The official flag of Scania, one of Sweden's traditional provinces, is a banner of arms.
The official flag of Scania, one of Sweden's traditional provinces, is a banner of arms.

A banner of arms is a type of heraldic flag, characterised by sharing its imagery with that of the coat of arms (i.e. the shield of a full heraldic achievement, rendered in a square or rectangular shape of the flag).[1]

The term is derived from the terminology of heraldry but mostly used in vexillology. Examples of modern national flags which are banners of arms are the flags of Austria, Iraq, and Switzerland.

The banner of arms is sometimes simply called a banner, but a banner is in a more strict sense a one of a kind personal flag of a nobleman held in battle.[2][3]

Examples

National flags

Country Flag Coat of arms from which the flag is derived
Austria
Flag of Austria.svg
Coat of arms of Austria.svg
Flag of Austria Coat of arms of Austria
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg
Coat of arms of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg
Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina Coat of arms of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Burkina Faso
Flag of Burkina Faso.svg
Coat of arms of Burkina Faso.svg
Flag of Burkina Faso Coat of arms of Burkina Faso
Finland
Flag of Finland 1918 (state).svg
Coat of arms of Finland.svg
Temporary state flag used from December 1917 to May 1918 Coat of Arms of Finland
Gabon
Flag of the President of Gabon (1960–1990).svg
Coat of arms of Gabon.svg
Presidential Standard (1960-1990) Coat of arms of Gabon
Greece
Flag of Greece (1822-1978).svg
Coat of arms of Greece.svg
Flag of Greece (historical) Coat of arms of Greece
Iraq
Flag of Iraq.svg
Coat of arms of Iraq.svg
Flag of Iraq Coat of arms of Iraq
Kiribati
Flag of Kiribati.svg
Coat of arms of Kiribati.svg
Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag
Flag of Kiribati
Coat of arms of Kiribati
Kosovo
Flag of Kosovo.svg
Emblem of the Republic of Kosovo.svg
Flag of Kosovo Coat of arms of Kosovo
Lithuania
Flag of Lithuania (state).svg
Coat of arms of Lithuania.svg
Flag of Lithuania (state) Coat of arms of Lithuania
Luxembourg
Civil Ensign of Luxembourg.svg
Lesser CoA luxembourg.svg
Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag
Flag of Luxembourg for use at sea
Lesser coat of arms of Luxembourg
Malta
Flag of Malta.svg
Coat of arms of Malta.svg
Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag
Flag of Malta
Coat of arms of Malta
Monaco
Lozenge flag of Monaco.svg
Coat of arms of Monaco.svg
Flag of Monaco (alternative) Coat of arms of Monaco
Namibia
Flag of Namibia.svg
Coat of arms of Namibia.svg
Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag
Flag of Namibia
Coat of arms of Namibia
Norway
Kongeflagget.svg
Coat of arms of Norway.svg
Royal Standard of Norway Coat of arms of Norway
Poland
Flag of the President of Poland.svg
Herb Polski.svg
Presidential standard of Poland Coat of arms of Poland
Portugal
Flag of the Kingdom of Portugal (1485–1495) type 2.svg
Coat of arms of Portugal.svg
Flag of Portugal (heraldic and historical) Coat of arms of Portugal
Somalia
Flag of Somalia.svg
Coat of arms of Somalia.svg
Flag of Somalia Coat of arms of Somalia
Spain
Naval jack of Spain.svg
Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
Flag of Spain (naval jack) Coat of arms of Spain
Sweden
Personal command-sign of the King of Sweden.svg
Great coat of arms of Sweden.svg
Royal Standard of Sweden (The King's personal) Coat of arms of Sweden
Switzerland
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg
Coat of Arms of Switzerland (Pantone).svg
Flag of Switzerland Coat of arms of Switzerland
Taiwan (Republic of China)
Naval Jack of the Republic of China.svg
National Emblem of the Republic of China.svg
Flag of the Republic of China (naval jack) National Emblem of the Republic of China
Ukraine
Naval Jack of Ukraine (1992).svg
Lesser Coat of Arms of Ukraine.svg
Naval Jack of Ukraine (1992) Coat of arms of Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg
Emblem of the United Arab Emirates.svg
Flag of the United Arab Emirates Emblem of the United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
Royal Standard of the United Kingdom.svg
Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (Tudor crown).svg
Royal Standard of the United Kingdom Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom
Royal Standard of the United Kingdom (in Scotland).svg
Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (Scotland).svg
Royal Standard of the United Kingdom for use in Scotland Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom for use in Scotland
Vietnam
Flag of Vietnam.svg
Emblem of Vietnam.svg
Flag of Vietnam Emblem of Vietnam
Flag of the People
Emblem VPA.svg
Flag of the Vietnam People's Army Emblem of the Vietnam People's Army

