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| ] is similar to the flag used in late periods of Ottoman Empire.]] | ] is similar to the flag used in late periods of Ottoman Empire.]] | ||
| The flag of the ] (and later that of ]) is called ''Ay Yıldız'' which means ''moon star''. The flag has a ancient and complex origin. The color red is a prominent color in ] history. The crescent and star, while being Islamic symbols have long been used by the ] even before the advent of ]. The flag was originally simply a ] on a green field, but this was changed in ] when Sultan ] officially changed the background to red. In ], the star was added. Some say the star symbol dates back to the time of ] and it was considered a symbol of ] in his time, but rather it was an important part of the Turkish folklore, just like the crescent. | The flag of the ] (and later that of ]) is called ''Ay Yıldız'' which means ''moon star''. The flag has a ancient and complex origin. The color red is a prominent color in ] history. The crescent and star, while being Islamic symbols have long been used by the ] even before the advent of ]. The flag was originally simply a ] on a green field, but this was changed in ] when Sultan ] officially changed the background to red. In ], the star was added. Some say the star symbol dates back to the time of ] and it was considered a symbol of ] in his time, but rather it was an important part of the Turkish folklore, just like the crescent. | ||
| There are several legends associated with the symbols of the flag. The two most popular include a reflection of the moon occulting a star, appearing in pools of blood after the ] in ], and anothers refer to a dream of ] in which a crescent and star appeared from his chest and expanded over the entire world. | There are several legends associated with the symbols of the flag. The two most popular include a reflection of the moon occulting a star, appearing in pools of blood after the ] in ], and anothers refer to a dream of ] in which a crescent and star appeared from his chest and expanded over the entire world. | ||
Revision as of 03:23, 3 October 2004
The flag of the Ottoman Empire (and later that of Turkey) is called Ay Yıldız which means moon star. The flag has a ancient and complex origin. The color red is a prominent color in Turkish history. The crescent and star, while being Islamic symbols have long been used by the Turks even before the advent of Islam. The flag was originally simply a crescent on a green field, but this was changed in 1793 when Sultan Selim III officially changed the background to red. In 1844, the star was added. Some say the star symbol dates back to the time of Constantine and it was considered a symbol of Mary in his time, but rather it was an important part of the Turkish folklore, just like the crescent.
There are several legends associated with the symbols of the flag. The two most popular include a reflection of the moon occulting a star, appearing in pools of blood after the battle of Kosovo in 1448, and anothers refer to a dream of Osman I in which a crescent and star appeared from his chest and expanded over the entire world.
The standard Ottoman naval flag was similar to the national flag but had a seven-pointed star. There was also a system of rank insignia where the flag determined the rank of the highest officer onboard. A flag with an anchor surrounded by four exploding bombs (sometimes with a cresent below the anchor) indicated that the Commander-in-Chief of the Ottoman naval forces (i.e. the sultan himself) was onboard. An anchor with no bombs was a commander of a naval base and such a flag with a swallowtail was a Junior Commander at sea. Five bombs were being the Admiral of the Fleet and one the Rear Admirals. There were also swallow-tailed bomb flags, where three bombs were being the Commodore and one the Commander.
The imperial banners displayed the sultan's tughra, often on a pink or bright red background. The religious colour of Islam is green, and many Ottoman flags were dark green. Sometimes it was just a plain green flag, sometimes the moon and star were painted in white and sometimes in yellow. Many royal banners picture the legendary Zulfikar sword. As of 1862 the flag of the sultan was green with seven thin, red, horizontal lines.
The flagpoles were often decorated by a cresent, a wolf head, a horse tail or a Quran box. In addition, banners were always accompanied by a number of smaller flags, pennants, icons and various other items with symbolic meaning (for example, the Janissaries used to parade with their cauldrons).