The notion of vexillology comes from the Latin word vexillum (translatable as “pattern”) and includes the compositional element –logia, which refers to “study”. The term, therefore, refers to the discipline focused on the analysis of banners, standards and flags.
The vexillologist is known as a vexillologist. The scientific development of this area of knowledge began in the mid-20th century thanks to the work of specialists such as the American Whitney Smith and the German Ottfried Neubecker. Until then, heraldry was the area dedicated to the study of flags. Subsequently, vexillology came to be considered an independent science, with the emergence of several national groups and, in 1967, the International Federation of Vexillological Associations.
Vexillology is currently considered one of the auxiliary disciplines of history, since its contributions contribute to the survey and use of historical sources. Furthermore, it is common for vexillology to be associated with semiotics. What vexillology does is investigate the historical development, design and symbology of flags and other banners. You can also examine customs and practices related to how flags are flown. That is why their contributions help generate knowledge about the identity of a nation, to mention one possibility. It is important to note that vexillology is not a university degree. There are institutions and entities that govern the courses of this discipline and the congresses and events promoted by entities of the sector are also considered training spaces.
