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Regimental Colours and Standards during the Reign of Christian 5 (Denmark)

image by Klaus-Michael Schneider

Introduction
Cavalry Standards
Colour of the Jutland Infantry
Colours of the Land Militia (Landværnet)

See also:

Introduction

C.A. Sapherson describes the Danish-Norwegian army during the reign of King Christian 5, who died 1699, as follows:
There had been recruited regiments (Danish: hvervede) and national regiments.
The former were regulars and professional soldiers.
The latter were recruited from various provinces. In peace time they were not kept in full strength but fully raised if needed.
Besides that there had been militia forces (Danish: Landværnet), which were raised on demand.
The sizes of infantry colours had been 5 feet width and height.
The sizes of cavalry standards had been 2 feet width and height. They had fringes aon three edges.
The sizes of guidons is not mentioned. As the y are also called "standards" by the author. We can assume that there size had also been 2 feet width and height. The guidons were swallow tailed at fly.
Source: [sap97], pp.1-2
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 23 Nov 2025

Cavalry Standards

1:1, image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 23 Nov 2025
1:1, image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 23 Nov 2025
1:1, image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 23 Nov 2025

The standards of the cavalry had basically the same pattern as follows. In canton had been the Danebrog, a red square parted by a white cross patty. In centre had been the cypher of the king, reading "C5", surmounted by a royal crown in proper colour and surrounded by a golden wreath. The standards had golden or silver fringes on three edges. Near the bottom edge had been a motto in golden initials: "PIETATE ET JUSTITIA" (=piety and justice). The basic colours had been: red (see left image row above), yellow (see central image row above), green (see right image row above), light blue (see left image row below), deep blue (see central image row below) and violet (see right image row below). It is not mentioned, whether the standards belonged to squadrons of the same regiment or to different regiments.
Source: [sap97], pp.34-35
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 23 Nov 2025

Colour of the Jutland Infantry

[Regimental Colour of Christian 5 Jutland Infantry]

1:1, image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 23 Nov 2025

The sheet was red parted by a white saltire. Each quarter was charged with three white 5-point stars ordered 1:2 from centre. On canton was a dark blue lion passant tongued red. On centre was the golden dual cypher of the king, reading "C5", surmounted by a golden royal coronet.
Source: [sap97], pp.32-33
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 23 Nov 2025

**Colours of the Land Militia (Landværnet)**

image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 23 Nov 2025

The colours were red parted by a white cross patty, i.e. the canton of the colours of regular units. The cross is called "Maltese cross" by the author.
It is not mentioned whether they had distinguishing marks or not.
Source: [sap97], p.34
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 23 Nov 2025

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