You see them everywhere in movies. Bright silk banners fluttering from the highest stone turrets while a knight gallops across a drawbridge. It looks cool. It’s cinematic. But honestly, flags on a castle were never just about looking pretty for the neighbors. They were the medieval version of a high-tech communication system, a social media profile, and a massive "keep out" sign all rolled into one. If you climbed up a hill in 1350 and saw a specific banner, you knew exactly who was home, how much money they had, and whether or not they were currently looking for a fight.
Flags were serious business.
Back then, most people couldn't read. Literacy was a luxury for the clergy and the ultra-elite. So, if you were a messenger or a wandering merchant approaching a massive stone fortress, you didn't look for a street sign. You looked up. The colors and shapes of the flags on a castle told a story. It’s basically heraldry in motion.
The Language of the Wind: Why They Flew
The most common thing you’d see is the armorial flag. This wasn't just a random design some lord picked because he liked the color blue. It was a legal claim. The heraldic devices—lions, eagles, crosses—represented a specific bloodline. According to historians like Arthur Charles Fox-Davies, who wrote extensively on the art of heraldry, these designs were strictly regulated. You couldn't just "filter" your flag. If you flew a design that didn't belong to you, it was essentially identity theft, and the consequences involved a lot more than a banned account. You could literally lose your head for it.
There’s a common misconception that every tower had a flag. That’s just not true. Making large pieces of dyed silk or high-quality wool was incredibly expensive. Most of the time, flags on a castle were only raised when the lord was actually in residence. If the lord was away at war or visiting the king, the flagpole sat empty. It’s the original "Available/Away" status.
🔗 Read more: Weather in Fairbanks Alaska: What Most People Get Wrong
Standards, Banners, and Pennons
Not all flags were created equal. You had the Banner, which was usually square or oblong and displayed the coat of arms of a high-ranking noble. Think of a Duke or a Count. Then you had the Standard. These things were massive—sometimes up to 11 yards long. They weren't meant to be carried into the thick of a sword fight; they were meant to be stationary markers. They usually featured the owner's "beast" (like a dragon or a white hart) and their personal motto.
Then you have the Pennon. These were smaller, pointed flags used by lower-ranking knights. If you saw a sea of pennons approaching, you were looking at a professional military force. If you saw a single large Banner on the keep, you knew the "Big Boss" was home.
The Logistics of the High Life
Let’s talk about the wind for a second. Castles are usually built on high ground—cliffs, mottes, or craggy peaks. It’s windy up there. Like, really windy. If you leave a huge silk flag out in a gale for three days, it’s going to look like a rag.
To deal with this, castle staff had to be diligent. Flags were pulled down during storms and at night unless there was a specific ceremonial reason to keep them up. They used a "halyard" system, which is basically a rope and pulley, much like what we use today. Interestingly, the material used for these flags varied. While silk was the ultimate flex for the rich, most day-to-day flags on a castle were made of bunting—a lightweight, coarse wool. It breathed. It caught the wind without tearing as easily as heavy linen.
💡 You might also like: Weather for Falmouth Kentucky: What Most People Get Wrong
It Wasn't Just About War
We always associate castles with sieges and blood, but flags were a huge part of the party scene too. When a royal procession arrived, the walls would be draped in "banners of joy." These were temporary, often cheaper flags meant to add color to a festival or a wedding.
Spotting the Modern "Fake"
If you visit a castle today—say, Conwy Castle in Wales or Neuschwanstein in Germany—the flags you see are usually modern interpretations. At Conwy, you’ll often see the four lions of the Welsh princes. At Windsor Castle, the Royal Standard flies only when the Monarch is in the building. When the King is away, they fly the Union Jack.
This is a direct continuation of medieval tradition. It’s one of the few things from the 1200s that we haven't changed much. However, modern tourists often get confused by the "National Flag." In the Middle Ages, the concept of a national flag didn't really exist in the way we think of it today. You didn't fight for "England" or "France" as much as you fought for the guy who owned the land. The flags on a castle represented the person, not the dirt.
The Psychology of the Banner
There’s a psychological element here that’s hard to ignore. Imagine you’re a peasant who has never traveled more than ten miles from your village. You look up and see a massive, vibrant yellow flag with a red lion rampant. It’s the brightest thing in your entire world. It represents power. It represents the person who protects you (or taxes you into poverty). That visual dominance was a key part of how the feudal system stayed in place.
📖 Related: Weather at Kelly Canyon: What Most People Get Wrong
What to Look for Next Time You Visit
When you’re standing in a courtyard looking up, don't just snap a photo and move on. Look at the height. The highest point of the castle—the Keep or the Great Tower—is where the primary flag goes.
- Check the Shape: Is it square? That’s a banner of a high-ranking official. Is it long and tapering? That’s a standard or a pennon.
- Look for the "Canton": That’s the top-left corner. In later history, this is where you’d see a secondary affiliation, like a national symbol.
- The Material: Does it look heavy? Real heraldic wool has a specific weight to it that synthetic polyester just can't mimic.
The "White Flag" Myth
Everyone knows the white flag means surrender, right? Well, sort of. In the context of a castle siege, a white flag (or often just any white cloth, like a tunic) was used to request a parley. It didn't mean "we give up and you can kill us all." It meant "can we please talk about the terms of our surrender so you don't burn the place down?"
The Chronicles of Froissart, which detail the Hundred Years' War, mention several instances where banners were used to negotiate. If a flag was lowered slowly, it was a sign of respect or mourning. If it was cast down into the dirt, that was the ultimate insult.
Practical Insights for History Buffs
If you're trying to identify what you're seeing at a historical site, keep these few things in mind. First, the wind direction matters. Flags are designed to fly away from the pole (the hoist). If a flag is constantly wrapping around the pole, it’s usually because the pole is too close to a wall, creating a "vortex" effect—something medieval architects actually tried to avoid because it wore out the expensive fabric faster.
Second, look at the colors. In heraldry, there are specific rules called the Rule of Tincture. Basically, you don't put a "metal" (gold/yellow or silver/white) on a "metal," and you don't put a "color" (red, blue, black, green) on a "color." This was for visibility. It’s the same reason road signs are high-contrast. If a flag on a castle followed these rules, it could be seen from miles away.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Trip
- Research the "In Residence" Flag: Before you go to a place like Edinburgh Castle or Caernarfon, check their official website to see which flag is currently flying. It tells you who is "home."
- Binoculars are your friend: You can’t see the detail on a heraldic beast from 200 feet down. To really appreciate the embroidery (or the modern printing), you need a closer look.
- Check the Weather: If it’s a high-wind day, many castles won't fly their "good" flags. They’ll use smaller, sturdier versions to prevent damage.
- Identify the "Master of the Tower": In many ruins, the flagpoles have been moved to make them more visible to tourists. Use an old map to see where the original flag would have been—usually the strongest point of the defense, not the prettiest.
The history of these banners is a rabbit hole of genealogy, military strategy, and ancient "branding." Next time you see those flags on a castle, remember you aren't just looking at a piece of cloth. You’re looking at a 1,000-year-old signal. It’s the ghost of a system that once ruled the world.