Subdivision flags

Subdivision Flag Coat of arms from which the flag is derived
Aquitaine
Flag of Aquitaine.svg
Arms of Aquitaine and Guyenne.svg
Flag of Aquitaine Coat of arms of Aquitaine
Alsace
Flag of Alsace.svg
Blason région fr Alsace.svg
Flag of Alsace Coat of arms of Alsace
Astrakhan Oblast
Flag of Astrakhan Oblast.svg
Coat of Arms of Astrakhan Oblast.svg
Flag of Astrakhan Oblast Coat of arms of Astrakhan Oblast
Bavaria
Flag of Bavaria (lozengy).svg
Bayern Wappen.svg
Flag of Bavaria
(alternative)
Coat of arms of Bavaria
British Columbia
Flag of British Columbia.svg
Coat of arms of British Columbia.svg
Flag of British Columbia Coat of arms of British Columbia
Burgundy
Flag of Bourgogne.svg
Arms of the Duke of Burgundy (1364-1404).svg
Flag of Burgundy Coat of arms of Burgundy
Castile and León
Flag of Castile and León.svg
Coat of Arms of Castile and Leon.svg
Flag of Castile and León Coat of arms of Castile and León
Castile-La Mancha
Flag of Castile-La Mancha.svg
Coat of Arms of Castile-La Mancha.svg
Flag of Castile-La Mancha Coat of arms of Castile–La Mancha
Corsica
Flag of Corsica.svg
Arms of Corsica.svg
Flag of Corsica Coat of arms of Corsica
Dnipropetrovsk Oblast
Flag of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.svg
Large Coat of Arms of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.svg
Flag of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Coat of arms of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast
England
Royal Banner of England.svg
Royal Arms of England.svg
Royal Banner of England Royal Arms of England
Flanders
Flag of Flanders.svg
Arms of Flanders.svg
Flag of Flanders Coat of arms of Flanders
Franche-Comté
Flag of Franche-Comté.svg
Blason fr Franche-Comté.svg
Flag of Franche-Comté Coat of arms of Franche-Comté
Friuli-Venezia Giulia
Flag of Friuli-Venezia Giulia.svg
CoA of Friuli-Venezia Giulia.png
Flag of Friuli-Venezia Giulia Coat of arms of Friuli-Venezia Giulia
Gibraltar
Flag of Gibraltar.svg
Coat of arms of Gibraltar1.svg
Flag of Gibraltar Coat of arms of Gibraltar
Hong Kong
Flag of Hong Kong.svg
Regional Emblem of Hong Kong.svg
Flag of Hong Kong Emblem of Hong Kong
Kedah
Flag of Kedah.svg
Coat of arms of Kedah.svg
Flag of Kedah Coat of Arms of Kedah
Lipetsk Oblast
Flag of Lipetsk Oblast.svg
Coat of Arms of Lipetsk oblast.svg
Flag of Lipetsk Oblast Coat of arms of Lipetsk Oblast
Macau
Flag of Macau.svg
Regional Emblem of Macau.svg
Flag of Macau Emblem of Macau
Madeira
Flag of Madeira.svg
Coat of arms of Madeira.svg
Flag of Madeira Coat of arms of Madeira
Maryland
Flag of Maryland.svg
Seal of Maryland (reverse).svg
Flag of Maryland Coat of arms of Maryland
Midi-Pyrénées (Occitania, Languedoc)
Flag of Midi-Pyrénées.svg
Blason Languedoc.svg
Flag of Midi-Pyrénées Coat of arms of Midi-Pyrénées
Moravian-Silesian Region (Moravia, Silesia)
Flag of Moravian-Silesian Region.svg
Moravian-Silesian Region CoA CZ.svg
