Where the shape
From here on, I will lose the quotation marks. this matter would, in my opinion, be inexpedient. horizontal although he goes not specify this] would also represent the four
Ironically, despite the troubles of the late 20th century, the contribution of Northern Ireland to the flag is maybe the least likely to undergo significant change. Keywords: united kingdom | union jack | kings colours | great union |
David Prothero, 13 June 2005, image by �eljko Heimer, 28 September 2019, Image based on the reproduction of Draft C published in �Perrin� plate IV. The flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a combination of more flags. I was not clear about the different meanings of the terms England, Great Britain, United Kingdom until now. The flag of Great Britain, commonly known as King's Colours, the Union Jack, or the British flag, was used at sea from 1606 and more generally from 1707 to 1801. The colour illustration (preserved in the
throughout the Army and Navy, and the State Departments, usually with some
England may have always been the dominant partner both in terms of population size and international power, but the distinctions are quite important. 2014, Although the red color is indeed less preserved than blue, there still seems
The origins of England's national flag can be dated to the Crusades against Muslim occupation of the Holy Land. hundredth anniversary of the Union of the Crowns in 1603 when James VI of
afore-mentioned, and do hereby desire and direct you to cause such Flags and
518 likes. A small minority of 10-15% in Wales have expressed a desire for full independence, and whilst that is very unlikely to become a majority in the near future, the absence of any visible recognition in the national flag is a source of mild grievance. It was decided to commemorate this with the commissioning of a new flag in which the St George's Cross of England (and also Wales) would be united with the St Andrews Cross of Scotland. I thought I had understood the origins of the UK flag but this was a real eye-opener. First, the question of the name. Although it has been used to refer to any flag flown from a ship as a signalling device, many other derivations of 'jack' have also been postulated. The
Unlike the other nations, the Patron Saint of Wales doesn't provide Wales with its national flag. becoming James I of England, the national flags of England
Go to Normans Middle Ages (1154 - … Whatever the truth, St Andrew became the Patron Saint of Scotland and the legend of his cross against a blue background was later installed as the national flag of Scotland. Great Britain is an island in the northwest part of Europe. Hence the hub. It was found among a collection of drawings and letters from the office that
saltire" was intended to mean 'fimbriated in the same colour as the saltire',
Office the College of Heralds returned to the original blazon and correctly made
It includes Ireland, Scotland, Wales, the old British Empire, the British Commonwealth, the local Off Shore Islands and distant British Territories. On land it is the 'Union Flag'. I don't actually like change just for the sake of change, but certainly if Scotland were to opt for independence, and the Union Jack had to change as a result, then that would be an ideal and reasonable opportunity to include a Welsh presence in the flag. Angus was outnumbered but he prayed for help, and the next day the clouds formed the pattern of a white cross - the Saltire of St Andrew - against the blue sky. These are the questions I aim to answer in this review of the history of the Union Flag. ensign armorial of the United Kingdom of Great Britain' as one of the
Non-Gaelic-speakers in Ireland stem originally from Normandy via England, Denmark and Norway as well as 'ethnic' English. cross has been removed completely, be it by time or human hand. Roman conquest did not greatly change this tribal structure, and did not extend far into the region which we now call Scotland. If ever a majority for independence does occur, then surely Scottish blue will have to disappear from the Union Jack. Thus, in 1921, two parliaments were set up with differing levels of self-government - one in southern Dublin, and one in northern Belfast. The Order in Council of 5th November 1800 seems to have
Mariner's Mirror, April 1951 and February 1952. Patrick and the blue field of St. Andrew. (George was a Roman soldier who had been executed and martyred by the Emperor for refusing to renounce his faith in Christianity). Unfortunately, we currently don't know Hulme's
the orthogonal cross even there where is very little color left, if any. The Royal Standard appertains to the
should use, say the Union Jack, would at once provoke a number of schools in
The flag went out of use in 1649 when England became a commonwealth but was restored for use in the king's ships after the restoration in 1660. other offices of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom - and in fact is
In 1066, the last successful invasion of Britain took place. Banners should be hoisted and displayed on all His Majesty's Forts and Castles
"hoisted the (something, possibly 'union') colour", Phoebe in Cork "fired salute
January 2018. the
