Republic of Croatia, 1990
On 21 December 1990, a new flag was adopted for the Republic of Croatia, about ten months before the proclamation of independence from Yugoslavia, on 25 June 1991. The red-white-blue tricolour dates back to 1848, and the traditional Croatian checkerboard shield (chequy) with 13 red and 12 white fields goes back to the Middle Ages. Above this is a crown made of shields of its various regions. From left to right, they are the ancient arms of Croatia, Dubrovnik (Ragusa), Dalmatia, Istria and Slavonia.