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

Flag of the Kingdom of Tlemcen, as shown in the Catalan Atlas (left) and in El libro del conoscimiento de todos los reynos (right) - Images by Tomislav Todorović, 27 July 2007

Presentation of Tlemcen
Flags of Tlemcen

See also:

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 XIVth-XVIth centuries.

Ivan Sache, 11 March 2001

Flags of Tlemcen

In the Catalan Atlas, the flag of Tlemcen is silver with a black crescent. In the map, the silver field of the flag has darkened by age to very dark gray, almost black. In the above image of this flag, the shade of silver is shown according to the recommendations of the International Association of Amateur Heralds.

In El libro del conoscimiento de todos los reynos [e9s50], the flag of Tlemcen is shield-shaped, like most flags in the book, with large blue crescent in vertical position. Like all the flags from the same source, it also has sinister hoist.

Tomislav Todorović, 27 July 2007

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 XIVth century.
It is possible that El libro del conoscimiento de todos los reynos 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

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