By This graphic was originaly Vectorization: User:SKopp. — SVG implementation of the 63–145 Algerian law "on Characteristics of the Algerian national emblem", Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=27000198
The flag of Algeria has a long and storied history, dating back to the 1200s. It has gone through many variations, each vastly different from the rest. Let’s start at the beginning, with the first flag of the Kingdom of Tlemcen.
This was the first flag of the Kingdom of Tlemcen, a kingdom that controlled modern-day northern Algeria. This flag was brought back in the late 1400s. It is the first of many Algerian flags with a crescent moon.
The Kingdom of Tlemcen used this flag next, essentially inverting the colors on their previous flag and rotating the crescent moon to face upwards. The blue on this crescent moon is darker than the blue on the background of the previous flag.
This flag was flown by the Sultanate of Tuggurt, a state in modern-day southern Algeria. The crescent moon remained and a 5-pointed star was added inside of it. The Shahada was added on the left side of the flag, and to the left of the Shahada, there is a jagged pattern. The dark green background is new as well.
The Kingdom of Tlemcen revived its first flag 150 years after removing it. The flag was removed once again in 1556 when the kingdom was annexed by the Ottoman Empire.
This was the flag of the Kingdom of Beni Abbas, a kingdom in modern-day northeastern Algeria. This is the first tri-color Algerian flag. The top and bottom stripes are bright red, and the middle stripe is green with Arabic text written in yellow across it.
1516–1830
By Nourerrahmane — Own work based on:تاريخ الجزائر العام للعلامة عبد الرحمن الجيلالي الجزء الثالث: الخاص بالفترة بين 1514 إلى 1830م, الجزائر: الشركة الوطنية للنشر والتوزيع, p. 40 , The General History of Algeria by Abd al-Rahman al-Jilali Part Three: Regarding the Period Between 1514 and 1830: "so he first moved to the city of Cherchell and occupied it in 922 AH (1516 AD) and then advanced to the city of Algiers on the same date, so he rescued it from the clutches of the Spanish and strengthened it with his symbolic three colored flag: green, yellow and red colors, and his brother Khair al-Din at that time was busy conquering the city of Mostaganem". (1965) كتاب حرب الثلاثمائة سنة بين الجزائر واسبانيا 1492–1792, الشركة الوطنية للنشر والتوزيع, p. 175 , The Three Hundred Years' War between Algeria and Spain 1492–1792 by Ahmad taoufik Al-Madani: "The death sentence was in his hands, and he became the sole authority in the city of Algiers. He raised his banners of three colors above its walls and castles: green, yellow and red, and spread his authority after a short period of time over the entire plains surrounding the city of Algiers. He took the initiative to mint coins bearing his emblem, on which he wrote: “Mit in Algiers.”". (1910) Histoire générale de l'Algérie, Impr. P. Crescenzo, p. 360 , Garrot, Henri (1910): "then, mounting on horseback, followed by his soldiers, he had himself proclaimed Sultan of Algiers, in the midst of the terrified inhabitants. His tricolor banner, green, yellow, red, then flew over the forts of the city, already occupied by the Turks". According to Tarek Kahlaoui, Creating the Mediterranean: Maps and the Islamic Imagination (Brill, 2018), p. 216, the city of Algiers is represented by a flag of red, yellow and green horizontal stripes in an Ottoman atlas of 1551 (Al-Sharafīʼs atlas of 1551)[1]. Mouloud Gaïd : L'Algerie sous les Turcs, p.58 : "The great flag of Algiers, formed of three bands of silk in red, green and yellow, majestically deployed over the gate" [2]. Léon Galibert, L'Algérie ancienne et moderne depuis les premiers établissements der carthaginois (1844), p.181 : "The great national flag of Algiers, formed of three bands of silk, red, green and yellow, was displayed majestically above the Bab-Azoun gate,"[3] Alexandre Rang, Histoire d'Aroudj et de Khaïr-ed-din:"the deployment of a large national flag formed of three bands of silk, red, green and yellow, and adorned with a silver crescent" [4] Nadir Assari, Alger: des origines à la régence turque: “During the Turkish era, the flag of Algiers was made up of three bands of red, green and yellow silk. » [5] Marius Bernard, L'Algérie qui s'en va: “Nothing is missing, not even the long pole where the insolent flag of the Regency floated for so long with its three horizontal bands, yellow below, red above, green in the middle. ” [6] Sander Rang,Ferdinand Denis,Jean-Michel Venture de Paradis, Fondation de la régence d'Alger: histoire des Barberousse: “ it was from the top of its vast terraces on which floated the red, yellow and green standard.”. [7] DROHOJOWSKA, Countess Antoinette Joséphine Françoise Anne (1848) (in French) L'historie d'Algérie, racontée à la jeunesse … ouvrage … précédé d'une préface de D. Lévi Alvarès … et faisant suite au cours d'histoires racontées á la jeunesse … par M. Lamé Fleury, pp. 136 : “ While victory was docile to the Turks, wherever the terrible red, green and yellow flag of Odjak appeared, a flag still so new and already so well known. ” Drohojowska.]), A. S. de DONCOURT (Chevalier, pseud [i e the Countess Antoinette Joséphine Fránçoise Anne (1875) (in French) Les Fastes de la Marine Française. Marine militaire, pp. 112 : “ The siege of Malta, during which "we see them, led by Hassan, their governor," showing themselves wherever there was danger to be faced, glory to be acquired, ended up making the terrible red-green-yellow flag famous and formidable, which Barbarossa gave them. The Odjak of Algiers takes first place among the regencies of the Barbary coasts which, under the suzerainty of the sultans, became the terror of the Mediterranean and the Christian populations of its coastline. ” (in French) (1830) Conquête d'Alger ou pièces sur la conquête d'Alger et sur l'Algérie, pp. 122 : "it was easy to guess that it was the contingents of the beys who came to swell the dey's army. On the evening of the 17th, we saw the red, yellow and green standard of the Aga flying very distinctly over one of the highest tents."the standard flying from an Algerine Xebec near Gibraltar, by Dominic Serres (1722–1793).The standard flying from a Barbary pirate ship, by Circle of Adriaen van Diest (1655–1704)."Algiers flag" in 17th 18th century FLAGS PRINT 1950s.58 Early form of Algerian Flag in "The Flags of the World" Plate 7, volume 6–143.Portrait of "Hayreddin Barbarossa, Founder of the State of Algiers" by Mohammed Racim.