With the recent passage of the Scottish independence referendum, it is an opportune time to take a look at that most recognisable symbol of Scotland’s (known as Alba in Scottish Gaelic) national identity namely its flag – the distinctive white saltire on a blue field.
In 2003 the Scottish Parliament specified the official colour of the flag using the international colour coding system and it was decided that the white saltire should appear on a bluebackground known as Pantone 300.
The legendary origins of the flag dates back to the Battle of Athelstaneford in the year 832, fought between the Picts and the Angles. The Picts were a tribal people who inhabited the northern parts of what is today known as Scotland, whilst the Angles were invaders of German origin who, together with the Germanic Saxons, had established numerous kingdoms in what is today known as England. The toponym England is itself derived from Angle (as in land of the Angles) and is still reflected in contemporary regional names such East Anglia.
The Pictish people make their debut in the latest adventure of Asterix.
Prior to the Battle of Athelstaneford, the Pictish King Oengus II (variant of the modern name of Angus) was visited in a dream by St Andrew after praying for victory to the saint, for whom the Oengus and his followers had a cult-like reverence. The king pledged that, if granted victory over the Angles, he would proclaim St Andrew as the patron saint of his kingdom. It is written that during the battle in which the Picts were heavily outnumbered, a white cross of clouds formed against the blue sky, signifying St Andrew’s blessing of the Pictish cause, that struck divine fear in the hearts of the Angles and inspired the Picts to victory. Since the martyrdom of St Andrew through the process of crux decussata the diagonal cross (heraldically a saltire) has become associated with the saint and, subsequently, Scotland.
The flag in its current form was reportedly first flown in 1512, making it the oldest continuously used flag in Europe. Of course, since 1606 the Scottish saltire on a blue field also constitutes part of the Union Jack of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
A painting of the crucifixion of St Andrew, from a cathedral in Gotein-Libarrenx, France. Note the crux decussata that inspired the Scottish saltire.
The issue at the heart of the 2014 Scottish referendum was whether Scotland should continue to be a part of the 307-year old Union. In answering the unambiguous question on the ballot of 18 September (Should Scotland be an independent country?) 55.3% of Scots voted no. Thus, the Union endures, and the British monarch is still nominally the head of state in Scotland. Because of this fact, Scotland also has an addtional flag in the form of its own royal standard, which was traditionally used by the King of Scots (until 1603) and thereafter by the Sovereign of the United Kingdom.
The Scottish royal standard, described in simple heraldic terms as a red lion rampant on a yellow field
The lion rampant (i.e. poised on its hind legs) was long a symbol of Scottish kings, and was subsequently adopted as part of the royal standard. Since the Union, the Scottish royal standard also features in the the Royal Standard of the United Kingdom, where it is represented as a quarter, along with the standards of Ireland and England. The Scottish standard is flown at royal residences in Scotland when the monarch is not in residence (the UK Royal standard is flown when in residence).
In a poll related to the referendum, the U.K. Flag Institute asked its members whether the Union Jack should be changed if Scotland were to become independent, to which 64% responded positively. Of course, seeing that Scotland will now remain part of the Union, the design of en ex-Scotland Union Jack remains a matter for creative conjecture. Accordingly, several designs of varying suitability were accordingly hypothesised, including these below:
The Union Jack without the Scottish flag, of which the blue is replaced by green to represent Wales
However, as Alex Salmond concedingly remarked, the issue of Scottish independence has been settled for a generation. Nevertheless, while the saltire will not soon fly as a symbol of a ‘free’ Scotland, it still represents the proud people who assert themselves as a distinctive nation, inspired by a formidable and resilient heritage.
anapophist 