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Merchant flag
![[1814 proposal]](../images/n/no!14gg.gif)
image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 16 May 2025
War ensign
![[1814 proposal]](../images/n/no!^14gg.gif)
image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 16 May 2025
The popular Danish Prince Christian Frederik had been the vice-regent of
Norway and first ephemeral King from 16 May 1814 until 10 October 1814, when he
had to resign due to British pressure. Later in 1839 he became the Danish king
as Christian VIII. He made not only the draft for Norway's ephemeral flag but
also for an unmistakable alternative in different colours. He chose the unusual
flag colours green and light grey. Those colours had been distinct from all
other Scandinavian flags. The colours were based on those of the equipment of
the Mounted sharp shooters from Akershus. They wore grey uniforms with green
applications like collar, facings and cords.
The merchant ensign was
rectangular and green parted by a light grey Scandinavian cross.
The war
ensign was also green parted by a light grey Scandinavian cross, but on the fly
an isosceles trapezium was cut away.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 16 May 2025
![[1814 proposal]](../images/n/no!21-rs.gif)
image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 16 May 2025 and Tomislav
Todorovic, 18 May 2025
Based on these flags Captain Jan
Rasmussen Sande made a draft in March 1821. His draft was also green but parted
by a white cross with a red rectangle on the intersection of both cross beams,
displaying the golden Norwegian lion holding a halberd with curved shaft.
Source: Jan Henrik Munksgaard: Flagget – en nasjonalt Symbol blir til
[mun12], Kristiansand 2012, pp.50-51, 94
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 16 May 2025
Merchant flags
![[1814 proposal]](../images/n/no!14-02w.gif)
![[1814 proposal]](../images/n/no!14-02y.gif)
images by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 16 May 2025
War ensigns
![[1814 proposal]](../images/n/no!^14-02w.gif)
![[1814 proposal]](../images/n/no!^14-02y.gif)
images by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 16 May 2025
In October 1814 four drafts were submitted by an unknown contributor. They
were very similar to the English St. George flag and identical with the flag of
the Union of Kalmar. The parting cross was a red Scandinavian cross and the
background colours were white (St. George) and yellow (Kalmar). Both colours
were submitted as rectangular flags for merchant ensigns and as swallowtail
flags for war ensigns.
As Norway played only a minor role in the Union of
Kalmar, the yellow flags probably had not been very popular in Norway. And the
white flags could easily be mismatched with those of e.g. England and Genua.
Source: Jan Henrik Munksgaard: Flagget – en nasjonalt Symbol blir til
[mun12],
Kristiansand 2012, p.62
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 16 May 2025
![[1814 proposal]](../images/n/no!14-br.gif)
images by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 16 May 2025
MP Brun sent a proposal. It was a mere sketch of a swallowtail flag, and the names of the colours had been written onto the three stripes by hand. The colours had been "middle blue" above, "high red" on central stripe and "wood green" below. On the red stripe was written the word "lion". This flag is a reconstruction based on the inscription on Bruns sketch.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 16 May 2025
![[1814 proposal]](../images/n/no!14-l1.gif)
images by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 16 May 2025
Captain Gregers Fougner Lundh sent two more proposals on 20 October 1814. His
first proposal was a square flag quartered of yellow and blue, which had been
the colurs of Sweden. On centre had been the Norwegian lion in "Swedish
pattern", i.e. he holds an axe in pale, placed onto a red French shield .
Source: Jan Henrik Munksgaard: Flagget – en nasjonalt Symbol blir til [mun12],
Kristiansand 2012, pp.60,61
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 16 May 2025
![[1814 proposal]](../images/n/no!14-l2.gif)
images by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 16 May 2025
Captain Gregers Fougner Lundh's second proposal was red and parted by a white Scandinavian cross. The upper hoist
quarter however was blue charged with a torteau (= red disc) displaying the
Norwegian lion in "Danish pattern", i.e. with halberd with embowed shaft.
Source: Jan Henrik Munksgaard: Flagget – en nasjonalt Symbol blir til [mun12],
Kristiansand 2012, p.64
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 16 May 2025