Flag of Scotland
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The flag of Scotland features a white saltire, a crux decussata (X-shaped cross) representing the cross of the Christian martyr Saint Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland, on a blue field. It is named the Saltire or the Saint Andrew's Cross. In heraldic language, it may be blazoned Azure, a saltire argent.
The flag of Scotland is one of the oldest flags in the world, traditionally dating back to the 9th century, and is the oldest national flag still in modern use, the oldest state flag being Denmark's Dannebrog.
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[edit] History
According to legend, King Óengus (II) (or King Angus) led the Picts and Scots in battle against the Angles under King Aethelstan of East Anglia near modern-day Athelstaneford in East Lothian. King Angus and his men were surrounded and he prayed for deliverance. During the night Saint Andrew, who was martyred on a saltire cross, appeared to Angus and assured him of victory. On the following morning a white saltire against the background of a blue sky appeared to both sides. The Picts and Scots were heartened by this, but the Angles lost confidence and were defeated. This saltire design has been the Scottish flag ever since.
Material evidence of the saltire's use dates from somewhat later. In 1385 the Parliament of Scotland decreed that Scottish soldiers should wear the saltire as a distinguishing mark. The earliest surviving Scottish flag consisting solely of the saltire dates from 1503: a white cross on a red background. By 1540 the legend of King Angus had been altered to include the vision of the crux decussata against a blue sky. Thereafter, this saltire design in its present form became the national flag of Scotland.
[edit] Colour and Dimensions
At various times colours as light as sky blue or as dark as dark navy blue have been used (a selection apparently motivated by which colour of blue dye was available at the time). Recent versions, however, have largely converged on the official recommendation of Pantone 300.
In 2003, a committee of the Scottish Parliament proposed that the Scottish Executive (Scottish Government) 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.
The flag proportion is not fixed, but is generally taken as 5:3 or 3:2, the former being preferred. The cross should have a width of 1/5 (i.e., 20%) of the height of the flag side.
[edit] Outside Scotland
The Scottish Saltire and field is one of the components of the Union Flag, the flag of United Kingdom. A reversed version (blue saltire on a white field) is to be found in the naval ensign of Russia (see Russian Navy) used before and after the Soviet Union (Saint Andrew is also a patron saint of Russia).
Additionally, the Scottish Saltire is featured on the Coat of Arms of Nova Scotia, Canada and its flag (Nova Scotia was originally a Scottish colony), but the blue used for Nova Scotia is generally a light blue. The U.S. state of Alabama's flag is officially a "crimson cross of Saint Andrew," but may actually be based on the Confederate Battle Flag. Similarly, the Spanish island of Tenerife and the remote Colombian islands of San Andrés and Providencia also use the saltire on their flags.
[edit] See also
- The Bearer of the National Flag of Scotland
- Royal Standard of Scotland
- Royal Coat of Arms of Scotland
- List of Scottish flags
- List of British flags
- Saint Patrick's Flag
- Saltire
[edit] External links
[edit] References
cy:Baner yr Alban de:Flagge Schottlands et:Šotimaa lipp es:Bandera de Escocia fr:Drapeau de l'Écosse it:Bandiera scozzese he:דגל סקוטלנד sw:Bendera ya Uskoti lt:Škotijos vėliava hu:Skócia zászlaja nl:Vlag van Schotland ja:スコットランドの国旗 no:Skottlands flagg pl:Flaga Szkocji pt:Bandeira da Escócia ru:Флаг Шотландии fi:Skotlannin lippu sv:Skottlands flagga
