The Swiss cross is a white cross with equal arms, displayed freely on a red field. Its history did not begin with the modern flag: the Confederates used white crosses as military identification signs as early as the Middle Ages. The cross gradually became a common emblem, and the modern Confederation later established its status and proportions in the 19th century.
| Shape | White cross with equal arms |
|---|---|
| Background | Red |
| Origin | Medieval military sign |
| Official establishment | 19th century |
| Modern connection | Inversion of the colors in the Red Cross emblem |
Why did the Confederates wear a white cross?
The Swiss Federal Archives report that white crosses were sewn onto the clothing and weapons of Confederate troops as early as the 14th century.
At Laupen in 1339, white ribbons in the shape of a cross were already being used as an identifying sign.
When did it become a common symbol?
Initially, each canton kept its own banners. However, the white cross made it possible to identify the Confederation's combatants.
Over the course of the wars, it went beyond its tactical role to become a collective emblem.
What role does the modern federal state play?
Following the political transformations of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the cross returned to the heart of the Confederation's identity.
In 1814, it was proclaimed a common national emblem, and the new federal state of 1848 used it on its flag and in its institutions.
Why were the proportions fixed?
In 1889, a federal resolution precisely defined the proportions of the cross: equal arms, each slightly longer than it is wide.
This standardization transformed an ancient military sign into a legally protected graphic emblem.
What is the connection with the Red Cross?
The international Red Cross movement adopted a red cross on a white background in 1863, an inversion of the Swiss colors, as a tribute to the country where the organization was founded.
The two emblems are therefore historically linked while having different legal functions.
Historical sources and milestones
The Swiss Federal Archives trace the history of the white cross from medieval military campaigns to its official establishment as a national emblem in 1889.
