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Dictionary of Vexillology: C (Cross)

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CROOKED CROSS
CROSS
CROSS-CANTONÉE (or CANTONED)
CROSS-CLECHÉE
CROSS-COUPED
CROSS-FUSILLY
CROSS-LOZENGY
CROSS-VOIDED
CROSS BAR (CROSS-BAR or CROSSBAR)
CROSS BOTONNY (BOTTONNY or BOTTONÉE)
CROSS COUNTERCHANGED
CROSS COUNTERQUARTERED
CROSS CROSSLET
CROSS ENGRAILED
CROSS EQUIPOLLÉ (or EQUIPOLLÉE)
CROSS FITCHY
CROSS FIXED
CROSS FLEURY (FLORY, FLORETTY OR FLEURONNY)
CROSS FORMÉE, (FORMÉ or FORMY)
CROSS GYRONNY
CROSS HUMETTY
CROSS MALTESE
CROSS MOLINE
CROSS OF ANJOU
CROSS OF ATHLETICS
CROSS OF AVIS
CROSS OF BURGUNDY
CROSS OF CALATRAVA
CROSS OF CALVARY (or CROSS OF CRUCIFIXION)
CROSS OF LORRAINE
CROSS OF ST ANDREW
CROSS OF ST ANTHONY
CROSS OF ST GEORGE
CROSS OF ST JAMES
CROSS OF ST PATRICK
CROSS OF SANTIAGO
CROSS OF THE ORDER OF THE KNIGHTS OF CHRIST (CROSS OF THE ORDER OF CHRIST or CROSS OF THE ORDER OF CHRIST’S KNIGHTS)
CROSS OF THE ORDER OF ST JOHN OF JERUSALEM
CROSS OF THE PORTUGUESE KNIGHTS TEMPLAR
CROSS OF VICTORY
CROSS PATRIARCHAL
CROSS PATTÉE (PATÉE, PATTY or PATY)
CROSS POTENT (or POTENCE)
CROSS POTENT REBATED
CROSS POTENT CANTONÉE
CROSS QUARTER-PIERCED
CROSS RAGULY
CROSS TAU
CROSS THROUGHOUT
CROSS TREFOIL (or TREFLEE)
CROSSTREE

CROOKED CROSS

See ‘swastika’.

Flag of the Hitler Youth 1933 – 1945, Germany (fotw)

CROSS

1) Two stripes or bands of equal width (and in the same colour) but of unequal length, that extend to the outer edges of the shield, flag, canton or panel they occupy, and intersect at right angles in the exact centre of that flag, canton or panel – a St George-type cross, a cross fixed, cross throughout, an upright centred, centred, regular or square cross (see also ‘St George’s Cross’).

2) A charge, which may or may not reach the outer edges of the shield, flag, canton or panel it occupies, and which may not have straight edges but which has four segments meeting at right angles at a central point – but see note below below and ‘appendix VIII’.

3) A generic name for two stripes of the same colour (although two/three colour variants exist see ‘cross counterchanged’ plus ‘cross gyronny’ in ‘Appendix VIII’, ‘tripartite’ and ‘layered cross’) and any width, crossing the field of a flag, panel or canton in any manner (see also ‘saltire’ and ‘Scandinavian cross’).

From left: Flag of Cruzilia, Brazil (fotw); Flag of Hajdina, Slovenia (fotw); Flag of Annśullin, France (fotw); Flag of Pisa, Italy (fotw); Flag of Asturias, Spain (fotw).

Please note however, that whilst several of the types used on flags are detailed separately herein – the cross throughout as given in 1) above, the Greek cross, the Celtic cross, the Scandinavian cross, the saltire (or diagonal cross), Cross of Lorraine, the swastika, and the Maltese cross – numerous other variants exist (mostly used in heraldry but which also sometimes appear on flags), and it is suggested that ’appendix VIII’ and a suitable glossary or heraldic dictionary be consulted.

CROSS-CANTONÉE (or CANTONED)

See ‘appendix VIII’

From left: Cross-Cantonée Example; National Flag of Georgia (fotw)

CROSS-CLECHÉE

See ‘appendix VIII’.

From left: Cross-Clechee Example; Arms and Flag of Mogilany, Poland (Jarig Bakker)

CROSS-COUNTERCHANGED

See ‘appendix VIII’.

Arms and Flag of Zaprešić, Croatia (fotw); Flag of Kreis Davos, Switzerland (fotw)

CROSS-COUNTERQUARTERED

See ‘cross counterchanged’ in ‘appendix VIII’.

Arms and Flag of Tursko, Czech Republic (fotw)

CROSS-COUPED

See ‘appendix VIII

National Flag of Tonga (fotw): Flag of Senčdes, Switzerland (fotw)

CROSS-FUSILLY

See ‘cross-clechée’ in ‘appendix VIII’.

Flag of La Tallada d'Empordà, Spain (fotw)

CROSS-LOZENGY

See ‘cross-clechée’ in ‘appendix VIII’.

