Historical Flags 1470-18th Century (Hamburg, Germany)

Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, Freie und Hansestadt Hamburg

Last modified: 2004-12-29 by santiago dotor
Keywords: germany | historical | hamburg | banner of arms | castle (white) | tower (white) | towers: 3 | tower (black) | star: 6 points (white) |
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• Introduction
• Hanging Flag mid-13th Century
• Flag with shield 1568, probably mistaken
• 17th Century Flag (reported 1685, 1700 and 1705)
• 18th-19th Centuries Flag (reported 1695, 1750, 1805, 1848 and 1862)
• 18th Century Flag (reported 1716)
• 18th Century Flag (reported 1737)
• 18th Century Flag (reported 1737 and 1750)
• 18th Century Flag (reported 1737 and 1750)
• Civil Flag 1751-nowadays, Civil Ensign 1751-1867 (Landesflagge)
• 18th Century Flag (reported 1769)

See also:

• Historical Flags (Hamburg)
• Hanseatic Cities (Germany, Latvia, Netherlands, Poland)
• Hamburg
• Germany

by Phil Nelson

Znamierowski 1999 shows several interesting flags of the Port Cities of northern Europe. These are derived from gonfanons, originally red in color. The flags, in a banner form [i.e. hanging flags], were flown from the stern of the vessels, the mast carrying the gonfanon of the colors. The oldest of the series that Znamierowski 1999 shows dates from the mid-13th century, that of Hamburg.

Phil Nelson, 20 February 2000

The German editors of Norie and Hobbs 1971 added two charts (which were not originally in Norie and Hobbs 1848) with German flags that were important over time. One of them is no. 30, Flüger: Hamburg 1270, as the above flag, but extended horizontally to a long flying flag. I believe a Flüger is a pennant of which the part near the hoist fixed to a piece of wood, and that is indeed how these are pictured in Norie and Hobbs 1971.

Peter Hans van der Muijzenberg, 12 November 2001

The German editors of Norie and Hobbs 1971 added two charts (which were not originally in Norie and Hobbs 1848) with German flags that were important over time. One of them is no. 20, Hamburg 1568: red flag, offset a silver shield with a red three-towered with black gate and windows black, standing on red ground.

Peter Hans van der Muijzenberg, 12 November 2001

Reported 1685, 1700 and 1705

by Jaume Ollé

Red with a single white tower at center. Illustrated in Wilson 1986 p. 69 and National Geographic 1917 p. 371, no. 1154.

Norman Martin, January-February 1998

Reported 1695, 1750, 1805, 1848 and 1862

by Jaume Ollé

Red with a single white city gate with 3 towers at center. Illustrated in Smith 1975 p. 204.

Norman Martin, January-February 1998

Reported 1716

by Jaume Ollé

Same as the 18th-19th centuries flag but gate has two towers.

Norman Martin, January-February 1998

Reported 1737

by Jaume Ollé

Red with a single white tower in upper hoist.

Norman Martin, January-February 1998

Reported 1737 and 1750

by Jaume Ollé

Red with three white towers arranged 2 and 1. Illustrated in Smith 1975 p. 204.

Norman Martin, January-February 1998

Reported 1737 and 1750

by Jaume Ollé

White with a single black tower in upper hoist. Illustrated in Smith 1975 p. 204.

Norman Martin, January-February 1998

Landesflagge

by Marcus Schmöger

Like the 18th-19th centuries flag, but with a white 6-pointed star above two outer towers. First officially adopted 14 May 1751, readopted 6 June 1834, 6 October 1897 and 6 June 1952. Illustrated in Pedersen 1970 no. 150 and Crampton 1990 p. 44.

Norman Martin, January-February 1998

Reported 1769

by Jaume Ollé

Same as this 18th century flag, but field is blue.

Norman Martin, January-February 1998