Why are Purple Flags So Rare? (Short Animated Documentary)

Summary by Krater

This video explores the historical rarity of the color purple on national flags, tracing its origins in Roman imperialism and its association with wealth and royalty.

From the video

Answers: Why are purple flags so rare?

• history of purple dye
• royal colors in flags
• Tyrian purple production
• synthetic purple dye invention
• national flag symbolism

What it concludes

• Purple was historically associated with royalty and Roman emperors because purple dye was extremely expensive.
• During the medieval period, European states avoided using purple on national flags because of its high cost.
• A synthetic purple dye was not created until the 1850s, so only nations created after that time were likely to have purple on their flags.
• Spain adopted a flag with a purple stripe in 1931 after the overthrow of its monarchy, but purple is rarely used as a major flag color due to historical lack of use.