. However, the Turkish flag was first accepted as the national flag of Turkey on May 29, 1936, with the Turkish Flag Law. In this law, the shape of the Turkish flag was determined precisely.
Dimensions of the Turkish Flag
The dimensions of the flag were determined in the law issued on January 25, 1985. The center of the circles in which the moon and star are formed is on the main axis. The diameter of the inner circle of the moon should be equal to four-tenths of the width of the flag. The diameter of the outer circle is equal to half the width of the flag. The Moon is formed by the intersection of the inner and outer circles. The length of the flag is one and a half times its width.
Offenses Against the Turkish Flag
In addition, according to the law we are talking about, The Turkish flag cannot be placed in places such as the podium and table as a cover, except for official ceremonies. They mean direct disrespect for the flag. All kinds of verbal or written insults to the Turkish flag should be avoided. No blasphemy, throwing it on the floor, trampling, burning, tearing, in short, no disrespectful behavior can be committed. According to the Turkish Flag Law, it is forbidden to make and sell flags in violation of the aforementioned rules. If there are flags that are made in violation of this prohibition and offered for sale, they will be immediately recalled. And again, cases where the rules are not followed are considered a direct crime and penal sanctions are applied.
Why Moon & Star ?
There is a rumor about this, the accuracy of which is not exactly known, but it is very common. According to legend, the blood of the soldiers who died during the First Kosovo War was so much that it formed a lake. That night, the Moon and the Star reflected over this lake of blood. Research shows that this event is more than just a rumor. In the studies on the sky and planets, it was determined that the Moon and Jupiter came together on July 28, 1389, the date of the 1st Kosovo War. So it was actually the Moon and the planet Jupiter, not the Moon and Star that came together.
Legend of the Osman Bey
Another widespread information about the existence of the Turkish flag is related to Osman Bey, the founder of the Ottoman Empire. One day, Osman Bey dreams that his chest is opening and the moon and star are getting bigger and clearer. He shares this dream with the valuable men of the state and religious scholars. Thereupon, it is decided that the flag of the state should be in the form of a white crescent and star drawn on a red background.
Country Flags Similar to the Turkish Flag
Azerbaijan takes the lead in countries that use a similar flag with the Turkish flag. Then we can list countries such as Tunisia, Pakistan, Malaysia and Mauritania. The flags of these countries are very reminiscent, except for a few minor differences.
We tried to explain in detail the features of the Turkish flag, how it emerged and how it came to be today. If you want to know more about Turkey, you can visit our page here: Turkey. We hope you like. See you!