Nordic cross flag

A Nordic cross flag is a flag bearing the design of the Nordic or Scandinavian cross, a cross symbol in a rectangular field, with the centre of the cross shifted towards the hoist.

Thumb — Nordic flags, from left to right: Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Denmark.

All independent Nordic countries have adopted such flags in the modern period, and while the Nordic cross is named for its use in the national flags of the Nordic nations, the term is used universally by vexillologists, in reference not only to the flags of the Nordic countries but to other flags with similar designs.^[1] The cross design represents Christianity,^[2]^[3]^[4] and was first seen in the Dannebrog, the national flag of Denmark in the first half of the 13th century. The same design, but with a red Nordic cross on a yellow background, was used as union flag during the Kalmar union (1397 to 1523), and when that union fell apart in 1523 the same design, but with a yellow cross on a blue background (derived from the Swedish coat of arms adopted in 1442), was adopted as national flag of Sweden, while Norway adopted their flag in 1821. From its adoption in the early 16th century until 1906 the background of the flag of Sweden was dark blue, but was changed to the currently used lighter shade of blue in a new flag law that was adopted in 1906, after the dissolution of the union between Sweden and Norway. After gaining independence the other Nordic countries adopted national flags of the same design, Iceland in 1915 and Finland in 1918. The Norwegian flag was the first Nordic cross flag with three colours. All Nordic flags may be flown as gonfalons as well.

Flag formats

Bicolor Nordic/Scandinavian cross
Tricolor Nordic/Scandinavian cross
Bicolor Swallowtail Nordic/Scandinavian cross
Tricolor Swallowtail Nordic/Scandinavian cross

Flags of the Nordic countries

Some of these flags are historical. Also, flag proportions may vary between the different flags and sometimes even between different versions of the same flag.

The Flag of Greenland is the only national flag of a Nordic country or territory without a Nordic Cross. When Greenland was granted home rule, the present flag — with a graphic design unique to Greenland — was adopted in June 1985, supported by fourteen votes against eleven who supported a proposed green-and-white Nordic cross.^[5]

Flag of Denmark
Flag of Finland
Flag of Iceland
Flag of Norway
Flag of Sweden

Denmark

Flag of Denmark (1748)
State flag of Denmark (17th century)
Naval ensign of Denmark (17th century). Note the darker kraprød colour (1939).
Royal standard of Denmark
Standard of Christian the Crown Prince of Denmark
Standard of the Regent of Denmark
Standard of the royal house- used by other members of the royal family
Flag of the Faroe Islands (1919)

Finland

Flag of Finland (1918)
State flag of Finland (1918)
War flag and naval ensign of Finland (1918)
Flag of the president of Finland, with the Cross of Liberty in the canton (1978)
Finnish yacht club ensign. Ratified club emblem in the canton (1919)
Flag of Åland (1954)

Iceland

Flag of Iceland (1944–present)
State flag of Iceland
Flag of the president of Iceland
Flag of the Icelandic Directorate of Customs

Norway

Flag of Norway (1821–1844 and 1899–present)
Naval ensign of Norway since 1905, civilian state flag since 1899.
Former flag of Norway (1814–1821).
The common naval ensign and war flag of Sweden and Norway from 1815 to 1844.
Merchant flag of Norway (1844–1898 with the union badge representing the union with Sweden)
Naval ensign and state flag of Norway (1844–1905)

Sweden

Flag of Sweden (1906–present)
Flag of Sweden before 1815
Flag of Sweden (1815–1844) representing the union with Norway
Flag of Sweden (1844–1905) representing the union with Norway
Naval ensign of Sweden
Royal standard of Sweden with the Greater coat of arms, used by the King and Queen of Sweden
Royal standard of Sweden with the lesser coat of arms, used by princes and princesses of Sweden

Kalmar Union (historical)

This is the historical flag of the Kalmar Union, which united Denmark, Sweden and Norway from 1397 to 1523. No pictorial evidence survives of the Kalmar Union's Flag. The flag appearing here is a reconstruction based on references in 1430 letters by King Eric of Pomerania.

Regional Nordic flags

These flags either do not have full official status or represent various private entities. They have not been officially adopted and their use remains limited.

Unofficial flag of the Swedish region of Bergslagen
Unofficial flag of the Swedish province of Bohuslän
Unofficial flag of Bornholm (1970s)
Unofficial flag of Gotland, the Swedish island (and province) of Gotland
Proposal for a flag of Greenland, designed in 1984 by Sven Tito Achen. Rejected in favour of the non-Nordic-Cross flag.
Unofficial flag of the Swedish province of Hälsingland
Unofficial flag of the Swedish province of Härjedalen
Former unofficial flag of Iceland (ca. 1900)
Proposal for flag of Iceland, designed in 1914 by Magnús Þórðarson
Proposal for flag of Jutland, designed by artist Per Kramer (1975)^[6] (actual use is not recorded)
Another proposal for flag of Jutland, dating from 1972 (not in use)
Unofficial flag of Norrland, the northernmost land of Sweden
Proposed flag of Norway by Christian Frederick (1814)
Proposed flag of Norway (Anonymous proposal) (1814)
Proposed flag of Norway by Niels Aall (1815)
Proposed flag of Norway by Fredrik Meltzer (1821)
Unofficial flag of the Swedish region of Roslagen
Semi-official flag of the Swedish province of Scania and Skåneland
Unofficial flag of the Swedish province of Småland
Unofficial Flag of Vendsyssel, Denmark
Unofficial flag of the Swedish county of Västra Götaland (or West Sweden in general)
Unofficial flag of the Swedish province of Öland
Unofficial flag of the Swedish province of Östergötland