List of Beninese flags

The following is a list of flags and banners used in Benin.

National Flag

Flag Date Use Description
1990-Present Flag of Benin A horizontal bicolour of yellow and red with a green vertical band at the hoist.
1990-Present Flag of Benin (Vertical)

Ethnic Flag

Flag Date Use Description
?-Present Flag of Oduduwa a blue-white-green diagonal tricolor band with 16 six-pointed circular golden stars and two thinner diagonal red strips within the middle section. A central red laurel envelopes the Oduduwa Oba's crown symbol of 7 concentric rings. Within the rings is an 8 petal flower representing the pre-Oduduwa societal structure of Yorubaland. On the upper portion of the corona is an endless/Solomon knot representing integrity and nobility or the concept of 'Omoluwabi'.[1][2]

Municipality Flags

Flag Date Use Description
?-Present Flag of Cotonou a vertical bicolor of blue and yellow with a mermaid in the center.[3]
?-Present Flag of Porto-Novo a white field with the arms of the municipality in the center.[4]

Political Flag

Flag Date Use Description
1975-1990 Flag of The PRPB a red field charged with a five-pointed green star in the top-left canton.[5]

Military Flags

Flag Date Use Description
1960-Present Flag of the Benin Armed Forces (Obverse) A horizontal bicolour of yellow and red with a green vertical band at the hoist with the name of the armed forces upwards and downwards and a golden border.
1960-Present Flag of the Benin Armed Forces (Reverse) reversed version of the previous Flag.
1990-Present Flag of the Republican Police (Obverse) A horizontal bicolour of yellow and red with a green vertical band at the hoist with the name of the police force upwards and downwards, the emblem in the center and a golden border.
1990-Present Flag of the Republican Police (Reverse) reversed version of the previous Flag.

Historical Flags

Flag Date Use Description
1730-1816 Royal flag until the late 18th century (used only in fortresses and warships of the Crown) and national flag from then on White with the coat of arms of the Kingdom in the middle
1750-1816 Variant of the royal flag until the late 18th century (used only in fortresses and warships of the Crown) and national flag from then on White with the coat of arms of the Kingdom in the middle (variant with a heraldic console encircling the shield)
1816-1818 Flag of Portugal White with the coat of arms of the Kingdom in the middle (coat of arms of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves)
1818-1859 The Royal Flag of King Ghezo of The Kingdom of Dahomey. a white field with a red border and an elephant in the center.[6][7]
1859-1890 No Flag King Glele was not known to have used any royal flags or banners.
1890-1894 The royal banner of King Behanzin of The Kingdom of Dahomey. a light blue field with the coat of arms in the center.[8]
1894-1959 Flag of France (Used in French Dahomey) A vertical tricolor of blue, white and red.
1942-1944 Flag of Free France (Used in French Dahomey) A vertical tricolor of blue, white and red and The Cross of Lorraine in the center.[9]
1959-1975 Flag of The Republic of Dahomey introduced on November 16, 1959, after Dahomey was granted semi-autonomous status within the French Community.
1975-1990 Flag of The People's Republic of Benin a green field charged with a five-pointed red star in the top-left canton.

References

  1. ^ "Yoruba Nation Rally Will Hold As Planned In Lagos, Rain Or Shine— Igboho's Aide Dares Police | Sahara Reporters". saharareporters.com. Retrieved 2024-06-11.
  2. ^ "Yoruba Nation Supporters In London Protest Over Igboho's Arrest, To Storm German Embassy | Sahara Reporters". saharareporters.com. Retrieved 2024-06-11.
  3. ^ "Cotonou (Benin)". www.crwflags.com. Retrieved 2024-06-11.
  4. ^ "Porto Novo (Benin)". www.crwflags.com. Retrieved 2024-06-11.
  5. ^ "People's Revolutionary Party of Benin (Benin)". www.fotw.info. Retrieved 2024-06-11.
  6. ^ "Benin Arms". www.hubert-herald.nl. Retrieved 2024-06-11.
  7. ^ "Kingdom of Dahomey". www.crwflags.com. Retrieved 2024-06-11.
  8. ^ "Benin Arms". www.hubert-herald.nl. Retrieved 2024-06-11.
  9. ^ "Free French flag | Royal Museums Greenwich". www.rmg.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-06-11.