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Sweden

Sverige, Konungariket Sverige (Kingdom of Sweden)

Last modified: 2008-02-09 by phil nelson
Keywords: sweden | sverige | cross | scandinavian cross | cross (yellow) | cross: scandinavian (yellow) |
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[Flag of Sweden] image by Edward Mooney, Jr.
Proportions: (5:2:9):(4:2:4)
Usage Code:

ISO Code: SE SWE 752
FIPS 10-4 Code: SW
MARC Code: sw
IOC Code: SWE

See also:

External Links:

About the flag

There is a leaflet issued by Swedish Institute (SI) regarding the state symbols that include some interesting info at http://www.si.se/docs/infosweden/engelska/fs107d.pdf (link no longer active). Quotes from that leaflet:

The exact age of the Swedish Flag is not known, but the oldest recorded pictures of a blue cloth with a yellow cross date from the 16th century. As decreed in a royal warrant of 1569, the yellow cross was always to be borne on Swedish battle standards and banners, as the Swedish Coat of Arms was blue divided quarterly by a cross of gold. The design of the Swedish flag is probably taken from the Danish flag, and its blue and yellow colours possibly come from the Coat of Arms. Not until the 1620s, i.e., during the reign of Gustav II Adolf. do we find any reliable evidence of the blue flag with a yellow cross being carried by Swedish vessels. According to our oldest existing flag warrant, from 1663, a triple-tailed flag was to be used except by merchant ships, whose flag was square-cut.

Željko Heimer, 10 March 2003

[Editorial Note: The following historical information on the origins of the Swedish flag was generated in response to a posting regarding purported Finnish origins of the Swedish flag, as reported at http://www2.varsinais-suomi.fi/lobby/vaakuna.htm]

The coat of arms referred to in the page linked to was granted in 1557 by Swedish king Gustav Wasa to his son, Johan, who was duke of Finland, Finland at the time being an integral part of Sweden.

In his book on the history of the Swedish flag [knw86a], former Swedish state herald Jan von Konow refers to the use of a yellow cross on blue in pennants held by lion supporters in a version of the Swedish coat of arms used by Gustav Wasa - one that apparently predates Johan's coat of arms.
Jan Oskar Engene, 22 August 2005

Dimensions of the flag

[Dimensions of the Swedish flag] by Edward Mooney, Jr.

The dimensions of the Swedish flag are 5:2:9 horizontally and 4:2:4 vertically.

The dimensions of the Swedish flag with a swallow-tail are 5:2:5:8 horizontally and 4:2:4 vertically.
Mark Sensen, 25 September 1995
James Dignan, 26 September, Will Linden 15 October 1995

The height of the Swedish flag should at best be 1/3-1/4 of the length of the flag pole. A very tall flagpole can have a relatively smaller flag.
Elias Granqvist, 8 May 2004

Cf proportions of the flags of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Faroe Islands (Denmark) and the cross flag of Scania (Sweden)