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The [[national flag]] of [[Latvia]] ({{lang-lv|Latvijas karogs}}) was used by independent Latvia from 1918 until the country was [[Soviet occupation of Latvia in 1940|occupied]] by the [[Soviet Union]] in 1940. Its use was suppressed during Soviet rule. On 27 February 1990, shortly before the country [[On the Restoration of Independence of the Republic of Latvia|regained its independence]], the Latvian government re-adopted the traditional red-white-red flag.
Though officially adopted in 1921, the Latvian flag was used in
== History ==
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The red-white-red Latvian flag is first mentioned in the medieval ''[[Livonian Rhymed Chronicle|Rhymed Chronicle of Livonia]]'' (''Livländische Reimchronik''),<ref>[http://www.old.historia.lv/alfabets/A/AT/atskanu_hronika/hronikas_teksts/09038_10040.vacu.htm Livlädische Reimchronik] ({{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141215035451/http://www.old.historia.lv/alfabets/A/AT/atskanu_hronika/hronikas_teksts/09038_10040.vacu.htm |date=2014-12-15 }}): ''Von Wenden was zû Rîge komen / zûr lantwer, als ich hân vernomen,/ ein brûder und wol hundert man:/ den wart daß mêre kunt getân./ die quâmen hovelîchen dar / mit einer banier rôtgevar,/ daß was mit wîße durch gesniten / hûte nâch wendischen siten./ Wenden ist ein burc genant,/ von den die banier wart bekant,/ und ist in Letten lant gelegen,/ dâ die vrowen rîtens pflegen / nâch den siten, als die man./ vor wâr ich ûch daß sagen kan,/ die banier der Letten ist.'' (9219–9233)</ref> which covers the period from 1180 to 1343, and is thus among the oldest flags in the world. The chronicle tells of a battle that took place around 1279, in which ancient Latgalian tribes from [[Cēsis]], a city in the northern part of modern-day Latvia, went to war, bearing a red flag with a white stripe.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.flaggenlexikon.de/flett.htm |title=National Flagge des Lettland|access-date=2003-04-27 |author=Volker Preuß|language=de}}</ref>
Legend recounts the story of the mortally wounded chief of [[Latgalians]] who was wrapped in a white sheet. The part of the sheet on which he was lying remained white, but the two edges were stained in his blood. During the next battle, the bloodstained sheet was used as a flag. According to the legend, this time the Latgalian warriors were successful and drove the enemy away.
Based on the aforementioned historical record, some nationalist individuals and organisations started to use such flags in the 19th century. In 1917, a red-white-red flag was used in several events aimed at uniting Latvian regions, the debate about the visual appearance of the Latvian flag was raised. In May, during a meeting of the Latvian Art Promotion Association (Latviešu mākslas veicināšanas biedrība), several proposals were reviewed, finally, a design by artist {{illm|Ansis Cīrulis|lv|Ansis Cīrulis|ru|Цирулис, Ансис}} was accepted. The Latvian national flag, together with the national coat of arms was affirmed in this format by a decree of the Constitutional Assembly of Latvia passed on 15 June 1921.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://lvportals.lv/norises/200636-sarkanbaltsarkanas-latvijas-karoga-krasas-ii-2009 |title=Sarkanbaltsarkanās – Latvijas karoga krāsas (II) |language=lv |date=2009-11-17 |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=LV portāls}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.president.lv/en/national-symbols |title=National symbols |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=President of the Republic of Latvia}}</ref><ref name="fotw-lv-hist" />
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== Display of the flag ==
[[File:Flag of Latvia photo.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Flagpole]]
Latvian law states that the flag and [[national colours]] can be displayed and used as an ornament if proper respect to the flag is guaranteed.
The flag shall be placed at least {{convert|2.5|m}} above the ground and properly secured to the flagstaff.
If the flag is flown from a flagpole in mourning, it shall be raised to half-staff.
== Flag days ==
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=== Standard of the prime minister of Latvia ===
The standard of the [[Prime Minister of Latvia|prime minister]] is white with the symmetric cross in the colour proportions of the national flag. In top left canton of the flag, the [[Coat of arms of Latvia|coat of arms]] is placed. The height of coat of arms is {{frac|5|6}} of the height of canton, and the sun of coat of arms is in the centre of the canton. The proportion between the width of the national colours and that of the Banner is 1:5. The proportion between the length and width of the Banner is 3:2.
=== Standard of the speaker of the Saeima ===
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