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.
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.
Bicolor Nordic/Scandinavian cross
Tricolor Nordic/Scandinavian cross
Bicolor Swallowtail Nordic/Scandinavian cross
Tricolor Swallowtail Nordic/Scandinavian cross
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]
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.
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
Nordic flag designs very similar to Denmark's, Sweden's, and Norway's national flags were proposed as Germany's national flags in both 1919 and 1948, after World War I and World War II, respectively. Today, the Nordic cross is a feature in some city and district flags or coats of arms.
The unofficial 'Noordlandflagg' of Low German-speaking people in northern Germany, northeastern Netherlands and southern Denmark
A number of flags for localities in the United Kingdom (primarily Scotland) are based on Nordic cross designs, intended to reflect the Scandinavian heritage introduced to the British Isles during the Viking Age and through the High Middle Ages.[10]
Flag of Ladonia, a micronation in southern Sweden. The white lines are not visible on the flag itself, yet it is still seen as bearing a Nordic Cross as it represents a boiled Swedish flag.
Unofficial flag of the Komi Republic used by activists.
Carol A. Foley (1996). The Australian Flag: Colonial Relic or Contemporary Icon. William Gaunt & Sons. ISBN9781862871885. Archived from the original on 23 April 2023. Retrieved 31 December 2007. The Christian cross, for instance, is one of the oldest and most widely used symbols in the world, and many European countries, such as the United Kingdom, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Greece and Switzerland, adopted and currently retain the Christian cross on their national flags.
Andrew Evans (2008). Iceland. Bradt. ISBN9781841622156. Archived from the original on 23 April 2023. Retrieved 31 December 2007. Legend states that a red cloth with the white cross simply fell from the sky in the middle of the 13th-century Battle of Valdemar, after which the Danes were victorious. As a badge of divine right, Denmark flew its cross in the other Scandinavian countries it ruled and as each nation gained independence, they incorporated the Christian symbol.
In 1844, pro-German nationalists in the two duchies of Holstein and Schleswig created a blue-white-red tricolour as a symbol for independence which began to see widespread use. In 1845, Denmark responded by outlawing all other flags than the Danish one shown here. This ban was enforced as long as Denmark controlled the three duchies (Holstein and Lauenburg: effectively until 1863, Schleswig effectively until 1864.) Use of the Danish flag was in turn outlawed by the secessionist government that claimed the three duchies between 1848–1851.
Пюккенен, А. Ю.; Сыров, А. А. (2002). Что такое Ингерманландия? Краткое введение в историю ингерманландских финнов[What is Ingria? A short introduction to the history of the Ingrian Finns] (in Russian). Saint Petersburg.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Пюккенен, А. Ю. (30 May 2011). "Геральдика Невского края" [Neva region heraldry]. Санкт-Петербургские ведомости (in Russian). Saint Petersburg: АО Издательский дом «С.-Петербургские ведомости».
"Hur ser Svenskfinland ut om 100 år?"(PDF). Medborgarbladet (in Swedish). 61 (4). Helsinki: Svenska folkpartiet RP: 20. December 2006. Archived from the original(PDF) on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 6 June 2008.
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Former unofficial flag of Iceland (ca. 1900)
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