{{Short description|Variant of a national flag for use by a country's military forces when on land}} {{For|the ship|SS War Flag}} {{Redirect|Banner of War|the Yugoslav military decoration|Order of the War Banner}} {{pp-vandalism|small=yes}} [[File:Codex Manesse Johann von Brabant.jpg|thumb|upright|A knight (Jan I van Brabant) flying a heraldic flag in battle, in addition to the heraldic device displayed on his shield (Codex Manesse, {{Circa|1304}})]]
A '''war ensign''', also known as a '''military flag''', '''battle flag''', or '''standard''',<ref>{{OED|standard|id=188962}}</ref> is a variant of a national flag for use by a country's military forces when on land. The nautical equivalent is a naval ensign. Under the strictest sense of the term, few countries currently have distinct war flags, most using a flag design that is also the state flag or general national flag for this purpose. __TOC__
==History== {{see|Oriflamme|Heraldic flag|Banner|Vexilloid|Field sign|Royal Standard}} {{quote|Sound trumpets! Let our bloody colours wave! And either victory, or else a grave.|Edward, Prince of Wales, in ''Henry VI, Part 3'', Act II, Scene II}} Field signs were used in early warfare at least since the Bronze Age. The word ''standard'' itself is from an Old Frankish term for a field sign (not necessarily a flag).
[[File:1502 Acclamation of Nine Standards th.jpg|thumb|Babur and his Mughal Army saluting the Nine Standards of Timur.]]
The use of flags as field signs apparently emerges in Asia, during the Iron Age, possibly in either China or India.<ref name = "EB1">flag. (2008). Encyclopædia Britannica. Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica.</ref> in Achaemenid Persia, each army division had its own standard, and "all officers had banners over their tents".<ref>E. Pottier, ''Douris'', London, 1909, p. 105 fig. 20, Plate XXV.b</ref> Early field signs that include, but are not limited to a flag, are also called vexilloid or "flag-like", for example the Roman Eagle standard or the dragon standard of the Sarmatians. The Roman Vexillum itself is also "flag-like" in the sense that it was suspended from a horizontal crossbar as opposed to a simple flagpole.
Use of simple flags as military ensigns becomes common during the medieval period, developing in parallel with heraldry as a complement to the heraldic device shown on shields. The maritime flag also develops in the medieval period. The medieval Japanese Sashimono carried by foot-soldiers are a parallel development.
Some medieval free cities or communes did not have coats of arms, and used war flags that were not derived from a coat of arms. Thus, the city of Lucerne used a blue-white flag as a field sign from the mid 13th century, without deriving it from a heraldic shield design.
== Current war flags == === Used by armed forces only === {{gallery|width=120|height=120|noborder=yes|whitebg=no |War Flag of Brunei.svg|{{center|War flag of Brunei}} |Canadian Forces Flag.svg|{{center|Canadian Armed Forces ensign}} |People's Liberation Army Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg|{{center|War flag of the People's Liberation Army of China}} |ROC Ministry of National Defense Flag.svg|{{center|War flag of the Republic of China Armed Forces}} |Georgia. Main Military flag.svg|{{center|War flag of Georgia}} |Flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army.svg|{{center|Flag of the Iranian Army}} |Flag of the Repubblica Cisalpina.svg|{{center|War flag of Italy}} |Flag of JSDF.svg|{{center|Flag of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force}} |Flag of the General Staff of the Korean People's Army (Obverse).svg|{{center|War flag of the Korean People's Army of North Korea}} |Moldovan Armed Forces Flag (svg).svg|{{center|Flag of the Armed Forces of Moldova}} |Flag of the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar.svg|{{center|Flag of the Armed Forces of Myanmar}} |Armed Forces of Pakistan Flag.svg|{{center|Flag of the Armed Forces of Pakistan}} |Flag of Peru (war).svg|{{center|War flag of Peru}} |Military