Abdalwadid Kingdom of Tlemcen (Northern Africa, 1235-1550)

Last modified: 2016-10-31 by ivan sache
Keywords: tlemcen | tilimsi |
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• Presentation of Tlemcen
• Flag of Tlemcen in the "Catalan Atlas"
• Flag of Tlemcen in the "Book of All Kingdoms"
• Flag of Tlemcen in Siegel's flag chart
• Flag of Tlemcen in Znamierowski's book
• Flags of Tlemcen in portolanos

See also:

• Algeria
• Barbary Coast (Algeria, XVth century - 1671)

Presentation of Tlemcen

Tlemcen, now called Tilimsi since the Algerian toponymic reform, was the capital of Central Maghreb, ruled by the Abdalwadid dynasty, in the 14th-16th centuries.

Ivan Sache, 11 March 2001

Flag of Tlemcen in the "Catalan Atlas"

Flag of the Kingdom of Tlemcen, as shown in the "Catalan Atlas" - Image by Tomislav Todorović, 27 July 2007

In the "Catalan Atlas" [c2q75], the flag of Tlemcen is silver with a blue crescent. In the map, the silver field of the flag has darkened by age to very dark gray, almost black, while the crescent indeed looks black - its dark blue color, much darkened by age, is revealed only if the map image is zoomed in to the maximum. In the above image of this flag, the shade of silver is shown according to the recommendations of the International Association of Amateur Heralds.

Tomislav Todorović, 19 May 2016

Flag of Tlemcen in the "Book of All Kingdoms"

Flag of the Kingdom of Tlemcen, as shown in the "The Book of All Kingdoms" - Image by Tomislav Todorović, 27 July 2007

In the "Book of All Kingdoms" [f0fXX], the flag of Tlemcen is shield-shaped, like most flags in the book, with a large blue crescent in vertical position.
The 62nd flag mentioned and illustrated in the "Book" is attributed to Tlemcen.
The 2005 Spanish illustrated transcription of the "Book" [f0f05] shows a white flag with a blue crescent, with black lining visible, pointing to the hoist; the flag is shown in the ogival default shape of this source.
The anonymous author of the "Book" describes the flag thusly: El rey de Tremecen á por señales un pendón blanco con una luna azul (The king of Tlemcen has for device a white pendon with a blue moon.) The flag is identical to the 42nd flag ("Cairo") shown in the Spanish transcription of the "Book".

Tomislav Todorović & António Martins, 27 November 2007

Flag of Tlemcen in Siegel's flag chart

Flag of the Kingdom of Tlemcen, as shown in Siegel's flag chart - Image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 7 November 2008

Siegel's flag chart [sig12] (chart #17, third row, third column) shows the flag of "Tremesen", after the "Book of All Kingdoms", as a white ogival pennant with a blue crescent opened to the hoist.

Klaus-Michael Schneider, 7 November 2008

Flag of Tlemcen in Znamierowski's book

Flag of the Kingdom of Tlemcen, as shown by Znamierowski - Image by Ivan Sache, 11 March 2001

A flag of Tlemcen, a blue crescent pointing upwards on an white field, is shown by Znamierowski [zna99], who does not give precise sources for the flag. He mentions, however, that the first flags with the crescent appeared in portolans and navigation maps of 14th century.
It is possible that "The Book of All Kingdoms" was the source for Znamierowski as well, because he mentions this book when speaking about the flags with the crescents from medieval sources.

Ivan Sache & Tomislav Todorović, 27 July 2007

Flags of Tlemcen on portolanos

Two flags of Tlemcen shown in portolanos - Images by Jaume Ollé, 11 March 2001