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Vexillology (/ˌvɛksɪˈlɒlədʒi/ VEK-sih-LOL-ə-jee) is the study of the history, symbolism and usage of flags or, by extension, any interest in flags in general.

A person who studies flags is a vexillologist, one who designs flags is a vexillographer, and the art of designing flags is called vexillography. One who is a hobbyist or general admirer of flags is a vexillophile.

Etymology

The word vexillology is a synthesis of the Latin word vexillum (a kind of square flag which was carried by Roman cavalry) and the Greek suffix -logia ("study").

History

American scholar Whitney Smith is acknowledged for conceiving the term "vexillology" in 1957. He wrote "while the use of flags goes back to the earliest days of human civilization, the study of that usage in a serious fashion is so recent that the term for it did not appear in print until 1959." Before this time, the study of flags was generally considered a part of heraldry, the study of armorial bearings.

Vexillology was formalized by American scholar Smith in 1961 with the publication of The Flag Bulletin. During his lifetime, Smith organized various flag organizations and meetings including the first International Congress of Vexillology (ICV), the North American Vexillological Association, and the International Federation of Vexillological Associations (FIAV).

Involvement in vexillology includes academic work in fields such as sociology, history, or design. It also includes contributions from the flag industry and interest from those passionate about flags. The ICV and local vexillological meetings often cover a wide range of interests in flags. Since 1969, an International Congress of Vexillology meeting has been organized every two years under the auspices of FIAV; papers presented at an ICV are published afterwards as the Congress's Proceedings.

Vexillological organizations

The International Federation of Vexillological Associations (FIAV) is vexillology's international umbrella organization. Notable constituent organizations include the North American Vexillological Association, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Flaggenkunde [de] (English: 'German Society for Flag Studies'), and Flags of the World (FOTW).

All Scottish flags must, by law, be authorised by Lord Lyon for recording in the 'Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland' and he appointed Philip Tibbetts from the UK Flag Institute to the newly created role of Honorary Vexillologist to the Court of the Lord Lyon in a rare example of a dedicated state mandated vexillologist.

See also

• Glossary of vexillology
• List of flags by design
• List of national flags by design
• List of vexillologists
• Vexilloid
• Vexillological symbol
• Good Flag, Bad Flag

References

1. Smith, Whitney. Flags Through the Ages and Across the World New York: McGraw-Hill, 1975. Print.
2. "Vexillum". Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. Archived from the original on 16 September 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
3. "Vexillology". Dictionary.com. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
4. "Vexillology". CRW Flags. Archived from the original on 2016-10-24. Retrieved 2017-11-03.
5. "Vexillology". Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. Archived from the original on 17 September 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
6. Fox-Davies, Arthur Charles (1909). A Complete Guide to Heraldry. London, Edinburgh: T.C. & E.C. Jack. p. 1. ISBN 9781602390010. OCLC 913797670.
7. ^ "Consider Vexillology". semioticon.com – SemiotiX. Archived from the original on 2018-04-01. Retrieved 2018-04-01.
8. Vulliamy, Elsa (December 15, 2015). "Which flag is it? Take our quiz to find out". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2022-08-17. Retrieved March 13, 2016.
9. "Current Members". International Federation of Vexillological Associations. 2022-10-16. Archived from the original on 2021-04-18. Retrieved 2023-02-17.
10. "New Flag Expert Appointed for Scotland".

Further reading

• Leepson, Marc. Flag: An American Biography. New York: Thomas Dunne Books, 2005. ISBN 0312323093.
• Marshall, Tim. A Flag Worth Dying For: The Power and Politics of Flag. 2016. ISBN 1501168347.

External links

• Official website of the International Federation of Vexillological Associations