But I guess we have to ask what really makes a country or a nation in free-thinking democracies like the UK. Article of the Union of the Kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland, .... that the
He commented that the drawing, "differed somewhat from that in Perrin's plate
Mr. Asquith. The flag has a long history and within that history is many interesting nuggets of information. It was re-introduced in the New Year and finally passed its Third
Meaning and history of this flag can be gleaned through this Historyplex article. I appreciate your visit. http://www.actofunion.ac.uk/castlereaghindex.php?volume=3 Documents 352/353. The flag became 'the
- State Buildings should fly the Union Flag. The origins of the four nations dates back at least 1500 years, and arguably to Roman times, and will be described in the following two sections. And throughout the 19th century and for part of the 20th century, the nation of the United Kingdom dominated the planet - at times with as much as one fifth of the world's landmass under British control. Flag of England King James’ flag did not become official until the reign of Queen Anne, when England and Scotland united their parliaments to give birth to the new nation of Great Britain. Menu + × expanded collapsed As a matter of interest, the 'impaled' design was actually used (from c1643)
(This was the source of ongoing terrorist activity in the late 20th century as violent factions within the Catholic Northern Irish minority - notably the IRA - continued their fight for a United Ireland). The Red Dragon however remained a potent emblem for the Welsh throughout the next 400 years, and in 1959 Wales was finally officially recognised as a separate entity to England with the installation of the Red Dragon as the national flag. Unsurprisingly (during the time I worked for Royal Mail, 1997-2008) the number of items of mail addressed to 'Gwent' went down, the number of items addressed to 'Monmouthshire' increased. has been sanctioned by parliamentary statements, not by legislation. United Kingdom The United Kingdom consists of the countries of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Great Britain's Flag. If it came to a vote it would be split in both Wales and Scotland, and a pullout from GB plc would cost them more in taxes than it does now. The flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is sometimes called the Union Jack. Now Scotland is debating leaving the Union within the decade, focus will switch to Wales. The region to the north of England had remained comparatively free of interference throughout the periods of Roman, Anglo-Saxon and early Norman rule. by Tomislav Todorovic, 21 August 2013, Another variant seems to have been in use, with the Scottish saltire in
Irish parliaments, but in December 1799 the Bill was rejected by the Irish
The flag of Ireland is also a red flag with the starry plow in the canton, which is a well known Irish socialist symbol, that originated from this period: Navy Board." The flag of Ireland is also a red flag with the starry plow in the canton, which is a well known Irish socialist symbol, that originated from this period: I work in a hospital with many work colleagues from overseas, and as you may realise, I also have friends in Thailand, so the confusions are commonplace. ", Evolution of the use of the Union Jack as the national flag of the United Kingdom, http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Flags_of_the_World, http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Flags_of_the_World/Plate_9, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_jack#Other_proposed_versions, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Linlithgow_Palace_unicorn_boss,_c.1617.JPG, http://www.actofunion.ac.uk/castlereaghindex.php?volume=3. Links: FOTW homepage |
displaying their proper Arms. You are also to cause the Colours described in the said Order in Council to be
The region, however, remained independent. is from 24 to 18 breadths and is allowed to Flag Ships only. The Red Dragon and the St Patrick's Saltire are given greater prominence in this design. The flag was introduced on 12th April 1606 and was called by various names including the 'King's Jack'. Because of this, the USA sided with Germany during the Great War and World War. resemble each other, probably did not just come out of nowhere.Tomislav Todorovic,
consulted 12 June 2006. I'm sure some of the differences between the two sites may be difficult to adjust to, but I really hope you enjoy being on this site, and I hope you find the HubPages community to be helpful and friendly. It is known as Union Jack although it is often stated that the Union Flag should only be described as the "Union Jack" when flown in the bows of a warship. I have written articles on many subjects including science and history, politics and philosophy, film reviews and travel guides, as well as poems and stories. Sovereign alone. bizarre design the white cross of the St Andrew's flag does not extend to the
Gentlemen,
have no right to use it until the first of next year, when the Union takes
It looks like the orthogonal
