Standard-bearer

A standard-bearer is a person (soldier or civilian) who bears an emblem called an ensign or standard, i.e. either a type of flag or an inflexible but mobile image, which is used (and often honoured) as a formal, visual symbol of a state, prince, military unit, etc.

This can either be an occasional duty, often seen as an honour (especially on parade), or a permanent charge (also on the battlefield); the second type has even led in certain cases to this task being reflected in official rank titles such as Ensign and Cornet.

Many terms exist, often specifying the type of standard borne (in various cases named in parentheses after the bearer).

In antiquity

Pre-hellenistic

Pharaonic nome-emblems (many also the name of such province)

Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine

Aetos
Aquilifer (Aquila)
Bandifer (Bandum)
Discens aquilifer(or)um, - signiferorum : trainee
Draconarius (Draco, 'dragon) - one of them could be selected Optio Draconarius; ... Bearcus Draconarius ...
Imaginifer (Imago) ?5 original images : Aper = boar, Equus = horse, Minotaur(us), Tabula ansata: winged boar, Taurus = bull ...
Ornithoboros
Semeiphoros (Semeion)
Signifer (Signum) - one of them could be selected as Signifer princeps
Tablifer - guards cavalry (?Tabula ansata : winged boar)
Vexillarius (Vexillum)

Cfr. also :

Adiutor signorum
Aedes
Antesignanus
Aquilae natalis
Deposita ad signa
Labarum
Postsignanus
Vexillatio

Medieval

French porte Oriflamme
Serbian veliki vojvoda, stegonoša, known in Latin as vexillifer (modern term zastavnik)
Polish Chorąży', now honorary military title
Scottish Bearer of the Royal Banner, first granted in 1298
Scottish Bearer of the National Flag, first granted in 1676
Montenegrin and Northern Albanian barjaktar, 19th century
Italian gonfaloniere (gonfalon)
Ottoman sancaktar, bajraktar
Portuguese alferes-mor, from the 12th to the early 20th century

Modern

Calvin Pearl Titus, the last American standard bearer and Medal of Honor recipient
Prince Henry Sixtus of Borbon Parma is considered by many Carlists to be the Standard Bearer of tradition.