^{This page is part of © FOTW Flags Of The World website}

Albania: Principality, 1914

by Jaume Ollé

Flag of the Principality of Albania
Prince's standard
Princess' standard
Crown Prince's standard
Civil ensign

See also:

Albania

Flag of the Principality of Albania

On 7 March 1914, Prince Wilhelm of Wied, appointed Prince of Albania by the great powers, entered Durrës.

Wied's government was short-lived. A revolt broke up on 23 May 1914 and the prince immediately abandoned the palace and took refuge on the Italian ship Misurata, where his flag flew. On 3 September 1914, he left the country (keeping his claim to the throne) and never returned to Albania. The International Commission of the Powers (France, United Kingdom, Italy, Austria-Hungary, Germany and Russia) was again in charge of the country, flying together the flags of the member states.

The prince commissioned the heraldist Emile Dopler, who presented him five proposals on 17 February 1914. The flag of the Principality was similar to the former flag of Albania, except that the double-headed eagle had yellow beaks and claws holding a yellow thunderbolt.

Jaume Ollé, 15 July 1996

Prince's standard

by Jaume Ollé

During his short reign, the prince of Wied used a personal standard similar to the national flag, but square and charged with a crown instead of a star over the eagle and a yellow escutcheon charged with a peacock on the eagle's chest.

Jaume Ollé, 15 July 1996

The peacock was the family coat of arms of the princes of Wied and became also the coat of arms of the new Albanian state. It is reported that the flag with the peacock still flies over the castle of Neuwied.

Mario Fabretto, 28 August 1998

Princess' standard

by Jaume Ollé

The princess' standard differs from the prince's standard by a thin yellow frame placed around the eagle.

Jaume Ollé, 15 July 1996

Crown prince's standard

by Jaume Ollé

Crown Prince Karl Viktor was only 10 month old when the family left the country. His standard was similar to the prince's standard but with a field white instead of red and a border made of alternating red and black triangles.

Jaume Ollé, 15 July 1996

Civil ensign

by Jorge Candeias & Jaume Ollé (de jure design)

by Jorge Candeias(de facto design)

After 1914, the Albanian civil ensign kept the classical design of the Ottoman period, with the addition of a white star in the centre of the black stripe. The designer of the flags of this period, the heraldist E. Dopler, made the star with an unusual shape, but in reality normal stars were used.

Jaume Ollé, 15 July 1996