Flag of Türkiye

Flag origins

Türkiye’s flag has a white crescent and a white five-pointed star on a red field. It is also known in Turkish as Ay Yıldız, meaning “moon and star.” The crescent-and-star combination was used over a long period during the Ottoman Empire. Research published by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism identifies compositions close to the present red flag with crescent and star in Ottoman material from at least the sixteenth century, including a similar flag in a miniature of 1581. The crescent’s form and the number of points on the star varied over time. A five-pointed star close to the present design became established in the nineteenth century. After the Republic was founded, a law in 1936 formally specified the flag. The Turkish Flag Law adopted in 1983 now defines its design and proportions.

Flag story

A famous legend says that a crescent and star were reflected in a pool of blood on a battlefield, inspiring the Turkish flag. The story is sometimes linked to the Battle of Kosovo in 1389, but it is a legend rather than an established historical origin. In reality, the crescent had long been used in the Ottoman Empire, and flags combining it with a star developed over time. Research from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism describes very early use of the crescent alone and suggests that combined crescent-and-star designs may date back to the sixteenth century. Although the combination is now strongly associated with Islam, both symbols existed before Islam began. Their long use by the Ottoman Empire strengthened their association with the Islamic world, and crescent-and-star designs later appeared on flags including those of Tunisia, Algeria and Pakistan.

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.

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

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