Last modified: 2025-03-22 by martin karner
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– Earliest depiction of the Fribourg flag in the Schwabenspiegel manuscript from 1410
(Detail: The mayor of Fribourg pays homage to the Duke of Austria) (source).
– Shooter flag, carried in the Burgundian Wars (1474–77) (b/w photo, source: [b7b42]).
– Julius Banner (1512), dedicated from pope Julius II to Fribourg for their assistance in reconquering the Lombardy in 1511. The Zwickelbild
shows Christ carrying the cross, with Mary, Mary Magdalene, Veronica and John (source).
– Stained glass plate (1515) by Jakob Meyer, with two lions holding
the arms of Fribourg and the Holy Roman Empire, and the imperial eagle as crest on the helmet, holding the
imperial orb. A small scroll at the bottom shows the year MVXV. Location: church of Jegenstorf BE
(source). See also stained glass pane
(1515) by the same artist in the same church (source).
– Stained glass plate (ca. 1600), unknown artist, with two lions
holding the pyramid of arms and the Julius Banner with the Passion scene. The lion on the right looks not
very amused to the biblical scene of Samson (Shimshon) defeating the lion (Judges 14:5–6).
The left upper corner shows likewise Samson, carrying away the gate of Gaza (Judges 16:3). The inscription
"Die Statt Freiburg" (The city of Fribourg) reminds us that the black-white arms had been the
emblem for the canton and the city for a long time. Fribourg's seal image
(see also pictures there) became the official emblem of the city only in 1803, when the canton and the city were
strictly separated legally. Location: Maison de Fégely, Fribourg (source).
Rectangular cantonal flag, as shown in Kannik (1956) [So-called colour flag (Farbenfahne in German)].
Ole Andersen, 4 August 2002
See also: STATE COLOURS in Dictionary of Vexillology
Flaggen, Knatterfahnen and Livery Colours |
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Flaggen are vertically hoisted from a crossbar in the manner of gonfanon, in ratio of about 2:9, with a swallowtail that indents about 2 units. The chief, or hoist (square part) usually incorporates the design from the coat of arms – not from the flag. The fly part is always divided lengthwise, usually in a bicolour, triband or tricolour pattern (except Schwyz which is monocolour, and Glarus which has four stripes of unequal width). The colours chosen for the fly end are usually the main colours of the coat of arms, but the choice is not always straight forward.
Knatterfahnen are similar to Flaggen, but hoisted from the long side and have no swallow tail. They normally show the national, cantonal or communal flag in their chiefs.
Željko Heimer, 16 July 2000
See also: HANGING FLAG, VERTICALLY HOISTED FLAG, LIVERY COLOURS in Dictionary of Vexillology
At the beginning of the 20th century, flamed flags were still in use, with the white cross replaced by
a (baroque) shield in the centre of the flag. These decorative flags had been used until WWII and then
somewhat forgotten in preference of the current cantonal flags. [Today they are being
produced again, see right image]
Pascal Gross, 30 June 2002
See also: • National flag and other cantonal flags with "Early 20th century flag design"
• Modern flamed flags
• FLAMMES in Dictionary of Vexillology
Cockade for the cantonal troops' headgear (regulation from 1898, size: ca. 35 mm, reverse side).
Martin Karner, 14 March 2025
See also: Cockades (Swiss Army)