Banners of Pisa

[vonplutz]

I've noticed a bunch of you guys are great at finding historical banners. I've been trying to find what sort of banner may have been used in Pisa during the second half of the 15th century. Do any of you know?

[Phil Robinson]

I can't vouch for the validity of this, but it certainly keeps things simple

http://www.krigsspil.dk/download/medieval/italy_pisa.jpg

[Arlequín]

For the bulk of the 15th Century, Pisa was occupied by Florence, so any troops raised would bear the Florentine flag*. In the brief period of independence following 1482 and subsequently between 1494 - 1509, they bore a red flag with a white cross. The plain red flag was in use before 1406.

* Which is unlikely to be many, if any, as the Florentines went to great ends to ensure that arms weren't readily available to 'subject' cities. Pisan 'military service' is likely to have been in the form of money, with which the Florentines would hire Condottieri.

[vonplutz]

For the bulk of the 15th Century, Pisa was occupied by Florence, so any troops raised would bear the Florentine flag*. In the brief period of independence following 1482 and subsequently between 1494 - 1509, they bore a red flag with a white cross. The plain red flag was in use before 1406.

* Which is unlikely to be many, if any, as the Florentines went to great ends to ensure that arms weren't readily available to 'subject' cities. Pisan 'military service' is likely to have been in the form of money, with which the Florentines would hire Condottieri.

Do you think there is any historical precedence of a Pisan Condottieri band existing in the second half of the 15th century that would fly the red flag with white cross? If not what flag could a mercenary band from Liege or Leuven have flown? Lastly are there any known Condottieri flags from this period that are simple to paint freehand?

[Arlequín]

Sure, I can't think of one offhand, but there would be Pisan exiles, probably serving Venice, who might use their own city banner. Failing that there are a few Italian cities which used a white cross on a red field... Pavia, Navaro, Asti and some other former Ghibelline cities. Most modern Italian flags are largely identical to the ones they used in the 15th Century, so try google images. Just cross-check before use as some changed theirs in Napoleonic times.

I can't help with the Low Countries though. 

[Johan]

Don't know about Leuven but here is Ghent.
(BTW also available in the mercenary box from the Perry's.)

[Arlequín]

There's more excellent Low Countries flags here and numerous flags from a variety of sources on the site that Phil linked to. The flag of Savoy is also white cross on red and Savoyard companies could fight in Italy or the Low Countries.

[vonplutz]

Sure, I can't think of one offhand, but there would be Pisan exiles, probably serving Venice, who might use their own city banner. Failing that there are a few Italian cities which used a white cross on a red field... Pavia, Navaro, Asti and some other former Ghibelline cities. Most modern Italian flags are largely identical to the ones they used in the 15th Century, so try google images. Just cross-check before use as some changed theirs in Napoleonic times.

I can't help with the Low Countries though. 

Thanks I think I will then stick with the Pisa flag in that case.