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

free and hanseatic city of hamburg, freie und hansestadt hamburg

Last modified: 2013-06-18 by klaus-michael schneider
Keywords: germany | historical | hamburg | banner of arms | castle (white) | tower (white) | towers: 3 | tower (black) | star: 6 points (white) |
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• Introduction
• Hamburg Hanging Flag mid-13th Century
• Hamburg Flag with shield 1568 - use questionable
• 17th Century Hamburg Flag - reported in use 1685, 1700 and 1705
• 18th-19th Centuries Hamburg Flag - reported in use 1695, 1750, 1805, 1848 and 1862
• 18th Century Hamburg Flag - reported in use 1716
• 18th Century Hamburg Flag - reported in use 1737
• 18th Century Hamburg Flag - reported in use 1737 and 1750
• 18th Century Hamburg Flag - reported in use 1737 and 1750
• Hamburg Civil Flag 1751 to present - also Hamburg Civil Ensign (Landesflagge) 1751-1867
• 18th Century Hamburg Flag - reported in use 1769

• Historical Flags - Hamburg
• Hanseatic Cities - Germany, Latvia, Netherlands, Poland
• Hamburg
• Index of all German Pages

Introduction

The red flag with castle appeared after 1470, mainly white castle on a red background but the reverse also is known. In the 16th century the plain flag appeared with full arms. The whaling vessels used a flag (red or white?) with a whale. The war ships bore a on red background a destroyer with weapons, attested 1863. The Admiralty flag was created c. 1624. After 1600 the shield was missing on the flags and the castle was drawn directly on the background. The castle was white or red and the background red or white. In the 17th Century is attested a blue flag with a white castle. The red, white and blue ensigns have the same system as the British Navy and Hanoverian Navy. After 1751 the red flag with a white castle was imposed. Castle versions are known at least from 1751, 1834, 1862, 1894 and 1948.

Hamburg Hanging Flag mid-13th Century

Image 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

Hamburg Flag with shield 1568
(Questionable, probably mistaken)

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

17th Century Hamburg Flag
Reported in use 1685, 1700 and 1705

Image 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

18th-19th Centuries Hamburg Flag
Reported in use 1695, 1750, 1805, 1848 and 1862

Image 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

18th Century Hamburg Flag
Reported in use 1716

Image by Jaume Ollé

Same as the 18th-19th centuries flag but gate has two towers.
Norman Martin, January-February 1998

18th Century Hamburg Flag
Reported in use 1737

Image by Jaume Ollé

Red with a single white tower in upper hoist.
Norman Martin, January-February 1998

18th Century Hamburg Flag
Reported in use 1737 and 1750

Image by Jaume Ollé

Red with three white towers arranged 2 and 1. Illustrated in Smith 1975 p. 204.
Norman Martin, January-February 1998

18th Century Hamburg Flag
Reported in use 1737 and 1750

Image by Jaume Ollé

White with a single black tower in upper hoist. Illustrated in Smith 1975 p. 204.
Norman Martin, January-February 1998

Hamburg Civil Flag 1751-present
Hamburg Civil Ensign 1751-1867
Landesflagge

Image 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

18th Century Hamburg Flag
Reported in use 1769

Image by Jaume Ollé

Same as this 18th century flag, but field is blue.
Norman Martin, January-February 1998