FUN WITH MAPS – ISSUE 2022-107 DAILY FEATURE:

By Steve Kovacs (Introduction by Chuck Gibson)

LOVELAND, OH (June 15, 2022) – In Issue 2022-107 of Steve Kovacs Fun with Maps, we return for a new edition of this daily classic on Loveland Beacon following “The Lost Day” due to electric outage caused by severe storms locally on Monday, June 13. Just a one day absence and WE ARE BACK!

DANNEBROG

The Danish flag, the Dannebrog, a white Nordic cross on a red background, is easily recognizable.  But did you know it is the oldest national flag in the world?

Legend has it that the flag fell from the sky on June 15, 1219, during the Battle of Lindanise.  At that point the fighting turned to favor the Danish with a victory vs. the Estonians. 

It should be noted that the Swedes have a similar, but later tale, explaining their gold cross against a blue background.  Evidently crosses falling from the sky during battle are not such a rare thing in Scandinavia.

The white-on-red cross was a popular banner during the Crusades, but it has been exclusively used for the Danish king and military since the mid-14th century, often alongside a coat of arms for the family. 

Another popular version, the splitflaget, has a deep V cut into the right side of the design and is used by the navy and other maritime organizations.

Homann’s map of Denmark from 1720 is shown here.

BONUS Fun With Maps Catch Up edition from Tuesday, June 14, 2022 (See below) 

The missing FWM from Steve Kovacs: 

ALOHA

Humans were late to arrive.  The first humans landed only about 1000 years ago at these idyllic volcanic islands. 

The islands themselves are relatively new, in geological timeframe, with Kaua’i being the oldest at about 5.1 million years while the Big Island is only 500,000 years old.

Of course, we are referencing Hawai’i.  

The Polynesian settlers were happily fighting among themselves when the first westerner arrived – Captain Cook in 1778.

The islands were unified in 1810 under the rule of Kamehameha the Great.  The US started to exert greater and greater influence and Hawai’i became a Territory of the US in 1900 on this day.

Here is a 1960 map of the islands by Hawaiian Airlines.

Steve Kovacs and his wife Theresa reside in Loveland, Ohio where they raised their two children. He is a passionate collector of antique maps.

Visit his antique map boutique world-on-paper online. Watch for his daily feature Steve Kovacs: Antique Maps & Fun Facts here on Loveland Beacon.