🇲🇪 The colours of Montenegro

Montenegro's flag features a red field bordered in gold, with the national coat of arms at its centre. Red and gold are the main colours, with red linked to historic banners and gold to royal and heraldic traditions. The flag's design reflects Montenegro's past and its statehood.

Where no official value is given, the swatch shows the colour family, not the exact shade.

• The flag is red with a gold border and central coat of arms.
• Red recalls historic war banners and independence battles.
• Gold reflects royal and heraldic traditions.
• The flag's design was officially set in 2004.
• The gold border is exactly 1/20 of the flag's height.

The colours of the flag of Montenegro

The Montenegrin flag is mainly red, edged with a gold border and displaying the national coat of arms in the centre. Red is the dominant colour, recalling historic war flags and the banners used in battles for independence. Gold outlines the flag and appears in the coat of arms, reflecting royal and heraldic customs. The official meaning of these colours is rooted in tradition and state symbolism, rather than a formal declaration. The flag’s proportions and placement of the coat of arms are strictly defined.

How the colours were chosen of Montenegro

Montenegro's flag colours have changed over time, shaped by war, religion, and foreign influence. Early flags were simple, often featuring a cross on a red or white background. In the 19th century, the double-headed eagle and lion, inspired by Russian and Venetian symbols, became common. The tricolour of red, blue, and white was used in the early 20th century, reflecting folk costume colours. Under Yugoslavia, Montenegro used a red, blue, and white flag, later adding a red star. The current red and gold design, based on a royal banner, was adopted in 2004 and confirmed after independence in 2006.

Official shades and rules of Montenegro

The flag’s ratio is 1:2, with the coat of arms centred and taking up two-thirds of the flag’s height. The gold border is set at one-twentieth of the flag’s height. Official specifications were finalised in September 2004, clarifying that the border is a flat band, not a fringe. The flag’s use and display are regulated by law and protocol.