Quote:
Originally Posted by ravenfish
Aren't national flags (as opposed to personal banners of the ruler and/or his family) really a post-medieval concept? Which is not to say the idea couldn't have been Banestormed in, of course, merely that it is equally possible that they never caught on.
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Nations (as opposed to the territorial possessions of the ruler and/or his family) are a post-medieval concept too. But yeah, national flags 16th century or so, and serve a similar role as the heraldic banners - they're a product of the age of sail, for identifying the nationality of ships from hopefully outside of cannon range, so you know which ones not to shoot at in this fight.