Morocco (flag)
This article was accepted into the corpus but its outbound wikilinks were never NER-processed — typical at the deepest BFS hop or when the run's entity cap was reached. No expansion funnel to show.
| Morocco (flag) | |
|---|---|
.png) | |
| Name | Flag of Morocco |
| Proportion | 2:3 |
| Adopted | 17 November 1915 |
| Design | A red field with a green pentagram (five‑pointed linear star) |
| Designer | Alaouite dynasty (Ottoman and French era influences) |
Morocco (flag) The flag of Morocco is a national emblem featuring a red field charged with a green five‑pointed star, known as the Seal of Solomon, adopted in 1915 under Sultan Yusef during the Alaouite dynasty and standardized amid interaction with the French Protectorate in Morocco and the Spanish Morocco administrations. The banner appears in Moroccan official ceremonies, on state buildings such as the Royal Palace of Rabat, and in representations of Morocco at international forums including the United Nations, the African Union, and the Arab League.
History
The red field of the Moroccan flag has roots in the royal colors of the Alaouite dynasty, which traces lineage to Sharifism and ties to the legacy of the Idrisid dynasty and earlier Maghrebi polities like the Marinid Sultanate. During the 19th‑century reign of Sultan Moulay Abd al‑Rahman and later Sultan Moulay Hassan I, red banners were used in military and diplomatic contexts involving the Sultanate of Morocco and contacts with European powers including France and Spain. The modern pentagram was added by decree of Sultan Yusef in 1915 to distinguish Moroccan ensigns from other red flags during the era of the German Empire and Allied navies. Under the French Protectorate in Morocco (1912–1956) and the Spanish protectorate in Morocco, variations of the red flag were used; following independence in 1956, the design became the official national flag of the Kingdom of Morocco under King Mohammed V and later codified by King Hassan II and King Mohammed VI.
Design and symbolism
The flag’s red field historically symbolizes the royal Alaouite line and has associations with Alaouite sovereignty, martial valor as seen in earlier banners of the Saadi dynasty and dynastic claims linked to Idris I. The central green five‑pointed star, or Seal of Solomon, was inspired by Islamic and Berber iconography and reflects religious and dynastic symbolism connected to figures such as Prophet Muhammad (via Sharifian descent claims) and the broader cultural sphere of the Maghreb. The five points of the star are often interpreted in relation to references from Islamic tradition and regional heraldry found across the Ottoman Empire’s periphery and in Moroccan architecture like the Kasbah of the Udayas. Colors also resonate with national motifs visible in Moroccan art, Zellige tilework, and royal standards used by the Alaouite dynasty.
Legal status and protocol
Moroccan flag law has been shaped by decrees issued under monarchs including King Hassan II and King Mohammed VI; statutes govern manufacture, proportions, and prohibited uses of the national emblem as in statutes influenced by French legal tradition from the protectorate period and adapted by Moroccan legislatures such as the Parliament of Morocco. Protocol dictates flag display at sites like the Royal Palace of Rabat, the Parliamentary building (Rabat) and during national holidays such as Throne Day (Morocco), Independence Manifesto Day and Green March. Rules also intersect with Moroccan administrative entities including municipal councils in Casablanca, Marrakesh, and Tangier as well as constitutional offices like the Prime Minister of Morocco and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Morocco).
Variants and related flags
Variants include the royal standard used by the King of Morocco which incorporates the Alaouite coat of arms referencing the Atlas Mountains and historic symbols seen in the seal of the state; naval ensigns and civil flags used in ports such as Tangier and Agadir follow adaptations recognized by maritime authorities influenced by International Maritime Organization conventions. Colonial-era flags from the French Protectorate in Morocco and Spanish Morocco exhibited different emblems and canton arrangements. Regional banners reflecting Amazigh identity, such as flags incorporating the Berber (Amazigh) yaz symbol, are used locally in the Rif and Atlas areas but are distinct from the national flag. Historical standards of dynasties including the Marinid Sultanate, the Wattasid dynasty, and the Saadi dynasty inform modern heraldic studies.
Use and display in Morocco
The national flag is raised over government institutions including the Royal Palace of Rabat, the Mohammed V International Airport complex, and the Supreme Court of Morocco during official proceedings and national commemorations like Throne Day (Morocco) and Anniversary of the Green March. Municipalities such as Casablanca, Fez, and Rabat maintain flag protocols for public buildings, while cultural venues like the National Library of the Kingdom of Morocco and the Museum of Moroccan Judaism display national colors alongside regional emblems. Sporting organizations like the Royal Moroccan Football Federation and delegations to events such as the Olympic Games and the FIFA World Cup carry the flag abroad.
International presence and diplomatic use
Moroccan embassies and consulates operated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Morocco) display the flag at missions in capitals including Washington, D.C., Paris, Madrid, and Beijing and during bilateral visits involving heads of state like meetings with representatives from France, Spain, United States, Saudi Arabia, and members of the European Union. The flag represents Morocco at multilateral organizations such as the United Nations General Assembly, the African Union Summit, and the Arab League summits, and appears on Moroccan passports issued under the Kingdom of Morocco and on state aircraft registered with civil aviation authorities following conventions of the International Civil Aviation Organization.
Category:Flags of Africa Category:National symbols of Morocco