Flag of England
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Use | Civil and state flag.  |
| Proportion | 3:5[1] |
| Adopted | 16th century |
| Design | A centred red cross on a white background |
The Flag of England is the St George's Cross. The red cross appeared as an emblem of England during the Middle Ages and the Crusades and is one of the earliest known emblems representing England. It achieved status as the national flag of England during the 16th century.
Saint George became the patron saint of England in the 13th century, and the legend of Saint George slaying a dragon dates from the 12th century.
The proportions of the flag are that the red cross has a width of 1/5 of the height of the flag.[1]
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[edit] History
The exact origins of the Flag of England are unclear and there are multiple supporting theories, though it is known that the flag appeared during the Middle Ages. It has been recorded that the first known recorded use of the St George's Cross as an emblem (but not as a flag) of England was in a roll of account relating to the Welsh War of 1275.[1]
The use of a red cross on a white background was a symbol of St. George in the Middle Ages. This is seen, for example, in the flag of Georgia, another nation with St George as patron saint.
One theory states that St. George's cross was originally the flag of Genoa and was adopted by England and the City of London in 1190 for their ships entering the Mediterranean to benefit from the protection of the powerful Genoese fleet. The maritime Republic of Genoa was rising and going to become, with its rival Venice, one of the most important powers in the world. The English Monarch paid an annual tribute to the Doge of Genoa for this privilege.[1]
A second theory states that the flag was adopted during the Crusades. At the beginning of the Crusades, St George's red cross on white was already associated with England. Although the Pope decided English crusaders would be distinguished by wearing a white cross on red, and French crusaders a red cross on white (Italian knights were allocated a yellow cross on a white background),[2] English knights soon decided to claim instead "their" cross of red on white, like the French. In January 1188, in a meeting between Henry II of England and Philip II of France, the two rivals agreed to exchange flags (France later changed its new white cross on red for a white cross on a dark blue flag).[3] Some French knights carried on using the red cross however, and as English knights wore this pattern as well, the red cross on white became the typical crusader symbol regardless of nationality.[4]
St George's cross may not have achieved the full status of national flag until the 16th century, when all other saints' banners were abandoned during the Reformation. Thereafter it became recognised as the flag of England and Wales. The earliest record of St George's flag at sea, as an English flag in conjunction with royal banners but no other saintly flags, was 1545.[1]
[edit] Incorporation into the Union Flag
The Flag of England is one of the key components of the Union Flag. The Union Flag has been used in a variety of forms since 1606,[5] when the flags of the Kingdom of Scotland and Kingdom of England were first merged to symbolise the Union of the Crowns.[6] (The Union of the Crowns having occurred in 1603). In Scotland, and in particular on Scottish vessles at sea, historical evidence suggests that a separate design of Union Flag was flown to that used in England.[7] However, following the Acts of Union of 1707, which united the Kingdom of Scotland and the Kingdom of England, the 'English' version of the Union Flag was adopted as the official flag of the unified Kingdom of Great Britain.[8]
From 1801, in order to symbolise the union of the Kingdom of Great Britain with the Kingdom of Ireland, a new design which included the St Patrick's Cross was adopted for the flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.[9] This new design, having remained unchanged following the partition of Ireland in 1921 and creation of the Irish Free State and Northern Ireland, continues to be used as the flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
 The Saint George's Cross. United with England in the 16th century, this flag also represents Wales in the Union Flag. |
The 'Scotch' Union Flag may have seen limited use in Scotland from 1606 to 1707, following the Union of the Crowns. |
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The Union Flag, 1606 (King's Colours), used mostly in England and, from 1707, the flag of the Kingdom of Great Britain. |
Union Flag used since 1801, incorporating the Cross of Saint Patrick, following the Act of Union between Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland. |
[edit] Usage in popular culture
In the past few years the Flag of St George has become increasingly used by the English, particularly at sports events. For example, when England won the football World Cup in 1966, most of the flags waved by supporters were Union Flags. Now they have largely been supplanted by the English flag.
The flag is also seen during England Cricket matches. The flag is however seen mostly during the Cricket World Cup in matches where England plays. The flag is more importantly seen during The Ashes. Winning The Ashes is the pinnacle of English Pride and the flags are waved during the Tests whether in England by the home fans or in Australia by the Barmy Army.
Since 1996 the England flag has become more affiliated with supporters of the English football team. 27% of English adults having bought a flag during the 2006 World Cup.[10]
The England flag is also used in Rugby Union.[11] It is sometimes used on the web to indicate an English-speaking portion of a site.[12] This has the advantage of not choosing between the flags of the two major english-speaking countries (those of the USA and the UK).
Despite this shift in the flag's popular connotations, many black people living in England view the flag with suspicion: During a poll of readers of New Nation, "most black people interviewed said they felt alienated by the flag of St George and still associated it with the BNP."[10] Despite this, some young, non-white people have been reported displaying the flags in support of the football team.[13]
[edit] Outside England
- See also: St George's Cross
Due to the spread of the British Empire, the flag of England is/was used on various flags and coats of arms of different countries, states and provinces throughout the world, which were once ruled by Britain, most notably seen today in several flags of the provinces and states of Canada and Australia respectively.
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[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e England (United Kingdom); Flags of the World; (c.1996 - Present)
- ^ Crusader Cross Flags 1188; Flags of the World; (1999 - 2005)
- ^ Prof. J. Prawer, A history of the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem (Hebrew, 3rd edition, vol. II, pp. 17-18)
- ^ Adventist Media Response and Conversation: Art and the Crusader's Flag
- ^ Royal Website
- ^ Flag Institute
- ^ Flags of the World
- ^ Act of Union (Article 1)
- ^ Flags of the World
- ^ a b Conn, David; Sour English stereotypes linger amid the flag-waving; The Guardian; 12 July 2006
- ^ England Rugby Football Union
- ^ Witness the bottom left corner of this website of wine reviews (in French)
- ^ Crampton, Robert; Dad, how come rich people don't fly flags and show they're patriotic?; The Times; 21 June 2006
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
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