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Kingdom of Serbia (1882-1918)

Last modified: 2001-11-03 by ivan sache
Keywords: serbia | civil ensign | state flag | war flag | eagle: double-headed (white) | ocila | firesteel | crown: royal | coat of arms |
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[Flag of the kingdom of Serbia]by Zeljko Heimer


See also:


Coat of arms

Gules, two fleur-de-lys Or below a double-headed eagle Argent, beaked, membered and tongued Or, bearing an escutcheon: Gules, a Cross Argent between four ocila (or firesteels) Or.
There are variants on the escutcheon: in some cases, the horizontal arms of the cross bear the dates 1389 and 1817, and there is a sword Or per pale on the cross. 1389 is the battle of Kosovo, when the Serbs lost their independence. 1817 is the date they regained their autonomy. Serbia emerged in 1817 as an autonomous province of the Ottoman Empire and became a full-fledged kingdom in 1882. These arms were used from 1882 to 1918.

Francois Velde, 30 June 1995


Civil ensign

[Civil ensign of Serbia]by Mario Fabretto

In 1882 the former civil ensign was modified following modification of the coat of arms: the shield was surmounted by a royal crown (without mantle). This flag remained in use until 1918.

Mario Fabretto, 30 September 1998


State flag

[State flag of Serbia]by Mario Fabretto

The State flag 1882-1918 differed from the civil ensign having the complete arms in the center.

Mario Fabretto, 30 September 1998


War flag

[War flag of Serbia]by Mario Fabretto

The war flag, adopted in 1904 following the coronation of Peter I Karadjordjevic used the greater royal arms instead of the State arms.

Mario Fabretto, 30 September 1998


Unidentified flag

The International Geography (London, 1911) shows a very complicated flag of Serbia, which can be described as follows:

Tricolore: red - blue - white
Center: armorial drape and crown; in the middle of that the coat of arms of Serbia.
Around the flag alternating triangles in red and blue.
Above and below: 4 blue, 4 red.
Left and right: 4 blue, 2 red.
In the 4 corners: 4 red lozenges (elongated).
It's a small image in black and white, so I might have missed something. It looks like the flag of the reigning monarch.

Regarding the coat of arms, I noticed three differences with the State Flag:

  • The crown on top is larger.
  • The crown on top of the shield is smaller.
  • The drapings between the crowns iare a bit wider.

Jarig Bakker, 7 & 11 December 1998

The Serbian military unit flags from First World War did include some ornamented border, but were square, and with the state arms on a disc.
Zeljko Heimer 10 December 1998


Flag of the Serbian-American volunteers (1917)

[Flag of Serbian-Americans volunteers, 1917]by Ivan Sarajcic

This is another military flag from the Military Museum in Belgrade. It was used by Serbian-American volunteers in 1917.
Inscription reads: Third St. Vitus' Day Company of Serbian volonteers from United States of America.

Ivan Sarajcic, 5 June 1999





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