Flag of Moravian-Silesian Region Coat of arms of Moravian-Silesian Region
Murcia (Region)
Flag of the Region of Murcia.svg
Coat of Arms of the Spanish Region of Murcia.svg
Flag of Region of Murcia Coat of arms of Region of Murcia
Navarre
Bandera Navarra.svg
Escudo de Navarra (oficial).svg
Flag of Navarre (historical) Coat of arms of Navarre
New Brunswick
Flag of New Brunswick.svg
New Brunswick coat of arms.svg
Flag of New Brunswick Coat of arms of New Brunswick
Nova Scotia
Flag of Nova Scotia.svg
Coat of arms of Nova Scotia.svg
Flag of Nova Scotia Coat of arms of Nova Scotia
Picardy
Flag of Picardie.svg
Blason région fr Picardie.svg
Flag of Picardy Coat of arms of Picardy
Pomeranian Voivodeship
POL województwo pomorskie flag.svg
POL województwo pomorskie COA.svg
Flag of Pomeranian Voivodeship Coat of arms of Pomeranian Voivodeship
Prince Edward Island
Flag of Prince Edward Island.svg
Arms of Prince Edward Island.svg
Flag of Prince Edward Island Coat of arms of Prince Edward Island
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Flag of Provence-Alpes-Côte d
Blason région fr Provence-Alpes-Côte d
Flag of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Coat of arms of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Sarawak
Flag of Sarawak.svg
Coat of arms of Sarawak.svg
Flag of Sarawak Coat of Arms of Sarawak
Sardinia
Flag of Sardinia, Italy.svg
Sardegna-Stemma.svg
Flag of Sardinia Coat of arms of Sardinia
Savoy
Flag of Savoie.svg
Blason duche fr Savoie.svg
Flag of Savoy Coat of arms of Savoy
Scania
Flag of Scania.png
Skåne vapen.svg
Flag of Scania Coat of arms of Scania
Scotland
Royal Banner of Scotland.svg
Royal Arms of the Kingdom of Scotland.svg
Royal Standard of Scotland Royal coat of arms of Scotland
Sicily
Sicilian Flag.svg
Coat of arms of Sicily.svg
Flag of Sicily Coat of arms of Sicily
Ternopil Oblast
Flag of Ternopil Oblast.svg
Coat of Arms of Ternopil Oblast.svg
Flag of Ternopil Oblast Coat of arms of Ternopil Oblast
Tula Oblast
Flag of Tula Oblast.svg
Coat of Arms of Tula oblast.png
Flag of Tula Oblast Coat of arms of Tula Oblast
Ulyanovsk Oblast
Flag of Ulyanovsk Oblast.svg
Coat of Arms of Ulyanovsk Oblast.png
Flag of Ulyanovsk Oblast Coat of arms of Ulyanovsk Oblast
Voronezh Oblast
Flag of Voronezh Oblast.svg
Coat of arms of Voronezh Oblast.svg
Flag of Voronezh Oblast Coat of arms of Voronezh Oblast
Wales
Flag of Wales.svg
Royal Badge of Wales (1953).svg
Flag of Wales The 1953 Royal Badge of Wales
Wallonia
Flag of Wallonia.svg
Coat of arms of Wallonia.svg
Flag of Wallonia Coat of arms of Wallonia
Washington D.C.
Flag of the District of Columbia.svg
Coat of Arms of George Washington.svg
Flag of Washington, D.C. Coat of arms of the Washington family
Yaroslavl Oblast
Flag of Yaroslavl Oblast.svg
Coat of arms of Yaroslavl Oblast.svg
Flag of Yaroslavl Oblast Coat of arms of Yaroslavl Oblast
Zürich (canton)
Flag of Canton of Zürich.svg
Wappen Zürich matt.svg
Flag of Zürich Coat of arms of Zürich


