Loading ...The History of Syria’s Flags
By: Fedal Hanoun / Arab America Contributing Writer
In this piece, Arab American contributing writer, Fedal Hanoun, explores the evolution of Syria’s national flags, reflecting its rich cultural heritage, political changes, and struggles for independence. From the symbols of ancient civilizations to Ottoman rule, the Arab Revolt, and French mandate, each flag marked a key historical phase. Post-independence, Syria’s flags expressed its Pan-Arab aspirations, Ba’athist ideologies, and, more recently, its hopes for democracy. The adoption of the “Independence Flag” after Bashar al-Assad’s resignation symbolizes unity and the pursuit of a new era, mirroring Syria’s resilience and the complexity of its history.
Early Civilizational Symbols
Some of the first civilizations in the world, including the Ebla, Ugarit, and Akkadian empires, called the area now Syria long before the contemporary idea of national flags. Though they were not flags in the modern sense, these ancient societies employed symbols and banners in conflict and ceremonial events. Their symbols frequently showed gods, animals, or celestial bodies with cultural or spiritual significance.
Ottoman Rule (1516–1918)
Syria was part of the Ottoman Empire from the early 16th century until World War I ended. The most often used emblem during this time was the crimson field with white crescent moon and star representing the empire. Deeply ingrained in Islamic history, the crescent and star started to be connected with the areas under Ottoman rule, including Syria. Although this flag was not particular for Syria, it represented the area’s position inside the greater Ottoman rule.
Arab Revolt and the Birth of Pan-Arabism (1916–1920)
Syria and the larger Arab world saw a big change as the Ottoman Empire fell apart during World War I. Leading Mecca’s Arab Revolt (1916–1918), Sharif Hussein aimed to create an independent Arab state free from Ottoman rule. Designed by British diplomat Sir Mark Sykes, the flag of the Arab Revolt had horizontal bars of black, green, and white with a red triangle at the hoist. Black for the Abbasid Caliphate, green for the Fatimid Caliphate, white for the Umayyad Caliphate, and red for the Hashemite dynasty each hue stood for major periods in Arab history.
Inspired many other flags throughout the Arab world, including Syria’s, this flag became a potent emblem of Arab unity and independence.
French mandate and Syrian state (1920–1946)
Syria’s independence was essentially postponed by the League of Nations’ French mandate following World War I. Under King Faisal I, a brief Arab Kingdom of Syria came to be founded in 1920. Its banner, which signified the yearning for Arab unity and freedom, almost exactly matched the Arab Revolt flag. Still, in that year French troops destroyed this country.
Syria changed its flag under French control in 1932 to have three horizontal stripes: green (top), white (middle), and black (bottom), with three red five-pointed stars in the white band. The three stars stood in for the three areas under French rule—Deir ez-Zor, Aleppo, and Damascus. This flag was flown till Syria gained her independence in 1946.
Independence and the Early Republic (1946–1958)
In 1946 Syria became totally free from French rule. The flag of 1932 kept being the emblem of the recently independent country. It honored Syria’s Arab identity while reflecting her will to unity and freedom.
Arab Republic United (1958–1961)
Driven by Pan-Arabist ideas of Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser, Syria and Egypt came together in 1958 to create the United Arab Republic (UAR), a brief political union. Representing the two member states, Syria and Egypt, the UAR flag had horizontal stripes of red, white, and black with two green stars in the white band. This design launched the tricolor flag style that still shapes many Arab country flags today. The flag was a constant reminder of Pan-Arabism even when the union broke up in 1961.
Post-UAR Syria and the Ba’athist Period (1961–Present)
Syria briefly reverted to the green-yellow-black flag with three red stars after leaving the UAR. But political developments quickly brought fresh designs reflecting Syria’s changing philosophy into acceptance.
The Arab Socialist Ba’ath Party took over Syria in 1963. Emphasizing Arab unity and socialism, the Ba’athist government restored the red-white-black tricolor with two green stars, linking it with the more general Pan-Arab movement. Still in use today, this design became the national flag.
Originally signifying Syria and Egypt during the UAR era, the two green stars have subsequently been reinterpreted to symbolize Syria and Iraq as Ba’athist governments dominated both countries for most of the 20th century.
Today’s Flag and Modern Times
Starting in 2011, the flag has acquired more layers of significance over the Syrian Civil War. President Bashar al-Assad’s regime keeps the Ba’athist-era flag as the national insignacle. Opposition organizations and factions have meanwhile resurrected the pre-Ba’athist flag with three red stars as a call to change and a symbol of resistance. Syria has started flying the “Independence Flag,” a design first connected with the pre-Ba’athist era and subsequently embraced by opposition groups, following the departure of Bashar al-Assad. Three horizontal bands—green, white, and black—along with three red stars in the white stripe define this flag. It stands for harmony and the expectations for a democratic change.
Conclusion
Syria’s flags’ history is evidence of its rich cultural legacy, its fight for independence, and the ongoing need for unification and identification. From old emblems to the contemporary tricolor, every flag tells a chapter in Syrian history molded by empires, revolutions, and ideas. Syria’s flags act as reminders of the complexity and resiliency of its people as well as national emblems as it negotiates its destiny.
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