St Andrew's Flag

National Flag of Scotland

The Scottish National flag is the cross of St. Andrew, also known as the Saltire. It is said to be one of the oldest national flags of any country, dating back at least to the 12th century. The official use of this flag, as a national emblem, dates from the 16th Century.

Andrew and his brother Peter were two of the original apostles of Jesus. He was a fisherman from Galilee, and went on to spread the Christian religion in Greece and Asia Minor.

According to tradition, St. Andrew was put to death by the Romans in Patras, Southern Greece by being crucified on a diagonal cross. The diagonal shape of this cross is said to be the basis for the Cross of St. Andrew which appears on the Scottish Flag.

One legend of St. Andrew involves the Pictish King Angus. When faced with a large invading army, King Angus prayed to St Andrew for divine guidance. A saltire (the diagonal cross) appeared in the shape of a white cloud against the blue sky. Angus won a decisive victory and decreed that Andrew would be the patron saint of his country. However, it was not until after Robert Bruce's victory at the Battle of Bannockburn (1314), that the Declaration of Arbroath named St. Andrew the patron saint of Scotland forever. The Saltire became the Scottish national flag in 1385.