🇦🇱Albania

Albania's flag features one of the most distinctive national symbols in Europe: a black double-headed eagle on a red background. The eagle design is associated with Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg, the 15th-century Albanian nobleman who led resistance against the Ottoman Empire for 25 years. According to legend, Skanderbeg raised this banner when he declared Albania's independence in 1443. The double-headed eagle was also the symbol of the Byzantine Empire, from which Albanian nobility claimed descent. The red background represents bravery, strength, and valor. The current design was officially adopted on April 7, 1992, after the fall of communism, though the eagle symbol has been used since 1912.