Flags depicting the Southern Cross

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The Southern Cross or Crux , a constellation visible in the Southern Hemisphere, is depicted on flags and coats of arms of various countries and sub-national entities. This star constellation is visible mostly in the southern hemisphere and it therefore symbolises the southern location of its users.

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The term Southern Cross can also refer to the blue saltire as used in various flags of the Confederate States of America in the American Civil War. [1]

This list is an incomplete list and some of the flags in this list might not have official status. Flag proportions may vary between the different flags, and sometimes even vary between different versions of the same flag.

National flags of countries in the Southern Hemisphere

Other flags of the Commonwealth of Australia

Other flags of the Federative Republic of Brazil

Other flags of the Realm of New Zealand

Other flags of Papua New Guinea

Other flags in South America

Other flags with the Southern Cross

See also

Related Research Articles

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Crux is a constellation of the southern sky that is centred on four bright stars in a cross-shaped asterism commonly known as the Southern Cross. It lies on the southern end of the Milky Way's visible band. The name Crux is Latin for cross. Even though it is the smallest of all 88 modern constellations, Crux is among the most easily distinguished as its four main stars each have an apparent visual magnitude brighter than +2.8. It has attained a high level of cultural significance in many Southern Hemisphere states and nations.

The Southern Cross or Crux is a star group visible mainly in the Southern Hemisphere. It has been known by this English term since the late 18th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British ensign</span> British maritime flag

In British maritime law and custom, an ensign is the identifying flag flown to designate a British ship, either military or civilian. Such flags display the United Kingdom Union Flag in the canton, with either a red, white or blue field, dependent on whether the vessel is civilian, naval, or in a special category. These are known as the red, white, and blue ensigns respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern Hemisphere</span> Half of Earth that is south of the Equator

The Southern Hemisphere is the half (hemisphere) of Earth that is south of the Equator. It contains all or parts of five continents and four oceans, as well as New Zealand and most of the Pacific Islands in Oceania. Its surface is 80.9% water, compared with 60.7% water in the Northern Hemisphere, and it contains 32.7% of Earth's land.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flag of New Zealand</span> National flag

The flag of New Zealand, also known as the New Zealand Ensign, is based on the British maritime Blue Ensign – a blue field with the Union Jack in the canton or upper hoist corner – augmented or defaced with four red stars centred within four white stars, representing the Southern Cross constellation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue Ensign</span> British state ensign

The Blue Ensign is a British ensign that may be used on vessels by certain authorised yacht clubs, Royal Research Ships and British merchant vessels whose master holds a commission in the Royal Naval Reserve or has otherwise been issued a warrant. Defaced versions with a badge or other emblem are also more broadly; in the United Kingdom by authorised government or private bodies; and internationally by nations or organisations previously a part of the British Empire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canton (flag)</span> Rectangular area of a flag

In vexillography, the canton is a rectangular emblem placed at the top left of a flag, usually occupying up to a quarter of a flag's area. The canton of a flag may be a flag in its own right. For instance, British ensigns have the Union Jack as their canton, as do their derivatives such as the national flags of Australia and New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flag of New South Wales</span> Australian state flag

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Colonial Flag</span> Forerunner for the many Australian flag designs

The National Colonial Flag was a forerunner for the many Australian flag designs which featured the Southern Cross and Union Flag in combination. It is the first recorded attempt to design a distinctive national flag for Australia. Designed by Captain John Bingle and Captain John Nicholson, both New South Wales residents, it is inspired by the White Ensign of the Royal Navy, the protector and defender of Australia from 1788 to 1913. The large red cross of St George features four white, eight pointed stars representing the Southern Cross. According to Bingle it was adopted by the Government of Sir Thomas Brisbane, the Governor of New South Wales from 1821 to 1825. The National Colonial Flag was the first flag designed specifically to represent Australia.

Many years ago as far back as 1823 or 1824 I assisted Captain Nicholson RN, the first Harbour Master of Port Jackson, to plan and recommend to the Lords of the Admiralty a National Colonial Flag for Australia which met with their Lordships approval and adopted by the Government of Sir Thomas Brisbane. Our proposition had the British National St George's Ensign adding Four (4) Stars placed in the four quarters of the Cross in the fly of the Ensign as the emblem of our Hemisphere THE GREAT SOUTHERN CROSS. The flag has lately been disfigured by adding another star in the centre of the Cross by someone not comprehending the original intention and embodying American notions. Sydney in those days was Australia ! and no other province to represent so that adding more Stars frustrated the original intention.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nordic cross flag</span> Flag bearing the design of the Nordic or Scandinavian cross

A Nordic cross flag is a flag bearing the design of the Nordic or Scandinavian cross, a cross symbol in a rectangular field, with the centre of the cross shifted towards the hoist.

A civil ensign is an ensign used by civilian vessels to denote their nationality. It can be the same or different from the state ensign and the naval ensign. It is also known as the merchant ensign or merchant flag. Some countries have special civil ensigns for yachts, and even for specific yacht clubs, known as yacht ensigns.

Cruzeiro do Sul is the name of the Southern Cross (Crux) constellation in Portuguese.

<i>Amphibromus</i> Genus of grasses

Amphibromus is a genus of grasses in the family Poaceae. Most are known as swamp wallaby grass. Most are endemic to Australia. One can also be found in New Zealand and there are two species in South America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Zealand White Ensign</span> Flag used by the Royal New Zealand Navy

The New Zealand White Ensign is a naval ensign used by ships of the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) from 1968. Based on the Royal Navy's White Ensign, it features the Southern Cross from the New Zealand national flag in place of the Saint George's Cross. One of the earliest flags associated with the country, that used by the United Tribes of New Zealand, was a white ensign. This was replaced by the Union Flag when New Zealand became a British colony. A blue ensign with the Southern Cross was introduced for ships of the colonial government in 1867 and this soon became a de facto national flag. Ships in New Zealand naval service wore the Royal Navy's White Ensign until 1968 when the distinct New Zealand White Ensign was introduced. The ensign was implemented out of a desire to distinguish New Zealand vessels from those of the Royal Navy and this decision is regarded as an important step in the development of the RNZN.

References

  1. Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, The; Gaur, Aakanksha; Lotha, Gloria; Ray, Michael; Young, Grace (2022). "Flag of the Confederate States of America | Facts, Origin, Battle Flag, & Images | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2022-11-19.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)