Malta Flag History

By Nina Clark


The history of Malta is a long and colorful one dating back to the dawn of civilization. The Maltese Islands went through a golden Neolithic period, the remains of which are the mysterious temples dedicated to the goddess of fertility. Later on, the Phoenicians, the Carthaginians, the Romans and the Byzantines, all left their traces on the Islands. British rule in Malta lasted until 1964 when Malta became independent. The Maltese adapted the British system of administration, education, and legislation. Modern Malta became a Republic in 1974 and joined the European Union in May 2004.

Maltas flag came into use near the middle of the 20th century, but its colors drew on a much older tradition. They are a reflection of the country's ancient history and the honors that it has received, and they have formed the core of all of Maltas flags.

All of Maltas flags have been dominated by red and white. The modern flag is a simple bicolor with the white section along the hoist and the red along the fly that has the George Cross in the Canton. The George Cross is a badge of honor that reflects the nation's history. It was awarded to the nation for its actions during the second world war, and it has been a symbol of the nation ever since.

The upper left side of the flag of Malta displays the George Cross that has a red outline at the edges. The George Cross was added to the Maltese flag when it was presented to the Maltese people by Britain's King George VI to the Maltese in recognition of exceptional bravery during the Second World War (1942) when Malta was still part of the United Kingdom.

The cross was originally placed in a blue canton but in 1964, it was being placed within a red fimbriation. The flag was then officially adopted on that same year after Malta was granted by the British Empire a dominion status. The dominion status was still used until Malta became a Republic in 1971. Even after Malta became a Republic, the flag was still used.

Malta eventually became part of the British Empire, which represented it with a colonial flag. The flag had a blue field with the Union Jack in the canton and a red and white shield bearing the star of Malta in the fly. That flag fell out of use in favor of a design that included the George Cross on a blue square in the Canton. The blue section was removed in 1964 to create the modern design when the nation gained its independence from Britain. The Flag Company Inc specialized in flag designs offered a special edition of decals and flags to memorize the history of Malta Flag for the future.




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