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Turkey Flag - Republic of
SKU: TUR35P
Red has been present in Turkish flags for 700 years. The star and crescent symbolize the Muslim faith, but were also common in the pre-Islamic past in Asia Minor. The basic design of the national flag was set in 1793 under Ottoman Sultan Selim III, when the green flags used by the navy were changed to red and a white crescent and multi-pointed star were added. The five-pointed star dates from around 1844. The flag was not changed when the Ottoman Empire became the Republic of Turkey and the power of Caliphate (religious authority) was terminated. Only minor design specifications occurred not affecting the design.
Many legends exist as to the meaning of the star and crescent symbols. One relates to Diana (Artemis), the patron goddess of Byzantium whose symbol was a moon. In 330, Emperor Constantine rededicated the city - which he called Constantinople in honour of the Virgin Mary, whose star symbol was superimposed over the crescent. In 1453 Constantinople was captured by the Ottoman Turks and renamed Istanbul. Legend states that the new rulers adopted the existing emblem for their own use where it remains today.
Another sees the reflection of the moon occulting a star, appearing in pools of blood after the battle of Kosovo of 1448. The Ottomans had defeated the Christian forces and established the Ottoman Empire in Eastern Europe. The legend further details a dream by the first Ottoman Sultan in which a crescent and star appeared from his chest and expanded, pre-proposing the seizure of Constantinople.
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