Scotland

Cross of St Andrew

The flag of Scotland has its origins in one of two stories. 1 is more closely linked to fact, the other, in myth. First of all, the origins of the flag linked to reality.

According the legend, the Apostle St Andrew was crucified on an X shaped cross, deeming that to be crucified on the same cross as Jesus to be too much of an honour. This then began to appear in Scotland from 1180, during the reign of William I. In the 13 century, the St Andrew cross (saltire) cropped up again, being used on seals in Scotland, such as the Guardians of Scotland in 1286. Their great seal bearing an image of the crucifixion of St Andrew.

Finally, in 1385, the Parliament of Scotland decreed that Scottish soldiers should wear a uniform with a simple white cross on a white background front and back for identification purposes.

However, the legend states that King Oengus II led a combined Pict and Celtic army against the advancing Angles led by Aethelstan. He promised that should his army defeat the Angles, thus preserving Scotlands independence, he would make St Andrew the patron saint of Scotland. The following morning, when he woke, he is said to have seen the clouds gathered together in the form of a cross. Taking this to be a sign from God, he led his army to victory, and followed up with his promise to make St Andrew the patron saint of Scotland. He also used a banner based on the image he saw. A white cross on a blue background.

The flag of Scotland has no traditional definition of colour, with some producing a sky blue flag, and others producing a deep blue, close to the shade in use on the Union Jack. The newly formed Scottish Parliament recently took to using flags using the shade Pantone 300, which is is slightly lighter than the shade used by the Union Jack.

The story behind the changing of the colour on the Union Jack, is that whilst the red proved relatively resilient at sea, the blue did not. Also, the light shade of blue did not contrast strongly enough with the red. Therefore the royal Navy took to darkening the blue to allow for a strong contrast, and to afford strong resiliency. This darker shade then went on to be adopted permanently for the Union Jack.

In Scotland, when the Union Jack was unveiled, many felt that the English flag took dominance, even though both are relatively well balanced. However, many took to using an unofficial Scottish Union Jack, where the white cross of Scotland was overlaid on the red cross of England.

The Royal Standard of Scotland is different from the national flag. The Royal Standard, whilst being used commonly by the public, it is officially limited to the Royal family, and members of high office. The Scottish royal standard consists of a red lion rampant, on a yellow field, surrounded by a double border of lilies. 

The banner came into use in Scotland in 1222, and was finally abolished with the union of Scotland and England. The new banner for the monarch usually consists of the 3 lions of England on red in the first and fourth quarters, except when in use in Scotland. In Scotland, the Scottish banner takes precedence, replacing the English banner, and occupying the first and fourth quarters.

This banner is only for the monarchs use in Scotland. Also, when the monarch is not in residence in Scotland, the traditional banner of Scotland is flown. Rather than the Cross of St Andrew. 

Globally, the Cross of St Andrew has inspired many flags, and is used to represent ancient links with Scotland. The most obvious being Nova Scotia, which features an inverse Cross of St Andrew of blue on white, with the old coat of arms of Scotland placed in the centre. 

The city of Sint Oedenrode in the Netherlands also uses a Scottish Saltire. Though in the left quadrant, features a turret and section of wall taken from the city's coat of arms. The city is named for Saint Rode, who was a Scottish princess, who fled to the continent in order to prevent becoming Queen. She had been cured from blindness, and decided to dedicate her life to God.

The city of Kracow in Poland has a coat of arms, a bicolour flag based on the Polish flag, and its banner features the Cross of St Andrews, and defaced with the city's coat of arms. 

The Cross of St Andrew was also in use by the Russian navy before the Communist revolution, where it is known as the Andreyevsky Flag. Following the collapse of the USSR, the Russian Navy reinstituted the old Naval Jack. 

The Cross of St Andrew has spread around the world, and is a mark of Scotland's spirit that their flag can be found in so many places round the world! (Nearly as many as Englands!)