Flammé (German ''geflammt'') is a term in
vexillology
Vexillology ( ) is the study of the history, symbolism and usage of flags or, by extension, any interest in flags in general.Smith, Whitney. ''Flags Through the Ages and Across the World'' New York: McGraw-Hill, 1975. Print. The word is a synthe ...
for a
flag design that places a
coat of arms
A coat of arms is a heraldic visual design on an escutcheon (i.e., shield), surcoat, or tabard (the latter two being outer garments). The coat of arms on an escutcheon forms the central element of the full heraldic achievement, which in its ...
in the center of the flag, filling the remaining space on the flag with flame-like designs.
The design was used specifically in the
Old Swiss Confederacy during the 17th and 18th centuries, where there was no difference between coat of arms and flags, and the same design was used for both.
Regiments of
Swiss mercenaries
The Swiss mercenaries (german: Reisläufer) were a powerful infantry force constituted by professional soldiers originating from the cantons of the Old Swiss Confederacy. They were notable for their service in foreign armies, especially among t ...
during the 18th century, especially those
in French service, often used ''flammé'' designs with the
Swiss Cross
The national flag of Switzerland (german: Schweizerfahne; french: drapeau de la Suisse; it, bandiera svizzera; rm, bandiera da la Svizra) displays a white cross in the centre of a square red field. The white cross is known as the Swiss cross ...
superimposed rather than a coat of arms.
References
*Peter M. Mäder,
*Michel Rochat, ''Drapeaux flammés des Régiments suisses au Service de France'', Delachaux & Niestlé SA, Lausanne, 1994, .
{{DEFAULTSORT:Flamme (vexillology)
Flags by design
Military history of Switzerland