CROSS-VOIDED

See ‘appendix VIII’.

From Left: Cross-Voided Example; Flag of the Mouvement Normand, France (fotw); Flag of De Haan, Belgium (fotw)

CROSS BOTONNY (BOTTONNY or BOTTONÉE)

See ‘appendix VIII’.

From left: Cross Botonny Example; Flag of the Order of St Maurice, Italy (fotw)

CROSS BAR (CROSS-BAR or CROSSBAR)

The transverse rod, from which a flag is suspended, either attached in the centre or from one end, or hung by cords from a vertical pole or poles (see also ‘banner 2)’, ‘banner 3)’, ‘frame 1)’, ‘frame 2)’, ‘framed flag’, ‘gonfalon’ and ‘vexillum’).

CROSS CROSSLET

See ‘appendix VIII’.

From left: Cross Crosslet Example; Flag of Echt-Susteren, The Netherlands (fotw)

CROSS ENGRAILED

See ‘engrailed’.

Arms and Flag of Espinho, Portugal (Sérgio Horta)

CROSS EQUIPOLLÉ (or EQUIPOLLÉE)

See ‘equipollé’.

Arms and Flag of Sé, Portugal (Antonio Martins)

CROSS FITCHY

See ‘appendix VIII’.

Crosses Fitchy Examples; Flag of Avinyó, Spain (fotw)

CROSS FIXED

See ‘cross 1)’.

Flag of Nijland, The Netherlands (fotw)

CROSS FLEURY (FLORY, FLORETTY OR FLEURONNY)

See ‘appendix VIII’ (also ‘cross of calatrava’).

Cross Fleury Example; Flag of Guriezo, Spain (fotw); Flag of The Portuguese Legion c1928 – 1974 (fotw)

CROSS FORMÉE, (FORMÉ or FORMY)

See ‘cross pattée’ in ‘appendix VIII’.

Flag of Albisrieden, Switzerland (fotw)

CROSS GYRONNY

See ‘appendix VIII’.

From left: Cross Gyronny Example; Flag of Kreis Safien, Switzerland (fotw); Flag of Studnice, Czech Republic (fotw)

CROSS HUMETTY

See ‘Greek cross 2)’ (also ‘cross couped’ in ‘appendix VIII’).

National Ensign of Switzerland (fotw)

CROSS MALTESE

See ‘Maltese cross’.

Flag of Hvozd, Czech Republic (fotw)

CROSS MOLINE

See ‘appendix VIII’.

From left: Cross Moline Example; Flag of Annśullin, France (fotw)

CROSS OF ANJOU

See ‘cross of Lorraine’.

Presidential Standard 1959 – 1969, France (fotw)

CROSS OF ATHLETICS

The term, and a colloquial translation of the German “turnerkreuz”, which may be used to describe a cross formed from four capital letter F's and is thus voided – an athletics' or athletic cross (see also ‘cross 1)’, ‘cross-voided’ in ‘appendix VIII’ and ‘voided’).

Flag of the Albis Steam Shipping Company 1897, Germany; Flag of the Darmstádter Turngemeinde 1844, Germany; Flag of the Ditmarsia Kiel Rowing Club, Germany (Klaus-Michael Schneider)

CROSS OF AVIS

See ‘avis cross’.

Putative Banner of Arms of the Avis Order, Portugal (fotw); Arms and Flag of Alandroal, Portugal (ICH & fotw)

CROSS OF BURGUNDY

See ‘ragged cross’.

Spanish Infantry Colour c1600 (fotw)

CROSS OF CALATRAVA

A symbol of the Spanish Order of Calatrava and a particularly Hispanic form of the cross fleury - an Iberian cross – see ‘cross fleury’ in ‘appendix VIII’ (see also ‘avis cross’).

Flag and Arms of Almagro, Spain (fotw & ICH); Flag and Arms of Malagón, Spain (fotw & ICH)

CROSS OF CALVARY (or CROSS OF CRUCIFIXION)

See ‘appendix VIII’.

Cross of Calvary Example; Flag of Geraardsbergen, Belgium (fotw); Flag of Fulleda, Spain (fotw)

CROSS OF LORRAINE

A cross in which two horizontal arms cross the vertical arm, and currently seen on the arms and alternative national flag of Hungary, the arms and national flag of Slovakia plus the arms and state flag of Lithuania ¬ a cross patriarchal, patriarchal cross, archiepiscopal cross or cross of Anjou, a double or double-armed cross or Jagiellonian cross (see also ‘armorial bearings’, ‘cross 2)’, ‘national flag 1)’ ‘one-and-a-half armed cross’, ‘orthodox cross’, papal cross’, ‘two-and-a-half armed cross’ and ‘state flag 1)’).

