Slitherine

Does anyone know where I might get some info on the flags used by this army ?

Scrumpy wrote:Does anyone know where I might get some info on the flags used by this army ?

Do you mean the dalarna levy? If so they would have primitive flags, if at all.

Are you refering to the Kalmar Union list? If so we have actually have an eyewitness drawing of the flags & symbols carried by the Swedish levies


This is the levy of Vastergotland fighting Landsknechts in Danish service near the castle of Elfsborg in 1502. The Swedes carry two "banners" in the middle of their formation. One is a typical medieval standard with a tapered shape. It is divided into two fields, likely with diffrent colours with a cross superimposed on the fields. The other "banner" is a rooster (probably made of wood or cuir boili) mounted directly on a pole.

A 15th Century Rhyme chronicle describing the Swedish 1452 campaign in 'East Denmark' (Aka Scania, today southern Sweden) provide more clues to the style of banners favoured by the Swedissh army. The "Rännebaner", i.e the banner of mounted retainers which acted as advanceguard & scouts carried a banner showing Saint George, the "Skyttbanner" ("Shooters banner") made up of (mounted?) crossbowmen hade Saint Erik and Saint Olof painted on their banner. "Hufvudbaneret" (The 'Main banner') which was formed by the main body of men-at-arms had the virgin Mary holding her infant son in her arms. The Virgin was surrounded by golden sunrays. Regardless of the images painted on the banners in the army all banners were to carry the symbol of three crowns as a national recognition symbol.

As ever thanks & I am always impressed with the knowledge people have on here.

DanielS wrote:Are you refering to the Kalmar Union list? If so we have actually have an eyewitness drawing of the flags & symbols carried by the Swedish levies.

I tried in vain to get Osprey to print the right hand side of that picture in Trade & Treachery.

A real missed opportunity.