Corsica

The flag of Corsica (A Bandera Testa Mora) displays a black Moor's head in profile on a white field, wearing a white bandana tied behind the head. This emblem dates to at least the 14th century and is one of the most recognizable regional flags in Europe. The origins of the Moor's head are debated — some link it to the defeat of Moorish raiders, others to an Aragonese tradition. Originally the bandana covered the eyes, but the 18th-century Corsican independence leader Pasquale Paoli raised it to the forehead, symbolizing the island's liberation and enlightenment. Corsica briefly existed as an independent republic (1755–1769) before being sold to France by Genoa.