View source for Flag of the Maldives

{{short description|National flag}}
{{Infobox flag
| Name = Maldives
| Image = Flag of Maldives.svg
| Use = 111000
| Proportion = 2:3
| Adoption = {{Start date and age|1965|07|25|df=y}}
| Design = A green rectangle centered on a red field; charged with a white crescent facing the [[fly (flag)|fly side]]
| Designer = [[Abdul Majeed Didi]]
}}
[[File:Harbor Scene with Maldives Flag - Male - Maldives (14271350633).jpg|thumb|Maldivian flag in [[Malé]]]]
The '''Flag of the Republic of [[Maldives]]''' ({{langx|dv|ދިވެހިރާއްޖެގެ ދިދަ||translit=Dhivehi Raajjeyge dhidha}}) is [[green]] with a [[red]] border. The center bears a vertical [[white]] [[crescent]]; the closed side of the crescent is on the raising side of the flag. It was adopted on 25 July 1965.

The [[red]] rectangle represents the blood of the nation's heroes, and their willingness to sacrifice their every drop of [[blood]] in defense of their country. The green rectangle in the center symbolizes peace and prosperity. The white [[Hilal (crescent moon)|crescent moon]] symbolizes [[Islam]], the state religion of the country.

==History==
{{image frame
|border=no
|content={{Maldives Flag Revolution|align=center}}
|link=Template:Maldives Flag Revolution
|link_text=Maldives Flag Revolution
}}
The earliest flag of the Maldives consisted of a plain red field. Later, a [[black]] and [[white]] striped [[Hoist (flag)|hoist]] called the ''Dhandimathi'' ({{langx|dv|ދަނޑިމަތި}}) was added to the flag.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.maldivesroyalfamily.com/maldive_flags_romero_frias.shtml |title=Sultanate of the Maldives (-1949) |access-date=2004-07-05 |author=Maldives Royal Family |website=Maldivesroyalfamily.com |archive-date=2019-11-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191122222951/http://www.maldivesroyalfamily.com/maldive_flags_romero_frias.shtml |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=ދިވެހި ދިދަ: ފެއްސާއި ހުދާއި ރަތުން އެތައް ވާހަކައެއް ބުނެދޭ |url=https://psmnews.mv/72183 |access-date=2022-04-13 |website=PSMnews.mv |date=25 July 2020 |language=en |archive-date=2022-12-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221218190923/https://psmnews.mv/72183 |url-status=live }}</ref>

This version of the flag was used until early in the 20th century when [[Abdul Majeed Didi]] added a crescent to the national flag. At the same time, a distinct state flag was made, which had the crescent on a green rectangle. These changes were made sometime between 1926 and 1932, during Abdul Majeed's term as prime minister.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Maldives.htm|title=Maldives|first=Ben|last=Cahoon|website=Worldstatesmen.org|access-date=9 January 2018|archive-date=4 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204033535/http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Maldives.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1953, the Maldives became a [[republic]], resulting in another flag change. The national flag was dropped and the crescent on the state flag was reversed so that it faced the hoist. The Sultanate was restored in 1954, but the flag was not changed back.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rbvex.it/asiapag/maldive.html |title=Maldives: From protectorate to independence (1949–1968) |access-date=2005-10-24 |author=E.M.C. Barraclough |website=Rbvex.it |archive-date=2022-12-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221218185413/http://www.rbvex.it/asiapag/maldive.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Instead, [[Muhammad Fareed Didi]] created a new flag specifically for the Sultan, with a five-pointed star next to the crescent. A version of this flag is still used today as the Presidential Standard.

When the Maldives gained independence from the [[United Kingdom]] in 1965, the black and white hoist was removed, giving the flag its modern form.

==Construction Sheet==
{{gallery
|height=400
|width=400
|File:Flag of the Maldives (construction sheet).svg|Flag construction sheet
}}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Flag of the Maldives (pre-1903, alternative flag shape).svg|1117–1796
File:Earliest Flag of the Maldives.svg|1796—1903
File:Flag of the Maldives until 1903.svg|1903—1926
File:Old National Flag of the Maldives.svg|National flag, 1926–1953
File:Old State Flag of Maldives.svg|State flag, 1926–1953
File:Flag of the Maldives 1953.svg|1953—1965
File:Flag of the Sultan of The Maldives.svg|[[Heraldic flag|Sultan's Standard]] with star, used from 1954 to 1965
File:Flag of the President of Maldives.svg|Sultan's Standard from 1965 to 1968 and [[Presidential standard|Presidential Standard]] since 1968.
File:Flag of the United Suvadive Republic.svg|Flag used by the breakaway [[United Suvadive Republic|Suvadive Republic]] of the southern atolls (1959 to 1963).
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Flags of the Maldives}}
* {{FOTW|id=mv|title=Maldives}}

{{clear}}
{{Asia topic|Flag of|title=[[Flags of Asia]]}}

{{Maldives topics}}

[[Category:National symbols of the Maldives]]
[[Category:National flags|Maldives]]
[[Category:Flags of Asia|Maldives]]
[[Category:Flags introduced in 1965|Maldives]]
[[Category:Flags with green, red and white|Maldives]]
[[Category:Vertically symmetrical flags|Maldives]]