From left: The Flag of Free France 1940-44; The National Flag and Arms of Slovakia; The State Flag and Arms of Hungary (fotw)

Please note that the terms cross of Lorraine, cross of Anjou, cross patriarchal and archiepiscopal cross are now considered interchangeable, however, in strict usage the crosses of Lorraine and Anjou (unlike the others) should both have horizontal arms of equal length. ^{see supplemental note}

Cross of Lorraine According to Strict Usage

CROSS OF ST ANDREW

See ‘St Andrew’s Cross’

National Flag of Scotland (fotw)

CROSS OF ST ANTHONY

See ‘cross tau’ in ‘appendix VIII’.

Flag of St. Antönien-Ascharina, Switzerland (fotw)

CROSS OF ST GEORGE

See ‘St George’s Cross’

Flag of England (fotw)

CROSS OF ST JAMES

See ‘cross of Santiago’ in ‘appendix VIII’.

Flag and Arms of Algorfa, Spain (fotw)

CROSS OF ST PATRICK

See ‘St Patrick’s Cross’

CROSS OF SANTIAGO

See ‘appendix VIII’.

Cross of the Order of Santiago (fotw); Flag and Arms of Quinta do Conde, Portugal (Antonio Martins)

CROSS OF THE ORDER OF THE KNIGHTS OF CHRIST (CROSS OF THE ORDER OF CHRIST or CROSS OF THE ORDER OF CHRIST’S KNIGHTS)

A red cross pattée surmounted by a white Greek Cross (or if set against a white/argent field - it might be considered a red cross pattée voided), being the former symbol of the medieval Iberian Order of the Knights of Christ (Ordem dos Cavaleiros de Cristo) which now forms the air force roundel of Portugal, and is often seen on the sub-national flags of both Portugal and Spain – a Cross of the Order of Christ, a Cross of the Order of Christ's Knights or a Christ’s Knight’s Cross - but see note below (also ‘cross pattée’ in ‘appendix VIII’, ‘Greek Cross 2)’, ‘roundel 1)’, ‘surmounted by’ and ‘voided’

Air Force Roundel, Portugal (CS); Flag of Madeira, Portugal (fotw); Flag and Arms of Terra Chã, Portugal (Antonio Martins)

Please note that later variants may be based upon a Latin rather that a Greek Cross as in the examples shown below (see ‘Latin cross’ in ‘appendix VIII’).

Cross and Star of the Brazillian Order of Christ (Wiki); Flag of Săo Paulo, Brazil (fotw)

CROSS OF (THE ORDER OF) ST JOHN OF JERUSALEM

See ‘Maltese cross’.

Flag of St John's Ambulance Brigade, (fotw); Arms and Flag of Ivanec, Croatia (fotw)

CROSS OF THE PORTUGUESE KNIGHTS TEMPLAR

See ‘rounded cross’.

Putative Banner of the Portuguese Knights Templar (fotw); Arms and Flag of Outeiro Major, Portugal (Sérgio Horta)

CROSS OF VICTORY

In Spanish, particularly Asturian, usage, a form of the Latin cross bottony – see ‘cross botonny’ and ‘Latin cross’ in ‘Appendix VIII’.

Flag of Asturias, Spain (fotw); Flag of Gozón, Spain (fotw)

CROSS PATRIARCHAL

See ‘cross of Lorraine’.

Flag of Roeselare, Belgium (fotw)

CROSS PATTÉE (PATÉE, PATTY or PATY)

See ‘appendix VIII’ (also ‘Cross of the Order of the Knights of Christ’, ‘Maltese cross’ and ‘rounded cross’).

From left: Cross Pattee Example; Flag of Wallis & Fortuna; Civil Ensign of Guernsey

CROSS POTENT (or POTENCE)

See ‘appendix VIII’.

From left: Cross-Potent example; Flag of Goumoëns-la-Ville, Switzerland (fotw)

CROSS POTENT CANTONÉE

A Jerusalem cross – see ‘Appendix VIII’).

Flag of the Kingdom of Jerusalem 1162 – 1191 (fotw)

CROSS POTENT REBATED

See ‘swastika’ (also ‘cross potent’ in ‘Appendix VIII’).

Flag of Hirosaki, Japan (fotw)

CROSS QUARTER-PIERCED

See ‘equipollé’ and its following note.

Flag of Ħ'Attard, Malta (fotw)

CROSS RAGULY

See ‘ragged cross’ and ‘raguly’.

Spanish Naval Flag 16-17th C (fotw)

CROSS TAU

See ‘appendix VIII’.

From Left: Cross Tau Example; Flag of Lede, Belgium (fotw); Flag of St. Antönien-Ascharina, Switzerland (fotw)

CROSS THROUGHOUT

See ‘cross 1)’.

Flag of Pontrieux, France (fotw)

CROSS TREFOIL (or TREFLEE)

See ‘cross botonny’ in ‘appendix VIII’.

Flag of the Church of Norway (fotw)

CROSSTREE

1) In largely US usage, a yard if fitted to a flag mast ashore (see also ‘yard’).

2) A cross bar attached near the top of an unstayed flagpole for the purpose of providing additional halyards to the one reeved at the truck (see also ‘reeve’, 'yard' and 'stayed mast').

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