White Dragon (England)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The White Dragon is reputedly a symbol of Anglo-Saxon England.

A heraldric version of the White Dragon
A heraldric version of the White Dragon

Contents

Historical

A metaphorical reference to the 'White Dragon', was made by Geoffrey of Monmouth in the 'Ancient Prophecies of Merlin' and Historia Regum Britanniae. This talks of a battle between a Red Dragon and a White Dragon[1]. Monmouth implies that the Red represented the native Britons or Brythons and the White represented the invading Saxons. Monmouth's ideas were taken from the earlier writings of Nennius, who talked of a red and a white serpent in combat representing dragons, in turn representing the nations of the Britons and the Saxons in the book Historia Britonum[2]. Neither makes any specific reference to actual physical use of either emblem by the Saxons or Brythons.

Evidence as a symbol of the English

Apart from the Monmouth reference, no other evidence can be found to support the existence of the white dragon as an emblem of England. Varying accounts exist of Dragons being used by the English however, but none specifically white. A Dragon Standard is seen on the Bayeux Tapestry and accounts of Dragons being used as standards continue to exist after the Norman Conquest. However, none of these were white.

Anglo-Saxon dragon use

There is no mention of a white dragon in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle or Bede's Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum, both of which are Anglo-Saxon writings from the period. The Kingdom of Wessex, according to Henry of Huntingdon and Matthew of Westminster used a Golden Dragon, which appears to have been used at the Battle of Hastings and depicted at least once on the Bayeux Tapestry at King Harold II's death[3].

Several depictions of dragons are used by people within the tapestry:

  • A soldier is shown in one scene with an apparent white dragon on his shield, however this is certainly a Norman.[4]
  • In the scene depicting Harold's death, a man immediately in front of him is shown flying a gold/red/white dragon standard.[5]
  • Two men in front of Harold is a slain soldier, showing a golden dragon on the floor.[6]

Note that the second two are likely to be the same dragon standard.

Other than the reference by Nennius(who only referred to a white serpent in double metaphor[7]) and Geoffrey of Monmouth, there are no other written or pictorial references to a white dragon existing or being used by any of the Germanic tribes who migrated to Britain in the first millennium. The English Flag Society[1] have argued that the flag should be white, but appeared as golden/yellow because lack of bleaching agents at the time have made it appear as golden. However, white is used in the tapestry(as shown in the Norman white dragon shield)[8], as well as yellow and red in the dragon standards.

Contemporary use

Jeweller Rhiannon of Tregaron designed a Morse (clasp) for the enthronement vestments of the present Archbishop of Canterbury; Dr Rowan Williams, which depicted a red dragon and a white dragon(specifically representing England and Wales) greeting each other in peace. It references the Geoffrey of Monmouth legend[9].

The English Flag Society[2] recently created a flag and claim that this should be representative of an ethnic-English community, also claiming this should subsequently replace the St George Cross[10]. They further claim that St George should be replaced as the patron Saint of England by Saint Edmund[11]. These same claims are echoed by another site selling white dragon merchandise.[3]

See also

References

  1. ^ Geoffrey of Monmouth, Book VII Chapter III, The Prophecy of Merlin
  2. ^ Britannia: Arthurian Sources
  3. ^ Bayeux Tapestry Part : 34
  4. ^ Bayeux Tapestry Part : 33
  5. ^ http://www.fectio.org.uk/articles/draco18.jpg
  6. ^ http://www.hastings1066.com/bayeux34.shtml.
  7. ^ Britannia: Arthurian Sources
  8. ^ Bayeux Tapestry Part : 33
  9. ^ http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/events/vestments.html
  10. ^ White Dragon Flag
  11. ^ England's Patron Saint

External links