Flag of Switzerland 1

The history of the flag of Switzerlandwhere the history of the Old Swiss Confederacy began in 1291, according to legend.Flag of the country is more than just a symbol of the practice of the country for use in everyday life. This is for the country and its people, and therefore the emotional significance - at least from the people for whom the people and country are important values.Switzerland is a federal republic located in Central Europe. Today it consists of 26 federal states called cantons. Each canton has its own emblem and flag. The history of Switzerland as a nation began in 1291 when three cantons in central Switzerland has decided to defend his rights against the Counts of Habsburg, and help each other make. This is the beginning of the Old Swiss Confederation. Until to 1513, several members joined the Confederacy.

The origin of the Swiss flagWhere does the cross on the Swiss flag come from?Old Swiss Confederation (1291 - 1515) was such a loose federation of autonomous regions, as Switzerland did not have any signs or uniforms common field, or even a joint commander level for most of its history. 

When the Swiss army went to war (and they often back to the late Middle Ages), carried the flag of the region with them.However, the white cross and red flag of Switzerland have their origin in the late Middle Ages. Until 1648, Switzerland was still part of the German Empire.

The Member States of the Old Swiss Confederacy did not try to build a nation, they just wanted to get rid of the Counts of Habsburg, who sought to strengthen its influence. In the 13th century, the Emperor of Germany took with him a flag with the cross as a sacred sign, shall be construed as a protector of Christendom. What's more, he also made a blood-red flag as a sign of his power over life and death. Sometimes, given the right to wear the flag as a special honor for individual cities or regions. (The Dukes of Savoy and the city of Vienna bear a white cross on a red background on their image. 

Scandinavia and the UK both have a cross on their flags.) Often, the right to wear the cross on his arms and the flag was given in combination with other privileges, such as direct immediacy [direct submission to the jurisdiction of the emperor, without jurisdiction charges].Region Schwyz in central Switzerland, one of three founders of the Old Swiss Confederation, and whose name was later used to denote the history of the Confederacy as a whole, was granted in 1240 in the directness and wore a red flag from the mid-13th century (but not always white cross .) 

In 1289, supported King Rudolf of Hapsburg in the war against Burgundy and received as an acknowledgment of the right to represent the crucifixion of Christ and the tools used to torture him in the upper right corner of their flag. Originally painted this symbol on parchment and tied on the banner. Only later, a symbol of the cross was painted directly onto the banner.