Flag of Slovakia

Flag origins

Slovakia's flag has white, blue and red horizontal bands with the national arms toward the hoist. The Slavic colors became established during the nineteenth-century national movement. A red shield bears a white double cross above three blue hills, traditionally Tatra, Fatra and Matra. Matra now lies in Hungary, showing how the emblem's history predates current borders. Slovakia became independent on 1 January 1993.

Flag story

Without its arms, the tricolor would resemble Russia's. The arms were included in the 1992 design to make the flag distinct. Their mountains also preserve the history of a territory long within the Kingdom of Hungary; a national emblem can refer to historical geography that does not match today's state boundaries.

Editorial notes and references

Edited by ABELHA WORKS. The English text translates the administrator-edited Japanese description. Legends should be distinguished from documented history. General reference links do not substantiate every statement in the text.

• Slovakia — general information on Wikipedia
• Japan MOFA: countries and regions (Japanese)

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