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تاريخ العلم المغرب Morocco Flag History

Morocco Today, Western Sahara,
Spanish Protectorate, Republic of Er Rif, Flag in ca. 1884,

Morocco Today:

The use of the flag in Morocco as a symbol of the state dates way back to the Almoravide dynasty (10621125 ad). Prior to this time, white silk banners were often carried in battle.

The Almoravides institutionalized this practice. They gave one banner to every unit of 100 soldiers; the leaders always carried one inscribed: "There is no god but god, and Mohammad is His Prophet."

The two following dynasties (the Merinides and the Saadiens) continued the use of the White flag as the symbol of the State. The Alaouites (beginning in the 17th Century), which are the ruling dynasties and the ancestors of King Hassan II, were the first to introduce the red flag. It was raised every morning and lowered every evening on the fortresses at Rabat and Sale.

The green Sulayman star on the flag was introduced in 1912, when Morocco was put under the French protectorate, in order to distinguish the nation 's flag from the others.

Chapter One General provisions Article 7: The emblem of the Kingdom shall be a red flag with a five-pointed green star in the centre. (...)

Civil ensign

The national flag, with a yellow crown in the canton.

According to an official plate sent to me by the Moroccan Royal Navy, this is the civil ensign ?but the crown is of a simpler design, like on the volume of the French Hydrographic Service.

Navy ensign

the Moroccan Royal Navy, four small yellow crowns, one in each corner.

Western Sahara:

Flag adopted 27 February 1976, state emblem adopted 1976, modified June 1991 (by the removal of hammer).

Significance of the Flag

The flag (designed by the Frente Polisario) is inverted in nature. The black (on top) represents death, the green represents life, the white represents peace, When the POLISARIO gain independence after a referendum and are recognized as a "true country" the green will go on top and the black will go to the bottom.

also see... History of the Western Sahara Flag

Spanish Protectorate of Morocco (1912-1956):

Khaliph personal flag

The flag of the Khaliph of the Spanish Protectorate of Morocco was used from 11th October 1945 till the independence of Morocco, 28th March 1956. It is described as «a square flag, green with the Makhzen emblem in yellow? The so-called Makhzen sign happens to be an outlined six-pointed star. Though the star is reminiscent of the shield of David, the word Makhzen has nothing to do with magen or mogen (Hebrew for shield). The Makhzen is the name given in Morocco to the central administration together with the Sultan's governmental suite.

The Arabic term khaliph (deputy) is used here in its strict sense and has nothing to do with the supreme imam of the Muslim community (khalifah rasul Allah or deputy of the messenger of God), a title held by the Ottoman sultans up to this century. During the Spanish protectorate, the Khaliph acted as supreme authority as the Sultan's deputy, under the control of the Spanish High Commissioner.

Republic of Er Rif (Morocco) - (1920-1926):

History of the republic

This independent state was proclaimed in the 1920s.

The Rif War between 1920 and 1926, led by Abd-el Krim (1882-1963) who proclaim the Holy War against Spain. In 1921 he won over the Spanish General Sylvestre in Anoual. In 1923, an international status for Tangier was proclaimed. In 1924 after the Spaniards left the coast, he nearly threatened to conquer Fes and Tangier. In 1926, with the unification of the French and Spanish Military Commandment, he is defeated and is deported to the Reunion Isle. He escaped (1947) from a ship which returned to France and finally died in Egypt.

As you can see, the flag has a six-pointed star; the same stare you would see in the Isreal flag (Shield of David) but It must be taken into account that Israeli-Arab enmity did not exist before the 1917 Balfour Declaration, and in practice started only after the Second World War. So Abd-el-Karim would hardly find it unacceptable to use a hexagram in his republic's flag ?leaving aside the fact that he would consider it an Arab, rather than (at the time) a Zionist symbol.

Flag in ca. 1884:

Morocco had around 1884 a red flag, with a border of red and white triangles, in the center two white scimiatrs crossed.

This flag can be found on several old flag charts. It is reported on Dutch flag charts as "Moorse vlag" (Moorish flag); later it became "Moroccan flag".

The flag of Morocco was originally plain red, despite the numerous fanciful designs attributed to the country by european flag chart publishers.

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