The national flag of scotland

History

Saint Andrew

According to legend, in 832 A.D. Óengus II led an army of Picts and Scots into battle against the Angles, led by Æthelstan, near modern-day Athelstaneford, East Lothian. The legend states that whilst engaged in prayer on the eve of battle, Óengus vowed that if granted victory he would appoint Saint Andrew as the Patron Saint of Scotland; Andrew then appeared to Óengus that night in a dream and assured him of victory. On the morning of battle white clouds forming the shape of an X were said to have appeared in the sky. Óengus and his combined force, emboldened by this apparent divine intervention, took to the field and despite being inferior in terms of numbers were victorious. Having interpreted the cloud phenomenon as representing the crux decussata upon which Saint Andrew was crucified, Óengus honoured his pre-battle pledge and duly appointed Saint Andrew as the Patron Saint of Scotland. The white saltire set against a celestial blue background is said to have been adopted as the design of the flag of Scotland on the basis of this legend.

Although the earliest use as a national symbol can be traced to the seal of the Guardians of Scotland in 1286, material evidence for the Saltire being used as a flag, as opposed to appearing on another object such as a seal, brooch or surcoat, dates from somewhat later. The huge heraldic standard of the Great Michael had the «Sanct Androis cors» on a blue background in the Hoist and by 1542 a white saltire set against a blue background was depicted as being the flag of Scotland. An even earlier example known as the «Blue Blanket of the Trades of Edinburgh«, reputedly made by Queen Margaret, wife of James III (1451–1488), also shows a white saltire on a blue field. However, in this case the saltire is not the only emblem to be portrayed.

Royal Standard of Scotland

Main page: Royal Standard of Scotland

See also: Royal Standard of the United Kingdom

The Royal Standard of Scotland

The Royal Standard of Scotland, also known as the Banner of the King of Scots or more commonly the Lion Rampant of Scotland, is the Scottish Royal Banner of Arms. Used historically by the King of Scots, the Royal Standard of Scotland differs from Scotland’s national flag, The Saltire, in that its correct use is restricted by an Act of the Parliament of Scotland to only a few Great Officers of State who officially represent The Sovereign in Scotland. It is also used in an official capacity at Royal residences in Scotland when the Sovereign is not present.

Incorporation into the Union Flag

Main page: Union Flag

See also: Flag of England

Scottish Union Flag depicted in the 1704 edition of The Present State of the Universe.

The Saltire is one of the key components of the Union Flag which, since its creation in 1606, has appeared in various forms following the Flag of Scotland and Flag of England first being merged to mark the Union of the Crowns. (The Union of the Crowns having occurred three years earlier, in 1603, when James VI, King of Scots, acceded to the thrones of both England and Ireland upon the death of Elizabeth I of England). The proclamation by King James, made on 12 April 1606, which led to the creation of the Union Flag states:

However, in objecting strongly to the form and pattern of Union Flag designed by the College of Arms and approved by King James, whereby the cross of Saint George surmounted that of Saint Andrew, (regarded in Scotland as a slight upon the Scottish nation), a great number of shipmasters and ship-owners in Scotland took up the matter with John Erskine, 18th Earl of Mar, and encouraged him to send a letter of complaint, dated 7 August 1606, to James VI, via the Privy Council of Scotland, stating:

Slezer’s Edinburgh Castle c.1693 showing the Scottish Union Flag being flown above the Royal apartments.

Despite the drawings described in this letter as showing drafts of the two new patterns, together with any royal response to the complaint which may have accompanied them, having been lost, (possibly in the 1834 Burning of Parliament), other evidence exists, at least on paper, of a Scottish variant whereby the Scottish cross appears uppermost. Whilst, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, this design is considered by most vexillologists to have been unofficial, there is reason to believe that such flags were employed during the 17th century for use on Scottish vessels at sea. This flag’s design is also described in the 1704 edition of The Present State of the Universe by John Beaumont, Junior, which contains as an appendix The Ensigns, Colours or Flags of the Ships at Sea: Belonging to The several Princes and States in the World.

On land, evidence suggesting use of this flag appears in the depiction of Edinburgh Castle by John Slezer, in his series of engravings entitled Theatrum Scotiae, c. 1693. Appearing in later editions of Theatrum Scotiae, the North East View of Edinburgh Castle engraving depicts the Scotch (to use the appropriate adjective of that period) version of the Union Flag flying from the Castle Clock Tower. A reduced view of this engraving, with the flag similarly detailed, also appears on the Plan of Edenburgh, Exactly Done. However, on the engraving entitled North Prospect of the City of Edenburgh the detail of the flag, when compared to the aforementioned engravings, appears indistinct and lacks any element resembling a saltire. (The reduced version of the North Prospect …, as shown on the Plan of Edenburgh, Exactly Done, does however display the undivided arm of a saltire and is thereby suggestive of the Scottish variant).

