Jordan Flag Pictures
Kingdom of Jordan's flag represents unity
The flag of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan features three horizontal bands of (from top) green, white and black with a red triangle beginning at the hoist side and coming to a point in the center of the white stripe. Centered in the red triangle is a white seven-point star.
According to the Web site of the late King Hussein I, the flag stems from Jordan's ties to the Great Arab Revolt of 1916, and is adapted from its banner. "The black, white and green bands represent the Arab Abbasid, Umayyad and Fatimid dynasties respectively, while the crimson triangle joining the bands represents the Hashemite dynasty. The seven-pointed Islamic star set in the center of the crimson triangle represents the unity of Arab peoples in Jordan." The seven-point star is also said to represent the seven verses of the first sura of the Quran, the Fatihah, a central prayer of Islam.
Modern Jordanian history
Prior to World War I, Jordan was part of the Ottoman Empire. Following World War I and the dissolution of the empire, Britain received a mandate from the League of Nations to govern the area that was then referred to as Palestine. In 1921, the British government gave semi-autonomous control of the land east of the Jordan River known as Transjordan to Abdullah I of the Hashemite family. From 1921-1928, the flag of the Emirate of Transjordan was similar to the current flag, but without the star in the red triangle.
Throughout the 1920s and 30s a series of agreements and treaties gradually brought Transjordan closer to full sovereignty, and in 1928, the seven-point star was added to the flag in the center of the red triangle.
During World War II, Transjordan remained allied with and fought alongside Britain, and at the same time participated in talks that resulted in the establishment of the League of Arab States in 1945. The League included Transjordan, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Yemen.
In 1946, Transjordan became a kingdom with a new Constitution through the Treaty of London. Jordan, which changed its name in 1950, celebrates its Independence Day as May 25, 1946.
King Hussein I
In 1953, Abdullah's grandson, King Hussein, was with his grandfather when he was assassinated in 1951 and escaped a bullet intended for him, formally ascended to the throne and assumed power nearly two weeks after his 18th birthday. King Hussein governed Jordan until his death in 1999, a 46-year reign.
King Hussein is described on the CIA World Factbook Web site as follows: "A pragmatic leader, he successfully navigated competing pressures from the major powers (U.S., U.S.S.R., and U.K.), various Arab states, Israel, and a large internal Palestinian population, despite several wars and coup attempts."
For a brief period in 1958, Jordan entered into a union with Iraq to form the Arab Federation of Jordan and Iraq. The flag of this short-lived union was the Jordanian flag minus the star.
Hosting refugees
Because of Jordan's location and its commitment to peace, stability, and unity, it has become a place of refuge for many people by wars in the region. Jordan borders Iraq, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and the West Bank. According to the U.S. State Department, "Approximately 1.7 million registered Palestinian refugees and other displaced persons reside in Jordan, many as citizens."
During the Persian Gulf War, Jordan denounced Iraq's occupation of Kuwait, but did not participate in the war. Since the fall of Saddam Hussein, Jordan has helped to trained Iraqi police forces and has accepted "several hundred thousand Iraqi refugees" into the country.
Because of its exploding refugee population and limited resources, Jordan faces several political and economic challenges.
Buy Jordan flags at united-states-flag.com
See flag of Jordan at Flags of the World
See information on Jordan at U.S. State Department
King Abdullah II Official Web site
See Jordan at Library of Congress Country Studies
See the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan site of the late King Hussein I
See Jordan at CIA's World Factbook
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