Flag of Montecara
 | |
| Name | I do sangi "The Two Bloods" |
|---|---|
| Use | National flag, civil and state ensign |
| Proportion | 3:5 |
| Adopted | 6th century CE |
| 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 |
| Adopted | circa 1300 |
| Design | Swallowtail version of the national flag with different proportions |
| File:Montecara-Jack.png | |
| Proportion | 1:1 |
| Adopted | 1791 |
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 accorded great respect in Montecara, and it is a crime 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.
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
- In the Plaça Dulio during daylight hours
- At military installations during daylight hours
Official colors
| Color | HTML color | RGB Values |
|---|---|---|
| Luminous red | #FF2A2A
|
(255, 42, 42) |
| White | #FFFFFF
|
(255, 255, 255) |