Slovenia Flag
Slovenia Flag
Slovenia was
ruled by the Hapsburgs from 1335, subsequently becoming part of the
Austro-Hungarian Empire's crownlands of Carniola, Styria and Carinthia.
In 1848, when it was looking to Russia for assistance in gaining
independence, it flew its first Slovenia flag - a tricolor in the
Pan-Slavic colors of red, white and blue - which was immediately banned
by the Austrian authorities.
Slovenia was incorporated into the kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and
Slovenes in 1918, which was renamed Yugoslavia in 1929. As part of
Yugoslavia, in addition to Yugoslavia's blue-over-white-over-red tricolor
(to which Marshal Tim added a gold-fimbriated, red star in 1946),
Slovenia flew its own flag, which was distinguished by its
white-over-blue-over-red stripes.
Following the collapse of communism In Eastern Europe, Slovenia broke
away from Yugoslavia in 1991, its independence being recognized in 1992.
Slovenia continued to use the Slovene tricolor, to which a blue shield
was added in the canton to create a new national Slovenia flag. Although
the shield is very similar to that featured in Slovakia's flag, the three
mountain peaks in the Slovene arms are said to represent Mount Triglav
and the Julian Alps. Above the peaks are three golden stars. derived from
the ancient arms of the Duchy of Selje, while the two wavy lines beneath
the peaks represent Slovenia's Adriatic coastline.
