Representing the Kingdom: The Vexillography and Heraldry of Hashemite Iraq, 1921–58

This article explores the vexillography, heraldry, and iconography of Hashemite Iraq from 1921 to 1958. Representations of the Iraqi state were rooted in the Arab Revolt (1916–18), a rebellion against the Ottoman Empire during World War I. The Hashemite monarchy created flags and iconography that attempted to place its newborn kingdom in transhistorical continuity with previous Arab dynasties and ancient Mesopotamian polities. The article first examines the Iraqi flag and its evolution before turning its attention to Iraqi heraldry’s form and meaning. It closes with a concise case study on postage stamps as a vehicle of state authority and British-Iraqi hybridity.

[IVI.CID] 70d7799b-57c7-4e99-9d5e-f5423e9426a3