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There have been many repeats of the British film”This is England”” on Finnish television lately.I know as a true Brit myself the importance of our National Flags,however it got me to thinking of The Union Jack as it popularly known in The UK and around the world.Not is all as it seems when you forage a little deeper,to enlighten those people who are unaware of the British Flag and its history,reveal The St Georges Cross,keep reading
St George Cross
St George Cross
St George Cross
Richard 1of England first proposed and introduced the St George Cross, a red cross on a plain white background back in 1194 A.D.The St George Cross became the National Flag of England,but who was St George?It turns out in British History books that St George was actually a soldier of the Roman Army who made it his business to stand up for Christians who were being tortured subjugated by the Romans throughout the Roman Empire.It was a brave stand for Christians and their plight.He can be seen in many depicted graphics as always carrying a white shield with a red cross on it.Many people will no doubt be aware of the mythological legend of St George slaying the Dragon.As a result April 23 is St Georges Day and a National Day in England.The tradition is to wear a Red Rose in your jacket button hole.Today the Red Rose is also Britain’s National Flower
Combining The English and Scottish National Flags
St Andrew`s Cross
Shortly after Queen Elizabeth 1 of England died in 1603,Kings James VI of Scotland inherited the throne of England and pronounced himself King James I of England
King James I then went about trying to combine England and Scotland in to a United Kingdom of Great Britain.At first his proposals were met with hostility from within parliament and as a result were rejected,but on 20th October 1604 after continuously denying parliament King James I proclaimed himself King of Great Britain
English Sailors and Scottish people resented the others National Flags,English Sailors refusing to sail under the Scottish Flag.This was resolved on April 12th when the National Flags of England and Scotland were combined.At first this flag was for use only at sea.A resultant Royal Decree declared that all ships of The Kingdom of Great Britain
“shall bear on their maintops the red cross, commonly called St. George’s cross, and the white cross, commonly called St. Andrew’s cross.”
Later under Queen Anne 1707 the Flag was declared the National Flag of Great Britain to be used both afloat and ashore
Inclusion of The Cross of St Patrick of Northern Ireland
With the inclusion of Ireland in to Great Britain in January 1801 it became necessary to change and re-design the British Flag so that Ireland would be portrayed.This meant the inclusion of the St Patrick Cross
St Patrick Cross
You may have noticed that as a, combination of three National Flags,St George Cross,St Andrews Cross and St Patrick Cross, for reasons of heraldry the colors of the respective National Fags must never touch, the result was to place a white border around the St George Cross
The future of The Union Jack
The Union Jack
At the present time the countries representing The UK are still shown in The Union Jack.Ireland now has its own National Flag,Scotland now have their own parliament in Edinburgh,The Welsh also have their own National Assembly in Cardiff.The film which has been running on Finnish television is a depiction of the British Skinhead movement in 1983.
Whilst I do not agree with all of the films portrayals,.I do agree that it is about time that England reverts to the St George Cross as our National Flag..Ppersonally as a British Expatriate I find and feel more pride carrying the St George Cross than the Union Jack
St Patrick Cross
The future of The Union Jack
The Union Jack
At the present time the countries representing The UK are still shown in The Union Jack.Ireland now has its own National Flag,Scotland now have their own parliament in Edinburgh,The Welsh also have their own National Assembly in Cardiff.The film which has been running on Finnish television is a depiction of the British Skinhead movement in 1983.
Whilst I do not agree with all of the films portrayals,.I do agree that it is about time that England reverts to the St George Cross as our National Flag..Ppersonally as a British Expatriate I find and feel more pride carrying the St George Cross than the Union Jack
St George and The Dragon
Popularity: 73%
{ 4 comments }
The Union Jack has never represented just England. The Union Jack has only ever represented The United Kingdom of Great Britain (Until 1801) The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (Until 1921) and then The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. (to present) The use of the Union Jack to represent England has never been official, and generally a mistake made by football fans years ago when The St. George’s Cross flag was difficult to obtain, or by ignorant organisations who did not know any better.
On another note you are both wrong, The flag of Scotland It is neither St James’ or St David’s but St. Andrew’s Saltire (Saltire is a diagonally made cross) (St David’s Cross has been used to represent Wales and is a Gold Cross on a black background, but Wales is not represented in the Union Jack)
On a historical note King James I & VI, (of England and Scotland respectively) was invited to be King of England because he was the next in line of the Protestant succession, not because he “pronounced himself” 1707 was the Act of Union combining the Scottish Parliament with the English one in London. So politically Great Britain became a single nation. However from the Royal perspective the two countries were in a ‘personal union’ under one crown. So James did call himself the King of Great Britain, and saw the two countries as one Kingdom, but two countries.
Interesting Points,
I shall verify and change the mistakes made.Thanks for reading and your constructive observations
Greg
Hi. Good article. You need to make a small change though.
“YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED THAT AS A, COMBINATION OF THREE NATIONAL FLAGS,ST GEORGE CROSS,ST JAMES CROSS AND ST PATRICK CROSS, FOR REASONS OF HERALDRY THE COLORS OF THE RESPECTIVE NATIONAL FAGS MUST NEVER TOUCH, THE RESULT WAS TO PLACE A WHITE BORDER AROUND THE ST GEORGE CROSS”
It’s a St David’s cross not a St James.
Cheers
K
Hi Karl and very quick to notice.I, shall take a look at the article and correct.Obvious miss-type and I thank you for spotting it.
Regards
Greg
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