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Bulgaria

• Republic of Bulgaria
• republic with multi-party-system
• own name: Republika Bâlgaria

Contents

• Flags

• Historical Flags

• Meaning/Origin of the Flag

• Coat of Arms

• Meaning/Origin of the Coat of Arms

• Aircraft Roundel

• Map

• Numbers and Facts

• History

• Origin of the Country's Name

Flags

since 1990,
National and merchant flag,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flags of all Nations





1991 (?),
Naval flag (?)
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flags of all Nations





since 1991,
Naval flag,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flags of the World, Wikipedia (BG)





since 1998,
War flag,
(actually troop flag ?),
ratio = 1:1,
Source, by: Scroch, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons





since 1991,
Naval jack,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flags of the World, Wikipedia (BG)





since 1990,
Flag of the coast guard and naval flag for aux ships,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flags of the World





since 1997,
Flag of the president,
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by: Flags of the World

Historical Flags

1.) 1878–1908 – Principality of Bulgaria


1877–1879,
National state and merchant flag,
Source, by: World Statesmen





1879–1908,
National state and merchant flag,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flags of the World





1879–1908,
War flag (Naval flag),
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flaggen Europas, Wikipedia (BG)





1878–1908,
Naval jack,
ratio = 1:1,
Source, by: Flags of the World





Pilot flag (Pilot Call flag),
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flags of the World





1878–1908,
Standard of the Prince,
ratio = 5:6,
Source, by: Flaggen Europas






2.) 1878–1908 – Vilayet of Eastern Rumelia


1878–1885 (?),
Flag,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: World Statesmen





1885–1908 (?),
Flag,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: World Statesmen






3.) 1908–1946 – Kingdom of Bulgaria


1908–1947,
National and merchant flag,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flaggen Europas





1908–1946,
State and naval and war flag,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flaggen Europas, Wikipedia (BG)





1908–1949,
Naval jack,
ratio = 1:1,
Source, by: Flaggen Europas, Wikipedia (BG)





1908–1946,
Pilot flag (Pilot Call flag),
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flaggen Europas, FOTW
This type of flag was abolished in the 20th century, today is:
Pilot on board
Call for Pilot





1908–1918,
Standard of the King,
ratio = 1:1,
Source, by: Flaggen Enzyklopädie





1918–1946,
Standard of the King,
ratio = 1:1,
Source, by: Flaggen Enzyklopädie





1918–1946,
Standard of the King at Sea,
ratio = 1:1,
Source, by: Flaggen Enzyklopädie





1908–1946,
Flag of the War Minister,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flaggen Europas





1908–1946,
Flag of the Navy Chief,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flaggen Europas





1944–1947,
temporary and partially used flag after the capitulation to the Sovjet Union,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: World Statesmen






4.) 1947–1990 – People's Republic of Bulgaria


1947–1948,
National flag,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flaggen Enzyklopädie, Wikipedia (BG)





1948–1990,
National flag,
(with small changes in the coat of arms),
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flaggen und Wappen, Wikipedia (BG)





1947–1990,
Merchant flag,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flaggen und Wappen





1949–1955,
Naval flag,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Die Welt im bunten Flaggenbild, Wikipedia (BG)





1955–1991,
Naval flag,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flaggen und Wappen, Wikipedia (BG)





1955–1990,
Flag for aux ships,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flaggen und Wappen





1955–1990,
Flag of the Navy Chief,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flags of the World





1955–1990,
Naval jack,
ratio = 2:3, 1:2
Source, by: Flags of the World, Wikipedia (BG)

Meaning/Origin of the Flag

The green-white-red flag of Bulgaria was introduced with the first constitution of 1879. The national flag was only in the period of communist rule (1848–1990) added by a coat of arms, and that on the mast in the white stripe. White stands for freedom and peace, green for the forests and the agriculture, red for the blood, which was shed for the attainment of the freedom. As Bulgaria in result of the Russian-Turkish war (1877–1878) was separated from the Turkey as principality, and after the peace treaty from San Stefano (3rd of march in 1878) re-rises as Great Bulgaria, it got after the Berlin treaty (13th of July in 1878) dismissed in a partial independence as Turkish vassal state, though with a by ca. 60% of the area reduced territory. Many Slavic nations choose after 1848 flags in the colors white, blue and red, because they saw in Russia a model, the Russians were the only free Slavic nation. All other Slavic nations lived under Austrian, Turkish or even German rule. That political current, which trys to agree all Slavs in one nation under the colors white, blue and red, is named panslavism, and the colors white, blue and red are named from there pan-Slavic colors. The Bulgarians owe the Russians their freedom, and introduced a flag, which equals the Russian flag, however got the blue stripe substituted by a green. The colors white, blue and red were though unofficial in use already since 1862, so before 1877/78. The colors given for the flags today are: green = pt 347, red = pt 032 and white.

