The
Flag of Scotland, also known as the Saint
Andrew's Cross or more commonly The
Saltire, is the national flag
of Scotland
. As
the national flag, the Saltire differs from Scotland's
state flag, the
Royal Standard of Scotland, in
that the Saltire is the correct flag for all individuals and
corporate bodies to fly in order to demonstrate both their loyalty
and nationality. It is also flown from
Scottish Government buildings every day,
with certain exceptions, from 8am until sunset.
The white
saltire, or
crux
decussata, (from the
Latin crux:
cross, and
decussis: the numeral 10), was first used as a
symbol of Scotland in 1180, during the reign of
William I, and historical evidence
shows that a celestial blue background has been applied to flags
depicting the Saltire since the early C16th; one such example
appearing in the
Register of Scottish Arms by
Sir David Lyndsay of the Mount, circa 1542.
However, other colours for the flag's backround, including
red and
black, have also been recorded. The
legend surrounding Scotland's association with the Saltire dates
from a C9th battle, where
Óengus II led a combined force
of
Picts and
Scots to
victory over the
Angles, led by Æthelstan.
Representing the X-shaped
cross upon which the
Christian martyr
Saint Andrew, the
patron saint of Scotland, was
crucified, the Saint Andrew's Cross is one of
Scotland's most recognisable symbols.
Design
Saltire with
sky blue field.
Saltire with
navy blue field.
The
Scottish heraldic term for an
X-shaped cross is a 'saltire', from the
old
French word
saultoir meaning a type of
stirrup. 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.
Since the C16th, shades of blue ranging from
sky blue to
navy
blue have been used for the flag's background; the shade
of blue most likely being determined by the dye available at the
time. When incorporated as part of the
Union
Flag during the C17th, the
navy blue used for Union
Flags destined for
maritime use was
probably selected on the basis of the durability of darker shades
of dye. However, this shade soon became standard on Union Flags
both at sea and on land, with some flag manufacturers even
selecting the same
navy blue colour trend of the Union
Flag for the Saltire itself. This resulted in a variety of shades
of blue being depicted on the flag of Scotland, leading to calls
being made to standardise the colour of Scotland's national
flag.
In 2003, a
committee of the Scottish Parliament
met to examine a petition that the 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.) 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 should be Pantone 300. Recent versions of the
Saltire have therefore largely converged on this official
recommendation. (Pantone 300 is, 0, 114, 198 in the
RGB colour model, or #0072C6 as hexadecimal
web colours).
The flag proportions are not fixed, but are generally taken to be
1:2, 2:3, 3:5 or 4:5. The bars in the cross in all cases should be
1/5 (i.e. 20%) of the
flag
width.
History
According to legend, in 832 A.D.
Óengus II led the Picts and Scots into
battle against the Angles, led by Æthelstan, near modern-day
Athelstaneford
, East
Lothian
. Throughout the night before the battle,
Óengus prayed to God for victory on the field, and vowed that if
victorious he would make Saint Andrew the Patron Saint of Scotland,
(a position akin to that then held by
St
Columba). On the morning of the battle, white clouds forming an
X shape in the sky were seen by both armies. The Picts and Scots
were heartened by this, however the Angles regarded the
phenomenon with some trepidation. Emboldened by
this apparent divine blessing, Óengus took to the field and the
Angles, despite having a superior force in terms of numbers, were
defeated.
With the formation of white clouds being interpreted as the
X-shaped cross upon which Saint Andrew was crucified, Óengus
honoured his pre-battle pledge and duly appointed Saint Andrew 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 as a result of the legend of King Angus II (Óengus
II).
The earliest use of the Saltire as a symbol of Scotland can be
traced to 1180, however 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
earliest reference to the Saint Andrew's Cross as a flag is to be
found in the
Vienna Book of Hours, circa 1503, where a
white saltire is depicted albeit with a red background. Further
evidence shows that by 1542 a blue background was also used for the
Saltire when depicted as 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.
