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Denmark: History of the Flag

Introduction
18th Century Merchant Flag
18th Century Naval Ensign
Original Flag, based on an illustration

Introduction

Among the independent nations recognised by the UN, the Danish flag is generally considered as the oldest continuously used national flag in the world. Regions, counts, kings and the like have had flags or banners older than Dannebrog, but no sovereign nation has used the same flag as long as Denmark.
Dennis Nielsen, 18 April 2001

Legend relates that the "Dannebrog" fell from the skies on 15 June 1219, the day in which King Waldemar II defeated the Estonians in battle.

The cross represents, unsurprisingly, Christianity.

Legend aside, there is a small controversy around the idea that the design was linked somehow to an ensign of the Holy Roman Empire. A white cross on a red background was used by the Empire in many of its provinces. A problem with this hypothesis exists in the fact that Denmark was never a province of the Holy Roman Empire. This question remains unresolved.

The Danish flag has changed its proportions over the years. The 'splitflag' was first specified in 1696 and changed in 1856, while the square-ended flag was first specified in 1748, and changed in 1893. But none of these changes really altered its essential character.
Christopher Southworth, 9 July 2003

The documented use of the Dannebrog is since the mid-14th century - under king Valdemar Atterdag, who ruled 1340-75. Using this criterion, the Austrian flag, documented on a seal 1230, is an older flag.
Ole Andersen, 16 August 2003

18th Century Merchant Flag

As illustrated in National Geogra