“The seven standards of the bey.The Bache-Allam stood in the center, carrying the large standard of embroidered green silk, on which was embroidered this sentence: نَصْرٌ مِّن اللَّهِ وَفَتْحٌ قَرِيبٌ (With the help of God the conquest is near).This flag was bordered with gold and silver fringes and topped with a silver globe. On each side marched the three other flags without inscription, generally composed of three vertical bands red, yellow, red.” — (in French) (1867) Revue africaine: journal des travaux de la Société Historique AlgérienneFlag of the Barbarossa brothers in the National Maritime Public Museum, AlgiersRegimental Flag of Algiers (according to Richard Holmes Laurie)Other Standards of the Regency of AlgiersAlternative Flag of the Regency of Algiers (XVI century)Type of War Standard (according to B. Dubreuil and Pierre Lux-Wurm)Algerian Naval Flag (Algerian Corsairs) before 1830 (according to K.-H. Hesmer)Algerian Land forces Flag (Algerian Odjak) before 1830 (according to (in English) (1986) Flag Bulletin, Flag Research Center., p. 166 ), CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=134572984
This flag was flown by the Regency of Algiers, a state that took up most of modern-day Algeria. They kept the red-yellow-green theme but switched the places of the green and red stripes. The top and bottom stripes were made green, while the middle stripe was made red. The yellow Arabic text was removed and yellow stripes were added between the red and green stripes.
Kel Ahaggar, a Tuareg confederation, flew this unique flag. Located in modern-day southeastern Algeria, they were one of many Tuareg groups located in northern Africa. They were terminated in 1977 by the Algerian government. Their flag featured a bright yellow background with a black double-ended trident shape in the center.
This was the flag of French Algeria, a colony owned by France located in the northern part of modern-day Algeria. The tri-color theme returned, this time going vertical. From left to right, the colors are navy blue, white, and red.
The Emirate of Abdelkader kept the tri-color theme but switched up the color scheme. The top and bottom stripes were made green and the middle stripe was made white. A yellow hand was added in the middle of the white stripe, and yellow Arabic text was inscribed in a circle around it.
This was the personal flag of Lalla Fatma N’Soumer, a woman who led attacks against the French during the French conquest of Algeria. She was captured in 1857 and died in prison 6 years later. She is regarded as a hero in Algeria. Her flag featured muted tones, very different from most flags in history. It has four stripes, all different colors. From top to bottom, those colors are blue/purple, green, orange, and white.
This was the personal flag of the Governor-General of French Algeria, Amiable Pelissier. He was appointed to the position in 1860 and died there in 1864. His flag featured a unique shape, almost as if a triangle had been cut out of the end of the flag. The background is white, but the top half of the flag has a red border and blue text while the bottom half has a blue border with red text.
This is the first flag that somewhat resembles the current Algerian flag. Once again, the tri-color theme returned, this time featuring a horizontal green-white-green pattern. The Emirate of Abdelkader flew this same tri-color different symbols in the center. This version of the flag has a red hand and a red crescent moon in the center of the white stripe.
The flag of the Setif revolt was the first Algerian flag to have a two-color background like the current flag of Algeria does. However, in this version, the stripes are horizontal, while in the current flag, they are vertical. This time, the stripes are white and green. The red hand and crescent moon stayed on the flag but were relocated to the top left corner, where a red 6-pointed star and red text were added. This two-month-long massacre during which this flag was flown led by the French resulted in the deaths of thousands of Algerians.
1958–1962
By User:Escondites — Presentation of the 1st GPRA (1958)President Benkhedda in Vietnam (1958)Fln And Gpra Leaders In Tunis In March 1961. Tunis — 24 mars 1961 — Portrait de M'Hamed YAZID, Ministre de l'information du GPRA (Gouvernement provisoire de la République algérienne), debout derrière son bureau, un drapeau algérien encadré et accroché au mur derrière lui.La constitution du GPRAM. Benkhedda, Président du GPRA October 28, 1961.France 1961 24 mai à Evian : rencontre entre des représentants du FLN (Front de libération nationale) algérien, des membres du GPRA (gouvernement provisoire de la République algérienne) et une délégation de la République françaiseannexe à la loi 63–145 du 25 avril 1963Crwflags, Flag of the FLN, 1954., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=54030189
The flag of the Provisional Government of the Algerian Republic had 2 variants. Both were similar, featuring two vertical stripes in green and white. They both also feature a red crescent moon that contains a red star. This symbol is located at the point where the stripes join. The only difference between the variants is the thickness of the stripes. Of all the flags we’ve gone over so far, these are the closest to the current flag of Algeria.
1962-Present (2023)
By This graphic was originaly Vectorization: User:SKopp. — SVG implementation of the 63–145 Algerian law "on Characteristics of the Algerian national emblem", Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=27000198
This is the current flag of Algeria. It is nearly the exact same as one of the variants of the previous flag, the only difference being that the red crescent moon and star were enlargened.
