Norwegian-Swedish union mark and jack 1844-1905

History of the Flag

Between 1814 and 1905, Sweden and Norway were a united kingdom. The jack was a common flag of the two countries. The flag features the union mark, consisting of a cross bearing the colours of both Sweden and Norway.

Ole Andersen

The union badge was introduced in Swedish and Norwegian flags in 1844 (when Oscar I acceded to the throne) in order to secure an equal status to both of his realms in personal union, and especially to soothe the feelings of Norwegians, who considered the previous union flag disparaging to Norway. It was well received in 1844, but a generation later it was again felt to be disgraceful by the growing majority who wanted to do away with the union. They succeeded in 1899 with the introduction of the "pure" civil flag, and military flags followed when the union was dissolved in 1905.

The pattern of the union badge suggested a common dish on "smorgasbords" of both countries, a colourful herring salad decorated radially with bits of egg whites and yolks, beets, and greenstuff. Very good - try it! Witty tongues soon found the appropiate term. Norwegian: sildesalat, Swedish: sillsallat.
Lars Roede, 18 July 2002

The herring salad, i.e. per saltire composed flags of Sweden and Norway, each preserving the relative ratio of stripes appropriate for each national flag. (therefore I introduce x's and y's in the details above, though I am sure this could be done to make then to common denominator, though the obvious would be lost. The overall ratio 4:5 I concluded from images at FOTW.
Zeljko Heimer, 14 July 2002

The Royal resolution that established the union marked flags and ensign did not give written specifications for design details other than "that the upper quarter closest to the hoist in the flag, shall consist by a for both Realms common Union Mark, which is made up of an evenly composed combination of the to each Realm's flag belonging colours, in the way further indicated in the approved drawing,...".

In the 1844 official artwork the Norwegian war ensign has its usual 16:27 look with a square union marked canton, the white-blue-red in the specified 1-2-1 relationship and the other elements matching specifications quite well. The union mark itself is proportioned 4-1-2-1-4 for the Norwegian parts, though later sources usually say it should be 6-1-2-1-6.

The 1844 artwork of the Swedish war ensign shows a square canton, resulting in a most peculiar looking flag. The artwork for the Swedish war ensign is in the same overall ratio as for the Norwegian one, that is 16:27. Just replace the red with blue and fill in yellow in the white and blue parts and then you have a Swedish flag fitted into the Norwegian specifications. In other words, the official drawing gave us a swallow tailed war ensign that is 6-4-6 along the hoist side and 6-4-17 along the free end. The result is what looks like a quite amputated Swedish flag. No wonder the Swedes preferred the traditional rectangular canton and overall longer flag.
Jan Oskar Engene, 30 June 2003

Use of the union mark as a flag

The union mark was used as a flag in it self too, both as a naval jack and as a flag at the joint Swedish-Norwegian embassies and consulates at the time.
Elias Granqvist, 26 April 2001

Nickname of the Flag