Saturday, October 1, 2016

Morocco Flag History Today

By Albert Frank


Morocco’s first-known inhabitants were Near Eastern nomads who may have been distant cousins of the ancient Egyptians. Phoenicians appear to have arrived around 800 BC, and when the Romans arrived in the 4th century BC, they called the expanse of Morocco and western Algeria ‘Mauretania’ and the indigenous people ‘Berbers’, meaning ‘barbarians’. By 829, local elites had established an Idrissid state with its capital at Fès, dominating all of the Morocco. Thus commenced a cycle of rising and falling Islamic dynasties, which included the Almoravids (1062â€"1147), who built their capital at Marrakesh.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, Morocco was one of the Barbary States, the headquarters of pirates who pillaged Mediterranean traders. European powers showed interest in colonizing the country beginning in 1840, and there were frequent clashes with the French and Spanish. Finally, in 1904, France and Spain concluded a secret agreement that divided Morocco into zones of French and Spanish influence, with France controlling almost all of Morocco and Spain controlling the small southwest portion, which became known as Spanish Sahara.

Under increasing pressure from Moroccans and the Allies, France allowed Mohammed V to return from exile in 1955, and Morocco successfully negotiated its independence from France and Spain in 1956.

The original design of the flag had been used continuously even at the time of the French and Spanish domination of Morocco. However, it was required to be used in land only and not in the sea. When Morocco finally acquired its independence in 1956, the original design of the flag was considered as the national flag of Morocco.

The flag of Morocco is a deep red with a green five-pointed star, or pentagram, at its center. The pentagram is outlined in black. Red has many important meanings for Morocco, reflecting the nation's history. Red has been used in Morocco to represent the royals, including the Alaouite family who ruled in the seventeenth century, and the Sherifs of Mecca and the Imams of Yemen. The red symbolizes bravery and strength.

The Moroccan flag remained unchanged when the sultanate of Morocco was restored by the two colonial rulers of France and Spain, and independence was granted in 1956. A year later, the sultan became a king and Morocco became a kingdom. The Flag Company Inc specialized in flag designs offered a special edition of decals and flags to memorize the history of Morocco flag for the future.




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