Protocol
Use by the Scottish Government
The
Scottish Government has
decreed that the Saltire will fly on all its buildings every day
from 8am until sunset.
An exception is made for United Kingdom
"national days", when on buildings where only one
flagpole is present the Saltire shall be lowered and replaced with
the Union Flag. Such
flag days are standard throughout the United Kingdom,
with the exception of Merchant Navy Day, (3 September), which is a
specific flag day in Scotland during which the
Red Ensign of the
Merchant Navy may be flown on land in place of
either the Saltire or Union Flag.
A further Scottish distinction from UK
flag days is that
on
Saint Andrew's Day, (30
November), the Union Flag will only be flown where a building has
more than one flagpole - the Saltire will not be lowered to make
way for the Union Flag where a single flagpole is present. This
distinction arose after
Members of the Scottish
Parliament complained that Scotland was the only country in the
world where the potential existed for the citizens of a country to
be unable to fly their national flag on their country's national
day.
Use by military institutions on land
The seven
British Army
Infantry battalions of the
Scottish Division plus the
Scots Guards and
Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
regiments use the Saltire in a variety of
forms. Combat and transport vehicles of these Army units are
frequently adorned with a small, (130x80mm approx.), representation
of the Saltire; such
decals being displayed on
the front and/or rear of the vehicle. (On tanks these can be also
be displayed on the vehicle turret).
In Iraq
, during both
Operation Granby and the subsequent
Operation Telic, the Saltire was
often flown from the communications whip
antenna of vehicles belonging to these units. Funerals,
conducted with full
military
honours, of casualties of these operations in Iraq have also
included the Saltire; the flag being draped over the coffin of the
deceased on such occasions.
In the
battle for "hearts and minds" in Iraq, the Saltire was again used
by the British Army as a means of distinguishing troops belonging
to Scottish regiments from other coalition forces in the hope of
fostering better relations between, in this case, soldiers from the
Black Watch and the Iraqi population in
the area south west of Baghdad
.
Leaflets were produced for distribution to Iraqi civilians by
members of the Black Watch, depicting troops and vehicles against a
backdrop of the Saltire.
In the period immediately prior to and following the controversial
merger in March 2006 of Scotland's historic infantry regiments to
form a single
Royal Regiment
of Scotland, a multi-million-pound advertising campaign was
launched in Scotland in an attempt to attract recruits to join the
reorganised and simultaneously rebranded "Scottish Infantry". The
recruitment campaign employed the Saltire in the form of a logo;
the words "SCOTTISH INFANTRY. FORWARD AS ONE." being placed next to
a stylised image of the Saltire fluttering in a breeze. For the
duration of the campaign, this logo was used in conjunction with
the traditional Army recruiting logo; the words "ARMY. BE THE
BEST." being placed beneath a stylised representation of the Union
Flag fluttering in the breeze. Despite this multi-media campaign
having had mixed results in terms of overall success,
Recruits turn their backs on army Ian Bruce.
Defence Correspondent.
The
Herald.
2005-08-09. Accessed
2009-06-01
Recruits down 15% as Army severs local links
Ian Bruce. Defence Correspondent.
The Herald.
2007-09-19. Accessed
2009-06-01 the Saltire continues to appear on a
variety of Army recruiting media used in Scotland.
Other uses of the Saltire by the Army include the cap badge design
of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, which consists of a (silver)
Saltire, surmounted by both a (gilt)
lion
rampant and a representation of the
Crown of Scotland. (This same design, save
for the Crown, is used on both the Regimental flag
File: Flag - III Battalion, Royal Regiment of
Scotland
The Golden Lions Scottish Infantry Parachute
Display Team image at flickr.com and
tactical recognition flash of the
Royal Regiment of Scotland).
The
Fleet Air Arm of the
Royal Navy adorn three of their aircraft with the
Saltire.
Specifically, the Westland Sea King Mk5 aircraft of HMS Gannet, operating in the Search and Rescue role from Royal Naval Air
Station Prestwick
, Ayrshire
, display a Saltire decal on the nose of each
aircraft.
