The flag of Uzbekistan features three horizontal stripes of blue, white-bordered by red fimbriations and green. This flag was officially adopted on November 18, 1991, as a replacement for the flag for the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic (SSR). The current banner has been in use since Uzbekistan gained independence in 1991. Similar to all national flags, this flag is a symbol of the State’s Sovereignty.
Uzbekistan is a country with an ancient history. For instance, it played an integral role in the Silk Road trade, whose main routes that connected the East to West passed through Uzbekistan. The first known flag in the region was used from 1370 to 1526. This was the flag of the Timurid Empire, and it consisted of a black field with three off-center red circles. At the top and bottom right position of the flag was a quarter of a white circle. The Uzbek people derive their name from Uzbeg Khan (1312-1340). After conquering the states that were controlled by the Timurid Empire at around 1510, Uzbek controlled the territories between Amu-Darya River and Syr-Darya River located in the South East of the Aral Sea. From 1511 to 1917, the region hoisted a new flag, that consisted of a white background with a light-blue crescent at the upper left corner.
In 1785, the Emirate of Bukhara was established, and it became the second state after the Khanate of Khiva that existed in the steppes north and East of present-day Uzbekistan. Moreover, the Khanate of Bukhara included some territories of the present-day republic of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. This region had its flag which consisted of a thick gold-bordered green background, with black decorations on the gold border. Inside the green background was clasped hands, a crescent moon, a star, and some text. In 1917, the flag of the Khanate of Khiva was changed to a horizontal striped green-black-green colored flag. At the center of this flag was a golden crescent moon and a star. This flag was in use from 1917 to 1920. In 1917, an unrecognized state was created and was known as Kokand Autonomy. This territory was only existed from November 27, 1917, to February 22, 1918, and had its flag. The flag was a bi-colored red-blue with a white crescent at the center and a white five-pointed star next to the crescent.
In 1865, conflicts between Russia and Uzbekistan began and by the end of it, both Khiva and Bukhara became Russian Protectorates. The flag adopted for the two regions was a tri-colored black-yellow-white horizontal striped flag. In 1876, Kokand was annexed into the Russian Empire. At around 1883, the flag of the Russian Empire was changed to a simple white-blue-red tri-colored flag. Later, the Red Army conquered Khiva and Bukhara during the Russian Civil War. Khiva became the Khorezm People’s Soviet Republic, after being captured on February 2, 1920. Thus, a new flag was adopted for the territory, which consisted of a red background with a green rectangle at the top left corner. Inside the rectangle was a yellow crescent moon, a star, a sickle, a spear, and a plant. The troops, later on, captured Bukhara in September 1920, and it became the Bukharan People’s Soviet Republic. This new republic adopted a new flag that consisted of a green-red horizontal stripe with a golden crescent and star at the center, that featured a hammer crossed with a sickle.
One of the first regions to become the Soviet Autonomous Republic was the Turkestan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. The flag of this territory consisted of a plain red field with yellow text at the upper left corner. In 1921, this flag was slightly changed by adding a white box around the text at the top left corner. In December 1922, Uzbekistan became the Republic of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic. Later, in 1925, the unified territories became Karakalpak Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. This republic adopted a different flag from 1934 to 1937 that consisted of a red field and the name of the Republic in golden color at the top left corner.
The Soviet Union fell in 1991 and Uzbekistan became an independent country with a new flag. The Karakalpak Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic also became Karakalpakstan, which was then the autonomous republic of Uzbekistan. The flag of Karakalpakstan consisted of blue-gold-green horizontal tricolors split by two red fimbriations at the center. At the top-left corner was a white crescent with five white stars. Presently, the flag is still in use and Karakalpakstan exists within Uzbekistan as an autonomous republic. The Republic of Uzbekistan adopted a new flag in 1991 after the Soviets fell, which consisted of the tri-colors blue, white, green, with red fimbriations bordering the white stripe, which is still in use to date.
Colors
The actual colors used on the flag based on the constitution are, sky-blue(313c), light- green (361c.), white, and light red borders. The precise meaning of the colors are:
Emblem
The flag consists of a crescent and 12, five-pointed white stars, which represent the Zodiac. Thus, each star represents a month of the year or the twelve districts (viloyatlar) of Uzbekistan. The Crescent is a symbol of Islamic religion, which is dominant in the country. It also represents the rebirth of the nation.
Shape
The flag has a width to length ratio of 1:2. Moreover, the horizontal stripes are all equally shaped, whereas the Crescent is 40 units away from the hoist. There is an invincible rectangle containing the crescent and the stars, which is 60 by 150. Moreover, each star exists in an invisible circle which is 12 in diameter, while the distance between the stars is 12.
Do you know any other interesting facts about the flag of Uzbekistan? Share your thoughts below.
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