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The following terms may be encountered when referring to a cross in a flag, or banner of arms, or heraldic flag of some other description.
The heraldic term for a cross that does not usually extend to the edges of a shield, flag, canton or panel, but whose ends are formed by three discs – a trefoil or treflee cross (see also cross 2), disc and trefoil).
The heraldic term for a cross which may or may not extend to the edges of a shield, flag, canton or panel, but which has four further crosses (or other charges) arranged around it – a cross cantoned (see also canton 3), cantoned 1), cross 1), cross pattée and cross potent).
Examples; Flag of
Tianeti, Georgia; The Kingdom of Jerusalem c1200; National Flag of
Georgia
Please note as may be seen in the illustrations above, various types of cross can be used to make up a cross cantonée, and that a Jerusalem Cross (constructed of a cross-potent and four Greek crosses or of five crosses-potent) is one specific type.
The heraldic term for a cross that does not generally extend to the edges of a shield, flag, panel or flag, but whose arms are in the form of (usually irregular) lozenges or fusils – a cross-lozengy or cross-fusilly (see also cross 2), fusil and lozenge).
Example; Arms and Flag of Mogilany, Poland
The heraldic term for a cross that generally extends to the edges of a shield, panel, banner of arms or flag, and which is divided along its horizontal and vertical centre-line with the tinctures of the field and cross usually (but not exclusively) alternating in adjacent quarters – a counterchanged cross – but compare with cross gyronny (see also counterchanged, cross 2), dominican cross, quarter 2) and tincture).
Flag of Zaprešić, Croatia; Flag of
Davos, Switzerland; Flag of
Tursko, Czechia
Notes:
a) A cross whose centre is obscured by a charge (as
illustrated below) could be described as either a cross-counterchanged or a cross gyronny,
however, the term "cross quartered" has now come into use – see cross quartered.
Flag of Palomares del Río, Spain
Flag of Zurrieq, Malta; Flag of
Villars-Sainte-Croix, Switzerland
1) See "cross counterchanged" above.
2) The term that may also be used when the centre of a cross of this general
type is obscured as illustrated below. See "cross gyronny" below.
Flag and Arms of Zaprešić, Croatia; Flag of Palomares del Río, Spain
A heraldic term sometimes used when a cross (either plain or decorated) does not extend to edges of a shield, banner of arms or flag (see also couped 2) and Greek cross).
Example; Putative Flag of Constantine the Great c325 AD;
Flag of Treiten, Switzerland
Please note that, unless referring to a plain cross, this term is always accompanied by a further description, for example a "cross tau couped" (as illustrated above), or "cross crosslet couped" as shown in the following definition.
The heraldic term for a cross which does not usually extend to the edges of a shield, flag canton or panel, but whose arms have a short transverse bar inserted (see also cross 2)).
Example; Flag of Echt-Susteren, The Netherlands;
Flag of Slupca, Poland
The heraldic term for a cross which does not usually extend to the edges of a shield, flag, canton or panel, and which may have plain or decorated ends, but whose vertical arm comes to a point at its base (see also cross 2) and cross of Santiago).
Examples; Flag of Bernissart, Belgium; Flag of Avinyó, Spain
Please note that, unless referring to a plain cross, this term is always accompanied by a further description, for example a "cross crosslet fitchy".
Arms and Flag of Torrão, Portugal
The heraldic term for a cross which does not usually extend to the edges of a shield, flag, canton or panel, but whose ends are formed by fleur-de-lis – a fleur-de-lis or fleury cross, avis cross, or cross of calatrava (see also avis cross, cross 2), Dominican cross, cross of Calatrava, fleur-de-lis and fleury).
See snakehead cross.
The heraldic term for a cross that may or may not extend to the edges of a shield, flag or panel, but is composed of two tinctures meeting at the centre point and alternating either side of the vertical and horizontal meridians (thus giving it a three-dimensional appearance) – a gyronny cross – see gyronny and compare with "Cross Counterchanged" above (also Dominican cross, faceted).
Notes:
a) Unless describing a plain cross throughout, this term should
always be accompanied by a further description, for example a "cross fleury gyronny couped".
b) A cross whose centre is obscured by a charge (as illustrated below)
could be described as either a cross gyronny or a cross-counterchanged, however, the term
"cross quartered" has now come into use – see cross quartered.
