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Historical Time Line
of the Flag

The Chronological Survey

Listed below you will find a chronological survey covering some of the major events in the history of the Dannebrog.

1219	The Dannebrog is mentioned for the first time in connection with the Battle at Lyndanisse on June 15, 1219.
1375 (about)	Dannebrog is illustrated for the first time in colors and mentioned as the King of Denmark's Flag. (This illustration is found at the National Library in Brussels, Belgium)
May 8, 1625	In his War Articles, King Christian the IVth issues the first known regulations for flying the flag and Colors of Command in the Navy.
May 20,1635	King Christian the IVth issues a Royal Resolution stating that Danish merchantmen must fly only the square flag.
April 9, 1731	The Royal Flag, the swallow tailed flag, is approved as the Flag of the Royal Danish Navy.
July 11, 1748	The regulations stating that merchantmen should fly only the square flag are being impressed, and that only Royal ships may fly the swallow tailed Dannebrog.
January 8, 1752	New regulations for flying the Naval Ensign are issued.
1757	King Frederik the Vth declares that Danish merchantmen in the Mediterranean area may fly the square flag with the Royal Insignia's
1784	The Sovereign Flag is established at the citadel Frederikshavn in Copenhagen.
July 16, 1788	The Sovereign Flag is moved from the citadel Frederikshavn to the newly established bastion SIXTUS.
August 15, 1788	The regulations for flying the Sovereign Flag and gun saluting from the SIXTUS battery are issued.
January 7, 1834	King Frederik the VIth passes a legislation, forbidding private citizens to fly the flag.
August 2, 1854	Private citizens are allowed to fly the Dannebrog.
1865	Private yachts are allowed to fly the Naval Ensign, Orlogsflaget, with the golden letters YF (Yacht flag) in the upper left corner.
1912	The Day of the Flag, June 15, Valdemar's Day, is named an official Flag Flying Day.
October 23, 1939	The Regulations for Flying the Flag and saluting in the Navy (receiving the Royal Assent on October 23) states that the Orlogsflag (the Naval Ensign) is a swallow tailed flag in a deep red color with a white cross.
July 25, 1948	Civilians are permitted to the fly the Colors of the semi-autonomous region of the Faroe Islands.
October 30, 1957	Civilians are permitted to the fly the Colors of the other Scandinavian countries (Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden).
1966	Civilians are permitted to the fly the Colors of the United Nations.
June 6, 1985	Civilians are permitted to the fly the Colors of the semi-autonomous region of Greenland.
September 5, 1989	Civilians are permitted to the fly the Colors of the European Union.

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44You are also referred to the Naval Bibliography

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This page was last updated: July 31, 2005

This page was first published: September 16, 2001

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