Flag of Scotland
The flag of Scotland consists of a white St. Andrew's cross (English saltire ) on a light blue background. A rarely used version has a dark blue background. An official for the population not approved, yet commonly used flag on a yellow background shows a red lion rampant, surrounded by " Lily double bar". This is the Scottish Royal Flag ( " Lion Rampant ").
The Scottish flag is one of the oldest flags in the world and dates back to the 9th century. A tradition relates that in 832 a king Hungus (or Angus ) that led the Picts and Scots into battle against the Anglo-Saxons. Hungus and his soldiers were surrounded and he prayed for deliverance. During the night the Apostle Andrew appeared ( who had been crucified on a diagonal cross ) and assured Hungus that his army would be victorious. At dawn, the clouds in the blue sky took the form of a diagonal cross. The Picts and Scots were encouraged, while the Anglo-Saxons were terrified and were eventually defeated. Since then, the St. Andrew's cross is the flag of Scotland. Relics of the saint were brought to Scotland and later in the city, which you can then St Andrews called.
There is no exact definition of the official blue tint. The blue used varied over the centuries, ranging from a bright sky blue to a dark navy blue. According to a joke the choice of the hue based thereon, respectively, which shade of blue was available just at the best price. Lately, they seem to have, however, agreed on the color Pantone 300. No matter what shade is also used, it must always be brighter than the one on the Union Jack. The size ratio is also not officially defined, but as a 3:5 or 2:3 indicated generally ( with a longer version is preferred, that would be the former - British flags are usually 1:2, so even longer than wide); in the literature, but can also be found 4:5. The width of the cross bar should be one-fifth of the flag height.
Other flags with St. Andrew's Cross
The Scottish St. Andrew's Cross is one of the Union Jack components. The reversed version (blue St. Andrew's cross on a white field) is used as the flag of the Russian Navy. The Scottish St. Andrew's cross is also found on the coat of arms and the flag of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. The color used in Nova Scotia is usually light blue.
The flag resembles the flag of Tenerife, Scotland. The signal flag alphabet M of the flag resembles the Scottish flag.
The flag of the Scottish king ( " Lion Rampant " )
The coat of arms and the flag of the Scottish kings show since 1332 at the latest a red lion rampant (Lion rampant ) on a gold background surrounded by red Lily double bars.
The lion was adopted in the early 13th century by William I, who was known as " William the Lion", and can be first detected as an emblem in 1222 in the seal of his son Alexander II.
This coat of arms was integrated at the beginning of the Anglo -Scottish Union staff in 1603 in the arms of the United Kingdom and has since been seen on the royal flag of the United Kingdom.
The use of the flag with the lion rampant is the monarch reserved, she is officially drawn to the residences of the Scottish royal house in Holyrood Palace and Balmoral Castle in the times in which the Queen is not present. The representatives of the Queen, including the First Minister of Scotland, the Lord Lieutenant, the Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland and the Lord Lyon King of Arms, may fly the flag. As a personal banner of the Queen it is the law of the Parliament of Scotland in 1672, cap. 47 and 30 & 31 Vict. cap. 17 protected. Nevertheless, it is as an alternative flag for Scotland (eg football internationals ) so popular that it would be politically impossible, therefore, to pursue someone in court.
In addition to the flag of the King of rising lion also appears in the flag of the Duke of Rothesay, the eldest son of the respective monarchs (now Prince Charles).