County flags

Cheshire
County Flag of Cheshire.png
Arms of Cheshire County Council.svg
Flag of Cheshire Coat of arms of Cheshire
Essex
Flag of Essex.svg
Arms of Essex.svg
Flag of Essex Coat of arms of Essex
Jönköping County
Jönköpings län vapenflagga.svg
Jönköpings läns vapen.png
Flag of Jönköping County Coat of arms of Jönköping County
Kalmar County
Kalmar län vapenflagga.svg
Kalmar län vapen.svg
Flag of Kalmar County Coat of arms of Kalmar County
Kent
FlagOfKent.svg
Arms of Kent County Council.svg
Flag of Kent Coat of arms of Kent
Kronoberg County
Kronobergs län vapenflagga.svg
Kronoberg vapen.svg
Flag of Kronoberg County Coat of arms of Kronoberg County
Northumberland
Flag of Northumberland.svg
Arms of Northumberland County Council.svg
Flag of Northumberland Coat of arms of Northumberland
Przemyśl County
POL powiat przemyski flag.svg
POL powiat przemyski COA.svg
Flag of Przemyśl County Coat of arms of Przemyśl County
Sussex
Flag of Sussex.svg
Arms of Sussex.svg
Flag of Sussex Coat of arms of Sussex
Vestfold og Telemark
Flag of Vestfold and Telemark.svg
Vestfold og Telemark våpen.svg
Flag of Vestfold and Telemark Coat of arms of Vestfold and Telemark
Warwickshire
County Flag of Warwickshire.svg
Arms of Warwickshire County Council.svg
Flag of Warwickshire Coat of arms of Warwickshire

City flags

City Flag Coat of arms from which the flag is derived
Aberdeen
Flag of Aberdeen.svg
Aberdeen-arms.png
Flag of Aberdeen Coat of arms of Aberdeen
Amsterdam
Flag of Amsterdam.svg
Wapen van Amsterdam.svg
Flag of Amsterdam Coat of arms of Amsterdam
Barcelona
Flag of Barcelona.svg
Escudo de Barcelona.svg
Flag of Barcelona Coat of arms of Barcelona
Bari
Flag of Bari.svg
Bari-Stemma.svg
Flag of Bari Coat of arms of Bari
Belfast
Flag of Belfast.svg
Coat of Arms of Belfast.png
Flag of Belfast Coat of arms of Belfast
Belgrade
Flag of Belgrade, Serbia.svg
Small Coat of Arms Belgrade.svg
Flag of Belgrade Coat of arms of Belgrade
Bodø
Flag of Bodø.svg
Bodø komm.svg
Flag of Bodø Coat of arms of Bodø
Brno
Flag of Brno.svg
Brno (znak).svg
Flag of Brno Coat of arms of Brno
Durham
Flag of Durham.svg

Coat of arms of Durham.svg

Flag of Durham Coat of arms of Durham
Dundee
Dundee City Flag.png

City of Dundee Coat of Arms.png

Flag of Dundee Coat of arms of Dundee
Edinburgh
Flag of Edinburgh.svg
Arms of Edinburgh.png
Flag of Edinburgh Coat of arms of Edinburgh
Florence
Flag of Florence.svg
FlorenceCoA.svg
Flag of Florence Coat of arms of Florence
Freiburg im Breisgau
Flagge Freiburg im Breisgau.svg
DEU Freiburg im Breisgau COA.svg
Flag of Freiburg im Breisgau Coat of arms of Freiburg im Breisgau
Gdańsk
POL Gdańsk flag.svg
POL Gdańsk COA.svg
Flag of Gdańsk Coat of arms of Gdańsk
Hamburg
Flag of Hamburg.svg
DEU Hamburg COA.svg
Flag of Hamburg Coat of arms of Hamburg
Helsinki
Flag of Helsinki.svg

