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Basel-Stadt canton (Switzerland)

half-canton

Last modified: 2023-01-28 by martin karner
Keywords: switzerland | basel | basel-stadt | canton | half canton | german |
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[Flag of Basel Stadt] image by António Martins


See also:


Description of the flag

Argent, a bishop's crozier sable.
On a white field, a black bishop's crozier, with the crook turned toward the hoist.


Symbolism of the flag

The bishop's crozier has three well accepted meanings since early Christianity: It is a support or guide (the shepherd's crook that saves straying sheep), an emblem of authority and ministration, and a instrument of punishment and correction.
T.F. Mills, 22 October 1997

The crozier is highly stylised (thickened and shortened beyond recognition), and its peculiar heraldic shape was well established by 1249. The three-pronged foot represents a very real spike on pastoral staffs which permitted planting them in the ground.
T.F. Mills, 22 October 1997


History of the flag

The Bishopric of Basel, founded in 346 AD by Justitian, was the oldest and most important bishopric of the upper Rhine. The city state became sovereign within the Holy Roman Empire in 1356 when the city bought its civic rights from the bishop. The crozier was originally red, but probably changed to black in 1356. Basel joined the Swiss confederation in 1501.
T.F. Mills, 22 October 1997

On the Wikipedia page about the Basel staff (Baselstab) is shown – among other things – the oldest Basel banner (picture), 2nd half of 15th century. White Italian silk damask with a pomegranate pattern, the black Basel staff sewn on. Height: 100 cm, width: 122 cm. Location: Historical Museum Basel, Basel.
Martin Karner, 20 January 2023


Flaggen, Knatterfahnen and Livery Colours

 

[Knatterfahnen]

  [Knatterfahnen]  

[livery colours]

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, and Glarus 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


Rectangular variant

[Rectangular version of Basel-Stadt flag]
by António Martins

Observed during the 2002 Under-21 European Football Championship, held in Switzerland.
Jorge Candeias, 22 February 2002