Crosses in heraldry Crowns. Several national flags are based on late medieval war flags, including the white-on-red crosses of the flag of Denmark and the flag of Switzerland. The elongated Nordic cross originates in the 18th century due to the rectangular shape of maritime flags. The Red Cross flag originates in 1906 as a colour-switched version of the flag of Switzerland. Crosses in heraldry The cross is a basic design of two intersecting lines (X) used from pre-historic times. Its use was enormously expanded as the Christian cross, from about the 6th century, deriving from a T-shape representing the gibbet ("stauros", "crux") of
Flag of Norway Norwegian government's web pages. However, Norwegian flag producers consider this red colour to be incorrect, and have complained that the Norwegian state propagates what they perceive as misinformation. Norwegian authorities have clarified that the red colour is only an internal recommendation intended specifically for screen printing, and not a legal definition. Flag producers normally use the red colours 186 or 200. The Nordic Council currently defines the red colour as "Pantone 186 C" and the blue as "Pantone 287", according to the Nordic Flag Society Four years ago the same website mentioned the blue colour as "Pantone 301". On page