Source: Die Welt der Flaggen, Flaggen und Wappen der Welt

Coat of Arms

since 1997,
Coat of arms of Bulgaria,
Source: Wikipedia (BG), Пакко, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons



1971–1990,
Coat of arms of Bulgaria,
Source: Flaggen und Wappen, Wikipedia (BG), Original: Unknown authorVectorization: Scroch, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Meaning/Origin of the Coat of Arms

The coat of arms of the People's Republic was adoped in 1946 and changed in details in 1948, 1967 and 1971. The basic structure of the flag was not concerned in this doing. In the year 1997 was introduced a new and civil coat of arms. The blazon is red, with the golden Bulgarian lion. The shield carrys a crown and is holded by two lions, which stand on oak twigs. Below a typeface ribbon in the colors fo the land with the inscription: "Svedinenieto pravi Silata" → "Unity provides strength". The golden Bulgarian lion on red ground is the traditional symbol of Bulgaria. He has its roots in the 14th century. It appeared from the beginning on the state and military flags. Between 1948 and 1990 he also appeared in the emblem on the national flag, and on naval flags it was replaced in this time by the red star of communism.

Source: Die Welt der Flaggen, Flaggen und Wappen der Welt

Aircraft Roundel

1915–1918,
Aircraft Roundel,
Source, by: Wikipedia (EN)



1937–1941,
Aircraft Roundel,
Source, by: Wikipedia (EN)



1941–1944,
Aircraft Roundel,
Source, by: Wikipedia (EN)



1944–1946,
Aircraft Roundel,
Source, by: Wikipedia (EN)



1946–1948,
Aircraft Roundel,
Source, by: Wikipedia (BG)



1948–1992,
Aircraft Roundel,
Source, by: Wikipedia (EN)



since 1992,
Aircraft Roundel,
Source, by: Wikipedia (EN)

Map

Location:

Source: CIA World Factbook

Map of the country:

Source: CIA World Factbook

Numbers and Facts

Area: 42.855 square miles

Inhabitants: 6.951.500 (2019), thereof 85% Bulgarians, 9% Turks, 5% Gipsies

Religions: 76% Orthodox Christian, 10% Muslim, 1% Roman Catholic, 1% Protestant

Density of Population: 162 inh./sq.mi.

Capital: Sofia, 1.241.675 inh. (2018)

official Language: Bulgarian

other Languages: Turkish, Romani

Currency: 1 Lew (BGN, Lw) = 100 Stotinki

Time Zone: GMT + 2 h

Source: Wikipedia (D)

History

29–46 A.D. · the region comes to the Roman Empire

681–1018 · 1st Bulgarian Empire

1018–1185 · the region belongs to the Byzantine Empire

1185–1396 · 2nd Bulgarian Empire

1396–1878 · the region belongs to the Ottoman Empire

3rd of March 1878 · 3rd Bulgarian Empire

13th of July 1878 · establish of the Principality of Bulgaria as a Turkish vassal state, and of the Vilayet of Eastern Rumelia (capital: Plovdiv/Filibe) as autonomous turkish province under a christian governor

1908 · full independence, foundation of the Kingdom of Bulgaria

1915–1918 · participation in the First World War on the side of the Middle Mights

1941–1944 · participation in the Second World War on the side of the Axis Mights

1944 · soviet invasion, communist revolt

1946 · overthrow of the monarchy, proclamation of the republic

1947 · proclamation of the people's republic

1990 · proclamation of the republic

1st of January 2007 · Bulgaria becomes a member of the European Union

Source: Flags of the World, Atlas zur Geschichte, Wikipedia (D), World Statesmen

Origin of the Country's Name

The name "Bulgaria" comes from the people of the Bulgars, a Turkic people from the steppes of Asia. "Bulgarian" means "half-breed" so that Bulgaria is the "land of half-breeds". In fact, the Bulgarians are still a mixed population of Thracians, Slavs and Turk-Bulgarians. The term Turk-Bulgarians means not the Turks living in Bulgaria, but the original Bulgars of the early Middle Ages.

Source: Handbuch der geographischen Namen, Discovery '97

 

Kindly supported by: Jürgen Zens und Mario Schweigler