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Pictorial History of Iranian Flags
Iran Flags' History
a book by Ahreeman X

Chapter Two
Iran's Qajar Imperial Courthouse and National Flags

Meaning of the Tricolor Flag

The Tricolor modern Iranian flag has traditional meanings. The Tricolor Flag was primarily designed on 1907.

The Original Interpretation:
Green: Represents Pir-e Sabz (The Zoroastrian Green Elder) which today, his resting place is a Zoroastrian pilgrimage point near Yazd.
White: Represents purity and peace, also Zarathustra's sacred color
Red: Represents revolution, martyrdom, and safekeeping of the Aryan-land

The Second Interpretation:
Green: Fertility and Fruitful Agriculture
White: Peace and Harmony
Red: Courage and Bravery

Finally, the "Most recent translation of Green, White, and Red" came down to this:

Modern Interpretation:
Green: We The Iranians are a very fertile and generous nation. We own many green lands covered with grass, plants, nutritious crops, vegetation, fruit trees and blooming flowers. We are hospitable people. We would share our fruits and resources with others
White: We are peaceful people and a peaceful nation.
Red: Yet if the foreign enemy invades us, then we shall turn to very courageous people. We will go to war and do not hesitate to drop as much blood as necessary, so the whole world will turn blood red!

Meaning of the Lion, Sun and Sword

The modern meaning interprets:
Lion: Aryan Power, Glory and Bravery
Sun: Wisdom, light, Warmth and Knowledge
Sword: Strength, Victory, Resistance and Justice

Flag of Aqa Mohamad Shah
Qajar Dynasty: 1794 AD - 1925 AD
Aqa Mohamad Shah's reign covered 1794 AD - 1797 AD period.
Aqa Moahamad Khan were the head and the starter of the Qajar Dynasty. As the founder of Qajar Dynasty, he was basically the only worthy Shah of Qajar who protected the integrity of the Persian Empire by the skin of his teeth. During his era, foreign enemies of Iran including but not limited to Russia, Ottoman Turks and British were dared to invade Iran. He was a formidable foe for enemies of Iran.

Aqa Khan used this flag as his official state banner. The color red, shows the brave and warrior nature of Aqa Khan. The color yellow of the central circle resembles the light of Persian Empire, which shines upon nations. The specific Lion, Sun and Sword of Qajar, starts to appear on the Persian Banner from this moment onward. This flag were waved in Aqa Khan's legendary military campaigns. This flag was specifically significant at 1797. This is The Original Qajar Flag. Aqa Mohamad Khan-e Qajar ruled with the firm hand; Aqa Khan was The Last Persian Emperor (Shahanshah). After his reign, Iran became a kingdom.

Flag of Mohamad Shah
Qajar Dynasty: 1794 AD - 1925 AD
Mohamad Shah ruled during 1834 AD - 1848 AD
This was the Flag of Mohamad Shah (1834 AD - 1848 AD). The flag shows a yellow lion with a sun behind him on a white field with a red and green triangle stripe surrounding the flag.

Qajar Ceremonial Royal Banner
Qajar Dynasty: 1794 AD - 1925 AD

Naseredin Shah's Military Flag
Qajar Dynasty: 1794 AD - 1925 AD
Naseredin Shah 1848 AD - 1896 AD
The military flag of Naseredin Shah-e Qajar. This flag were used by the Iranian Army during the siege of Herat (west of Afghanistan). Afghans started a rebellion and Naseredin Shah sent troops to destroy the rebellion. Naseredin Shah had done his best to calm the rebellion and keep the integrity of Iran; however, two reasons had caused the separation of Afghanistan from Iran:
1) Iranian Military after Aqa Mohamad Khan, was only a small fraction of what it used to be!
2) British interfered and embargoed our Southern Ports and held them for ransom! We had to let go of Afghanistan, so the British would let go of our Southern Ports!

Naser-edin Shah's Qajar State Standard
Qajar Dynasty: 1794 AD - 1925 AD
This Qajar Imperial Standard, started its existence by Naser-edin Shah on 1881. This flag was also called "Beyraq-e Naseri)

Flag of Mozafar-edin Shah
Qajar Dynasty: 1794 AD - 1925 AD
Mozafar-edin Shah used this flag during 1896 AD - 1907 AD.
This flag was the official Qajar banner during Mozafar-edin Shah era. The Constitutionalist Revolution of Iran had occurred during his reign on 1906.

Mozafar-edin Shah's State Banner
Qajar Dynasty: 1794 AD - 1925 AD
Mozafar-edin Shah's post Constitutionalist Revolution of Iran's Flag (1906 AD -1907 AD).
After The Constitutionalist Revolution, the horizontal tricolor became the official state flag. This flag were adopted on August 5th 1906 after the Constitution was forced upon Mozafar-edin Shah on August 14th 1905. Colors used in the Persian tricolor are expressively described as very pale.

Flag of Mohamad Ali Shah
Qajar Dynasty: 1794 AD - 1925 AD
Mohamad Ali Shah used this flag during 1907AD - 1909 AD.

Flag of Ahmad Shah
Qajar Dynasty: 1794 AD - 1925 AD
Ahmad Shah Qajar (1909 AD - 1925 AD)
Flag of Ahmad Shah-e Qajar during 1909-1910.

Flag of Ahmad Shah
Qajar Dynasty: 1794 AD - 1925 AD
Ahmad Shah Qajar (1909 AD - 1925 AD)
Flag of Ahmad Shah-e Qajar (Tricolor). This is the second flag which Ahmad shah used. This is the 1910 Flag with The Constitutionalist Revolution's Pale Tricolor horizontal effects. This flag were used during 1910 AD - 1925 AD.


Flag of Ahmad Shah
Qajar Dynasty: 1794 AD - 1925 AD
Ahmad Shah Qajar (1909 AD - 1925 AD)
Ahmad Shah-e Qajar's Ceremonial Flag (Tricolor).The Ceremonial Flag of Qajar, The 1910 Version with Constitutionalsit Revolution's Pale Tricolor effect. This flag were used during 1910 AD -1925 AD.

The Qajar Imperial Court Standard (1907 Version)
Qajar Dynasty: 1794 AD - 1925 AD
Blue square flag with national tricolor canton at the top left corner and white disk in the middle containing the crowned lion and sun within a wreath. The crown at the time was the Qajar crown.

Imperial Qajar Lion, Sun and Sword Insignias
Nishan-e Shir o Khorshid
The Imperial Order of the Lion and Sun from Qajar Era
6 different Qajar Insignias:

Imperial Qajar Lion, Sun and Sword Insignias

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