During my primary school days, we studied the Union Jack because my country along with other Caribbean islands were British dependents. Development of the Union Flag The cross of St. George, a white banner with a red cross, was adopted in 1327 (some writers favor an earlier date), as the English standard and ensign, and it continued as such until 1606. I really learned a lot here today! Eventually tentative agreement was reached on a timeline to Irish home rule within the United Kingdom, though this would not extend to six counties in the Northern Province of Ulster where Protestants loyal to the Union with Great Britain were dominant. The result was two and a half centuries of varying levels of administration from London. It represents the freedom, dignity, and true meaning of being an American. Their eyes will be on Edinburgh. But what colour would replace it? Game, set and match to England - this time round. However, because of the historical connection with the United Empire Loyalists, the second Union Flag – The Queen Anne – continues to be the official flag of the UELAC. The myth was symbolic; it is believed the white dragon represented invading Saxon armies during the Dark Ages, and the myth told how the red dragon, representing the Celtic people, would recover from the oppression and rise up to defeat the invaders. Tomislav Todorovic, 21 August 2013, This one-off example shows it to have been unique and indicates the chance of
colours indicated by words. And will the Union Flag remain forever, or are its days numbered? Last modified: 2019-10-23 by rob raeside
The national flag of the United Kingdom is the Union Jack, also known as the Union Flag. Reading on 7 June 1800. However, after the First Crusade, the English knights pressed for this to be reversed. When King James VI of Scotland ascended to the English throne, thereby
Great Britain is an island in the northwest part of Europe. And I enjoy explaining to them how the Union Flag was put together. It will be interesting to see if any changes to the flag become necessary in the future! (To call a Scot or a Welshman 'English' is worse than calling a man from the Southern States of America a 'Yankee'). that would be necessary in order to regulate the general use by civilians, or
However, it was only in the 16th century under the Tudor monarchs that the red Cross of St George became officially adopted as the flag of England. There seems no reason why the state
Any such warrant as proposed would therefore be
Width of half St. Andrews' and St. Patrick's crosses along the hoist,
Early in the 20th century, the Admiralty declared that either 'Union Flag' or 'Union Jack' could be used, and this was approved in Parliament in 1908. 22 August 2014, image located by Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 23 August 2014, Here is the relevant part of the
Dumfries in 1618 he was hailed as the king under whose banner "the whyte and
Although there is always the possibility of a successful campaign for independence in Scotland in the future, there appear at present to be no coordinated plans to change this most iconic symbol of British history and its influence for good or bad, both on the world scale and on the local scale in these islands off the northwest coast of Europe. And don't apologise for not posting a comment earlier! Voted Up and Useful. It was flown during the Although Ireland had been included under England's Cross of St George in the 16th Century, and in the King's Jack of 1606, it was felt that a much clearer representation was required following the official Act of Union in 1800. The flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is sometimes called the Union Jack. Another design not shown
David Prothero, 12 June 2006, A 1902 Home Office Minute on the question:
cartoons by James Gillray although these display
But for others, the issue of the flag and representation within the flag has always been and will remain in the future, a matter of very great pride and concern. The St George's flag with a St Andrew's flag in each quarter. and the Naval Yards and Hospitals abroad, in the manner directed by the said
The history behind such a simple thing as a flag can be very complex and troubled. A drawing of the Union Flag that was sent to the Office of Stores for the
Flag of England: History and Meaning One of the most easily recognizable flags in the world is the flag of England. Most prevalent in folklore however, is the story of a great battle between a resident red dragon which lived in the hills of Wales, and an interloping white dragon. complicated than the usual accounts suggest. taking it from the saltire itself instead of from the field, whereas, according
Privy Council papers) and blazon supplied by Sir Isaac Heard (Garter
the Ports or Harbours of the said United Kingdom, or of the Islands aforesaid,
Nonetheless what actually happened is history, and Wales played no further part in the development of the Union Jack as it exists today. This flag even
Union Flag: As late as 1693, Slezer, Captain of Artillery and Surveyor-General of Stores
This is the history behind each of America’s national anthems, songs, and marches. See our YouTube channel for our video library. See our YouTube channel for our video library. It is academic really, because Wales clearly wouldn't opt for independence in the near future, but given that the sense of a Welsh identity and history is so strong, I think the desire to have some representation in the Union Flag is understandable. http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Flags_of_the_World there was another
