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Appenzell canton (Switzerland)
Last modified: 2004-08-14 by pascal gross
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![[Flag of Appenzell]](../images/c/ch-ap.gif)
by António Martins
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Description of the flag
Appenzell Inner-Rhoden: Argent, a bear rampant sable, armed langued
and priapic in his virility gules.
On a white field, an upright black bear with red claws and a red
erect penis.
Appenzell Ausser-Rhoden: Argent, a bear rampant between the
majuscules "V" dexter and "R" sinister sable, armed langued and
priapic in his virility gules.
The same flag as Inner-Rhoden with in addition the letters "V" and
"R" on either side of the bear.
When a single flag or arms for both cantons is required, that of
Appenzell Inner-Rhoden is displayed.
Symbolism of the flag
The bear is a symbol of power, courage, might and virility. The
symbolism of this particular bear is explained by its history.
History of the flag
The bear is that of the Abbot of St. Gallen who was the liege lord
of Appenzell until 1403 when the district rebelled and seceded.
They adopted the same flag, changing the field from yellow to white
and adding an erection on the bear as a defiant political gesture.
Appenzell almost went to war with St. Gallen in 1579 when a printer
of that city published a calendar ornamented with the arms of the
Swiss cantons, and ignorantly tur