Aceh (Indonesian Princely State)

Historical Flags

Last modified: 2026-10-24 by klaus-michael schneider
Keywords: princely state | aceh | crescent and star | zulfiqar |
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• Types of Aceh Flags
• National Flag
• State Flags
• Civil Flags reported 1877

See also:

• Free Aceh Movement (GAM)
• Indonesia
• Indonesia - Index of all Pages

Types of Aceh Flags

There is the Sword Standard (Javanese: Alam Peudeueng), which displays crescent star and sword, actually a scimitar.
Before the creation of this flag the sultanate used the Ottoman Flag. The star successively turned from 6 points to 8 points. Aceh had been a vassal of the Pedir Kingdom between 1497 and 1514 and became afterwards a protectorate of the Ottoman Empire between 1596 and 1903. It profited by the support of the empire, especially in defence against the Portugues invaders.
There is also the Zulfiqar Standard (Javanese: Alam Zulfiqar), which displays the double-bladed sword of Ali, stepson of the Prophet Mohammed. It is usually accompanied by other charges.
Source: English WIKIPEDIA
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 21 Oct 2026

National Flag

The flag is dark red. On its centre are a white crescent with white 8-point star nearly filling the whole sheet. The flag was adopted in 18th century.
Source: Rühl 1952, p.140
Jaume Ollé

State Flags

State Flag 1496

The 407 year old Flag of Aceh 1496-1903 (see image at top of page).
Source: image by Janis Lasmanis, provided 25 Apr 2020
John McMeekin, 6 Dec 2010

State Flag reported 1952

The flag is red with a white scimitar with hilt pointing to hoist.
Source: Rühl 1952, p.140
Jaume Ollé

State Flag (1850 - 1883)

The flag is red with a white Zulfiqar, flanked at top by a white disc, representing a full moon.
Source: Wereldmuseum (dpartment Leiden) filing card archive no. 7082-S-230-1295
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 14 Oct 2026

"Flag of the Realm"

The flag is dated by the filing card as prior to 1916. It is red. Shifted to hoist is a white Zulfiqar, accompanied at hoist by two crescents with 8-point stars, all in white, but the two stars have nearly disappeared on flag.
Source: Source: Wereldmuseum (dpartment Leiden) filing card archive no. TM 674-730
Klaus-Michael Schneider, Oct 2026

State Flag reported 1865

The flag is red. Shifted to hoist is a white crescent with white 8-point star.
Source: English WIKIPEDIA
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 21 Oct 2026

State Flag reported 1877

The flag is red. Shifted to hoist is a white crescent with tilted white 8-point star.
Source: English WIKIPEDIA
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 21 Oct 2026

State Flag reported 1877 - variant 2

The flag is red. At hoist is a white crescent in bend. At fly is a tilted white 6-point star.
Source: English WIKIPEDIA
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 21 Oct 2026

State Flag reported 1877 - variant 3

The flag is red with a white stripe alongside the hoist. Shifted to bottom is a white Zulfiqar in fess under a white disc, representing a full moon, shifted to hoist.
Source: English WIKIPEDIA
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 21 Oct 2026

Civil Flags reported 1877

image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 21 Oct 2026

image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 21 Oct 2026

image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 21 Oct 2026

In 1877 three civil flags, or if you prefer civilensigns have been reported. The first one is parted per bend sinsiter of red and white (see left image above). The second one is plain red (see central image above). The third one is blue with a white disc at central hoist (see right image above).
Source: collectie.wereldmuseum.nl.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 21 Oct 2026

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