See also: List of Serbian flags
The flag of Serbia is a tricolour with Pan-Slavic colours, with three equal horizontal fields, red on the top, blue in the middle and white on the bottom, and the Coat of Arms of Serbia centered vertically and located left of center by one-seventh of the flag's length (the version without coat of arms was used as national flag in the meantime).
On June 5, 2006 Serbia proclaimed independence after Montenegro voted for independence from the state union. On June 8, 2006 the new flag was raised for the first time in front of the United Nations headquarters in New York City.

Design

Other official flags

History

Medieval flags
The oldest known description of a flag of Serbia is from 1281 description of treasury of king Stefan Vladislav, which was kept in Dubrovnik Republic. The description lists vexillum unum de zendato rubeo et blavo - a flag of fabric red and blue.. As Vladislav ruled from 1234 to 1243 and died after 1264, the flag was used earlier than it was described, around the middle XIII century.


Flag of Stefan Vladislav
The oldest known drawing of a flag of Serbia is from the 1339 map of Angelino Dulcert. The map depicts a number of flags, and Serbia is represented by a flag placed above Skoplje (Skopi) with the name Serbia (Seruja) near the hoist, which was characteristic for capital cities at the time of the drawing of the map. The flag is red two-headed eagle on yellow field.

Flag of Tsar Dusan
During the First Serbian Uprising, a large variety of flags was used. Among the early flags, the one described by Mateja Nenadović could be connected with today's flag: it was white-red-blue with three crosses
An early flag from 1804

A flag from before 1807

Regular army flag from 1809

Voivode flag from 1811


Flags of the First Serbian Uprising

Modern flags
1835 Sretenje Constitution prescribed the flag of Serbia as horizontal tricolour of red, white and steel blue (čelikasto-ugasita) stripes. The constitution was criticized, especially by Russia, and the flag was specifically singled out as being similar to the revolutionary flag of France

First introduction
Kingdom of Serbia used the same tricolour with the big coat of arms. The merchant ensign contained only the shield and the crown of the big coat of arms, therefore closely resembling the today's flag.
During the World War I, use of the flag was forbidden in occupied Serbia. After the war, the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (Yugoslavia) was created (see Flag of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia). Serbia did not exist as a territorial division in Yugoslavia and didn't have any flag.


1882-1918 flag
After World War II, the League of Communists of Yugoslavia came to power in Yugoslavia, and split it into six republics, one of which was Serbia. The red star was used on the middle of the new flag of Serbia, as was the case with other flags of the Yugoslav Socialist Republics and very flag of Yugoslavia. Exactly the same flag was used as flag of Montenegro.


1945-1991 flag
After the breakup of Yugoslavia, the red star was removed from the flag..


1991-2004 flag
Montenegro has in its history had identical flags to that of Serbia. This was very common as Montenegrins are both regarded by Serbs and them selves as Serbs. It is still very common today to see political parties on Montenegro who support reunification with Serbia to carry these flags to rallies and other events.
(1910-1918) The Flag of the Kingdom of Montenegro was very similar if not identical to the Serbian flag apart from the Montenegrin coat of arms which features the same white double headed eagle Serbia has used since the 7th century.



An earlier version of the flag of Montenegro looked similar to the Serbian flag, but with a different hue of blue (azzure colour) and different internal dimensions (ratio 1:3).
Republika Srpska (a part of Bosnia and Herzegovina) uses the same flag but without the coat of arms.
The Serbian Orthodox Church uses the Serbian flag in a 1:4 or higher ratio embossed with the Serbian cross. Adaptations

Proper flag protocol
The state flag of Serbia is constantly flown on the entrance of a building of a state organ of Serbia, and displayed in their rooms. The National Assembly is flying it only during a session and during state holidays. Organs of provinces, Vojvodina and (in theory) Kosovo and Metohija, are flying it only on a state holiday..

State flag
The people's flag of Serbia is constantly flown on the entrance of the Assembly and organs of provinces and public services. It has to be displayed in an election room during an election for provincial or local organs..

People's flag
The President of Serbia and the President of the National Assembly of Serbia are using their Standards instead of the state flag.

Other flags
Neither state nor people's flag can be hoisted so that they touch the ground, nor be used as rests, tablecloths, carpets or curtains, nor to cover vehicles or other objects, nor to attire speaker platforms or tables, except as table flags. They must not be used if damaged or otherwise look unsuitable for use.

Correct display

Flag of Serbia and Montenegro
Flag of Republika Srpska
Flag of Montenegro