Flag of Norway |Use||Civil flag and ensign| |Adopted||13 July
1821| |Design||A white-fimbriated blue Nordic cross on a red
field| |Designed by||Fredrik Meltzer| |Variant flag of Norway|
|Use||State and war flag and state and naval ensign| The flag of
Norway is red with an indigo blue Scandinavian cross outlined in
white that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part
of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the
Dannebrog, the flag of Denmark. It is difficult to establish
what the earliest flag of Norway looked like. During ancient
times countries did not fly flags. Kings and other rulers flew
flags, especially in battle. Saint Olav used a serpent within a
white mark at the Battle of Nesjar. Prior to this the raven or
dragon was used. Magnus the Good used the same mark as Saint
Olav. Harald Hardråde used the raven banner. This flag was flown
by various Viking chieftains and other Scandinavian rulers
during the 9th, 10th and 11th centuries CE. Inge used a red lion
on gold. Sverre used