Although not represented in the form of a flag, the
No. 602
Squadron of the Royal
Auxiliary Air Force uses the Saltire surmounted by a lion
rampant as the device shown on the squadron crest, and the station
crest of RAF
Leuchars
, Fife
, also shows
the Saltire, in this case surmounted by a sword.
General use
Planning permission to fly the Saltire from a vertical flagpole is
not required, therefore it can be flown at any time by any
individual, company, local authority, hospital or school. In recent
years, embassies of the United Kingdom have flown the Saltire to
mark
St Andrew's Day.
Many local authorities in Scotland fly the Saltire, including
Glasgow City Council, which
flies the flag from the City Chambers building in George Square,
and the
City of Edinburgh
Council, which flies the flag from their own City Chambers.
In 2007
Angus
Council led by Robert Myles decided to replace the
Saltire on Council Buildings and replace it with a new Angus flag,
based on the council's coat of arms. This move led to public
outcry across Scotland with more than 7,000 people signing a
petition opposing the council's move, leading to a compromise
whereby the Angus flag would not replace but be flown alongside the
Saltire on Council Buildings.
Unusually, the ferry operator
Caledonian MacBrayne flies the Saltire
as a
Jack on vessels which have
a bow staff, including when such vessels are underway.
The world famous
Paddle Steamer Waverley also adopts this
practice when operating in and around the Firth of Clyde
.
The practice of maritime vessels adopting the Saltire, for use as a
jack or
courtesy flag, may lead to possible
confusion in that the Saltire closely resembles the maritime
signal flag M,
"MIKE", which is used to indicate "My vessel is stopped
and making no way through the water". However, so as to avoid
confusion and a possible fine, owners of vessels wishing to display
an alternative flag to that of the Saltire have resorted to
unofficial use of either the
Royal Standard of Scotland or the
historic Scottish Red Ensign. Last used by the pre-1707
Royal Scots Navy and merchant marine
fleets, the Scottish Red Ensign now appears in the catalogues of
several flag manufacturers, due to its increased popularity among
private citizens for use on water.
Many bodies of the Scottish Government use the flag as a design
basis; for example, Safer Scotland's emblem depicts a lighthouse
shining beams in a saltire shape onto a blue sky. Other Scottish
companies have also used the saltire in similar ways.
Use outside Scotland
Inverse representations, (blue saltire on a white field), of the
Scottish Saltire are also used outside Scotland.
In Canada
, an inverse
representation of the Saltire, combined with the shield from the
Royal Arms of the Kingdom
of Scotland, forms the modern flag of the Canadian Province of
Nova
Scotia
, the first colonial venture of the Kingdom of Scotland into the Americas.
In
Russia
, during the
period before and after the Soviet Union
, the naval ensign of
the Russian Navy has been an inverse
representation of the Cross of Saint Andrew. (Saint Andrew
is also a
patron saint of Russia).
The very
same Saltire was also flown as the flag of Galicia
in Spain
until 1891,
when Russia requested the Galician flag to be modified in order to
avoid confusion between Galician ships and Russian Navy
ships. The current
Galician
flag is actually the original blue-over-white saltire but
without one of the arms of the cross.
The
U.S. state of
Alabama's flag is officially "a crimson
cross of St. Andrew on a field of white", however the reference is
used only to describe the shape without using the vexillological
term saltire.
Similarly, the Spanish island of Tenerife
and the remote Colombian
islands of San Andrés and
Providencia also use the saltire on their flags.
In
Poland
, the
official banner of the city of Kraków
, (twinned with Edinburgh), feature the coat if arms of Kraków overlying a
white saltire on a blue field. The Dutch
municipality of Sint-Oedenrode
, named after the Scottish princess Saint Oda, also uses the Saltire as the basis of
its flag.
The
Scottish Saltire is also used unofficially by students and
graduates of Xavier University
because of the university's blue and white official
colours and the resemblance of the flag to the letter "X".
It is also the flag for St. Andrew's Scots School, Argentina
(founded in 1838) and its "spinoff" university
Universidad de San
Andrés.