v t e Vexillology
Basic topics	Flag History of flags Vexillography Glossary of vexillology Heraldry Symbol Tincture Vexilloid
Design features	British ensign Canadian pale Canton Chevron Heraldic flag Nordic cross Portugal Pride flag Saltire Southern cross Spanish fess Triband Tricolour Military Historical Aquila Draco Labarum Vexillum
Color schemes	Pan-African Pan-Arab Malay Pan-Slavic Pan-Iranian Tinctures in heraldry
Organizations	Australian Flag Society Australian National Flag Association Croatian Heraldic and Vexillological Association Flag Institute Flags of the World Genealogical Society of Ireland Great Waters Association of Vexillology International Federation of Vexillological Associations Italian Centre of Vexillological Studies Macedonian Heraldry Society Nordic Flag Society North American Vexillological Association Southern African Vexillological Association Spanish Society of Vexillology State Council of Heraldry Ukrainian Heraldry Society William Crampton Library
v t e Lists of flags Master list Reference list State-related African derivative Arab states Christian Civil flag Country Date of Adoption Heads of state Historical flags Former sovereign states Formerly independent Timeline By year Islamic State flag State flags and ensigns Sovereign Special and fictional Unrecognized Mobile military Armed Forces Army and Ground Forces Air Forces Air Forces Roundels Air Forces Fin Flashes Border and Coast Guard Forces Maritime Ministry of Defense Naval ensigns Naval Jack Police Flag Mobile civilian Civil air Civil and Merchant Navy Civil ensign Pilot boat flags and ensigns Yacht flags and ensigns Other entities Country subdivisions Cities Capitals Cultural Dependent territories Ethnic International Organizations Micronations Olympics and the Paralympics Political Pride flags Proposals Religious By design (National, Gallery) By elements Animals Astronomical Bicolor Borders British ensigns Buildings Canton Circles Color by number by combination Crescents Crosses Cross of Trier Nordic Saints banners Saints' crosses Devices Diamonds Flags Geographical Headgear Inscriptions Arabic English Latin Russian Spanish Keys Maps Nautical Plants People Quartered Solids Stars Trees Triangles Tribands Two-sided Watercraft Weapons By shape Non-quadrilateral Proportions By nations Africa Algeria Angola Benin Botswana Burkina Faso Burundi Cameroon Cape Verde Central African Republic Chad Comoros Democratic Republic of the Congo Republic of the Congo Djibouti Egypt Governorates Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Eswatini Ethiopia Gabon The Gambia Ghana Guinea Guinea-Bissau Ivory Coast Kenya counties Lesotho Liberia Libya Madagascar Malawi Mali Mauritania Mauritius Morocco Mozambique Namibia Niger Nigeria Rwanda São Tomé and Príncipe Senegal Seychelles Sierra Leone Somalia South Africa South Sudan Sudan Tanzania Togo Tunisia Uganda Zambia Zimbabwe Rhodesia Antarctica Adélie Land Argentine Antarctica Australian Antarctic Territory British Antarctic Territory Chilean Antarctic Territory Peter I Island Queen Maud Land Ross Dependency Asia Afghanistan Armenia Azerbaijan Bahrain Bangladesh Bhutan Brunei Cambodia China Hong Kong Macau Cyprus East Timor Egypt Georgia India states armed forces Indonesia Iran Iraq Israel Japan prefectures municipalities Jordan Kazakhstan Korea North Korea South Korea Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Lebanon Malaysia Maldives Mongolia Myanmar Nepal Oman Pakistan Palestine Philippines provinces coastwise emblem Qatar Russia federal subjects Sakha Russian Navy Saudi Arabia Singapore Soviet Union republics Soviet Navy Sri Lanka Syria Taiwan Tajikistan Thailand Turkey Turkmenistan United Arab Emirates Uzbekistan Vietnam Yemen Europe Albania Andorra Armenia Austria states Austria-Hungary Azerbaijan Belarus Belgium Brussels Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France regions communes Brittany Corsica Île-de-France Occitanie Pays de la Loire French Empire Georgia Germany states districts municipalities Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy regions Kazakhstan Kosovo Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Moldova Monaco Montenegro Netherlands royal standards provinces municipalities North Macedonia Norway Poland naval and maritime voivodeships Portugal personal standards municipalities Romania Russia federal subjects Sakha Russian Navy San Marino Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Soviet Union republics Soviet Navy Spain autonomous communities provinces Sweden Switzerland cantons municipalities Turkey Ukraine oblasts United Kingdom England Cornwall Northern Ireland Scotland Wales cities, towns and villages British Empire Vatican City/Holy See Yugoslavia North America Antigua and Barbuda Bahamas Barbados Belize Canada lieutenant governors Costa Rica Cuba Dominica Dominican Republic El Salvador Grenada Guatemala Haiti Honduras Jamaica Mexico states municipalities Nicaragua Panama Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Trinidad and Tobago United States states and territories ensigns jacks armed forces Puerto Rico CSA Oceania Australia state governors Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Norfolk Island Federated States of Micronesia Fiji Kiribati Marshall Islands Nauru New Zealand Palau states Papua New Guinea Samoa Solomon Islands Tonga Tuvalu Vanuatu South America Argentina Bolivia Brazil Chile Colombia Ecuador Guyana Paraguay Peru Suriname Uruguay Venezuela Names in italics indicate non-sovereign (dependent) territories, disputed states and/or former countries.
v t e National flags and coats of arms National flags Sovereign states Dependent territories Timeline National coats of arms Sovereign states Dependent territories Heraldry portal

v t e Phaleristics
Auxiliary science of history and numismatics about orders, decorations, and medals
Distinctions (Lists)	By conferee Founts of honour* States and their national/public/official authorities Dynasties heads of currently or formerly sovereign royal families Private Ecclesiastical Organisations Commercial (Self-styled order) By type Orders Order of chivalry Military order Colonial order Order of merit Royal family order Titles (Styles, Post-nominal) By function Grand master Chancellor Treasurer Assessor Bailiff Prior Chaplain Master of ceremonies Grand Cross/Grand Cordon Commander Officer Hospitaller Knight/Dame Postulant Squire Page Jurisdictions Charter Bailiwick Chapter Commandery Obedience Grand Lodge Lodge Others, by field Military (List) List of highest Campaign medal Law enforcement Civilian (List) Society Peace Intellectual freedom Human rights Law Humanitarianism Politics Volunteer Culture Architecture Art Film History Literature Music Philosophy Poetry Theatre Science Religion-related Ecclesiastical Sports Scouting Beauty By insignia (Named after people) For wearing (decorations) Formal Collar Grand Cross/Grand Cordon with sash Medal Necklet Medal bar Medal ribbon Other Rosette Award pin Lapel pin Collar pin Tie pin Badge Heraldic Pilgrim Epaulette Ribbon Ring Button Campaign Service Shoulder mark Prizes Trophy War Plaquette Rosette Money Prizes known as the Nobel of a field
Ceremonies and events	Accolade Vigil Feoffment Passage fee Festival Vow Collar day
Related organisations	Fraternity Confraternity Fraternal order Fraternities and sororities Secret society Guild Syndicate Learned society Fellowship Honor society Hereditary society Club Gentlemen's club International Commission for Orders of Chivalry Magical organization Religious order
Related concepts	Chivalry Numismatics Heraldry Vexillology Service flag Battle honour Campaign streamer Nobility Order of precedence Honorary degree Devotional medal Awareness ribbon Code of conduct Code of honor High society
* = Direct or indirect reference to fount of honour is the accepted criterion for official distinctions Category:Orders, decorations, and medals Misplaced Pages:WikiProject Orders, decorations, and medals Misplaced Pages:WikiProject Awards

• Vexillology