Flag of Santa Cruz de La Palma, Spain
1) The heraldic term used when two or more crosses are borne (couped) on the same coat –
but see "cross-cantonée" and "cross-crosslet" above (also
couped).
2) A term also (incorrectly) used to describe a single small cross.
Flag and Arms of Batalha, Portugal; Flag of
Òdena, Spain; Flag of Somerville College Oxford, UK
The heraldic term for a cross which does not usually extend to the edges of a shield, flag, canton or panel, but whose ends are split into two curved pieces – an anchor or moline cross (see also cross 2) and snakehead cross).
Example, Flag of Annœullin, France
The heraldic term for a Latin cross that does not usually (although it may) extend to the edges of a shield, flag, panel or flag, but which is mounted on three steps steps – a cross of crucifixion, a calvary cross or calvary (see also Latin cross).
The heraldic term for a cross that may or may not extend to the outer edges of a shield, flag, canton or panel, whose arms are generally (but not exclusively) flat-ended but which is wider at its outer ends than it is in the centre. The arms can be straight-sided or curved throughout their length, or they can be straight-sided and parallel until being flared at their outer end – a cross formée, formé or formy, a pattée, patée, patty or Paty cross, a formée, formé or formy cross, or an iron, Hanseatic, Hansa, cavalier or cavalier's cross – but see Maltese cross, rounded cross (also cross 2) and Cross of the Order of the Knights of Christ).
![[Wallis & Futuna]](../images/v/vxt-d592.gif)
![[Guernsey civil ensign]](../images/v/vxt-d592a.gif)
![[Cr. Jensen houseflag]](../images/v/vxt-d592b.gif)
Example; Flag of Wallis and Futuna;
Civil Ensign of Guernsey;
House flag of Chr. Jensen, Denmark
The heraldic term for a cross which does not usually extend to the edges of a shield, flag, canton or panel, but whose arms finish in a roundel (see also cross 2), pommeled and roundel 3))
![[Lagoa Portugal]](../images/v/vxt-d2597.gif)
![[Lagoa Portugal]](../images/v/vxt-d2599.gif)
![[Lagoa Portugal]](../images/v/vxt-d2598.gif)
Example (Parker); Flag of Lagoa, Portugal;
Arms and Flag of former Santa Cruz, Portugal
The heraldic term for a cross which does not usually extend to the edges of a shield, flag, canton or panel, but whose arms terminate in a transverse bar – a cross potence, or potent, or a crutch or Teutonic Cross (see also cross 2) and cross-cantonée and potent 2)).
Example; Flag of Goumoëns-la-Ville, Switzerland
Example; Flag
and Arms of Niawier, The Netherlands
The heraldic term for a cross that may or may not extend to the edges of a shield, flag, canton or panel, but in which the vertical arm does not extend above the horizontal thus creating a letter "T" – a tau cross, Cross of St Anthony or Saint Anthony's Cross, and in some Christian denominations, also an Advent Cross.
The heraldic term for a cross that may or may not reach the edges of a shield, banner of arms or flag and may be either closed or open-ended, but from which the centre is removed so that the field may be seen through it (see also cross of athletics and voided).
Notes:
a) Unless referring to a plain cross, this term is always accompanied
by a further description, for example "a cross pattée voided".
b) This term is sometimes (incorrectly used to describe a
Cross of the Order of the Knights of Christ as illustrated below – see
Cross of the Order of the Knights of Christ.
A banner of the Order of the Knights of Christ
The heraldic term for a cross that does not usually extend to the edges of a shield, flag, panel or flag, but whose horizontal arm is shorter than its vertical and which is set above the centre line – a long cross (see also Greek cross and cross 2)).
Notes:
1) Unless referring to a plain cross, this term should always
be accompanied by a further description, for example a "Latin cross treflée" as
illustrated below.
Flag of Negoslavci, Croatia
2) In vexillological terms a Latin cross throughout becomes an off-centred cross – see off-centred cross 2) (also throughout).
Flag of Thunstetten, Switzerland
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