A flag embodies the hopes and aspirations of a country or state. It's more than just an emblem — it's a grand statement. So it's too bad so many flags are kind of boring. Here are some flags from throughout history (plus a few current ones) that bring some serious pizzazz.
Above: the flag of Mozambique between 1975 and 1983.
Most Serene Republic of Venice or Republic of Venice (697-1797)
(via Flanker)
Isle of Man (13th century-)
(via Sodipodi flag collection)
The Kingdom of Ireland (1542-1801)
(via Trajan117)
Burma (1752-1885)
(via Mnmazur)
The Bowman Flag of Australia (1806)
(via Sodacan)
The Kingdom of the Two Sicilies (1816-1848; 1849-1860)
(via Flanker)
State ensign of Siam (1817-1855)
(via Xiengyod)
Gran Colombia (1819-1820)
(via Shadowxfox)
Peru (1821-1822, created by José de San Martín)
(via Huhsunqu)
Swedish merchant flag (1844-1905)
(via Jeltz)
Kingdom of Hungary (December 21, 1867 - November 12, 1918)
(via Thommy)
Republic of Formosa or Republic of Taiwan (1895)
(via Jeff Dahl)
South Africa (1912-1928)
(via Fornax)
First flag of the Republic of China (1912-1928)
(via Kibinsky)
Naval Ensign of Austria-Hungary (1915-1918)
(via Hugh Jass)
South Africa (1928-1994, known as the Oranje-Blanje-Blou)
(via Denelson83)
Flag of the Second Spanish Republic (1931-1939)
(via SanchoPanzaXXI)
Japanese occupation of Cambodia (March-October 1945)
(via AnonMoos)
Eritrea (1952-1962)
(via Orange Tuesday)
Herm, the smallest of the Channel Islands open to the public (1953-)
(via Denelson83)
Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic (1953-1990)
(via Urmas and Nokka)
French Sudan (November 24, 1956 - April 4, 1959)
(via Akiramenai)
British Columbia, a province of Canada (1960-)
(via -xfi-)
Burundi (1962-1966)
(via Orange Tuesday)
Gozo, a small island in Malta (1964-)
(via Sannita)
Papua New Guinea (1965-1970)
(via Orange Tuesday)
Rhodesia (1968-1979)
(via Sagredo)
Zaire (1971-1997)
(via Moyogo)
Northern Territory in the central northern region of Australia (1978-)
(via Froztbyte)
Flag of Aragon, an autonomous community in Spain (1982-)
(via Willtron)
Sicily, Italy (1990-)
(via Angelo Romano)
Abkhazia, a territory that is fully recognised by Russia, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Nauru and Tuvalu (1992-)
(via Achim1999)
The only Buddhist region of Europe: The Republic of Kalmykia, Russia (1993-)
(via Conscious)
Veneto, Italy (1999-)
(via Flanker & Angelus)
Christmas Island, a territory of Australia (unofficially adopted in 1986, but made official only in 2002)
(via Tony Couch)
The Mari El Republic, a federal subject of Russia (2011-)
(via Urmas)
Pereira, Columbia
(via Guilherme Paula)
Pernambuco, a state of Brazil
(via E2m)
Ceuta, an autonomous city of Spain in Africa
(via Ulaidh)
Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, a province of central Ukraine
(via Hellerick)
Bonus: A Flag of the Governor-General of India (1885-1947)
(via Sodacan)