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Flag of England
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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 sixteenth century.
Saint George became the patron saint of England in the thirteenth century, and the legend of Saint George slaying a dragon dates from the twelfth century.
The proportions of the flag are that the red cross has a width of 1/5 of the height of the flag.
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.
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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 sixteenth century.
Saint George became the patron saint of England in the thirteenth century, and the legend of Saint George slaying a dragon dates from the twelfth century.
The proportions of the flag are that the red cross has a width of 1/5 of the height of the flag.
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.
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 country with Saint George as their patron saint.
The first theory states that the flag was adopted during the Crusades. At the beginning of the Crusades, a 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), English knights soon decided to claim "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). 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.
seen in the act of slaying the dragon. He is depicted wearing a surcoat displaying the St. George's Cross.]] A second 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.
The St George's cross may not have achieved the full status of national flag until the sixteenth 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 the St George's Cross at sea, as an English flag in conjunction with royal banners but no other saintly flags, was 1545.
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, when the flags of the Kingdom of Scotland and Kingdom of England were first merged to symbolise the Union of the Crowns. (The Union of the Crowns having occurred in 1603). In Scotland, and in particular on Scottish vessels at sea, historical evidence suggests that a separate design of Union Flag was flown to that used in England. 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.
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. 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.
Usage within English culture
supporter waving the English flag in the streets of Nantes, France in 2007.]]
Since 1996, the English flag has become more affiliated with supporters of the English football team with 27% of English adults having bought a flag during the 2006 World Cup.
The flag is also seen during other sporting events in which England competes, for example during England Cricket matches (the Cricket World Cup and The Ashes) and during Rugby Union matches.
Before 1996, most of the flags waved by supporters were Union Flags (it is now arguable that this situation has now reversed).
It is sometimes used on the web to indicate an English-speaking portion of a site. This has the advantage of not choosing between the flags of the two major English-speaking countries (those of the USA and the UK).
Far Right
In recent years, the flag of England had come to be associated with far-right political groups such as the British National Party and the National Front. This has partially been reversed, however it can still be said that there is a lot of political correctness about displaying the flag.
Many black people living in England have stated that they still 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". Despite this, some young, non-white people have been reported displaying the flags in support of the football team.
Church of England
Churches belonging to the Church of England (unless for special reasons another flag is flown by custom) may fly the St George's Cross. The correct way (since an order from the Earl Marshal in 1938) is for the church to fly the St George's cross, with the arms of the diocese in the left-hand upper corner of the flag.
Outside England
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.
Three Lions
.]]
The Royal Standard of England (technically a heraldic banner), also known as the Royal Flag of England or the Lions passant, is the flag used historically by the King of England. It remains the personal banner of the monarch.
Despite the legal restrictions concerning the use of this flag, it is sometimes regarded as a second, albeit unofficial, national flag for England (parallel to the Royal Standard of Scotland).
See also
External links
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