Last modified: 2021-08-25 by 
christopher oehler
Keywords: calmar | kalmar | kalmar union | castle | stars: two (red) |
Links: FOTW homepage |
search |
disclaimer and copyright |
write us |
mirrors
image
by Lokal Profil and António Martins-Tuválkin, 30 December 2010
the flag is a banner of arms; arms dating from the Middle Ages
See also:
The flag of the municipality of Kalmar (in English sometimes spelled
Calmar) can be seen at
ftj.se . It is a banner
of the arms of Kalmar. Kalmar is a very old town, and the arms are the
oldest known municipal arms in Sweden, from the 13th Century or so.
According to some sources, Kalmar was for a short time a member of the
Hansa and Kalmar was also the site were the treaty of the
Union of Kalmar was made between Denmark, Sweden and Norway (hence the name of
the union). Kalmar is the county capital of the County of Kalmar
(Kalmar län).
Elias Granqvist, 20 December 2006
As I had mentioned, I had seen both being used in English, but more often
with the K spelling. Having a vague sense that the C spelling might have been
encountered more often in older works, I did a little checking at Google Books.
I compared the words Calmar Sweden with Kalmar Sweden for English-language books
published for 3 time periods. The results:
1700 to 1900 with C- 9,090 -- with K- 3,190
1901 to 1950 with C- 1,990 -- with K- 8,980
1951 to 2010 with C- 1,680 -- with K- 30,600
So, yes Calmar was once the preferred English spelling, but by at least a 30 to
1 margin it no longer is that. It might still qualify as an acceptable variant,
but if so it would be by the skin of its teeth. If it is not yet totally
obsolete, it will be soon. So my recommendation would definitely be Kalmar for
the webpage.
Ned Smith, 6 January 2011
80.gif)
image
by Lokal Profil and António Martins-Tuválkin, 30 December 2010
