The Flag of Svalbard and Jan Mayen: History, Meaning, and Symbolism

The archipelago of Svalbard sits about halfway between the northernmost tip of Norway and the North Pole. It’s a constellation of islands that encompasses roughly 23,500 square miles, hosting around 2,500 permanent residents.

Svalbard is beautiful and mountainous, although living there isn’t for the faint of heart. For one, there are an estimated 270 polar bears living within its borders. That’s more than one polar bear for every ten people who live there.

Further, average highs and lows hover below zero degrees year-round, only poking a few degrees above in the summer months.

Jan Mayen is a volcanic island peppered with glaciers resting nearly 400 miles northeast of Iceland in the Arctic ocean. Both territories belong to the kingdom of Norway, and both share Norway’s flag.

What is The Flag of Svalbard and Jan Mayen?

These two territories are so small and remote that they’re typically lumped together even though Jan Mayen is closer to Iceland than it is to Svalbard.

In any case, Svalbard and Jan Mayen‘s flag is the exact same as Norway’s because they are both Norweigian territories. The Norwegian flag has a red background and displays a horizontal blue cross with a white border.

The flag has evolved significantly over time, though. The history of the Norwegian flag mirrors Norway’s difficult journey toward independence from its Scandanavian neighbors.

Origins of The Norweigian Flag

The very first flag of the Norwegian people was more of a banner. It depicted a crowned golden lion holding an axe over a red background.

The date of the banner’s origin isn’t known, although eminent ancient historian Snorri Sturluson suggested that it was present prior to the early 13th century.

The Kalmar Union & Napoleonic Wars

Norway’s history is fraught with power struggles between itself and Sweden, Denmark, England, France, and Russia. From the late 14th century until the early 19th century, Norway was heavily controlled by Denmark. This was marked by the Kalmar Union in 1397 which united what are now Norway, Denmark, Finland, and Sweden. At that time, Norway shared the flag that Denmark currently uses.

The union was dissolved in the 1520s when Sweden declared its own sovereignty. Norway, however, would have to wait a few hundred more years.

The late 18th and early 19th centuries were dynamic times for northern Europe, in large part due to the influence of Napoleon. Denmark and Norway allied with Napoleon’s France in response to a preemptive English attack on the Danish Navy.

This put them at odds with Sweden who allied with England. Sweden then made strategic partnerships with England and Russia in 1808 to effectively corner Norway and leave no choice for it but to cede sovereignty.

At this point, the Norweigian flag changed slightly. The majority of the design matched the Danish flag, although the Norwegian arms (a crowned lion with an axe) was included in the upper-left corner.

So, for a short time, Norway existed under Swedish rule. Five years later in 1814, though, Norway held a constitutional convention and declared independence. War with Sweden and its allies came swiftly, but Norway resisted well enough for Swedish officials to call a cease-fire.

The Treaty of Kiel

What followed was a contentious compromise called the Treaty of Kiel. The treaty stripped Norwegian control from Denmark and transferred most of it to Sweden. Norway gained a significant amount of freedom, although they were still adherent to Swedish rule.

The current flag design was proposed in 1821 by a businessman and politician named Fredrik Meltzer. Norway’s national assembly implemented Meltzer’s design and it has been the flag of Norway ever since.

Roughly 85 years later, Norway would negotiate for total independence in 1905. Fifteen years after that, they would officially incorporate Svalbard which had previously been a lawless environment stretched mainly between Russian and Norwegian miners.

The Symbolism of The Norwegian Flag

The original coat of arms in Norway comes from the family coat of arms of the Sverre dynasty in the 12th century. The exact history and imagery of the coat of arms are murky, however.

Norway was independent in those days, ruled by Kings, and rife with expansive and fruitful missions to distant lands. As a result, the lion on their coat of arms was emblematic of their success.

To a northern European, a lion would have been an extremely exotic and powerful beast in the 1100s. If you weren’t a noble, you wouldn’t have ever seen one.

That made the lion an extremely powerful symbol. It was almost mystical, unstoppable, and strong without limit. This gives you an idea of the way Norway viewed itself before the Kalmar Union.

When that Union was formed, Norway lost its independence, and with it, its glorious symbol of strength. The coat of arms popped up from time to time throughout Norway’s struggle for independence, but it never made it onto the country’s official flag ever again.

The Symbolism of The Danish Flag

The flag of Denmark, legend has it, soared down from the heavens on June 15th, 1219 as Denmark was on a crusade in Estonia. Their luck was down and the battle seemed lost until the flag emerged from the sky and signaled Denmark’s heavenly right to press onward.

That myth is roughly 800 years old, and it was likely the one that Norwegians were told from 1397 onward when it was their flag as well.

Red flags with white crosses were frequently used throughout Europe during the Crusades. For example, you’ll see red crosses over white fabric or white crosses over red fabric depicted in most ancient paintings of the crusades.

The flag was meant to be a symbol of a Christian nation, and maybe even one that deeply resonated with the idea of the crusades.

Norway’s Red, White & Blue Flag Symbolism

Note that the modern Norwegian flag emerged just after France and the United States gained independence. Both of those nations bare red, white, and blue on their flags, and that connection was one aspect of Norway’s decision on its current flag.

Another aspect of the flag’s symbolism is Norway’s intertwined relationship with its neighbors. The modern flag bares the original template of the Danish flag and its blue internal cross references the blue of Sweden’s flag.

The flags of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden are very similar and differ only in color with slight cross variations. This might have been a gesture of goodwill to Sweden and Denmark, suggesting that Norway wasn’t trying to stray too far from its roots.

The decision to choose a near-carbon copy combination of its oppressors’ flags, however, was more likely a diplomatic move for Norway. The flag was also approved by the Norwegian National assembly of 1821 which would have included some individuals who were remnants of old power structures. Some of those people might still have been sympathetic to Sweden or Denmark.

Modern Significance of The Svalbard and Jan Mayen Flag

The Norwegian flag symbolizes something much different than it might have 100, or even 500 years ago.

One hundred years ago, the international world might not have thought much of the Norwegian flag because it was so new. Five hundred years ago, many people in the world would have been absolutely terrified to see the Danish flag waving. It would have signified the onset of a holy war, one that might have been absolutely devastating to you and everyone you loved if you didn’t happen to be the preferred kind of Christian.

Now, however, Norway’s flag represents something else to a lot of people—quality of life. Norway is regularly commended as having one of the highest qualities of life in the world.

Social programs and governmental initiatives taken there are echoed around the world, and many people outside of Norway challenge their politicians to mirror Norwegian policies on climate change, social welfare, and more.

The same is true for the other Scandanavian countries that bear crosses on their flags. While the original purpose of the image would have been to indicate an oppressive religious fervor, these flags now represent very inclusive countries.

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