For God, Family and Republic

Here is some trivial vexillogy for you. Though, my British readers already know this stuff, this is for dumb, albeit curious American readers. Vexillogy is the study of flags, heraldry and symbols. And what more prouder symbol is there in the history of Western Civilization than that of the Union Flag? I even got my kid sister a Union Jack shirt while I was in London in 2002.



Ever wonder why the British flag looks a little different in the movies such as The Last of the Mohicans and The Patriot than it does today? Those historical movies were set in the eighteenth-century, and it manifests a flag somewhat different than exists today. Actually, the British flag—or the old Union flag—is unique in history, as it encompasses several flags. On 12 April 1606, this new flag representative of the union between England and Scotland was specified in a royal decree, according to which the flag of England (known as the St George's Cross) and the flag of Scotland (known as the Saltire or Saint Andrew's Cross) would be "joyned together according to the forme made by our heralds, and sent by Us to our Admerall to be published to our Subjects."

Though, Ireland was later incorporated as well, the Welsh flag was left out. The colour green just didn't fit the Union flag well.

The Naval Ensign is known as the Union Jack. The nickname Jack in all liklihood came from the name of the James VI, King of Scots who inherited the English crown. He pressed for the change to the flag and the creation of a Union flag. (Jac came from Jacobus, which is Latin for James.)

Related Web Sites:
United Kingdom Flags

(Thanks to my English reader Matthew for correcting me. It's simply the Union flag, not the Union Jack flag. The Union Jack refers only to the Naval Ensign flag.)