Flag of Turkey

Quick Facts: Who was Flag of Turkey?

Subject:

Flag of Turkey

Known for:

The national flag of Turkey, featuring a white crescent and star on a red field.

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The national flag of Turkey, officially the Turkish flag (Turkish: Türk bayrağı), features a white crescent and star in a red background on its emblem, based on the 18th-century flag of the Ottoman Empire. The flag is often called "the red flag" (al bayrak), and is referred to as "the red banner" (al sancak) in the Turkish national anthem. The measures, geometric proportions, and exact tone of red of the flag of Turkey were legally standardized with the Turkish Flag Law on 29 May 1936. The star and crescent design appears on Ottoman flags beginning in the late 18th or early 19th century. The white star and crescent moon on red as the flag of the Ottoman Empire were introduced in 1844.

Career & Major Achievements

After the declaration of the Republic of Turkey in 1923, the new administrative regime maintained the last flag of the Ottoman Empire. Proportional standardizations were introduced in the Turkish Flag Law of 1936. Fundamentals of the Turkish flag were laid down by Turkish Flag Law No. 2994 on 29 May 1936 during the Republic period of Turkey. Turkish Flag Regulation No. 2/7175 dated 28 July 1937, and Supplementary Regulation No. 11604/2 dated 29 July 1939, were enacted to describe how the flag law would be implemented. The Turkish Flag Law No. 2893 dated 22 September 1983, and Published in the Official Gazette on 24 September 1983, was promulgated six months after its publication.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

According to Article 9 of Law No. 2893, a statute including the fundamentals of the implementation was also published. According to the Constitution of Cyprus, the community authorities and their institutions have the right to hoist the Turkish flag (as well as the Greek flag) alongside the flag of Cyprus during the holidays. Any citizen may, without any restriction, fly the Greek or Turkish flag, or both, next to the flag of Cyprus. The specification below, given by Turkish Flag Law, implies that the distance between (the left edge of) the inner circle of the crescent and a vertical line connecting the two pointed ends of the crescent is 279⁄800 G = 0.34875 G; thus, the left point of the star intrudes about 0.0154 G beyond that line. The flag is always displayed prominently in state institutions from schools to ministries.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1844: 1844 Milestone — The white star and crescent moon on red as the flag of the Ottoman Empire were introduced in 1844.
2. 1923: 1923 Milestone — After the declaration of the Republic of Turkey in 1923, the new administrative regime maintained the last flag of the Ottoman Empire.
3. 1936: 1936 Milestone — The measures, geometric proportions, and exact tone of red of the flag of Turkey were legally standardized with the Turkish Flag Law on 29 May 1936.
4. 1937: 1937 Milestone — 2/7175 dated 28 July 1937, and Supplementary Regulation No.
5. 1939: 1939 Milestone — 11604/2 dated 29 July 1939, were enacted to describe how the flag law would be implemented.
6. 1983: 1983 Milestone — 2893 dated 22 September 1983, and Published in the Official Gazette on 24 September 1983, was promulgated six months after its publication.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Flag of Turkey

True or False: “Did the design of the Turkish flag originate with the establishment of the Republic of Turkey in 1923?”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The star and crescent design appeared on Ottoman flags beginning in the late 18th or early 19th century, predating the Republic.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• A. E. Housman — Historical peer (Died in 1936) (1936): English classicist and poet, renowned for his scholarship and melancholic verse.
• A. S. Byatt — Historical peer (Born in 1936) (1936): Acclaimed English novelist, poet, and critic known for complex literary works.
• ʻAbdu'l-Bahá — Historical peer (Born in 1844) (1844): Successor to Baháʼu'lláh and guiding light of the Baháʼí Faith.
• Adelbert Brownlow-Cust, 3rd Earl Brownlow — Historical peer (Born in 1844) (1844): British soldier, courtier, and Conservative politician who held several high offices.
• Aaron Spelling — Historical peer (Born in 1923) (1923): Pioneering American producer of hit TV series like Dynasty and Beverly Hills, 90210.
• Ahmet Ertegun — Historical peer (Born in 1923) (1923): Pioneering Turkish-American music executive, co-founder of Atlantic Records.
• Abdelaziz Bouteflika — Historical peer (Born in 1937) (1937): Algerian politician who served as the seventh President of Algeria from 1999 to 2019.
• Alain Badiou — Historical peer (Born in 1937) (1937): Influential French philosopher known for 'Being and Event' and universalism.
• Ada Yonath — Historical peer (Born in 1939) (1939): Pioneering crystallographer known for elucidating the structure and function of the ribosome.
• Alan Ayckbourn — Historical peer (Born in 1939) (1939): Prolific British playwright and director known for domestic farce and ensemble pieces.

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