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National Emblems: The protectorate has adopted a modified version of the previous national flag, with the arrangement of cross and crescent rotated 90° so that the cross is above the arms of the crescent. This symbolizes the fact that Christians of various denominations constitute a plurality in that part of the former territory of the empire now under Altlandic rule. Superimposed upon the white of the cross are the red cross the blue saltire of the Altlandic national flag, and the Crown of Altland, symbolizing that under the Protectorate the King of Altland holds sovereignty. The former national arms, consisting of a seven-pointed while star upon a field of the distinctive "Afrazurean" blue has been replaced because the symbolism of the star, which stood for the seven original tribes from which the entire indigenous population of the empire was held to have sprung, was no longer corresponding to contemporary facts: the homelands of four of these tribes now lie outside the borders of the Protectorate, in Brolecia and in the zone controlled by the Yellow Free State, while a significant minority of the population is of mixed descent and no longer identifies itself with any particular one of these ancient tribes. The new arms consists of a circular lozenge displaying the cross and crescent upon a field of the traditional blue, supported by two native scimitars and surmounted by a representation of the former imperial crown, which has now been assumed by His Altlandic Majesty. Beneath the lozenge is a scoll bearing the national motto, Tembo Erabe Iffriquiyah ("The Big Elephant is the Shield of Afrazure"), in ancient Afrazlalic script. The previous national anthem, which bears this motto as its title and first words, will be retained under the Altlandic Protectorate. |