flag of Portugal.svg|{{center|War flag (regimental color) of Portugal}} |Banner of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (obverse).svg|{{center|Banner of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation}} |chief_of_General_Staff_flag_of_the_Saudi_Armed_Forces.svg|{{center|War flag of the Royal Staff of Saudi Arabian Armed Forces {{FIAV|sinister}}}} |Flag of the Serbian Armed Forces (reverse).svg|{{center|Flag of the Armed Forces of Serbia}} |Standard of General staff of Turkish Armed Forces.svg|{{center|Turkish Armed Forces General staff flag}} |Ensign of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.svg|{{center|Flag of the Armed Forces of Ukraine}} |Flag of the People's Army of Vietnam.svg|{{center|Flag of the Vietnam People's Army}}}}
=== Army (land) use only === {{gallery|width=120|height=120|noborder=yes|whitebg=no |File:Flag of the Bangladesh Army.svg|{{center|Bangladesh Army}} |File:Flag of the British Army.svg|{{center|British Army non-ceremonial flag}} |File:War flag of Bulgaria.svg|{{center|Bulgaria}} |File:Ground Force Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg|{{center|Flag of the People's Liberation Army Ground Force}} |File:Republic of China Army Flag.svg|{{center|War flag of the Republic of China Army}} |Military flag of Colombia.svg|{{center|War flag of Colombia}} |File:Army Flag of Georgia.svg|{{center|Georgia Land Forces}} |File:Hellenic Army War Flag.svg|{{center|War flag (regimental color) of the Hellenic Army}} |File:War Flag of Hungary.svg|{{center|War flag of Hungary}} |File:Flag of Indian Army.svg|{{center|Indian Army}} |File:Flag of the Malaysian Army.svg|{{center|Malaysian Army flag}} |File:Army Flag of Myanmar.svg|{{center|Myanmar Army flag}} |File:Flag of the Pakistani Army.svg|{{center|Pakistan Army}} |File:Flag of the Polish Land Forces.svg|{{center|Polish Land Forces}} |File:Flag of the Russian Ground Forces.svg|{{center|Russian Ground Forces}} |File:Flag of the Royal Saudi Land Forces.png|{{center|Saudi Arabian Army {{FIAV|sinister}}}} |File:Flag of the Korean People's Army Ground Force (2023-).svg|{{center|Korean People's Army Ground Force}} |File:Flag of the Army of the Republic of Korea.svg|{{center|Republic of Korea Army}} |File:Royal Thai Army Flag.svg|{{center|Royal Thai Army}} |File:Ensign of the Ukrainian Ground Forces.svg|{{center|Ukrainian army}} |Flag of the People's Army of Vietnam.svg|{{center|Flag of the Vietnam People's Army}}}}
=== War flags that are also naval ensigns === {{gallery|width=120|height=120|noborder=yes|whitebg=no |File:Flag of Austria (state, variant 2).svg|{{center|State, war flag, and state ensign of Austria}} |File:Flag of Denmark (state).svg|{{center|State, war flag, and state ensign of Denmark {{FIAV|011010}}}} |File:Civil Ensign of El Salvador.svg|{{center|State, war flag, and state ensign of El Salvador {{FIAV|011010}}}} |Naval Ensign of Finland.svg|{{center|War ensign of Finland}} |File:Flag of Germany (state).svg|{{center|State, war flag, and state ensign of Germany {{FIAV|011010}}}} |File:Flag of Iceland (state).svg|{{center|State and state/naval ensign of Iceland {{FIAV|011011}}}} |Naval Ensign of Japan.svg|{{center|Naval Ensign of Japan}} |File:Flag of Norway, state.svg|{{center|State/war flag and state/naval ensign of Norway {{FIAV|011011}}}} |File:War Flag of the Philippines.svg|{{center|Flag of the Philippines at war {{FIAV|111111}}}} |Naval Bases Flag of the Royal Saudi Navy.svg|{{center|Flag of Saudi Arabian naval bases {{FIAV|sinister}}}} |File:Naval Ensign of Sweden.svg|{{center|War ensign of Sweden}} |File:Flag of Turkish Naval Forces Command.svg|{{center|Turkish navy flag {{FIAV|011010}}}} |File:Flag of Venezuela (state).svg|{{center|State, war flag, and naval ensign of Venezuela {{FIAV|011011}}}} }}