Flag of England King Jamesâ flag did not become official until the reign of Queen Anne, when England and Scotland united their parliaments to give birth to the new nation of Great Britain. I do not know if the corresponding Bill had already been
corruption of the herald's original intention. These sections are important as they indicate how the four nations of the United Kingdom developed, and why they came together under one flag, but they do not relate directly to the appearance of the flag itself. generally are not authorised to fly or display any Flag. Flag adopted 1 January 1801. image by �eljko Heimer, 24
The collection of correspondence was closed in
Most options simply involved placing the English and Scottish crosses side by side, or superimposing one in the centre of the other. Many have questioned the makeup of the flag and hundreds of other designs have at various times been considered officially or informally. It should be mentioned that the final design was only one of many which were considered. The national flag of the United Kingdom is the symbol representing the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland at international level, known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. There is no power at law to enforce the use of any flag. Ireland was - like all the other regions - the site of many small kingdoms, and it had never been fully unified, though some later kings ruled over large areas of the island. Scottish variants of the flag, this one at least, might have had some official
The most recent official ballot was on 18th September 2014. St David's Cross. Paul Harris (ed. The English had been impressed by myths relating to St George and they wanted the right to carry the red cross emblem of St George. The prominence of England's red cross on a white background is maintained, but a Red Dragon and a green outline give more recognition to Wales and N. Ireland. Chris Southworth, 22 September 2019, I can confirm that I drew the 1801 Union Jack from Perrin some time ago
All of these varying designs, which still strikingly
Under Roman rule, the entire island became known as 'Britannia', later to be shortened to Britain, and towards the end of Roman rule, many of the tribes in Southern and Eastern Britain began to coalesce into larger kingdoms. Today, the majority favour flying the Union Jack to demonstrate their loyalty to the union with Great Britain, whilst the republican minority would still like to join with Southern Ireland under the Irish Tricolor. To ask Prime Minister whether
[1] Wikipedia page about the Union Jack:
banners of the United Kingdom, but this warrant does not relate to such flags as
along the edges show what is deeper and what is higher. The national flag of the UK is famously called the Union Jack or the Union Flag. search |
The Union flag has been used indiscriminately for a very
held to be significant as it implies the use of the 'Scottish' version of the
As the Patron Saint of Ireland, it seemed natural to use the Cross of St Patrick, but even this was not an emblem of any historic relevance. The change to a darker blue had certainly taken place by the late 19th century. that the red disappeared so completely. It
received the Royal Assent on 2 July 1800, (40 Geo. practice on occasions of national rejoicing of displaying the Royal Standard and
The flag is also flown during Royal visits and along with Canadaâs National Flag, on such occasions as the official observance of Her Majesty the Queenâs birthday and Victoria Day. The Union Jack on Other Flags The Union Jack is also incorporated into the flags of four independent countries of the British Commonwealth - Australia, Fiji, Tuvalu, and New Zealand. Pre-1801 Union Flag of Great Britain commonly called the King’s Colors during the American Revolutionary War. 1:2 |
The Union Jack on Other Flags The Union Jack is also incorporated into the flags of four independent countries of the British Commonwealth - Australia, Fiji, Tuvalu, and New Zealand. the crosses of St. Andrew and St. George should be combined in all British
questions which have been raised as to the proper use of flags have received
So where does this famous flag come from? etc., etc. Later, the flag as we now know it of green and white overlaid with a red dragon was carried by Henry Tudor when he defeated Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485. This referendum saw a surge in Scottish nationalist support to 45%. Flag of England: History and Meaning One of the most easily recognizable flags in the world is the flag of England. as a jack by Royalist ships in the English Civil War. equal width with a fimbriation added. IV." Throughout most of the past thousand years the four 'countries' of England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland have been at the centre of world events. Many have conjectured that the term 'Union Jack' should only be employed when the flag is flown from a pole called a 'jack staff' to be found on the bows of ships - in other words the flag is only a 'Union Jack' when it is hoisted at sea by the Royal Navy. the field would be divided between the white fields of St. George and St.
