The History of the Southern Flag

or those that do not have a predisposed social agenda, for those that have a desire to learn with an open mind, with ears to hear and eyes to see, I have condensed a lifetime study into concise historical fact to the best of my ability and knowledge - the short history of the beloved Saltire ... and the Southern Flag.

When you hear men speak of the Cross of St. Andrew know they speak of the crucifixion cross of the apostle Andrew, the Apostle of Jesus the Christ, "the diagonal cross on which the Apostle of Jesus the Christ, Andrew had been martyred."

The Saint Andrew cross is one of the oldest national flags of all, dating back at least to the 12th century. The history of the Scottish saltire may be summarized as follows:

c.1180: The first use of the St. Andrew's Cross in Scotland - but as a religious, not a national, emblem (the seal of the Chapter of St. Andrew's cathedral).

Emmanuel Episcopal Church
Richmond, Virginia

1286: The first appearance of the figure of St. Andrew on his cross as a national emblem (the seal of the Guardians of Scotland).

1385: The first evidence of the use of the cross, without the saint, as a national emblem - but this was on soldiers' uniforms rather than as a flag (an act of the Scottish parliament).

Late 15th Century: Several references to flags with a St. Andrew's Cross, but it is not known whether it was the only emblem on such flags.

1503: The first certain use of a plain St. Andrew's Cross flag - but the field was red, not blue (the Vienna Book of Hours).

People spoke against Jesus and his symbols, and unjustly accused him of vile criminal acts. False stories were fabricated to make early believers appear bad in the eyes of uneducated or uninformed people to satisfy agendas.

1542: The first certain illustration of the St. Andrew's Cross on a blue field as we have it today (armorial of Sir David Lindsay).

Here's some additional information on the early St Andrew's cross from Perrin:

1385: The ordinances for its use on soldier's uniforms read: 'Item every man French and Scots shall have a sign before and behind, namely a white St. Andrew's Cross, and if his jack is white or his coat white he shall bear the said white cross in a piece of black cloth round or square'.

Two quotes from the Accounts of the Lord High Treasurer of Scotland:

1512: Payment for a roll of blue say (woollen bunting) for the banner of a ship 'with Sanct Androis cors in the myddis'.

1540: Delivered to be three ensigns for the ships sixteen 'elnis' red and yellow 'taffites'. Delivered to be the crosses thereof, four 'elnes' half elne' white 'taffities' of Genoa.

Legendary Origin of the Flag

"One legend, concerns the fact that it is believed by generations of Scotsmen that our national flag, the white saltire on a blue ground, the oldest flag in the British Commonwealth, originated in a battle fought, a little more than a mile from present day Markle, in the Parish of Prestonkirk in East Lothian, in the Dark Ages between the Picts and Scots on one side and the Angles of Northumbria on the other. There are various versions of the tale but it is generally agreed around the time of the 8th century, an army of Picts and Scots under King Hungus found themselves surrounded by a force of Angles under their leader Athelstan. King Hungus prayed earnestly for deliverance to God and the saints and that night St Andrew appeared to the King and promised them victory. Next day, when battle was joined, the vision of the white saltire (the diagonal cross on which the Apostle had been martyred) was seen by all in the blue sky. This so encouraged the Picts and Scots and affrighted their adversaries that a victory was won. King Athelstan was slain at the crossing of the burn, still known to this day as Athelstaneford.

The story continues that this all was seen as a 'Miracle' and may have been the origin of the name "Markle"! In the nearby East Lothian village of Athelstaneford, a flag heritage centre commemorates and discusses the development of the legendary white cross on the blue background." Thomas Middlemass, 6 February 2000.

Sir William Wallace, 1297 - William Wallace was also known as Braveheart and his ensign was the Cross of St. Andrew later called The Southern Cross, also known in the 1860s as the Confederate Flag.

William Wallace became a Scottish hero when he led the Scots against Edward of England's attempts to take over their kingdom in the 1290s. Edward had captured and jailed Scotland's king, John Balliol, and many nobles before Wallace began a campaign of small scale hit-and-run raids against Edward's men.

As his fame spread, more and more men joined his forces until Wallace was able to fight and defeat an English army at Stirling Bridge in 1297. At that point Wallace, who was no more than a second son of a small landowner, became the recognised leader of Scotland. He was made a knight and given the title, "Guardian of Scotland and Commander of its Armies on behalf of the exiled King John Balliol".

Sir William Wallace was Braveheart and his ensign was the Cross of the crucified Apostle St. Andrew, later called the Southern Cross also known as the Confederate Battle Flag.