Royal Standards and Flags 1701-1918 (Prussia, Germany)

Koenigliche Standarten und Flaggen

Last modified: 2002-06-14 by santiago dotor
Keywords: prussia: kingdom | preussen | king | eagle (black) | coat of arms | eagles: 12 (black) | crowns: 4 (royal) | iron cross | cross: formy (black) |
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• Introduction
• Royal Standard 1844-1871 (Königsstandarte)
• Royal Standard 1871-1918
• Queen's Standard 1868-1918 (Königinstandarte)
• Standard for Other Members of the Royal Family 1858-1918 (Standarte des Königlichen Hauses)
• Standard for Crown Prince Frederick 1871-1892 (Standarte des Kronprinzen Friedrichs)
• Royal Flag 1805
• Royal Flag mid-19th Century (reported 1842 and 1848)
• Royal Standard mid-19th Century (reported 1862)

See also:

• Imperial Standards 1871-1918 (Germany)
• Kingdom of Prussia 1701-1918
• Prussia Historical Flags
• Germany

The emperor's and empress's standards [as king and queen of Prussia] and the standard of the imperial house [princes of the royal house] are of similar pattern as the German [Imperial] ones, but on a red or white (house) background. Source: States of 1897 in Arndt 1979.

Jan Kuhlmann, 5 December 1995

The Prussian royal standard was designed by the king himself in 1843. Later, on 3 August 1871 the emperor's standard was adopted, rather similar to the Prussian royal standard. The emperor's standard had from the beginning the words "GOTT MIT UNS" [God with us] and the date 1870, this one relative to the Order of the Iron Cross (instituted 1813, renewed 19 July 1870), on it. When in 1871 the king of Prussia became Emperor of Germany, the emperor's standard gradually became more important than the royal one, on which first were added the words "GOTT MIT UNS" (c.1871), and later the date "1870" and the red lining on the royal crown (c.1889). Why these modifications were made at different times I do not know. On the other hand the queen's standard was adopted in 1868 and that of the royal family in 1858. During the time all these standards were modified in the design of the crowns, the eagles and, as in the case of the queen's standard, also in the overall design.

Mario Fabretto, 22 August 1998

Königsstandarte

1:1
by Jaume Ollé
Flag adopted 1844, abolished 1871

On a dark red field a black Iron Cross with a coat-of-arms: on a silver field a gold crowned (with the Prussian royal crown) heraldic Prussian eagle (without escutcheon) surrounded by the chain of the order of the Black Eagle; the arms of the Iron Cross reach the edge of the flag. In each of the 4 fields are 3 black heraldic eagles and 1 gold royal crown. Adopted 1844. Abandoned 1871.

Norman Martin, 20 January 1998

Königsstandarte

1:1
by Santiago Dotor and Theo van der Zalm, based on Ströhl 1897
Flag adopted 1871, abandoned 1918

Like the 1844-1871 one, but slightly lighter red color and with the inscription 'GOTT MIT UNS 1870' (God with us) in the Iron Cross. Adopted 1871. Abolished 1918. Illustrated in Crampton 1990 p. 42, Meyers Konversations-Lexikon 1912 vol. 4, facing p. 799, National Geographic 1917 no. 994.

Norman Martin, 20 January 1998

I believe the scan was taken from Ströhl 1897, or from some source which used Ströhl's images. There is an image of this standard in Der Flaggenkurier, no. 11, p. 9, and also in Znamierowski 1999, p. 59, the latter an image from Ströhl 1897. The original scan showed violet and purple shades in what were actually silver/grey areas, mainly the escutcheon's field, probably due to the oxidation of the silver-colour ink used in the original illustrations.

Santiago Dotor, 8 June 2000

Königinstandarte

1:1
by Santiago Dotor and Theo van der Zalm, based on Ströhl 1897
Flag adopted 1880, abandoned 1918

A red flag, at the center a coat-of-arms: on a silver field a gold crowned (with the Prussian royal crown) heraldic Prussian eagle (without escutcheon), surrounded by the chain of the order of the Black Eagle; at each diagonal side of the coat-of-arms, a gold crown, along each edge 4 [3?] small black eagles even spaced (a total of 12). In the upper hoist a thin Iron Cross. In use 1871-1918. Illustrated in Crampton 1990 p. 42 and Meyers Konversations-Lexikon 1912 vol. 4, facing p. 799.

Norman Martin, 20 January 1998

In use since 1868. The iron cross in the canton was removed around 1880.

Mario Fabretto, 17 August 1998

I believe the scan was taken from Ströhl 1897, or from some source which used Ströhl's images. There is an image of this standard in Der Flaggenkurier, no. 11, p. 9, and also in Znamierowski 1999, p. 59. The original scan showed violet and purple shades in what were actually silver/grey areas, mainly the escutcheon's field, probably due to the oxidation of the silver-colour ink used in the original illustrations.

Santiago Dotor, 8 June 2000

Editor's note: see also the Prussian queen's flag as German Empress.

Standarte des Königlichen Hauses

1:1
by Santiago Dotor and Theo van der Zalm, based on Ströhl 1897
Flag adopted 1871, abandoned 1918

Like the 1871-1918 royal standard, but field is white. In use 1871-1918. Illustrated in Crampton 1990 p. 42 and Meyers Konversations-Lexikon 1912 vol. 4, facing p. 799.

Norman Martin, 20 January 1998

I believe the scan was taken from Ströhl 1897, or from some source which used Ströhl's images. There is an image of this standard in Der Flaggenkurier, no. 11, p. 9, and a very good image in Znamierowski 1999, p. 59. The original scan showed violet and purple shades in what were actually silver/grey areas, mainly the standard's and the escutcheon's field, probably due to the oxidation of the silver-colour ink used in the original illustrations.

Please note that this was not —as is frequently stated— the standard of the crown prince. Only one Prussian crown prince (Frederick, who later became the short-termed Frederick III King of Prussia and German Emperor) had a different standard, very similar to this one but with a thin red fimbriation around the Prussian escutcheon.

Santiago Dotor, 8 June 2000

Editor's note: see also the German Imperial Crown Prince's Standard (Kronprinzenstandarte).

Standarte des Kronprinzen Friedrichs

1:1
by Santiago Dotor and Theo van der Zalm, based on Ströhl 1897
Flag adopted 1871, abandoned 1892

Only one Prussian crown prince (Frederick, who later became the short-termed Frederick III King of Prussia and German Emperor) had a different standard, like the Standard for Other Members of the Royal Family but with a thin red fimbriation around the Prussian escutcheon.

Santiago Dotor, 8 June 2000

by Jaume Ollé

In the center a black Prussian flying type eagle with lightning bolts (type of eagle used on most Prussian regimental flags since the 18th century).

Norman Martin, 20 January 1998

Reported 1842 and 1848

by Jaume Ollé

In the center a black Prussian flying type eagle with sword and scepter (type of eagle used on most Prussian regimental flags since the 18th century). In the upper hoist a small Iron Cross.

Norman Martin, 20 January 1998

Reported 1862

by Jaume Ollé

Like the Royal Flag 1842 and 1848, except eagle is normal and has scepter and orb (instead of sword and scepter).

Norman Martin, 20 January 1998