Helsingfors stadsvapen.svg

Flag of Helsinki Coat of arms of Helsinki
Leicester
Flag of the City of Leicester.png
Arms of Leicester.svg
Flag of Leicester Coat of arms of Leicester
Lincoln
Flag of Lincoln.svg
Lincoln.svg
Flag of Lincoln Coat of arms of Lincoln
City of London
Flag of the City of London.svg
Coat of Arms of The City of London.svg
Flag of the City of London Coat of arms of the City of London
Lyon
Flag of Lyon, France.svg
Coat of Arms of Lyon.svg
Flag of Lyon Coat of arms of Lyon
Marseille
Flag of Marseille.svg
Armoiries de Marseille.svg
Flag of Marseille Coat of arms of Marseille
Milan
Flag of Milan.svg
CoA Città di Milano.svg
Flag of Milan Coat of arms of Milan
Montreal
Flag of Montreal.svg
Coat of arms of Montreal.svg
Flag of Montreal Coat of arms of Montreal
Moscow
Flag of Moscow, Russia.svg
Coat of Arms of Moscow.svg
Flag of Moscow Coat of arms of Moscow
Naples
Flag of Naples.svg
Napoli-Stemma.svg
Flag of Naples Coat of arms of Naples
Pisa
Flag of the Republic of Pisa.svg
Pisa-Stemma.svg
Flag of Pisa Coat of arms of Pisa
Portsmouth
City Flag of Portsmouth.svg
Portsmouth City Coat of Arms.jpg
Flag of Portsmouth Coat of arms of Portsmouth
Przemyśl
POL Przemyśl flag.svg
POL Przemyśl COA.svg
Flag of Przemyśl Coat of arms of Przemyśl
Saint Petersburg
Flag of Saint Petersburg.svg
Coat of Arms of Saint Petersburg (2003).svg
Flag of Saint Petersburg Coat of arms of Saint Petersburg
St Albans
FlagOfStAlbans-PS01.svg
StAlbans-COA-PS1.svg
Flag of St Albans Coat of arms of St Albans
Strasbourg
Flag of Strasbourg.svg

Greater coat of arms of Strasbourg.svg

Flag of Strasbourg Coat of arms of Strasbourg
Stockholm
Flag of Stockholm.svg

Stockholm vapen bra.svg

Flag of Stockholm Coat of arms of Stockholm
Verona
Flag of Verona.svg
Verona-Stemma.svg
Flag of Verona Coat of arms of Verona
York
Flag of York.svg
York City Council.png
Flag of York Coat of arms of York
Zaragoza
Bandera de Zaragoza.svg
Escudo de Zaragoza.svg
Flag of Zaragoza Coat of arms of Zaragoza

Organization flags

Organization Flag Coat of arms from which the flag is derived
European Union
Flag of Europe.svg
Coat of arms of Europe.svg
European flag Coat of arms of the Chairman of the European Union Military Committee

References

  1. ^ "Flags of the World: Dictionary of Vexillology: B (Backing - Banner of Victory): Banner of arms". Flags of the World. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  2. ^ Puttock, A.G. (1985). A Dictionary of Heraldry. Exeter: Blaketon Hall Ltd. p. 196. ISBN 0-907854-93-1.
  3. ^ Friar, Stephen, ed. (1987). A New Dictionary of Heraldry. London: Alphabooks/A&C Black. pp. 45–46. ISBN 0-906670-44-6.