Oslo - Norway

Oslo is an city that a city that is also a province, mostly we know it as the capitol of Norway. Founded as Ánslo in the year 1040 by king Harald Hardrada, this Norwegian king marked the end of the Viking era. He tried to capture the English throne in 1066 but died after battle against king Harold II the same guy lost the same year the battle of Hastings against William the Conqueror. Ánslo became somewhere in history Oslo until it burned down in 1624. In those years Norway formed an personal union with Denmark and was ruled by king Christiaan IV, who rebuild the city and renamed it after him. Christiana was the name till 1877 after that the spelled the name as Kristiana en turned back to Christiana in 1897. But in 1925 the changed it back after centuries to Oslo, to give it an Norwegian identity after its independence in 1905. So lets take an look at theirs cool looking flag.

The flag has an blue background is from the seal, simply said they turned the seal in 2000 to in an flag. Lets start with the man sitting on a throne with lion heads, the man is Saint Hallvard the patron saint of Oslo and also an martyr. He defended an woman that was possible an serf or slave which was accused of theft by three men. Saint Hallvard believed her innocence take her on his boat and try to escape, but the two persons are killed by arrows from the pursuers. The woman is depicted lying naked at his feet on the seal. It appeared she is to buried, but in the story they buried her at an beach. But the three men try to dispose the body of Saint Hallvard, to tying an millstone around his neck. But as heavy the millstone the corpse refused to sink and the three men's crime was discovered. So you will see the millstone and the arrows killed them in the saint's hands. The saint did get an proper christian burial and people regard him as an martyr. The seal depict the story of Saint Hallvard and its surrounded with the words "unanimiter et constanter" Latin for "united and constant", Oslo's motto. On top of the seal you see an mural crown an symbol of an republic or citystates, but in modern times also used by cities and towns.

              

 

At last an funny fact this flag from 2000 is illegal because the only flag that can be used is the Norwegian one, only the king of Norway can allow it and that only applies to the old flag of the city. The white-blue flag has no meaning, the colors comes from the seal but there other colors to pick. An story on an flag, until you know the tale its an busy seal also can be found at manholes in Oslo.