American Flags : Maryland State Flag

Maryland Flag History : Maryland has a flag based on European heraldic tradition, and comprised of elements of the arms of the Crosslands and Calverts. The first state seal which on the front showed a mounted knight in medieval Calvert-Crossland full armour, was how the flag was derived. On the reverse side was the quartered shield of Calvert and Crossland, together with supporters, crown, a helmet, and mottos on a scroll and around the rim. This seal was used until 1776, and then it was revived in 1876. The arms of the Crosslands are red and white quarters with a central counterchanged cross with buttons at the end of the arm. The arms of the Calvert are six vertical bands of yellow and black, with a counterchanged diagonal running from the top left to the bottom right. The state flag was officially adopted in 1904.