CIRCA - 1848 🇸🇰 - horizontal triband of white (top), blue (middle) & red (bottom) equal stripes with Cross of Lorraine coat of arms near the hoist

HISTORY: Derived from the pan-Slavic🔍  red-white-blue🔍 palette that emerged during the 19c Spring of Nations, (inspired

by the Russian tricolor🔍; preeminent Slavic power,) the flag was 1st flown during the 1848 uprising against the Habsburgs.

It's distinctive coat of arms ⛨, adapting a 14c Hungarian royal seal (included to differentiate it from

similar flags like that of Slovenia🔍) is strongly associated with Byzantine brothers, Saints Cyril &

Methodius' 9c mission to Great Moravia.

Variations of the tricolor with & without versions of the CoA, were used through the 20c until in 1992

the modern flag was adopted in anticipation of independence from Czechoslovakia.

VEXILLOLOGY:* Reflecting historical ties to Central Europe & a shared ethnic / cultural solidarity among Slavic peoples;

• The White Stripe is interpreted to mean  ☮︎ peace, generosity & purity

• The  BLUE Stripe  symbolizes truth, loyalty, wisdom & fidelity plus was later linked to the "Slavic virtue" chastity

• The RED Stripe denotes strength, courage & love for homeland, later also associated with Slavic virtue generosity

  
  

• The early Gothic-style CoA's RED ⛨ SHIELD represent Slovakia's sovereignty & cultural continuity with...

  • The White Cross of Lorraine ☨ (Patriarchal or Double-Cross) - signifying the dual nature of Christ plus the centrality of the Christian faith to Slovak identity. Which sits on...

  • A BLUE ᨒ TRIMOUNT (three hills) symbolizing the Carpathian topography & natural defenses, specifically the Tatra, Fatra & Mátra mountain 🏔️ ranges

       The design understandably resembles the flags of regional neighbors Croatia🔍, & Serbia🔍 as well as that of Luxembourg🔍 & the Netherlands🔍, 

and even the French flag🔍 on it's side, but the non-Slavic flag similarity weren't intentional.

* The STUDY of FLAGS; their history, symbolism, usage, and design. From Latin vexillum - referring to a Roman military standard / flag (from velum= cloth/ covering/sail/curtain

[PIE🔍 root weg = to weave / to cover]) + Greek suffix -logia = study]