On 23rd February 1959, the flag currently in use was officially recognised as the national flag of Wales. Baner Cymru or Y Ddraig Goch, meaning the red dragon) consists of a red dragon passant on a green and white field.
The flag incorporates the red dragon of Cadwaladr, King of Gwynedd, along with the Tudor colours of green and white. It was used by Henry VII at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485, after which it was carried in state to St Paul's Cathedral. The red dragon was then included as a supporter of the Tudor royal arms to signify their Welsh descent. It was officially recognised as the Welsh national flag in 1959.
It is thought that the Romans brought the dragon emblem to what is now Wales in the form of the Draco standards carried by Roman cavalry units. The Draco itself originated with the Sarmatians, a unit of whom were stationed in Britain from the 2nd to 4th centuries.
The oldest known use of the dragon to represent Wales is from the
Historia Brittonum, which is commonly attributed to the Welsh monk
Nennius around 830. The text describes a struggle between two serpents
who prevent King Vortigern from building a fortress. This story was
later adapted by Geoffrey of Monmouth in Historia Regum Britanniae (c.
1136) into a prophecy by Merlin that the white dragon, representing the
Saxons would at first dominate but would eventually be conquered by the
red dragon, symbolising the Celts. Geoffrey also tells us that King
Arthur had a golden dragon banner.
In 1400 Owain Glyndwr raised a golden dragon on a white background as his banner during his revolts against the occupation of Wales by the English crown.
and so we have the picture of the day :
Cheers!
In 1400 Owain Glyndwr raised a golden dragon on a white background as his banner during his revolts against the occupation of Wales by the English crown.
and so we have the picture of the day :
Cheers!
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