Editing Flag of Sweden (section)

===Union between Sweden and Norway===
====Union flags of 1815 and 1818====
[[File:Swedish and Norwegian merchant flag 1818-1844.svg|thumb|{{FIAV|historical}} Swedish and Norwegian civil ensign 1818–1844, with the [[saltire]] on red in the canton symbolizing Norway]]

On 6 June 1815, a common military ensign was introduced for the two united kingdoms of Sweden and Norway. This flag was identical to the former triple-tailed military ensign of Sweden, with a white [[saltire]] on red to be included in the [[canton (heraldry)|canton]]. Proposed by the Norwegian [[Prime Minister of Norway|Prime Minister]] and unionist [[Peder Anker]], the white saltire on a red background was supposed to symbolise Norway, as the country had previously been united with Denmark and initially continued to use the same flag as an independent country, but with the national arms in the canton.<ref>See further: ''Krigskollegii samt Förvaltningens af sjöärendena kungörelse, den 3 Maj 1815, om den för konungarikena Sverige och Norge fastställda örlogsflaggans allmänna anläggnade.''</ref>

Norwegian ships continued to use the Danish civil ensign distinguished with the national arms in the canton north of [[Cape Finisterre]], but had to fly the Swedish civil ensign in the [[Mediterranean]] to be protected from pirate attacks. A common civil ensign for both countries was introduced in 1818, on the pattern of the naval ensign, but square-cut. This flag was optional for Swedish vessels, but compulsory for Norwegian ones in distant waters. In 1821, Norway adopted a new national civil ensign, identical to the present [[flag of Norway]].

Following the adoption of a separate Norwegian flag, a royal regulation of 17 July 1821, stipulated that ships of both kingdoms use the common square-cut civil ensign (with the saltire included) in "distant waters" (''i.e.'' beyond [[Cape Finisterre]]).<ref>''Kungl. Maj:ts kungörelse, den 17. Juli 1821, om de förenade konungarikena Sveriges och Norges handelsflagga.''</ref>  In "distant waters", they had the right to use any of the square-cut civil ensigns of their respective countries, or the uniform Union civil ensign. This system was in force until 1838.

==== Union flags of 1844 ====
[[File:Flaggsirkulære 1899.jpg|thumb|Flags of Sweden and Norway in 1899, after the removal of the union mark from the Norwegian merchant flag. Plate published by the Swedish-Norwegian foreign ministry to announce the recent change.]]
A royal resolution of 20 June 1844, introduced new flags and heraldry to denote the equal status of the two kingdoms within the union. Both countries were granted civil and military ensigns on the same pattern, their respective national flags with the addition of a [[Union mark of Norway and Sweden|union mark]] in the canton, combining the flag colours of both countries. The naval ensign was based on the traditional triple-tailed Swedish model. In addition, the new union mark was to be used as the naval jack and as the flag for the common diplomatic representations abroad. The warrant also stipulated that the merchant fleet use their respective countries' square-cut civil ensigns, including the new union mark. Also, royal ensigns were introduced for both countries, their respective naval ensigns with the union mark, with the addition of the union arms at the center of the cross.
The new union flags were well received by the Norwegians, who had demanded their own military ensign since the union was formed. In Sweden, however, the new union mark in particular became quite unpopular and was contemptuously nicknamed the ''Sillsallaten'' (Swedish) or ''Sildesalaten'' (Norwegian) after a colorful dish of pickled herring, decorated with red beets and apples in a radial pattern. It is believed that the name was first used in a speech by Lord Brakel in the [[Swedish House of Lords]] in [[Stockholm]].<ref>The Brakel family was introduced to the Swedish House of Lords in 1756 and is best known for their participation in the Great Northern War in Finland. C.O. Brakel was a secretary of the Swedish House of Lords (''Riddarhussekreterare''), and his remark was made in a speech in 1868.</ref>

During the 19th century, a number of regulations were issued regarding the use of Swedish flags.  The military ensign was also to be used by civil government ships and buildings, such as the [[Customs]], [[Harbor pilot]]s and the [[Posten (Sweden)|Royal Mail]]. For this use, the military ensign would have a white field included with a golden marker: For the Harbor pilots (as of 1881, based on a proposal of 1825) an anchor with a star;<ref>''Kongl. Maj:ts skrivelse 1825 till Förvaltningen af sjöärendena om förslag till en särskild lotsflagg''</ref> for the Customs (as of 1844) the letter "T" topped a royal crown;<ref>''General-tullstyrelsens cirkulär, 26. September 1844, till herrar tulldistriktschefer och tullkamrarne med tillkännagifvande, att en särskild flagga för tullverkets fartyg blifvit av Kongl. Maj:t fastställd.''</ref> for the Royal Mail (as of 1844) a postal horn with a royal crown. On 7 May 1897, an alternate state flag was introduced. This double-tailed flag was used by government owned ships and buildings, which did not fly the triple-tailed military ensign.

During the late 19th century, increasing Norwegian dissatisfaction with the union led to the demand for a return to the "pure" flag of 1821 without the union mark. Opponents of the union began to use this flag several years before it was officially recognised. During the 1890s, two consecutive sessions of the Norwegian parliament voted to abolish the mark, but the decision was overruled by royal veto. However, in 1898, when the flag law was passed for the third time, the king had to sanction it. On 12 October 1899, the union mark was removed from the Norwegian civil ensign. As the Norwegian military ensign according to the constitution of 1814 was to be a union ensign, the union mark remained on military flags until the dissolution of the union with Sweden. "Pure" military ensigns were hoisted on fortresses and naval vessels on 9 June 1905.

The union mark, however, remained a part of the Swedish flag until 1905, when a Law of 28 October 1905, stipulated the removal of the union mark as of 1 November 1905.<ref>''Lag, den 28. Oktober 1905, om upphäfvande för Sveriges del af den till bestämmande af de genom föreningen emellan Sverige och Norge uppkomna konstitutionella förhållanden antagna riksakt.''</ref>

{{gallery|mode=nolines|noborder=y|height=120|align=center
|Union Jack of Sweden and Norway (1844-1905).svg|{{FIAV|historical}} Union mark used in Swedish flags 1844–1905, with proportions 5:4. This version of the union mark was also used as a common naval jack by the navies of both countries, and as their common diplomatic flag. Norwegian flags had a square union mark.
|HMS Wasa 1903.jpg|Swedish [[coastal defence ship]] [[HSwMS Wasa (1901)|HSwMS ''Wasa'']] displaying the common union jack (1903)
|Naval Ensign of Sweden (1844-1905).svg|{{FIAV|historical}} {{FIAV|000001}} Naval ensign of Sweden with union mark 1844–1905
|Swedish norwegian union flag.svg|{{FIAV|historical}} {{FIAV|000100}} Swedish civil ensign 1844–1905, with the union mark in the [[canton (heraldry)|canton]]
|File:Flag of Sweden (pre-1906).svg|{{FIAV|historical}} Swedish civil ensign 1 November 1905–21 June 1906, with union mark removed
}}