In
Northern
Ireland
, sections of the Protestant community routinely employ the Saltire
as a means of demonstrating and celebrating their Ulster-Scots heritage.
Incorporation into the Union Flag
The Flag of Scotland is one of the key components of the
Union Flag, which has been used in a variety of
forms since 1606, when the Flag of Scotland and the
Flag of England were first merged to
symbolise the
Union of the
Crowns. (The Union of the Crowns having occurred in 1603, when
James VI, King of Scots, acceded
to the thrones of both
England
and
Ireland). In objecting to the
1606 design of the Union Flag, whereby the cross of
Saint George surmounted that of Saint Andrew, a
group of Scots took up the matter with
John Erskine, 18th Earl of
Mar, and were encouraged by him to send a letter of complaint,
via the
Privy Council of
Scotland, to James VI, which stated that the flag's design
"
will breid some heit and miscontentment betwix your Majesties
subjectis, and it is to be feirit that some inconvenientis sail
fall oute betwix thame, for our seyfaring men cannot be inducit to
resave that flage as it is set down". Although documents
accompanying this complaint containing draughts for alternative
flag designs have been lost, evidence of an alternative Scottish
variant, where by the Scottish cross was uppermost, does exist.
This
version may have seen limited and possibly unofficial use in
Scotland before 1707, including on one occasion in 1617 where in
welcoming James VI to Dumfries
, the Town Commissar was reported to have stated
"Your Royall Majestie, in whose sacred person the King of kings
hath miraculouslie united so many glorious Kingdoms, under whose
Scepter the whyte and reid crocies are so proprtionablie
interlaced". This description of the crosses being
"
so proportionablie interlaced" is interpreted by some as
evidence of a Scottish version of the union flag, however others
dispute this interpretation.
Actual
use of this flag is suggested 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, this engraving depicts the
Scotch (to use the appropriate
adjective of that period) version of the Union Flag flying from the
Castle Clock Tower. Such a design is 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. Within this appendix, the flag's blazon
is given as "
Azure, a Cross
gules, fimbriated,
argent; over all a Saltier of the last". This blazon is
described elsewhere as "On a blue shield (
field?)
of Scotland the red cross of St. George fimbriated with its white
field, surmounted by the white cross of St. Andrew".
On 17
April 1707, just two weeks prior to the Acts of Union coming into effect, and
with Sir Henry St George, Garter
King of Arms, having presented seven designs of flag to
Queen Anne and her Privy Council for consideration, the flag for
the soon to be unified Kingdom of Great Britain
was chosen. Along with that version finally
selected, the designs for consideration had included that version
of Union Flag showing the Cross of Saint Andrew uppermost;
identified as being the "
Scotts union flagg as said to be used
by the Scotts". Despite bold lobbying on the part of the Scots
representatives to the Privy Council, all their efforts were to be
in vain, for that version of Union Flag showing the Cross of Saint
George uppermost was destined to win the day.
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
. The Flag of the United Kingdom,
having remained unchanged following the partition of Ireland in 1921 and
creation of the Irish Free State
and Northern
Ireland, continues to be used as the flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland
.
File:Flag
of Scotland.svg|The Saltire, the flag of Scotland: A white saltire on a blue field.
(Shown is the Scottish Parliamentary Committee's recommended
shade of blue: Pantone
300).File:Union Jack 1606 Scotland.svg|
Scottish Union Flag.
A Scottish variant of the 1606 Union Flag used in the
Kingdom of Scotland from the
early C16th until 1707, following the Union of the Crowns in
1603.File:Union flag 1606 (Kings
Colors).svg|The Union Flag used in the Kingdom of England from 1606 and,
following the Acts of Union
between Scotland and England, the flag of the Kingdom of
Great Britain from 1707-1800.File:Flag of the
United Kingdom (3-5).svg|
Union Flag used since 1801,
incorporating the Cross of Saint
Patrick, following the Act of
Union between the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland in 1800.
