Logically, the national flag of the country must be unique.It is necessary to immediately determine the edge of the cloth, which he is a symbol.However, in practice it is not so.Flowers, especially heraldic, not so much, but the countries in the world today, there are about two hundred.So it turns out that many of the banners are very similar.But the flag of Monaco and Indonesia - a unique case.They are almost identical.In addition, they resemble and flag of Poland, with the only difference being that there are colors in reverse order.Why is it so happened that the two states have the same flag?Let's examine this question.
history of the Principality of Monaco
Needless to say, in this blessed land with a Mediterranean climate, people settled in the days of antiquity.But the history of the Principality of Monaco as an independent start in the second half of the XIII century.At this time in Italy, conducted a fierce struggle of the Guelphs (supporters of the Pope) and the Ghibellines (supporters of the Emperor).Genoa last won.Guelphs were driven out of the city, and among them was a certain Francesco Grimaldi.He gathered a large group of armed accomplices and hid them in the bushes surrounding the walls of the medieval town of Monaco.Grimaldi disguised himself in the habit Franciscan monk.January night in 1297, he knocked at the gates of the city.The guard took pity on the "man of God".To no one has died from winter cold, he opened the gate.And at the same moment he was killed by treacherous Guelph.His accomplices killed the rest of the guards and took power in the city.That sort of "hero" and is the story of the Grimaldi clan.A flag of Monaco reflects the heraldic colors of the Genovese family.Despite the fact that the city passed the Genoa, the Spaniards, the French and the Austrians, the descendants of the Grimaldi eventually managed to maintain its sovereignty.And now it is the principality - even a dwarf, but an independent power.
What is the national flag of Monaco
In the XIV century the generic standard Grimaldi was a banner on which alternated red and white diamonds.Later, it was replaced with a white Oriflamma princely coat of arms in the center.And she is still the so-called government flag.It is noteworthy that in the emblem of the country is reflected not very nice story with the capture of the city of Monaco.Shield with red and white diamonds keep the heavily armed monks, and under it there is a ribbon with the words "With God's help."The national flag of Monaco took the heraldic colors lozenges.In the European symbolism red means strength, courage, and white - innocence and purity of thoughts.In 1881, when the Principality of rules Karl III, received its current flag coloring.Now he is a banner of two equal horizontal stripes.The upper half of a red flag, and the bottom - white.
State flag Indonesia
In 1945, this country of Southeast Asia throw off the yoke of colonial dependence from the Netherlands.The first president of the Republic of Indonesia, Sukarno issued a decree approved the state symbols: the coat of arms, anthem and flag.But that's banner exactly resembled the flag of Monaco.Prince European dwarf states responded immediately and sent a note of protest.But the government of Indonesia in the form of diplomatic advised him to get acquainted with the ancient history of the kingdom of Majapahit, which existed since the XIV century, the flag which is a flag with alternated red and white stripes.After returning to the independence of the people of the country only regained his old heraldic colors.
Out of embarrassment
Since none of the parties does not want to change the national flag, no color, no position of the bands relative to each other, we decided to compromise.The flag of Monaco is different from the Indonesian just proportions.Last narrower.The cloth banner of Monaco - almost square.Its proportions are four to five.And the length and breadth of the state banner of Indonesia - three to five.The difference is not very noticeable, but still it is.And that's enough.