==Former war flags== {{gallery|width=120|height=120|noborder=yes|whitebg=no |File:Baucent.svg|{{Center|War flag of the Knights Templar during the Crusades}} |File:Flag_of_Bangladesh_(1971).svg|{{Center|Flag of Bangladesh during Bangladesh Liberation War}} |File:Eureka Flag.svg|{{Center|The original Eureka Flag specimen, rebel warflag at the 1854 Battle of Eureka Stockade}} |File:Battle flag of the Confederate States of America.svg|{{center|Battle flag of the Confederate States (1861–1865)}} |File:Flag of New Spain.svg|{{center|Cross of Burgundy Flag, Spain (1506–1843)}} |File:War_flag_of_the_Imperial_Japanese_Army_(1868–1945).svg|{{center|War flag of the Imperial Japanese Army (1868–1945)}} |File:Flag of the Congo Army (1970-1992).svg|{{center|War flag of the People's Republic of Congo (1970–1991)}} |File:Gadsden flag.svg|{{center|The "Gadsden flag", used by some Continental forces during the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783)}} |File:Arklowflag.svg|{{center|Battle flag of the United Irishmen, used at the Battle of Arklow}} |File:Flag of NVA (East Germany).svg|{{center|War flag of East Germany (1960–1990)}} |File:War ensign of Germany (1938–1945).svg|{{Center|War flag of the German Wehrmacht (1938–1945)}} |File:Chetniks_Flag.svg|{{center|War flag of the Chetniks (1903–1946)}} |War flag of Iran (1925-1979).svg|{{center|War flag and ensign of Iran (1925–1979), between 1910 and 1925 the Kiani Crown was used instead of Pahlavi Crown}} |File:War flag of the Italian Social Republic.svg|{{center|War flag of the Italian Social Republic (1943–1945)}} |File:War Ensign of Prussia (1816).svg|{{center|War flag of Prussia (1816)}} |File:War Ensign of Germany 1903-1918.svg|{{center|War flag of the German Empire (1903–1919)}} |File:Military flag of the Roman Republic (19th century).svg|{{center|War flag of the Roman Republic of 1849}} |File:Red Army flag.svg|{{center|Flag of the Red Army and Soviet Armed Forces (Unofficial)}} |File:Siamese Army Flag of King Rama V (Chudhadhujdhippatai).svg|{{center|Royal Siamese Army in Haw wars (1885–1890)}} |File:Mughals war Flag.gif|{{center |War flag of Mughals (1526–1857)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/in-ehist.html|title=India before British Rule|website=www.crwflags.com|access-date=2021-01-10|archive-date=2021-01-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116154706/https://crwflags.com/fotw/flags/in-ehist.html|url-status=live}}</ref>}} |File:US Cav 35.svg|{{center|United States Cavalry guidon.}} |File:Flag of Italy (1860).svg|{{center|War flag of the Royal Italian Army}} |File:War ensign of the First Slovak Republic.svg|{{center|War ensign of the Slovak Republic {{small|(''client state of Nazi Germany 1939–1945'')}}}} |File:War flag of Croatia (1941–1945).svg|{{center|War flag of the Independent State of Croatia {{small|(''client state of Nazi Germany 1941–1945'')}}}} |File:War Flag of Hungary (1939-1945, size III and V).svg|{{center|War flag of the Royal Hungarian Army (1939–1945)}} |File:Flag of the Royal Yugoslav Army (Latin).svg|{{center|Royal Yugoslav Army}} |File:Naval Ensign of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.svg|{{center|Royal Yugoslav Navy}} |File:Flag of the Yugoslav Ground Forces.svg|{{center|Yugoslav Ground Forces}} |File:Naval ensign of Yugoslavia (1949–1993).svg|{{center|Yugoslav Navy}} |File:Naval ensign of Serbia and Montenegro.svg| {{center|Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Navy}} |File:Presidential Standard of Zaire.svg| {{center|War flag of Zaire}} |File:Vietnamese Banner of Victory.svg|{{center|Vietnam People's Army battle flag and victory banner during the First Indochina War}} |File:War flag of South Vietnam.svg|{{center|Republic of Vietnam Military Forces war flag}} |File:Flag of the Liberation Army of South Vietnam.svg|{{center|Military flag of the Liberation Army of South Vietnam}} ||}}
==See also== <!-- Please respect alphabetical order --> *Colours, standards and guidons *Hata-jirushi *Sashimono *Uma-jirushi
==References== {{Reflist}}
==Further reading== * Wise, Terence (1978) ''Military flags of the world, in color''. New York: Arco Publishing. 184p. {{ISBN|0668044721}}. War flags of 1618–1900.
==External links== *{{FOTW|id=xf-fis|title=FIAV Flag Information Symbols}}
Category:Military flags Category:Types of flags