Standard-bearer

In the context of the Olympic Games, a flagbearer is the athlete who carries the flag of their country during the opening and closing ceremonies.

While at present a purely ceremonial function, as far back as Roman warfare and medieval warfare the standard-bearer had an important role on the battlefield. The standard-bearer acted as an indicator of where the position of a military unit was, with the bright, colorful standard or flag acting as a strong visual beacon to surrounding soldiers. Soldiers were typically ordered to follow and stay close to the standard or flag in order to maintain unit cohesion, and for a single commander to easily position his troops by only positioning his standard-bearer, typically with the aid of musical cues or loud verbal commands. It was an honorable position carrying a considerable risk, as a standard-bearer would be a major target for the opposing side's troops seeking to capture the standard or pull it down.

In the Roman military the person carrying the standard was called Signifer. In addition to carrying the signum, the signifer also assumed responsibility for the financial administration of the unit and functioned as the legionaries' banker. The Signifer was also a Duplicarius, paid twice the basic wage.

In the city militias of the Dutch Republic, the standard-bearer was often the youngest single man, who was shown in group portraits wearing rich clothing in addition to carrying the flag. Chosen ensigns were good candidates for painters to woo with their portrait skills.

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  Frans Hals' visiting card in 1616 placed the young ensigns in key positions
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  When the trekschuit made day trips to Amsterdam possible in 1632, Hals also wooed wealthy ensigns of Amsterdam in 1633
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  Rembrandt leaves Leiden and advertises his portrait skills in 1636 to wealthy ensigns in Haarlem and Amsterdam
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  Andries Stilte chose Johannes Cornelisz Verspronck in 1640 for the "Cloveniers" flag of the Haarlem schutterij
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  Standard-bearer of Firefighters Corps of Paraná State, Brazil
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  Prominent in the center of this popular print depicting the 1848 "Five Days of Milan", the Italian city's uprising against Austrian rule, is the standard-bearer raising aloft what was then a revolutionary flag and later became the flag of Italy.
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  Team USA marches in the parade of athletes around BC Place stadium during the opening Ceremony of the XXI Olympic Winter Games, February 12, 2010, in Vancouver – The standard-bearer is Mark Grimmette.
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  Identifying iconographic elements in an Aztec standard-bearer sculpture.

• Regulation Colours
• Historical colours, standards and guidons
• Colour guard