Romanian Flag

Romanian Flag

Romanian Flag

Romania was once the Roman province of Dacia, being later overrun by the Goths, Nuns, Bulgars and Slays before falling to the Ottoman Empire during the 15th century. Turkish rule having been replaced by Russian protection from 1829 to 1856, In 1859, Moldavia (in the south) and Wallachia (in the east) elected Prince Alexander Cuza as their ruler, the unified country being recognized internationally as being independent in 1878. In 1946, however, a communist coalition government forced the monarch's abdication and proclaimed the Romanian People's Republic. Following more than 40 years of strict communist rule, the oppressive regime of Nicolae Ceausescu was overturned in 1989, whereupon free elections were held.

The Romanian flag dates from 1848, the year of revolutions throughout Europe, when, encouraged by the French example, and in common with many other emerging nations, Romania adopted a tricolor banner. The Romanian colors of blue, yellow and red, which date back to the banners of the former Roman province and were retained even after the advent of communism, also represent the provinces of Wallachia (blue and yellow) and Moldavia (red and blue). From 1866 to 1948, the tricolor carried the royal arms in the middle of the yellow stripe, these being replaced by the communist emblem in 1948, which was in turn removed following Ceausescu's fall in 1989.