Page 179 - (DK) Complete Flags of the World

Asia

Georgia

Ratio: 3:5 Adopted: January 14, 2004 Usage:National and Civil

Smaller crosses,
Red cross, typical of possibly based on the
St. George, Georgia’s “Jerusalem” cross
patron saint

Asia
2USSIAN &EDERATION Georgia was absorbed into the Russian Empire in
'%/2')! 1801 and became part of the Soviet Union in 1921.
4URKEY ! !RMENIA I It regained independence in 1991.
ENIA
During the “Rose Revolution” of St. George is the patron saint of
2003, the Georgian flag achieved Georgia, perhaps explaining the
prominence as the symbol of the basic red cross on a white field.
opposition National Movement.
On taking power in 2004 the party THE SOVIET ERA
adopted it as the new national flag. While part of the USSR, Georgia
flew a variant of the Red Flag,
OBSCURE ORIGINS adopted in 1951. It had a red field,
The historical background of the flag with a thin blue stripe close to the
is uncertain. References are made in top. The canton contained the
a 14th-century text to a similar flag traditional hammer, sickle, and star
from Sivas, in modern Turkey. emblems, unusually in red, on a blue
Georgians may have adopted it after disc from which emanated 24 rays.
invading the territory. Following independence from the
Another theory suggests Georgian USSR in 1991, Georgia officially
links with the Holy Land saw the re-adopted a flag used during its brief
addition of the four small crosses. independence between 1918 and
These were based on the “Jerusalem” 1921. The field was deep red, with
cross. However, it is true that black and white stripes in the canton.

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