Denmark has the oldest flag in use, according to the 1219 legend
Denmark has the oldest national flag still in use. Tradition dates it to 1219, documents to the 14th century and the records to 1625.
Denmark has the oldest national flag still in use: the Dannebrog, a white cross on a red background. But since when? The answer depends on what you count as a “flag”: a legend places it in 1219, documents speak of the 14th century and the records date it to the 17th.
The Dannebrog.
The 1219 legend
According to tradition, the flag appeared at the battle of Lindanise (Lyndanisse, near present-day Tallinn, Estonia) in 1219: the Danes were losing and the flag “fell from the sky”. But that date is legendary: the oldest text telling this was written between 1520 and 1523, more than three hundred years later.
What the documents say
Use by the Danish kings is documented from the 14th century (for example, the Gelre Armorial, around 1340–1370). Wikipedia also notes that the Dannebrog is attested in 1478 and that it is the oldest national flag still in use. Guinness World Records considers it the oldest continuously used national flag and dates it to 1625 (8 May).
The Gelre Armorial: the Danish royal arms and, top right, a flag with a white cross on red. Public domain.
More details in the article Dannebrog: the 1219 legend and what the documents say.
1219
Date of the legend: at the battle of Lindanise the flag “fell from the sky”. It is a legendary date.
Around 1340-1370
The Gelre Armorial records the use of the Dannebrog by the Danish kings.
1478
According to Wikipedia, the Dannebrog is attested this year.
1520-1523
The oldest text that tells the 1219 legend is written, more than three hundred years later.
1625
Guinness World Records dates the oldest continuously used national flag to this year (8 May).
