Flag of Denmark
The national flag of Denmark is more commonly known as the Dannebrog. The Dannebrog is red with a white cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side. The cross design of the Danish flag was subsequently adopted by the other Nordic countries: Sweden, Norway, Finland and Iceland.
The romantic origin of the flag
The story and origin the Danes themselves like to believe in, though not in any fanatical way, and still very aware of that the story might well be a tale, is the romantic and heroic in nature Battle of Lyndanisse, close to Reval (modern day Tallinn in Estonia), where on June 15, 1219 the flag is said to have fallen from the sky during a critical stage in the battle, to turn the tides to a Danish victory.
There is no historical support for this story. This story of the falling flag is not found in any written source, foreign or domestic, before over 300 years after the event and then the earliest source connects it with a much smaller battle, though still in Estonia, namely the battle of Felin in Estland in 1208. Though no historical support exists for the flag story in the Felin battle either, it is not difficult to understand how a small and unknown place is replaced with the much grander battle of Reval during King Valdemar II large Estland campaign.
This story comes from two written independent sources from the early 16th century.
The first is found in Christiern Pedersen's "Danske Krønike", which is a continuing of Saxos Gesta Danorum, written 1520-1523. In here it is not mentioned in connecting with King Valdemar II Estland campaign (in modern day Estonia), but in connection with a campaign in Russia. He likewise mention that this flag, falling from the sky during King Valdemar II Russian campaign, is the very same that King Eric of Pomerania takes with him out of the country when he was disposed as King in 1440.
The second source is found in the writings of the Franciscan-monk Petrus Olai (Peder Olsen) of Roskilde, from 1527. In this writing we learn that during King Valdemar II Estland campaign in 1208 in a place called "Felin" just when the Danes are all but defeated a banner of lam-skin with a white cross on, falls from the sky and changes the cause of the battle to a Danish victory. Likewise in another writing from Petrus Olai called "Danmarks tolv herligheder" (Twelve splendour of Denmark) in splendour number nine, this very same story is retold almost word-alike, however a paragraph is inserted that correct the year to 1219.
Whether this is a recording of an old oral story in existents at that time or it is a new story invented at about that time, is not currently determinate.
It is thought by some historians that the story of Petrus Olai is from a source dating to the first half of the 14th century, thus making this the oldest reference to the falling flag.
The continuing of the romantic origin
The story of the original flag has a continuing that many Danes themselves are not aware of.
According to tradition the original flag from the Battle of Lyndanisse, is brought out by King Hans during his small campaign (battle) against Ditmarsken (area in modern northern Holstein in northern Germany) in 1500, and it was lost in a devastation defeat on February 17, 1500. Later in 1559 it is recaptured during the Ditmarsken war, by King Frederik II where in part of the capitulations documents it is stated that all banners captured in 1500 by the Ditmarsk is to be returned.
This story is found in two sources, Hans Svanning's History of King Hans from 1558-1559 and Johan Rantzaus History about the last Ditmarsken war, from 1569. They both mention that this is the original flag. That both writers undoubtful have known the romantic story of the fallen flag from 1219 is evident in their writing. Johan Rantzaus son Henrik Rantzaus also writes about the flag and war, in 1576, where he additional mentions that the flag is in a sad state, when returned.
Ditmarsken sources written shortly after the 1500 battle does mention banners and the Kings banner being captured from the Danish, but there is no mention of Dannebrog or the "original" flag. That it is the kings banner and army head banner that have been lost is likely true, since the battle was lead by the King himself, but whether its the "original" flag or not is more questionable.
King Hans letter to Oluf Stigsøn dated February 22, 1500, about the battle, makes no mention of a truly important flag being lost. In fact the whole letter give the impression that the lost battle is noting more than an "unfortunate affair".
That we are likely dealing with multiply different flags here can be seen in Niels Hemmingsøn writing in 1570 about a bloody battle in 1520 near Uppsala in Sweden between the Danish and Swedes, where he writes that the "Danish head banner" ("Danmarckis Hoffuitbanner") is nearly captured by the Swedes. It is saved only by the banner-carrier Mogens Gyldenstierne taking multiply wounds and another young man coming to his rescue. This young man is Peder Skram. This "Danmarckis Hoffuitbanner" is probably nothing short of the "empire banner" (Rigs banner), the Dannebrog.
However the story continues. The Ditmarsk priest and historian Johan Neocorus writes in 1598 that the banner captured in 1500, was brought to Wohrden church and hang there for 59 years until it was handed back to the Danes in 1559 under the peace conditions. Henrik Rantzaus says in his writing of 1575 that after the flag was given back it was then brought to Slesvig cathedral. The Slesvig historian Ulrik Petersen (1656–1735) writes in the late 17th century that the flag hang here till about 1660 until it simply crumbled away, and thus ending its over 400 years of history.
It can of course not be proven if all these flags are in fact the same flag they speak about or whether it is in fact even the original flag, if such a flag ever existed. As one can see it is basically stories build on stories.
Other origin theories
Historians have a less colourful explanation for the origins of the flag: it is likely derived from old crusader banners of the time. The old coat of arms of Lübeck was red with a white cross, and the Danish king Eric of Pomerania, known by a white crossed flag, was also king of Lübeck.
The cross on the Dannebrog is similar to the cross of Saint Philip the Apostle.
The earliest documented use & source
Origin and meaning of "Dannebrog"
Connection with Estland (Estonia)
From Kings banner to National flag
Laws and flag variations
Denmark does not have a specified flag law, but various regulations and rules spread out over many documents, from King Christian IV time till today, can be found. The quest to unit them into a specified flag law have been brought forth many times, especially in the 20th century, but it never amounted to anything.
