Editing Flag of Sweden (section)

====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.