«Scots union flagg as said to be used by the Scots.».

On 17 April 1707, just two weeks prior to the Acts of Union coming into effect, Sir Henry St George, Garter King of Arms, presented several designs to Queen Anne and her Privy Council for consideration as the flag of the soon to be unified Kingdom of Great Britain. At the request of the Scots representatives, the designs for consideration included that version of Union Flag showing the Cross of Saint Andrew uppermost; identified as being the «Scots union flagg as said to be used by the Scots«. However, Queen Anne and her Privy Council approved Sir Henry’s original effort, (pattern «one»), showing the Cross of Saint George uppermost.

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. A manuscript compiled from 1785 by William Fox, and in possession of the Flag Research Center, includes a full plate showing «the scoth [sic] union» flag with the addition of the cross of St. Patrick. This could imply that there was still some insistence on a Scottish variant after 1801.

Despite its unofficial and historic status the Scottish Union Flag continues to be produced by flag manufacturers, and its unofficial use by private citizens on land has been observed. In 2006 historian David R. Ross called for Scotland to once again adopt this design in order to «reflect separate national identities across the UK», however the 1801 design of Union Flag remains the official flag of the entire United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

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История флага

В дохристианский период остров населяли разрозненные племена. В 5 веке Святой Патрик распространил христианство. Он является святым покровителем ирландцев. С ним связано историческое знамя, которое носит название флаг Святого Патрика. Официально он был принят Орденом Святого Патрика в 80-х годах 18 века. Флаг представляет собой белое прямоугольное полотнище с косым крестом красного цвета. Крест Св.Патрика вошел в государственный флаг Великобритании, олицетворяя Северную Ирландию.

Флаг Святого Патрика

С 1541 по 1800 гг. всю территорию острова занимало Королевство Ирландия, управляемое королем Англии.

В 1800 г. парламент Великобритании при поддержке ирландского парламента издал Акт об унии, согласно которому было создано Соединенное Королевство Великобритании и Ирландии. С этого года официальным флагом стал Юнион Джек, объединивший в себе символы Англии, Шотландии и крест Св.Патрика, символ Ирландии.

С 1801 по 1822 гг. лорд-наместник Ирландии имел собственный штандарт, представляющий Юнион Джек с национальной ирландской эмблемой в центре – золотая арфа с серебряными струнами. Корпус арфы выполнен в виде фигуры крылатой женщины по типу тех, что украшали нос парусного судна.

Флаг лорда-наместника Ирландии

С 1922 по 1973 гг. личным штандартом губернатора был Юнион Джек с щитом в виде центральной части знамени Ольстера, обрамленного зеленым венком.

Флаг британского губернатора Северной Ирландии 15.08.1924-18.07.1973

В 1924 г. Великобританией правительству Северной Ирландии был дарован собственный флаг, именуемый знаменем Ольстера, исторической провинции. Белый прямоугольник с красным крестом Св.Георгия, в центре которого расположена белая шестиконечная звезда, имеющая красный контур. Шесть лучей символизировали шесть графств. В середине звезды – ладонь красного цвета. Верхний луч звезды венчала королевская корона.

«Ольстерское знамя» 1924 – 1953

В 1953-1972 гг. знамя Ольстера использовалось официально. В эти годы изменилось изображение короны в связи с коронацией Елизаветы II.

«Ольстерское знамя» 1953-1972

С 1973 года в связи с роспуском парламента Северной Ирландии знамя Ольстера официально не используется.

Значение символики

Флаг Великобритании символизирует собой союз различных регионов, различных между собой:

• прямой красный крест — эмблема христианского великомученика Георгия, который покровительствует Англии;
• диагональный белый крест на синем фоне — символ Шотландии, олицетворяющий собой распятие апостола Андрея. Этот знак связывает между собой константинопольскую и православную церкви;
• диагональный красный крест — знак святого Патрика, покровителя Ирландии. Однако многие историки до сих пор не могут сойтись во мнениях касательно его происхождения, а некоторые ирландские националисты и вовсе его не признают. Также согласно законам католической церкви, святой Патрик не имеет права на собственный крест, так как не является мучеником.

Уже на протяжении длительного времени флаг Великобритании является самым узнаваемым символом, несущим в себе значение единства отличных друг от друга государств.