N.B: Please note, all my articles are best read on desktops and laptops. ships. interpretation of the phrase. Wikipedia image. place." per pale Cross of St. George, Cross of St. By 1284, in the reign of King Edward I, Wales had been largely subdued, though powerful rebellions continued sporadically for two more centuries. "Admiralty Office, 15 November 1800. I must carry this around with me to show or send to others. and to supply the necessary Colours for the use of the Naval Hospitals at Home,
The
A possible Union Jack which gives recognition to the Welsh Dragon, In this design the Union Jack remains pretty much as it is today. Memorandum ( to C ). Civil war resulted. http://www.10downingstreet.gov.uk,
The flag became 'the ensign armorial of the United Kingdom of Great Britain' as one The four bars [presumably
Unlike all the flags of the other patron saints, the St Patrick's Saltire, a red diagonal cross on a white background, had not been widely flown prior to the 19th century and was of dubious origin. The History of the Flag from 1801 to the Present Day Although Ireland had been included under England's Cross of St George in the 16th Century, and in the King's Jack of 1606, it was felt that a much clearer representation was required following the official Act of Union in 1800. Scots did, however, use an ingenious design in which the white cross of the
approx. of 21 guns to celebrate union between Great Britain and Ireland" and Agincourt
It is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and should not be substituted for impartial fact or advice in legal, political, or personal matters. and Magazines in Scotland, produced an engraving on Edinburgh Castle in which
of Scotland, which depicts the Scottish royal unicorn (heavily damaged - the
We are Your affectionate Friends,
Therefore, it is perfectly acceptable to describe the flag - on sea or on land - by its popular designation as the Union Jack. reid croces are so proportionablie interlaced." Saint Andrew, one of the disciples of Jesus, had been martyred by crucification in the 1st century AD, and it is said that he elected to die on an 'X' shaped cross because he felt unworthy to be martyred on the same '†' shaped cross as Jesus - hence the saltire design. One of the oldest flags in human history is the flag of Wales. Flying the Flag's aim is to inform visitors of Great Britain's long, colourful history of flags. There had never been a fully united Ireland previously so there had never been an 'Irish Flag' as such. and Man, and also on board all His Majesty's Ships of War, then lying in any of
In 1948, most of Ireland became an independent nation under the Irish Tricolor Flag, but six counties in the Northern Irish Province of Ulster were to remain within the United Kingdom, represented as before in the Union Jack by the St Patrick Saltire. made. Despite the title of this section, there is effectively no history of the Union Jack prior to 1606, except in so far as the explanation for the absence of Welsh influence in the flag as we know it today, dates from the Middle Ages. To represent Wales, a narrow yellow Cross of St David is included, A similar design to the above, but here the yellow colour of the St David Cross outlines the red of the Cross of St George, Another design which incorporates part of St David's Cross - in this case the black colour of the Cross. separate kingdoms [sic] which make up Britain". The shadows
Union actually taking place, and this required the assent of both British and
I forgot to add that the flag is actually a painted bas-relief, the areas in
The Red Dragon is favoured, though the black and yellow colours could one day contribute to a redesigned Union Jack (see later). With the Scottish referendum due on 18th September. However, the number of ethnic 'Welsh' people in Wales is not as high as there are ethnic 'Scots' north of the border. Service; We herewith transmit to you a Printed Copy of His Majesty's Order in
But by the late 19th century, a movement to achieve a degree of home rule for Ireland had begun, initially by peaceful means but later attracting much more violent elements. Ann Carr from SW England on September 30, 2015: I know what you mean, Alun, about hubs still being read; it's good to know that they're not just earning a pittance! to appoint." But remember the Cross of St David? Henry VIII had declared himself King of Ireland in the 16th century and so - like Wales - Ireland had become officially represented in the Union Flag by the Cross of St George.