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Norway in the "Book of All Kingdoms"

Last modified: 2021-08-25 by christopher oehler
Keywords: norway | book of all kingdoms | lion |
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[Flag of Suevia]
image by Eugene Ipavec, 22 December 2009


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The 18th flag mentioned and illustrated in the Book of All Kingdoms [e9s50] is attributed to Noruega (Norway).

This as depicted in the 2005 Spanish illustrated transcription, a yellow flag with a black lion passant (facing the hoist) with both forepaws raised (though definitely on his fours…), in the ogival default shape. This image different from the Flemish flag from the same source which shows, in the same colors, a lion rampant.

The anonymous author describes the flag thusly: «El rey d’esta Noruega a por señales un pendón de oro con un león prieto según aquí se sigue.»: "The King of this Norway has for sign a golden pendon with a black lion, as follows".
António Martins-Tuválkin, 11 November 2007


Most likely an incorrect depiction of the Norwegian arms as the arms of Norway are well documented. It is well established that King Håkon Håkonsson (ruled 1217-1263) used a gold lion on red as his arms. About 1280 the lion was issued with an axe (the one that killed St. Olav) and, since then, the arms of Norway has remained unchanged.
Jan Oskar Engene, 29 November 2007

Hm, I wonder about that same colour bit. Does he ever show lions that aren't black on gold? But what I meant to ask is: Here the author explicitly states that this is the same flag as that of Norway. I've seen him quoted as doing that on more occasions. How often does he do that; is this what he normally does for related flags, or even for equal flags?
Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 30 December 2009

Yes, they also come come in black on white, red on white, red on yellow, and yellow on red.
Eugene Ipavec, 31 December 2009