Royal Standard of Scotland
The
Royal Standard of
Scotland, also known as the Banner of the King of Scots or
Lion Rampant of Scotland, is the flag
used historically by the
King of
Scots. As a
state flag, it remains
the personal banner of the monarch and use of this flag is
restricted under the Act of the
Parliament of Scotland 1672 cap. 47
and 30 & 31 Vict. cap. 17.
Despite the legal restrictions concerning the use of this flag, it
is often regarded as a second, albeit unofficial, national flag for
Scotland, most often seen at sporting events.
See also
References
- Court of the Lord Lyon website Retrieved on 28
November 2009
- SCRAN website Retrieved 28 November 2009
- Scottish Government website From 8am till
sunset - The Saltire should now where possible be flown every day
from Scottish Government buildings. Retrieved on 28 November
2009
- National Archives of Scotland website It was used
on seals in Scotland from about 1180 onwards, sometimes along with
the lion rampant, which was the heraldic symbol of the Scottish
crown. Retrieved 28 November 2009
- SCRAN website Retrieved 28 November 2009
- Flag Institute The Story of Scotland's Flags
Bartram. G. n.d. n.p. Retrieved 30 November 2009
- National Archives of Scotland website Retrieved 28
November 2009
- The Royal Regiment of Scotland website "The new
cap badge incorporates two of Scotland's most recognisable symbols,
the Saltire and the Lion Rampant". Retrieved 31 August 2009.
- Heraldica.org website
- Civic Heraldry website Retrieved 30 November 2009
- The Scotsman The Scotsman Parliament to set standard
colour for Saltire Retrieved 28 November 2009
- The Scotsman MSPs are feeling blue over
shady Saltire business Retrieved 28 November 2009
- University of Edinburgh School of Law Retrieved
28 November 2009
- The Scottish Government - Flag Flying Guidance
website Retrieved 30 November 2009
- Scotland.gov.uk- "Royal and ceremonial"/
- BBC News- "Ministers agree flag day
review"
- Image of Saltire on tank turret
- MoD Image 1 MoD Image 2
- Palace Barracks Memorial Garden Accessed
2009-05-31
- Psywarrior.com Accessed 2009-5-31
- Scottish Infantry, forward as one. Scottish recruitment
campaign television advert. (www.liveleak.com)
- No.602 Sqn RAuxAF Badge
- Flagpoles.co.uk Retrieved 01 December 2009
- Scottish Government Retrieved 01 December 2009
- britishflags.net- Scotland
- Forfar Dispatch. URL accessed 05 February 2008.
- CalMac image of MV Jupiter Retrieved 01
December 2009
- Waverley Excursions image Retrieved 01 December
2009
- Mail on Sunday article November 25 2007 - partial
c/o Highbeam.com Accessed July 24 2008
- FOTW Accessed July 24 2008
- The Flag Loft Accessed 24 July 2008
- Scots Independent - The "Scottish Red Ensign"
shown here flying on the Jean de la Lune in Leith Docks, is making
a comeback! Accessed July 24 2008
- Mr Flag Accessed 24 July 2008
-
[http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Justice/public-safety/17141/practitioners
Scottish Government website} Retrieved 01 December 2009
- Galician Flag Retrieved 01 december 2009
- State of Alabama Retrieved 01 december 2009
- Universidad de San Andrés image gallery
Retrieved 01 December 2009
- CAIN Web Service, University of Ulster
Retrieved 01 December 2009
- Scots History Online
- Royal Website
- Flag Institute
- Full text at 'The Internet Archive'
- Scottish variant" at Flags of the
World
- Google books: "This flag had official
recognition"
- Google books: "Unofficial 1606 Scottish Union
Flag"
- Googel books
- Google books
- de Burton, Simon "How Scots lost battle of the standard" (9 November
1999) The
Scotsman. Edinburgh. Retrieved 30 June 2009.
- Flags of the World
- "The Lion Rampant"
External links
.svg/180px-Flag_of_Scotland_(traditional).svg)
.svg/180px-Flag_of_Scotland_(incorrect).svg)
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