^{This page is part of © FOTW Flags Of The World website}

Schwyz canton (Switzerland)

by T.F. Mills

Description of the flag
Symbolism of the flag
History of the flag
Flaggen, Knatterfahnen and livery colours

Description of the flag

Gules, a Confederate cross couped in the hoist argent.

On a red field, a small white cross with long narrow arms in the top corner of the hoist.

The flag on the FOTW page is incorrect in two respects. The cross is depicted in the sinister chief, which is correct for the shield of the coat of arms, but not for the flag. This distinction between the shield and the flag was established in 1815. The proportions of the cross are different from the national Swiss cross: the arms are longer and narrower. The proportions of the cross were fixed by law in 1963.

Symbolism of the flag

The red flag of Schwyz was the battle flag of the Holy Roman Empire (Reichssturmfahne). Red was a symbol of sovereignty and power over life and death. The white cross, added later, had the usual Christian significance, and later became a symbol of the Confederation.

History of the flag

Emperor Friedrich II presented the blood-red war banner of the empire to the warriors of Schwyz in 1240. Like the Uri banner, this flag was granted as symbol of an "immediacy", i.e. sovereignty within the Empire. For over 100 years it was plain red with no adornments. Sometime in the 14th century, a depiction of the crucifixion appeared in the first quarter. This was often a very complex image (resembling a Russian icon) called the "Heilig Rych", including representations