National flag
The size and shape of the coufhordie flag ("Koffardiflaget") for merchant ships is given in the regulation of June 11, 1748, which says: A red flag with a white cross and no split end. The white cross must be 1/7 of the flags height. The two first fields must be square in form and the two next fields most be 6/4 lengths of those.
This amounts into 3:1:3 in height and 3:1:4.5 in length. This is the absolute standard of the Danish national flag today. This also goes for the "Stutflaget" and merchant flag ("Handelsflaget") as they are all the same flag.
A little curious regulation came in 1758 about Danish ships sailing in the Mediterranean. They are to carry the Kings cypher logo in the center of the flag, to distinguish them from Malta ships (Order of St. John, Knights Hospitaller). To the best of knowledge this regulation is still in effect today, tho its doubtful if its done.
Everyone thinks that they know the colour of the flag, but the fact is the colour has never been specified in a nuance. The regulation of June 11, 1748 simple gives that the colour is red. Unofficial this is in modern days given as 185U or PMS032 (pantone 032), but it is not by law the colour of the flag. This is known today as "Dannebrog red" ("Dannebrogrød")
During the next about 150 years nobody paid much attention to actually abide fully to the proportions of the flag given in the 1748 regulation, not even the government. As late as 1892 it was stated in a series of regulations that the 6/4 lengths of the last two square fields, is how the flags proportions is. Some interested in the matter made inquires into this and brought forth that this 6/4 length made the flag look blunt and that any new flag would quickly become unlawful due to wear. They also pointed out that the flag currently was used anywhere from 7/4 to 13/6 in length. In May 1893 another regulation came, specified made to all chefs of Police nationwide that stated that the police should not intervene / point out if the violations alone was that the last two square fields was longer then 6/4 but still shorter then 7/4.
This regulation is still in effect today and thus the legal proportions of the National flag is today anywhere between 3:1:3 width / 3:1:4.5 length and 3:1:3 width / 3:1:5,25 length.
That some confusion still exists in this matter can be seen from the regulation of May 4, 1927, which once again stats that Danish merchant ship has to fly flags according to the 1748 regulation.
Splitflag
The "Splitflag" or "Orlogsflag" has similar regulations. It is a bit misleading as they are in fact two different flags. The "Splitflag" is a Danish flag ending in a split tail, with Dannebrog red and is used on land, while the "Orlogsflag" is a "Splitflag" with a deep red colour and is used on sea.
The Orlogsflag with no markings, may only be used by the Danish navy. There are though a few exceptions to this. Same flag with markings has been approved for a dozen companies and institutions over the years.
Furthermore only a clean Splitflag, with deep red, is the Orlogsflag ("Orlogsflaget"), e.g. it is the only flag that actually is an Orlogsflag. splitflags with deep red and markings are still named Splitflags.
The first regulation regarding the splitflag is from March 27, 1630, where King Christian IV orders that Norwegian "Defensionskibe" (merchants ships with guns) may only used the Splitflag if they are in war-service under Denmark. In 1685 an order, distributed to a number of cities in Slesvig, says that all ships must carry the Danish flag, and in 1690 all merchants ships is forbidden to use the splitflag, with the exception of ships sailing in the East Indies, West Indies and at the coast of Africa. In 1741 it is re-stated that the regulation of 1690 is still very much in effect, that merchants ships may not use the splitflag. At the same time it is now allowed the Danish East India Company to use the splitflag when past the equator.
That some confusion about the splitflag must have existed is evident; cause in 1696 the Danish Admiralty sends a proposal forth to the king for a standard in the size and shape of the Splitflag. In the same year a Royal resolution defines the proportions of the Splitflag, which in that resolution is called the the King flag, which is: The cross must be 1/7 of the flags height. The two first fields must be square in form with the sides three times the cross width. The two outer fields are rectangular and 1½ the length of the square fields. The splits are the length of the flag.
These numbers are the basic for the Splitflag, or Orlogsflag, today, though the numbers have changed a bit. The term Orlogsflag arrives in 1806.
From about 1750 to early 1800's a number of ships / companies which the government has interests in, received approval to used the Splitflag. From the mid 1800's to 1899 another bunch of institutions and private companies also received approval to use the splitflag. Especially after 1870 the government generous and with little thought hand out approval to all kinds to institutions.
In royal resolution of October 25, 1939 for the Danish Navy, it is stated that the "Orlogsflag" is a "Splitflag" with a deep red ("Kraprød" or "dybrød") colour. Like the National flag, no nuance is given, but in modern days this is given as 195U. Furthermore the size and shape is corrected in this resolution to be: The cross must be 1/7 of the flags height. The two first fields must be square in form with the height of 3/7 of the flags height. The two outer fields are rectangular and 5/4 the length of the square fields. The splits are 6/4 the length of the rectangular fields.
Comparing this to the 1696 resolution one can see that both the rectangular fields and the splits have become smaller.
Who may use what?
Flag days
| National flags |
| List of national flags | List of national coats of arms |
References
- Dannebrog – Vort Flag, Lieutenant Colonel Thaulow, Forlaget Codan, Copenhagen 1943
- Dannebrog, Helga Bruhn, Forlaget Jespersen og Pios, Copenhagen 1949
- Danebrog – Danmarks Palladium, E. D. Lund, Forlaget H. Hagerups, Copenhagen 1919
External link
Categories: Denmark | National flags