Dannebrog

Quick Facts: Who was Dannebrog?

Subject:

Dannebrog

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The national flag of Denmark, featuring a white Nordic cross on a red field.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Dannebrog (Danish pronunciation: [ˈtænəˌpʁoˀ], lit. 'Red cloth') is the flag of the Kingdom of Denmark. The flag is red with a white Nordic cross, which means that the cross extends to the edges of the flag and that the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side. A banner with a white-on-red cross is attested as having been used by the kings of Denmark since the 14th century. An origin legend with considerable impact on Danish national historiography connects the introduction of the flag to the Battle of Lindanise of 1219.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

The elongated Nordic cross, which represents Christianity, reflects its use as a maritime flag in the 18th century. The flag became popular as a national flag in the early 16th century. Its private use was outlawed in 1834 but again permitted by a regulation of 1854. The flag holds the Guinness world record of being the oldest continuously used national flag, that is since 1625. A 1748 regulation, which is still in force, defines the flag as constructed of two squares of 4⁄4, with a white cross 1⁄7 the height of the flag and the two rectangular fields as 6⁄4.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Multiplying the proportions by three to get whole numbers gives the proportions in the construction sheet below (28 divided by 4 being 7 for the white cross). No official definition of "Dannebrogrød" exists. The private company Dansk Standard, regulation number 359 (2005), defines the red color of the flag as Pantone 186 C. A tradition recorded in the 16th century traces the origin of the flag to the campaigns of Valdemar II of Denmark (r. The oldest of them is in Christiern Pedersen's Danske Krønike, which is a sequel to Saxo Grammaticus's Gesta Danorum, which was written in 1520 to 1523. Here, the flag falls from the sky during one of Valdemar's military campaigns overseas.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1219: 1219 Milestone — An origin legend with considerable impact on Danish national historiography connects the introduction of the flag to the Battle of Lindanise of 1219.
2. 1520: 1520 Milestone — The oldest of them is in Christiern Pedersen's Danske Krønike, which is a sequel to Saxo Grammaticus's Gesta Danorum, which was written in 1520 to 1523.
3. 1625: 1625 Milestone — The flag holds the Guinness world record of being the oldest continuously used national flag, that is since 1625.
4. 1748: 1748 Milestone — A 1748 regulation, which is still in force, defines the flag as constructed of two squares of 4⁄4, with a white cross 1⁄7 the height of the flag and the two rectangular fields as 6⁄4.
5. 1834: 1834 Milestone — Its private use was outlawed in 1834 but again permitted by a regulation of 1854.
6. 2005: 2005 Milestone — The private company Dansk Standard, regulation number 359 (2005), defines the red color of the flag as Pantone 186 C.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Dannebrog

True or False: “The Dannebrog has been continuously used as the national flag since 1219, marking its origin at the Battle of Lindanise.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While the legend places its origin in 1219, the flag holds the Guinness world record for being continuously used as a national flag since 1625.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Dannebrog