por What is the flag of Denmark?
The denmark flag It is the national flag that identifies this European kingdom. Known in Danish as the Dannebrog, it was established in 1748 as a merchant flag, although its use dates back to the Middle Ages.
This constitutes it as the flag still current oldest in the world. Its design consists of a red background with a white Nordic cross.
This patriotic symbol is widely studied in vexillology due to its antiquity. The Danish people and their state have identified themselves with this flag for centuries.
In addition, the Nordic cross is the symbol that many neighboring countries also share, such as Finland, Sweden, Norway and Iceland, as well as the Faroe Islands, Danish territory.
This flag was used only in military components, but was later adapted to identify the entire country. Currently, the dimensions of the flag are very particular, since they were established at 28:34.
History of the flag
The red flag with the white cross is recorded in use for centuries. It even has a legend that attributes its origin to heaven.
Legend of the origin of the flag
The legendary event would have occurred in the 13th century, and the legends were recorded in the 16th century by different sources. One of them is in the Danske Kronikewritten by Christiern Pedersen.
This legend tells how the Danish flag fell from the sky during the battles carried out by King Valdemar II of Denmark in Estonia.
Petrus Olai, a Franciscan monk, also had his version of the legend. This event would have occurred within the framework of a battle that occurred in 1208 in Felin. The flag would have been made of sheepskin and when it fell, it guided the Danish victory.
Olai also narrated in the Danmarks Toly Herligheder the same story, but saying that it happened at the battle of Lindanise, in 1219. On this occasion, he explained that the flag appeared after the prayers of Bishop Anders Sunesen, who made himThe troops would embolden and win.
Historians attribute its origin to the use of Christian symbols or to the existence of a similar flag in Estonia.
Emergence of the symbol
With the legend behind it, the Danish flag has a long history. The symbol of a white cross on a red background was used in the Crusades. Furthermore, the Holy Roman Empire also used it as a war flag.
In the Gelre Armorial from the mid-14th century, this flag was included right next to the Danish royal coat of arms. It consisted of a vertical rectangular flag with a large white cross in the central part, the red being slightly visible in the corners.
There is a consensus that this is the first record of the Danish flag.
In this century, the kings of Denmark began to include the red flag with the cross accompanying the shield of the three blue lions. This was reflected in the country’s coins and banners.
military symbol
The red flag with the white cross was imposed as a military symbol. There are records that indicate that in the 16th century the Danish troops had it as a flag.
In this century, in addition, the legends of the origin of the flag began to be recorded. Added to them, different controversies arose that indicated the possible origin of the symbol, fallen from heaven 300 years ago.
Tradition at the time indicated that the same flag from the legend was used in the military campaign of 1500, carried by King Hans in his attempt to conquer Dithmarschen, in Germany.
This would have resulted in the loss of the flag, but it was recovered by King Frederick II at the Battle of Hemmingstedt on February 17, 1550.
The use of this flag as a military symbol became more specific when it began to be adopted as a maritime emblem. Thus, many military ships have been identified since the 18th century with the red flag with a white cross.
Approval as a maritime flag
The first time that the current Danish flag was approved as an official symbol of the country was on June 11, 1748. At that time, it was established as a civil flag, which functioned for the merchant navy.
Since then, a ratio of 3:1:3 vertical and 3:1:4:5 horizontal was established, the same as the current national flag.
This flag began to use the royal monogram in the central part. Since 1748, the established color was red, known as Dannebrog red (red of the Danish flag).
On the other hand, until the beginning of the 19th century, many ships and different companies used the Splitflag. This consisted of a flag very similar to the current one, but with the right end cut in the shape of a triangle, a symbol established since 1696.
current flag
The Dannebrog continued to be used by military forces. The Army made it their own in 1785 and the militia in 1901.
The Armed Forces adopted it as a flag in 1842. Precisely because of its military power, the symbol gained strength in the country. This resulted in the ban on the flag in 1834.
However, the flag was consolidated in the First Schleswig War between 1848 and 1850. Its use became massive, so in 1854 the ban on the Dannebrog was lifted, but not on the Splitflag.
