Princedom of Serbia was allowed for its own flag in 1835 by Mahmud II. The flag was the traditional red-blue-white.

The merchant ensign, from 1838 ca., added the coat of arms in the centre; this because it was necessary to distinguish the Serbian flag from the Russian one when the former was hoisted upside down to signal a danger. Because the Serbian Principate coat of arms was adopted only in 1838, the flag couldn't be precedent. The only image we have of the merchant ensign of that period is the uncomplete/incorrect one in the book of Le Gras.

The constitution of 1869 describes the merchant ensign: red-blue-white with the shield (without crown and mantle) in the center and three yellow 6 pointed stars on the red stripe (for the ottoman sovereign, has it was for Moldavia and Wallachia). The dates for this flag could be June 1869 - 1872 ca.

In 1882 the merchant flag was modified following modification of the coat of arms: the shield was surmounted by a royal crown (without mantle). This flag remained in use until 1918.

The State flag 1882-1918 differed from the merchant ensign having the complete arms in the center.

The war flag, adopted in 1904 following the incoronation of Peter I Karadordevic (the "d"s are not really "d"!!, as well the "c"!) used the complete royal arms instead of the State ones.

This is the flag of Chetnik movement, Serbian irregular army from WWII

Pages of the Karadjordevic house, and show some flags of Serbia

Click on the icon to view