The current form of the national flag of the Slovak Republic (Slovak: Vlajka Slovenskej republiky) was adopted by Slovakia's Constitution, which came into force on 3 September 1992. The flag, like many other flags of Slavic nations, uses Pan-Slavic colors (red, white, and blue). Pictured in the centre of the flag is the Slovakia's national coat of arms.

History

Slovakia's flag in its current form (but with another coat of arms on it or without any arms) can be dated back to the revolutionary year 1848. It was also used semi-officially in Czechoslovakia before World War II, by the Slovak Republic during World War II.

In 1990, the interior ministry tasked Ladislav Čisárik, a painter and heraldic artist, and Ladislav Vrtel, an expert in heraldry, with creating a new coat of arms and national flag. Čisárik and Vrtel based their designs for a modern coat of arms and flag on an existing 14th century coat of arms. However, Čisárik and Vrtel chose to enlarge the double cross three times to emphasize it as a national symbol. In addition to the national coat of arms and the national flag, the duo also designed a new presidential standard, which incorporates the double cross as well.

The new flag was finally adopted (initially without Čisárik's and Vrtel's coat of arms) on 1 March 1990 as the flag of the Slovak Republic within Czechoslovakia. The coat of arms was added on 3 September 1992 and a special law describing the details of the flag followed in February 1993, after Slovakia became an independent country.

Design

Since the Slovak flag without the coat of arms is identical to the current flag of the Russian Federation, and can also be compared to the modern flag of Slovenia, the Constitution of Slovakia added the national coat of arms to it in September 1992.

It is one of 28 national flags that contain overtly Christian symbols.

Photo gallery

• A line of Slovak flags on poles

• The correct vertical display of the Slovak flag (with rotated coat of arms)

Presidential standard

• Presidential standard of Czechoslovakia
  (1918–1939)
  (1945–1960)

• Presidential standard of First Slovak Republic
  (1939–1945)

• Presidential standard of Czechoslovak Socialist Republic
  (1960–1990)

• Presidential standard of Czech and Slovak Federative Republic
  (1990–1992)

• Presidential standard of Slovak Republic
  (1993–present)

Historical flags

• Slovak flag proposed by the Demands of the Slovak Nation
  (1848)

• Another flag used during the Slovak Uprising. Basically historical flag of Hungary with green replaced by blue. The first depiction of the hills in coat of arms in blue color
  (1848–1849)

• One of more flags used by slovak volunteers during Slovak Uprising 1848. Flags from this period introduced blue color into the slovak flag for the first time, after the Slavic Congress. Used also as flag of Slovak National Council
  (1848–1849)

• Another flag used during the Slovak Uprising
  (1848–1849)

• Flag of the Slovak Soviet Republic
  (1919)

• First flag of Czechoslovakia
  (1918–1920)

• Flag of Czechoslovakia
  (1920–1939)
  (1945–1992)

• War Ensign of the First Slovak Republic
  (1939–1945)

• Official flag of the
  Autonomous Slovak land within the Second Czechoslovak Republic
  (1938–1939)
  First Slovak Republic
  (1939–1945)
  Slovak Socialist Republic within Czechoslovak Socialist Republic
  (1969–1990)
  Slovak Republic within Czech and Slovak Federative Republic
  (1990–1992)