Другие флаги:

• Флаг сухопутных войск
• Флаг правительственных судов
• Флаг королевского ВМФ
• Флаг королевских ВВС
• Флаг гражданской авиации
• Флаг гражданских судов

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  • Meesterstoernooi
  • Skots
  • Slag van Falkirk (1298)
  • Britse Ryk
  • Kalifornië
  • Koninkryk van Groot-Brittanje
  • Skotland
  • Kategorie:Skotland
  • Edinburg
  • Skots-Gaelies
  • Vrystaat Cheetahs
  • Acts of Union 1707
  • Koninkryk van Skotland
  • Anglo-Normandies
  • Eiland-Keltiese tale
  • All Blacks
  • Springbokke
  • Alexander Fleming
  • Samoaanse nasionale rugbyspan
  • Rugbywêreldbeker 2007
  • Sjabloon:Landdata Skotland
  • Engelse nasionale rugbyspan
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  • Roemeense nasionale rugbyspan
  • Walliese nasionale rugbyspan
  • Grand Slam (Rugby)
  • Britse en Ierse Leeus
  • Nederlandse nasionale rugbyspan
  • Skotse nasionale rugbyspan
  • Wallabies
  • Stade Geoffroy-Guichard
  • Wêreldrugby
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  • Lys van internasionale rugbyspanne

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История

История флага Великобритании начинается с восхождением на английский престол шотландского короля Якова VI в 1603 году. Англией он правил под именем Яков I.

Дизайн флага, который бы символизировал союз двух государств, был утвержден 12 апреля 1606 г. и представлял собой соединение флагов обеих стран: поверх шотландского символа святого Андрея была наложена английская символика в виде креста святого Георгия.

Флаг, принятый 12 апреля 1606 годаШотландский вариант флага. Ограниченно использовался в 1606—1707 годах

• Первый флаг Английского Содружества в 1649—1651 годах
• Второй флаг Английского Содружества в 1651—1658 годах
• Штандарт Оливера Кромвеля в 1653—1659 годах
• Второй флаг Содружества Англии, Шотландии и Ирландии с 1658 по 1660

Применялся флаг в основном на кораблях торгового и военного назначений, но с 5 мая 1634 г. его стали размещать только на носу военных кораблей. От этого пошло его наименование «Union Jack», где Jack в переводе с английского означает «носовой флаг военного судна».

По результатам принятия Акта об Унии в 1707 году произошло объединение обоих государств в единое Королевство Великобритании, и в итоге соединяющий в себе флаги двух стран символ стал олицетворять новое государство.

В 1801 был принят Акт о присоединении к Великобритании Ирландии, в результате чего ее эмблема также была добавлена к уже существующему виду флага. Именно таким флаг дошел до нынешнего времени.

Design

Saltire with sky blue field.

Saltire with navy blue field.

The heraldic term for an X-shaped cross is a ‘saltire’, from the old French word saultoir or salteur (itself derived from the Latin saltatorium), a word for both a type of stile constructed from two cross pieces and a type of cross-shaped stirrup-cord. In heraldic language, it may be blazoned azure, a saltire argent. The tincture of the Saltire can appear as either silver (argent) or white, however the term azure does not refer to a particular shade of blue.

Throughout the history of fabric production natural dyes have been used to apply a form of colour, with dyes from plants, including indigo from Woad, having dozens of compounds whose proportions may vary according to soil type and climate; therefore giving rise to variations in shade. In the case of the Saltire, variations in shades of blue have resulted in the background of the flag ranging from sky blue to navy blue. When incorporated as part of the Union Flag during the 17th century, the dark blue applied to Union Flags destined for maritime use was possibly selected on the basis of the durability of darker dyes, with this dark blue shade eventually becoming standard on Union Flags both at sea and on land. Some flag manufacturers selected the same navy blue colour trend of the Union Flag for the Saltire itself, leading to a variety of shades of blue being depicted on the flag of Scotland.

These variations in shade eventually led to calls to standardise the colour of Scotland’s national flag, and in 2003 a committee of the Scottish Parliament met to examine a petition that the Scottish Executive adopt the Pantone 300 colour as a standard. (Note that this blue is of a lighter shade than the Pantone 280 of the Union Flag). Having taken advice from a number of sources, including the office of the Lord Lyon King of Arms, the committee recommended that the optimum shade of blue for the Saltire be Pantone 300. Recent versions of the Saltire have therefore largely converged on this official recommendation. (Pantone 300 is #006CB4 as hexadecimal web colours.)

The flag proportions are not fixed, however the Lord Lyon King of Arms states that 5:4 is suitable. (Flag manufacturers themselves may adopt alternative ratios, including 1:2 or 2:3). The ratio of the width of the bars of the saltire in relation to the width of the field is specified in heraldry in relation to shield width rather than flag width. However, this ratio, though not rigid, is specified as one-third to one-fifth of the width of the field.

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