Aargau canton (Switzerland) (original) (raw)

Vertically divided into equal parts: The hoist is black with a central white wavy band divided into three parts by two thin wavy blue lines. The fly is light blue with three five-pointed white stars. In correct heraldic practice, there is no distinction between shades of blue.
T.F. Mills, 2 November 1997

The flag was designed in 1803 by Samuel Ringier-Seelmatter with no reference to previous heraldic devices of the region. Earlier versions of the "blazon" did not specify two blue cotises, and the flag was often represented with the white wavy fess divided into four parts by thin black wavy lines. The blazon also did not specify the position of the mullets in the fly, so there were several interpretations. The current design of two above and one below was established by law in 1930, and the stars were specified as five-pointed. In Swiss heraldry, stars normally have six points.

Until 22 March 1798 Aargau was a dependency of Bern canton, 22 March 1798 – 12 April 1798 an independent state, and after 12 April 1798 part of the Helvetian Republic. In March 1798 the above plain green flag was a de facto civil flag and possible state flag of Aargau. From 26 March to 12 April, the red-white-black triband was used as a civil flag and probable state flag of short-lived independent state. The proportions and colour shades of these two flags are either unknown or unspecified.
Christian Berghänel, 27 October 2002

Stained glass plate (1961), by Felix Hoffmann, CoA with three women with water vessels, symbolizing the main rivers Aare, Reuss and Limmat which flow into each other in Aargau. Location: government building, Frauenfeld TG (source).

Variations of the Flag

[[Flag of Aargau]](../images/c/ch-ag~~b.gif) image by António Martins

This variation has the sinister field in the prescribed "pale blue", leaving the cotises in azure.António Martins, 2 January 1998

[[Flag of Aargau]](../images/c/ch-ag~~n.gif) image by António Martins

This is the black three cotises variation (Based on Todd's excellent posted text).
António Martins, 2 January 1998

Other variations refered to by Todd, especially on the arrangement of the stars and the number of their points, I couldn't gif properly due to lack of precise descriptions.
António Martins, 2 January 1998

Colour Flag

[[Colour Flag AG]](../images/c/ch-ag%5F56.gif) image by Ole Andersen

Simple rectangular cantonal flag, as shown in Kannik (1956) [So-called colour flag (Farbenfahne in German)].
Ole Andersen, 4 August 2002

See also: STATE COLOURS in Dictionary of Vexillology

Flaggen, Knatterfahnen and Livery Colours
[[Knatterfahnen]](../images/c/ch-ag%5Ff.gif) [[Knatterfahnen]](../images/c/ch-ag%5Fkf.gif) [[livery colours]](../images/c/ch-ag%5Fff.gif)

images by Pascal Gross

Flaggen are vertically hoisted from a crossbar in the manner of gonfanon, in ratio of about 2:9, with a swallowtail that indents about 2 units. The chief, or hoist (square part) usually incorporates the design from the coat of arms – not from the flag. The fly part is always divided lengthwise, usually in a bicolour, triband or tricolour pattern (except Schwyz which is monocolour, andGlarus which has four stripes of unequal width). The colours chosen for the fly end are usually the main colours of the coat of arms, but the choice is not always straight forward.

Knatterfahnen are similar to Flaggen, but hoisted from the long side and have no swallow tail. They normally show the national, cantonal or communal flag in their chiefs.
Željko Heimer, 16 July 2000

See also: HANGING FLAG, VERTICALLY HOISTED FLAG,LIVERY COLOURS in Dictionary of Vexillology

Early 20th Century Flag Design

images located by Martin Karner
(Postmark: 1909 | source) (source)

At the beginning of the 20th century, flamed flags were still in use, with the white cross replaced by a (baroque) shield in the centre of the flag. These decorative flags had been used until WWII and then somewhat forgotten in preference of the current cantonal flags. [Today they are being produced again, see right image]
Pascal Gross, 30 June 2002

See also:

logo.jpg) image located by Martin Karner (8 May 2024)
(source)

Cockade

image located by Martin Karner
(source)

Cockade for the cantonal troops' headgear (regulation from 1898, size: ca. 35 mm, reverse side).
Martin Karner, 14 March 2025

See also: Cockades (Swiss Army)