"Frankfurt flag" Topic

I was wondering if anyone knew, or could make a reasonable guess, as to the design of the flag carried by the Frankfurt battalion in Spain in 1809-13.

All I seem to be able to find is the versions since 1813, basically red and white with a red shield containing a white eagle. There is a hint on one site that these elements, although possibly not in this exact pattern, have formed the Frankfurt flag for hundreds of years.

Rod

Flagdude can supply you with one.

Raglan

Got mine from Flag Dude, but last I heard, it was very tough to get any response from him

Got mine from Flag Dude, but last I heard, it was very tough to get any response from him

I've tried again and again without luck.

Try Maverick Flags. I see he doesn't presently have a Frankfurt flag, but he's always been happy to add stuff for me in the past

maverick-models.com

As far as Flag Dude, his website says he's still in business, but I have to wonder

link
Here their history

link
Here their flag

link

Here the uniform reglement/ Troupes alliiées/ plate 30

‌link

And the knoedel plates…
link

link

link

Rudi,

Many thanks. I had the Knotel uniform plates, but not the flag.

Danke Schon

Rod

Rudi,
was this the flag the Frankfurt battalion had in Spain?

The flag doesn't look like an infantry flag of that time.

That is also my idea, it is probably the flag of the state.

It may be that they did not carry a flag. Otto von Pivka in Armies of 1812 says no flags were carried by the Frankfurt contingent during the invasion of Russia.

Hallo,

That is the only documented flag… Which is the flag of the duchy. The chance they came without flag is close to 0 so this is the best guess. It could be that the city chrest of frankfurt ( white eagle in green laurel on red ground) would be carried but that flag is never documented at that early age. It is sure that the hessian flags with the white and red lions are not carried as they indicate the district of hessia and not the former free imperial city of frankfurt. Therefore the best guess is again the red flag with the white wheel of mainz.

It is a absolute shame but roughly 10 years ago was the frankfurt historical museum bulldozed and the complete collection including Napolionic and syw was stored and is no longer in public display.

Untill the collection is relieased again I would go for the red flag with the white wheel.

Sorry,

link

She might be in one of these boxes. :(

Rudi,

I agree that it is extremely unlikely that the Frankfurt Regiment did not have a flag of some description when it marched off to Spain. In the lack of any other information I will go for the Mainz wheel badge.

Some other German cities have a wheel incorporated into their badge. I lived in Osnabruck for a couple of years in 1969-71 and in the Osnabruck museum there is a Landwehr flag, probably dating from shortly after Waterloo, which has St Peter holding a shield with a wheel on it.

Rod

Got mine from Flagdude years ago. Still looks terrific. Mine is the Coat of Arms, not the design shown above. Correct or not, my Frankfurt guys turn out looking brilliant.

Paul/Houston

I'm biting my tongue trying not to make any remarks about a flag for Frankfurters!

Well, I do not agree with :"there must be a flag". I did some extensive research regarding that flag some years ago and found out there was none. von Pivka was right. Pity now that I do not remember where I found out (besides von Pivka).

The flag I found might be something put in cigarette tin.

link

Just scroll down until the image appears which is about a third of the way down. Interestingly it is spelled Frankfort. French printing? Another site states that The red/white horizontal striped flag seems to be an ensign flown by river vessels.

Been in touch with Stuart at Maverick to see if he could offer either of the designs discussed.
He is interested and will look into it.
Regards

If you have any flags needing set up, I can help. I've a local print company that is able to print high quality flags, and I am a professional graphic designer.

My first flags are on my blog here… link

I am having my last cup of coffee for the day, using a cup I bought at the Frankfurt am Mein airport in 1991, while returning from a project in Torino, Italy.

The cup says "Frankfurt a. M." under this red (actually red/brown) shield with white "eagle" wearing yellow crown, with yellow legs and claws. Above, and touching the shield is a 3-turreted yellow fortress or tower, actually curved upward in a suggestion of a crown.

From each top corner extends a complicated yellow, light blue, and white "vegetation," curving out then downward. A similar "vegetation" thrusts left and right from the center of each side of the shield, and looks like it combines with the vegetation from above.

Might that "ring a bell" with anyone?

GdeP

Rudi did not link this plate from 1823 – a clue perhaps ?

link

Stuart has produced 2 alternatives from the information I sent him.
They look very good.
Am getting his permission to post on here.

I believe the flag shown in the 1823 plate already exists on the Maverick "Confederation of the Rhine" listing.
It resembles the Lubeck contingent flag

Politically and heraldically, the eagle crest as main feature is out because it relates to the free city – not something Dalberg or the French would want to emphasise.

No flag is quite plausible, as Dalberg's priorities were hardly in the military field.

If you want a conjectural flag, the Mainz wheel is possible I suppose, as it represents Dalberg's original territory. A white flag with the full coat of arms of the Grand Duchy seems even more plausible.

Maverick now list 2 designs on the website.

Have sent the Mainz wheel design and the full Grand Duchy crest to Maverick. These will be listed soon I believe