Flag of Turkey

Meaning and history of the flag of Turkey

Turkey's flag, known as "Ay Yıldız" (moon and star), consists of a red field with a white waning crescent and a white five-pointed star positioned slightly toward the hoist side. This iconic design was officially adopted on May 29, 1936, though its origins date back to the 18th century, during the Ottoman Empire.

The flag's red has deep roots in Turkish and Ottoman history, traditionally associated with sovereignty and military valor. According to popular legend, the red represents the blood of soldiers who fell at the Battle of Kosovo in 1389, whose reflection in a pool formed the image of the crescent and star. The crescent and star are Islamic symbols adopted by the Ottomans, though their use in Anatolia predates the arrival of Islam itself.

The Turkish flag has had an enormous influence on the vexillology of many Muslim countries. The flags of Tunisia, Algeria, Libya, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, and several other nations incorporate the crescent and star in various forms, all rooted in the Ottoman tradition. Turkey's flag is a deeply respected national symbol, protected by specific laws governing its use and display, and it flies prominently throughout the country as an expression of Turkish national pride.

You can view the flag of Turkey in high resolution above and download it in several sizes for personal, educational or reference use. To explore more, visit the full Turkey profile, its map, or the current local time in Ankara.