Since 1915, no other flag has been allowed to be used in Denmark. In addition, the Dannebrog began to be hoisted on national and institutional dates. Since then it has been the national symbol of the Nordic country, maintaining its dimensions and colors.
Meaning of the flag
The Dannebrog does not adhere to traditional definitions of meaning. Its most prominent symbol is the Nordic cross, also known as the Cross of Scandinavia or the Cross of Saint Olaf.
It consists mainly of a cross whose vertical part is placed on the left side of the insignia. The cross is a symbol of Christianity, but over time it has been identified with all the Nordic countries.
Although Denmark was the first country to adopt a Nordic cross flag, many countries in the region followed suit. Sweden, Finland, Norway and Iceland include it on their national flags, as well as the Faroe Islands (Denmark) and Åland (Finland).
Therefore, this cross represents a symbol of unity among all the countries of northern Europe.
Symbolic relationship with the Holy Roman Empire
Officially, the red color of the Danish flag has no meaning of its own. The Danish flag was inspired by that of the Holy Roman Empire, where red signified battles, and the cross, their sanctity.
For some people it represents Danish blood at the Battle of Lindanise, where the flag would have appeared.
Other flags of Denmark
Denmark has other official flags, generally based on the national flag. First of all, the most common variations are the Splitflag and the Orlogsflag.
In addition, there are multiple banners that correspond to the different monarchical authorities of the country. The constituent countries of Greenland and the Faroe Islands also have their own flags.
split flag
The Splitflag consists of the same national flag, with the difference that on the far right the flag does not close with a straight line but does so through a cut triangle.
Its red color is the same as the Danish flag and its proportions are 56:107. The use is institutional.
orlogsflag
The Orlogsflag is the flag used solely by the Royal Danish Navy. Essentially the same design as the Splitflag, but the red is much darker and the aspect ratio is 7:17. Its application corresponds to a war flag.
Although its use, in theory, is exclusive to the Royal Navy, it is shared by other institutions. Among them are the Carlsberg beer company, the Royal Porcelain Factory and different student associations.
royal flags
Denmark is a sovereign state constituted as a kingdom, in a constitutional monarchy. Her head of state is currently Margaret II, and she is the Queen of Denmark.
Both she and the different members of the royal family have different banners to distinguish their position.
All royal banners are based on the Splitflag. In the central part of them, the personal coat of arms of the position or institution that holds it is added.
Queen’s Banner
The most important royal standard is that of the queen. The monarch’s coat of arms is imposed on the Nordic cross, made up of four quarters divided by the Dannebrog Cross.
Each of them represents a historical territory of the country. This part is guarded by two savages with clubs and presided over by a large ermine mantle, accompanied by the royal crown.
banner of the crown prince
Crown Prince Frederick also has his own banner. In this case, a simplified version of the coat of arms of Denmark is incorporated, with the royal crown and a necklace around it.
banner of the royal family
There is another banner that can be used by any other member of the Danish royal family. In this case, the symbol that distinguishes it is a royal crown.
Flags of the constituent countries
The Kingdom of Denmark is a unitary state that also has two constituent countries. These are under the power of the kingdom and depend on it in matters of defense and international relations.
However, they possess high levels of self-governance. The constituent countries are the Faroe Islands and Greenland.
flag of the faroe islands
This flag shares the Nordic cross. In this case, the background of the flag is white, the cross is red and has a blue border. These islands are located in the North Sea, north of the British Isles.
greenland flag
The Greenland flag does not have the Nordic cross. It was designed by the Greenlander Thue Christiansen and consists of two horizontal stripes, the upper one being white and the lower one red.
On the left side of the flag there is a circle, in which the two colors of the flag alternate, in two horizontal halves.
Greenland adopted this flag in 1985, with the increase of its autonomy. This island is located in North America, although the Inuit people, of which its inhabitants are made up, are historically related to the other Nordic peoples.
References
Follet, C. The Holy Roman Dannebrog – Denmark’s national flag. Recovered from cphpost.dk.
Fyfe, J. National flag’s dubious origins as a banner from heaven. Recovered from cphpost.dk.
Goldsack, G. Flags of the World. Bath, UK: Parragon Publishing.
Smith, W. Flag of Denmark. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. Retrieved from Britannica.com.