Vexillogram of Sweden

Vexillology of Sweden

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© 2007 SouthBear

This page was created on 22 May 2007
Date of Last Revision: 2 June 2007

Animated flagpole: www.fg-a.com

Swedish Coat-of-Arms

Sweden

Proportions: 5:8
Adopted: 22 June 1906
First Flown: ca. 16th century
Use:

Long Form of Country Name: Kingdom of Sweden (Konungariket Sverige)
Short Form of Country Name: Sweden (Sverige)
Form of State: Constitutional monarchy consisting of 21 counties headed by a hereditary monarch from the royal House of Bernadotte.
Form of Government: Parliamentary democracy with legislative authority vested in unicameral legislature known as the Riksdag, the 349 members of which are popularly elected through a system of proportional representation to 4-year terms. Executive authority is vested in a Cabinet headed by the Prime Minister, or the leader of the majority party of the Riksdag following parliamentary elections. The Prime Minister appoints the ministers of the Cabinet, but the Riksdag may veto any appointee with a vote of no confidence (including against the new Prime Minister). Unlike in other European parliamentary democracies, the king of Sweden plays no role in this process. The Speaker of the Riksdag performs all of the king's traditional government funcitons.
Independence: 6 June 1523 from Denmark
Capital: Stockholm
Major National Groups: Swedish, with small minority communities of Sami, Finns, and Norwegians.

Swedish War Flag and Ensign

Norway

Finland

Den.

Flags of Sweden's Counties (Län)

1. Blekinge
2. Dalarna
3. Gotland
4. Gävleborg
5. Halland
6. Jämtland
7. Jönköping
8. Kalmar
9. Kronoberg
10. Norrbotten
11. Skåne

12. Stockholm
13. Södermanland
14. Uppsala
15. Värmland
16. Västmanland
17. Västerbotten
18. Västra Götaland
19. Västernorrland
20. Örebro
21. Östergötland

Est.

Latvia

Lith.

Rus.

Baltic Sea

Atlantic
Ocean

Gulf
of
Bothnia

The Flag of Sweden

If you look at the Coat-of-Arms of Sweden, pay close attention to the shield that is in the center of the charge. You will see that the shield is blue and that it is quartered by a gold cross pattée. It is widely believed that this shield is the origin of the Swedish flag. This heraldric emblem dates from about the middle of the 15th century. However, the colors of blue and gold have been associated with Sweden since at least the 13th century. It is a typical Nordic flag, in that the cross is offset toward the hoist. It is non-fimbriated, leading many to believe that it was inspired by the Dannebrog, the flag of Denmark.

Many people believe that the Swedish flag was inspired by the Danish flag because they share a common vexillogical mythology. Like the Danish flag, legend says that the Swedish flag also descended from the sky in the heat of battle. This time, the flag appeared during a religious battle in Finland in 1157. However, the first official description of the Swedish flag dates from 1562, several centuries later. This earlier flag was a swallow-tail flag, meaning that the fly comes to a double-point along the upper and lower edges. Two centuries later, a plain blue ensign with a triple-tail was design for use at sea by a coast guard unit of the Swedish army. This flag became the inspiration for the modern war flag and ensign of Sweden.

In 1814, Sweden gained sovereignty over Norway which became unified under the Swedish monarchy. One year later, a military flag was created that utilized a white saltire on a red background in the canton of the Swedish flag. The saltire represented Norway at that time. Later, after Norway had attempted to adopt a unique Norwegian national flag (that was rejected by the Swedish king), a union flag was designed as a naval jack that utilized both the Swedish and Norwegian crosses. Though this flag was very popular in Norway, it was universally despised in Sweden, where it was disparingly called the Sillsallaten, or Herring Salad, after a popular salad dish. However, this flag was never used on land, only at sea as a national ensign as required by some foreign governments of Norwegian ships in their ports.

Today, the national flag is used by private citizens and the government on land and at sea. National law specifically prohibits the use of the war flag by private citizens.

Historical Flags of Sweden

15th Century Swallow-tail
First official flag of Sweden, used as a state and war flag and ensign until about 1660

The Blue Ensign
Used by the Arméns flotta (or Army's Fleet, a coast guard unit) from 1761-1813

The 1st Union Flag
From 1818-1844 as a civil ensign for use in foreign waters. The red saltire represented Norway.

Unionsgösen of 1844
Naval jack used to represent the union between Sweden and Norway. Nicknamed the Sillsallaten, or Herring Salad. The Emblem is the combination of the Swedish and Norwegian Crosses.

2nd Union Flag - 1844-1905
The Swedish version of the Union flag adopted in 1844 (The Norwegians had a version that emphasized the Norwegian symbols). This was a very unpopular flag in Sweden for the duration of its use.