List of Greek Flags - Historical Greek Flags

Historical Greek Flags

Flag Date Use Description
ca. 1350 Flag of Constantinople, attested in the 14th-century Spanish atlas Conosçimiento de todos los reynos The flag features the red St. George's cross (associated with the Genoese colony of Galata) and the dynastic arms of the Palaeologi, the tetragrammatic cross with the four betas (commonly, as here, depicted in the form of stylized fire-steles).
Also in Spanish atlas Conoscimento de todos los reinos the well-documented "plain" tetragrammatic cross (a symbol of the Palaiologos dynasty) flag is presented as the flag "of the real Greece and Empire of the Greeks (la vera Grecia e el imperio de los griegos)" (not being clear whether this implies usage of the quartered flag mainly in Constantinople). Golden cross with four betas on red field.
Although it is the emblem most commonly associated with the Byzantine Empire, the double-headed eagle has not been documented in any historical banner or flag (most probably it remained a personal and/or dynasty symbol of Byzantine Emperors). This also serves as the flag of the Greek Orthodox Church. A black double eagle on yellow (originally gold) field.
1431–1619 The Greek sipahi cavalry units serving with the Turkish army were allowed to use this flag during the first centuries of Ottoman rule, when within the territory of Epirus and the Peloponnese. Similar flags were used during the Greek Revolution. A blue cross over a white field, with an image of St. George slaying the dragon in the middle.
This flag, the so-called "Græco-Ottoman" ensign (Γραικοθωμανική παντιέρα), was allowed for use by Greek merchant ships during the latter stages of Ottoman rule. The flag consists of three horizontal stripes in the colours red (for the Ottoman Empire), blue (for the Greeks) and red (see article on Ottoman flags).
The flag of the Filiki Eteria.
1821–1825 The flag of the Areopagus of Eastern Continental Greece, a regional administration during the Greek Revolution. The flag consists of three vertical stripes in the colours green, white and black. The cross stands for Orthodox Christianity, the flaming heart for the will to fight for independence, and the anchor for the steadfastness of purpose.
1821 Flag of the Sacred Band.
1821 Used by Athanasios Diakos and his irregulars during the Greek War of Independence. The figure of St. George slaying the dragon, with the motto Ελευθερία ή θάνατος (Freedom or Death).
1821 The first Greek revolutionary flag, raised at the beginning of the Greek War of Independence by Andreas Londos. A black Latin cross in the center of a red field.
1821 Used by Alexander Ypsilantis.
1821 Used by Anthimos Gazis and his irregulars from Thessaly during the Greek War of Independence.
1821 Flag of the Military-Political System of Samos during the Greek War of Independence.
1821 Flag of the revolutionaries from Chalkidiki during the Greek War of Independence.
1821 The flag of the fighters of the autonomous Mani Peninsula. A blue Greek cross on white background, with the words "Victory or Death" and the ancient Spartan motto "With it or upon it" in gold.
1800–1807 Flag of the Septinsular Republic, a self-governing state comprising the Ionian Islands, under joint Russian and Ottoman suzerainty. The flag depicts the "Lion of St. Mark", the symbol of the Republic of Venice, under whose rule the Ionian Islands were until 1797. The lion holds seven bundled arrows, representing the unity of the seven islands, with the Bible superimposed on them.
1817–1864 Flag of the United States of the Ionian Islands, a British protectorate from 1815 until its cession to Greece in 1864. The flag is a variation of the British colonial Blue Ensign, with red bordering. It is defaced with the islands' emblem, a variant of the Venetian "Lion of St. Mark" holding seven bundled arrows, representing the unity of the seven Ionian Islands, with the Bible superimposed on them.
1834–1912 Princely flag of the autonomous Principality of Samos, tributary to the Ottoman Empire. The flag consists of a white triangle on blue background, bearing a red Greek cross in the centre.
1941–1944 Flag of the Principality of the Pindus, an Italian-sponsored Aromanian puppet state during World War II. A red saltire with a green background.

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