Flag of Montecara
 | |
| Name | I do sangi "The Two Bloods" |
|---|---|
| Use | National flag, civil and state ensign |
| Proportion | 3:5 |
| Adopted | Early 14th century |
| Design | Two red stripes of equal width on a white field |
| File:MC-Ensign.png Variant flag of Montecara | |
| Use | Naval ensign |
| Proportion | 1:2 |
| Design | Swallowtail version of the national flag with different proportions |
| File:MC-jack.png Variant flag of Montecara | |
| Proportion | 1:1 |
| Design | Naval jack |
| Coat of arms of Montecara | |
|---|---|
| File:MontecaraCoA.png | |
| Crest | Civic crown |
| Blazon | Argent two bars Gules |
| Supporters | A garland of oak and laurel bound with a ribbon Gules, with finials Or, hung from a rod Or |
| Use | Laws, proclamations, passports, and other official documents |
The flag of Montecara is one of the oldest flags in continuous use in the world. Its use was first documented in the sixth century in depictions of Montecaran merchant ships, and records indicate that it came to symbolize and be used by the city-state as a whole by the end of the century.
Origin
According to legend, the design comes from the event in 515 that liberated Montecara. After the wealthy merchant Piero de' Malatesta took control of the city with his mercenary army and made himself dictator, the city's burghers conspired to assassinate him and restore their traditional rights to govern Montecara collectively. Their plan was hatched on 16 April, which is commemorated as Montecara's national day. A crowd of burghers and their supporters disguised in hooded white priests' robes fell on Piero as he left the old cathedral, stabbing him repeatedly. The assassins each dipped two fingers into the fallen dictator's blood and drew them across their white robes to signify their participation in the conspiracy, creating the design that still appears on Montecara's flag today. With their paymaster dead, the mercenary army soon departed and Montecara's freedom was restored.
Protocol
The flag is afforded legal protection, and it is an offense to deface, sully, or destroy it. It should never be allowed to touch the ground or water. No other flag may be flown higher than or on the same pole as the national flag, and it should always occupy the place of honor and be the first raised and last lowered. It should be lowered at night unless properly illuminated. The flag may not be used in advertisement or printed on anything disposable or undignified.
The coat of arms is to be reserved for the use of the state and its organs. Laws and regulations providing for the licit and dignified use of the national symbols may be enacted.
During times of mourning, the flag may be lowered by one flag-height on a flagpole; if lowering it is not practicable, a black cravat may be attached at the upper hoist. During mourning periods, it should be raised to the top of the flagpole for a moment before being lowered, and this process should be reversed when the flag is taken off the pole. The flag may be used to drape the coffin at funerals, but should not be lowered into the grave.
When excessively worn, the flag should be burned (if made of natural fiber) or unstitched and recycled (if synthetic).
The flag is required by law or order to be displayed at the following places and times:
- On the Palaço Pùblico every working day
- On the Senate building when in session
- At ports of entry when open
- At military installations during daylight hours
Coat of arms
The design of Montecara's coat of arms consists of a shield bearing the same design as the flag of Montecara wreathed by branches of oak and laurel, representing endurance and virtue. The crest at top is a civic crown, representing the status of Montecara's citizens as collective sovereign of their city-state.
Official specifications
The Montecaran constitution defines the flag as one of the national symbols along with the coat of arms, anthem, motto, and personification of the Republic. The Secretariat of State publishes official specifications of the colors to be used in manufacturing and depicting the flag.
| Name | RGB | CMYK | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R | G | B | 8-bit hex | C | M | Y | K | ||
| White | 255 | 255 | 255 | #FFFFFF
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Luminous red | 255 | 42 | 42 | #FF2A2A
|
0 | 84 | 84 | 0 | |