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Ottoman Empire: Flags depicted in National Geographic (1917)

Introduction
Minister of Navy
Admiral, Vice Admiral, Rear Admiral
Commodore
Masthead pennant
Jack and merchant ensign
Pilot flag
Imperial standard
Imperial standard afloat
Religious flag
Customs flag

See also:

Introduction

This page lists the Ottoman flag as they are shown in National Geographic (1917) [gmc17]. Most of these flags are very similar to the flags later used by the Turkish Republic, for which only links will be provided on this page.

Ivan Sache, 29 November 2003

Minister of Navy

Flag of the Minister of Navy - Image by Željko Heimer, 20 April 2003

The flag for the "Secretary of Navy" (that is, the Minister of Navy) is shown, as #719, in proportions 3:4, red with four white bombs, placed 1-2-1, and an anchor in a white fimbriated canton.

Željko Heimer, 20 April 2003

Admiral, Vice-Admiral, Rear Admiral

The flags, shown as #720, #721, and #722, respectively, are similar to those currently in use, but in proportions 3:4 instead of 1:1.

Željko Heimer, 20 April 2003

Commodore

Flag of a Commodore - Image by Željko Heimer, 20 April 2003

The flag of a Commodore, shown as #724, is a red broad pennant in proportions ~5:7, with one white bomb.

Željko Heimer, 20 April 2003

Masthead and seniority pennants

These pennants, shown as #723 and #725, respectively, are similar to those currently in use. The seniority pennant is shown in National Geographic with proportions ~5:7, whereas current proportions are 2:3.

Željko Heimer, 20 April 2003

Jack and merchant ensign

The jack, shown as #726, and the merchant ensign, shown as #1017, are very similar to the national flag.

Željko Heimer, 20 April 2003

Pilot flag

The flag, shown as #727, is similar to the flag used later, but today replaced by yet another flag.

Željko Heimer, 20 April 2003

Imperial standard

Sultan's standard - Image by Željko Heimer, 20 April 2003

The flag, shown as #1018, is a red flag with a white Imperial tugra within a rayed ornament.
The Sultan at the time would be Mehmed V Reşad Gazi (ruling 1909-1918), whose tugra can be found on the Tugras website and was used for the above image.

Željko Heimer, 20 April 2003

Imperial standard afloat

Sultan's standard at sea - Image by Željko Heimer, 20 April 2003

The flag, shown as #1021, is similar to further versions of the Naval Forces Command flag. The shade of red in National Geographic is definitively darker than for the rest of the series of flags.

Željko Heimer, 20 April 2003

Religious flag

Religious flag - Image by Željko Heimer, 20 April 2003

The flag, shown as #1022 is similar to the national flag but with the field green instead of red.
Such a flag is still used on (or in) mosques around the Islamic world, with some variations in the crescent and star, often also omitting the star and arranging the crescent somewhat differently. Sometimes the emblems are golden/yellow on the green flag, but anyhow, this is still the (or a) flag of Islam.

Željko Heimer, 20 April 2003

A drawing advertizing for the Young Turks' Constitution (photo) shows the religious flag, crossed with the usual Ottoman flag with a red background, as shown on the coat of arms of the Ottoman Rmpire (image).

Esteban Rivera, 24 March 2016

Customs flag

Customs flags - Image by Željko Heimer, 20 April 2003

The customs flag, shown as #1023, is similar to the national flag, but with a white orle.

Željko Heimer, 20 April 2003