Post by kern on Apr 4, 2005 13:36:18 GMT -1
I found this site and it had a good explaination on the Flag of Wales.
The Red Dragon or Y Ddraig Goch of Wales is an ancient and fiery symbol which dates from Roman times. Y Ddraig Goch encompasses both historical and legendary motifs that make it one of the more striking of ethnic and national flags used today.
Roman legions (and later Welsh armies) used battle standards featuring the dragon, some of which were hollowed and had a cloth windsock attached. The standards were then waved during battle. The waving action would create a grumbling roar that would (hopefully) weaken the resolve of the enemy. It is theorised that these dragon standards may have been bronze or brass and had a golden like appearance. Welsh dragons from the medieval period were generally golden with the colour turning to red sometime after the thirteenth century.
Nennius in his “Historia Brittonvm” relates that the Britons (Celts) used the red dragon as their symbol while fighting the Saxons, some of whom used a white dragon. This parallels the legend of “Llud a Llefelys.” In this legend, Myrddin (Merlin) manages to drug the two fighting dragons (one red, the other white) who are terrorising Britain. In the end Myrddin tells the King that the two dragons are fated to share the same land and will have to learn to cooperate and live with one another although they will be in opposition to each other. Allegorically, this reflected the medieval situation in Britain as well as in present day.
Ddraig (dragon) has been translated as warrior. When prefixed with “pen” (as in pendragon), it means Chief or Head Warrior (i.e warlord in modern usage). In the Arthurian Tales, King Arthwr’s father, Uther is referred to as Uther Pendragon and used a golden coloured dragon as his symbol. A contemporary warlord of Arthwr (sometimes identified as Arthwr), Cadwaladr of Gwynedd also used a dragon banner, although his is reputed to have been red.
Standards and banners featuring the dragon were used by Romans, Britons (Celts), Saxons and Angels in Britain from the Classical Era through the Middle Ages. Illustrations and documents depict the dragon accompanying troops into battle at Burford (752), Hastings (1066), Standard (1138), on the third Crusade with Richard Couer deLane (1191), Lewes 1216, Crecy (1346) and at Agincourt in 1415. Owain Glyn Dwr used a dragon standard until 1404 during his revolt against the English.
Welsh archers were crucial at the Battle of Crecy in 1346. These archers also hold the distinction of wearing the first “national” uniform in battle. Their tunics were green and white which were the House of Twdwr’s livery colours. Henry Twdwr used the red dragon of Cadwaladr as his emblem. Henry claimed descent form this fifth century “Battle Leader” who was from Gwynedd. After his victory over Richard III at Bosworth in 1485, he placed the dragon over the white and green of his colours. This then was the birth of the Welsh flag.
In 1807, the British Parliament decreed that “a dragon gules (red) passant standing upon a mound should be the King’s badge for Wales.” This on a background of argent superior vert (white over green). The current design has been in official use since 1953 (although it was modified with a badge and scroll until 1959).
www.celticleague.org/
The Red Dragon or Y Ddraig Goch of Wales is an ancient and fiery symbol which dates from Roman times. Y Ddraig Goch encompasses both historical and legendary motifs that make it one of the more striking of ethnic and national flags used today.
Roman legions (and later Welsh armies) used battle standards featuring the dragon, some of which were hollowed and had a cloth windsock attached. The standards were then waved during battle. The waving action would create a grumbling roar that would (hopefully) weaken the resolve of the enemy. It is theorised that these dragon standards may have been bronze or brass and had a golden like appearance. Welsh dragons from the medieval period were generally golden with the colour turning to red sometime after the thirteenth century.
Nennius in his “Historia Brittonvm” relates that the Britons (Celts) used the red dragon as their symbol while fighting the Saxons, some of whom used a white dragon. This parallels the legend of “Llud a Llefelys.” In this legend, Myrddin (Merlin) manages to drug the two fighting dragons (one red, the other white) who are terrorising Britain. In the end Myrddin tells the King that the two dragons are fated to share the same land and will have to learn to cooperate and live with one another although they will be in opposition to each other. Allegorically, this reflected the medieval situation in Britain as well as in present day.
Ddraig (dragon) has been translated as warrior. When prefixed with “pen” (as in pendragon), it means Chief or Head Warrior (i.e warlord in modern usage). In the Arthurian Tales, King Arthwr’s father, Uther is referred to as Uther Pendragon and used a golden coloured dragon as his symbol. A contemporary warlord of Arthwr (sometimes identified as Arthwr), Cadwaladr of Gwynedd also used a dragon banner, although his is reputed to have been red.
Standards and banners featuring the dragon were used by Romans, Britons (Celts), Saxons and Angels in Britain from the Classical Era through the Middle Ages. Illustrations and documents depict the dragon accompanying troops into battle at Burford (752), Hastings (1066), Standard (1138), on the third Crusade with Richard Couer deLane (1191), Lewes 1216, Crecy (1346) and at Agincourt in 1415. Owain Glyn Dwr used a dragon standard until 1404 during his revolt against the English.
Welsh archers were crucial at the Battle of Crecy in 1346. These archers also hold the distinction of wearing the first “national” uniform in battle. Their tunics were green and white which were the House of Twdwr’s livery colours. Henry Twdwr used the red dragon of Cadwaladr as his emblem. Henry claimed descent form this fifth century “Battle Leader” who was from Gwynedd. After his victory over Richard III at Bosworth in 1485, he placed the dragon over the white and green of his colours. This then was the birth of the Welsh flag.
In 1807, the British Parliament decreed that “a dragon gules (red) passant standing upon a mound should be the King’s badge for Wales.” This on a background of argent superior vert (white over green). The current design has been in official use since 1953 (although it was modified with a badge and scroll until 1959).
www.celticleague.org/
