The Saltire - the oldest national flag in the world |
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The use of the Saltire as Scotland's national flag is believed to have originated in a battle fought near Athelstaneford in the 8th Century. The name of Athelstaneford derives from the Ford of Athelstan, and there was a West Saxon King of that name; but the Athelstan 'commemorated' by the village's name was a warrior from Northumbria. Historians suggest differing versions of the tale, but it is generally agreed that an army of Pictish soldiers under their leader Angus mac Fergus, High King of Alba - and assisted by a detachment of Scots led by Eochaidh, King of Dalriada (the grandfather of Kenneth mac Alpin) - found themselves surrounded by a much larger force of Angles led by their leader Athelstan. The year was allegedly 832 AD, although according to records, Angus ruled from 731-761 AD. A short time before the battle, King Angus prayed to God that, in spite of their smaller army, he might lead his soldiers to victory. His prayers for deliverance were answered - there in the sky could be seen a cloud formation of a white diagonal cross against a blue sky - the very cross-shape on which Andrew, the first disciple of Christ, was put to death. The king made a promise that if victory were granted to him in battle through the help of Saint Andrew, then his name would for ever after be adopted as the patron saint. Despite the overwhelming odds against them, the Picts and Scots won the battle and the Cross of St. Andrew became the flag of Scotland. It is generally held that St Andrew was accepted as the patron saint of Scotland by the year 1000 AD. In 1286, the Seal of the Guardians of Scotland shows on the reverse, a representation of St Andrew on the X-shaped cross. A Latin inscription reads "ANDREA SCOTIS DUX ESTO COMPATRIOTIS" - "St Andrew be leader of the compatriot Scots". A five-shilling piece minted in 1390, during the reign of Robert III, shows St Andrew as a national symbol. The Saltire is so-called because its cross resembles the simplest form of horse jump of crossed poles, and comes from the French, "sauteur". Divinely inspired or not, records show the Saltire in regular use by the 14th century, although not always against a blue background. The Scots Parliament decreed in 1385, prior to an incursion into England, that "every man shall have a sign before and behind, namely a white St Andrew's Cross, and if his coat is white he shall bear the same white cross on a piece of black cloth". Vindication indeed of the flags carried by a certain Scottish Cultural Organisation, often derided as 'fascist'. History bears them out. Other references exist from this period (the 14th century) to saltires on fields other than blue - the Douglas Standard carried at Otterburn in 1388 included a saltire on a sage green background - sometimes reflected in certain flags seen at a particular football ground in Scotland! In fact, it wasn't until the 16th century that the plain white saltire on a blue field became nationally established. In 1511, the Great Michael, the largest warship of its day built for King James IV, carried the St Andrew's Cross at its head. Throughout the 17th century, the Saltire continued to be used as a national symbol, particularly by the army and navy and even following its incorporation into the first Union flag in 1606 after the union of the crowns, as the Union Flag was restricted to royal ships by Charles I in 1634. In 1672, when the Public Register of Arms was set up, the St Andrew's Cross was recorded as the badge of Scotland, and many seaport arms show ships flying it. It was also commonly the basis of the colours of the Scottish Regiments during the Civil Wars, and later those of the Covenanters. By Act of Parliament in 1672, the legal jurisdiction over the display of flags came under the sole authority of the Lord Lyon King of Arms, who remains the ultimate arbitrator over heraldic matters in Scotland to this day. After the Act of Union in 1707, however, the widespread use of the Saltire declined, although yellow or gold saltires on a blue field were carried during the Jacobite Risings of 1715 and 1745. The new Union Flag was not generally welcomed in either Scotland or England due to the juxtaposition of the flags. Scots were angered that the St George's Cross was left entire, superimposed over St Andrew's Cross. The English complained that the white field of St George's Cross was obscured by the blue of St Andrew. This was further complicated in 1801 by the addition of the so-called Cross of St Patrick (actually the red saltire of the Fitzgeralds). The Union Flag remains a bone of contention in Scotland today! It wasn't until the later 20th century that there was a major resurgence in the use of the Saltire. It has now regained its status as the legally established national flag of Scotland, used by all Scottish teams in international competitions and widely flown on the flagstaffs of public buildings, sometimes alone and sometimes side by side with the Union Flag. The Saltire is also used by many bodies, both private and public, as a logo since its simplicity of design makes it ideally suited for use as a brand. Use of the Saltire and Union Flag: |
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