"TYW flags" Topic

I've sourced a range of Swedish flags from the internet (no easy feat).

Having access to a top quality colour printer, I just need to know how big they were.

Any volunteered information will be gratefully accepted.

According to Richard Brzezinski the Swedes had adopted a new style of infantry flag by the late 1620's which was 2x2 meters square and thus smaller than the old flags which could be 3-4 meters in size.

Cavalry standards were 50-70cm wide and 50-55 cm high and thus quite small compared to the infantry.

Recently I personaly have begun to be much more forgiving when it comes to the size of flags for my 15mm armies. Many cavalry standards lose detail and risk becoming blurred when shrunk to the historical size. Oversized flags let their glory be seen on the battlefield
(Many cavalry standards were works of art and some use lavid details and materials to stunning effect. )

I'm wondering with the fairly high desertion rate, if an entire unit changed sides, did they keep their flag(s)?

While the desertion of individuals was a constant problem entire units changing sides was a much rarer event. When it did happen the deserters were given new colours at the earliest possible moment or given "blind" standards i.e standards without any markings to avoid confusion. Most flags clearly marked the allegiance of a unit with images, slogans and the monograms of rulers so keeping the old ones was asking for a friendly fire incident.

Even when units were transfered in a orderly fashion between friendly nations the flags were changed. When the Danes disbanded their troops in 1628-1629 many of their Scots and German units ended up in Swedish service, they were all given new flags to replace the old ones and this exchanged was seen as an important step marked with considerable cermony.