| Re: The story of the United Kingdom and the Union Flag (0/1) |
EasyNews, UseNet made Ea .. |
| ::darkshadows:: (bat@cave.org) |
2009/05/15 01:37 |
On 15 May 2009 06:24:56 GMT, WingedMessenger <Boy@FlyingHigh.com>
wrote:
>"::darkshadows::" <bat@cave.org> wrote in
>news:f11q05dm4s3lkhaupgjl53vme5asiluq0c@4ax.com:
>
>>
>>
>> The story of the United Kingdom and the Union Flag
>>
>>
>> Picture 01-- A flag containing three other flags.
>>
>>
>> The Union Flag, popularly known as the *Union Jack, is the national
>> flag of the United Kingdom. It is the British flag.
>>
>> It is called the Union Flag because it symbolises the administrative
>> union of the countries of the United Kingdom. It is made up up of the
>> individual Flags of three of the Kingdom's countries all united under
>> one Sovereign - the countries of 'England, of 'Scotland' and of
>> 'Northern Ireland' (since 1921 only Northern Ireland has been part of
>> the United Kingdom). As Wales was not a Kingdom but a Principality it
>> could not be included on the flag.
>>
>>
>>
>> ****"'Union Jack' was officially acknowledged as an alternative name
>> for the Union Flag by the Admiralty and Parliament in the early 20th
>> century. The term 'jack' refers to the flag that is flown from the
>> bowsprit of a ship, often denoting nationality."
>>
>> ****The Union Flag is commonly known as the Union Jack, although the
>> exact origin of the name is unclear. One explanation is that it gets
>> its name from the "jack staff" of naval vessels from which the
>> original Union Flag was flown.
>>
>> ****Historian David Starkey said that the Union Flag is called 'Jack'
>> because it is named after James l of Great Britain (Jacobus , Latin
>> for James), who introduced the flag following his accession to the
>> throne.
>>
>> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
>> -------
>>
>> The Making of the Union Flag
>> St George - England
>>
>> Picture 02 -- The National Flag of England
>> England is represented by the flag of St. George
>>
>>
>> In 1194 A.D., Richard I of England introduced the Cross of St. George,
>> a red cross on a white ground, as the National Flag of England.
>>
>> At this point in the story on the United Kingdom, England, Scotland,
>> Wales and Ireland were separate countries. However, this was soon to
>> change....
>>
>> In 1536, under Henry VIII, an Act of Union was passed making Wales, in
>> effect a province of England.
>>
>> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
>> ------------
>>
>> Picture 03 -- The Making of the Union Flag
>> St Andrew - Scotland
>>
>> The National Flag of Scotland
>> Scottish flag
>>
>> Scotland is represented by the flag of St. Andrew
>> (a diagonal white cross form (called a saltire) on a blue field)
>>
>>
>> After Queen Elizabeth I of England died in 1603, King James VI of
>> Scotland inherited the English throne and became King James I of
>> England. It was a Union of the Crowns, but not yet of the nations.
>> Each country still kept their own parliaments.
>>
>> Early in his reign James attempted to combine England and Scotland in
>> a united kingdom of 'Great Britain'. This was the policy he presented
>> to his first Parliament, called on 22 March 1604. The union was
>> resisted.
>>
>> James defied them. On 20 October 1604 he proclaimed a new title for
>> himself as 'King of Great Britain'.
>>
>> But what flag should be used?
>>
>> A problem arose, which flag should be hoisted on the king's ships.
>> English sailors resented the Scottish colours scotand the Scots
>> scorned the cross of St. George England.
>>
>> In 1606 the problem was solved ........
>>
>> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
>> ----------
>>
>>
>> ....... A compromise was the answer and it led to the creation of the
>> first Union Flag.
>>
>> On 12 April 1606, the National Flags of Scotland and England were
>> united for use at sea, thus making the first Union 'Jack'. Ashore
>> however, the old flags of England and Scotland continued to be used by
>> their respective countries.
>>
>> A royal decree declared that the ships of the Kingdom of Great Britain
>> "shall bear on their maintops the red cross, commonly called St.
>> George's cross, and the white cross, commonly called St. Andrew's
>> cross."
>>
>> English flag + Scottish flag
>>
>> Picture 04 -- The Union Flag of 1606
>> The first Union Flag (1606)
>>
>> When the red cross of England was put onto the flag of Scotland, a
>> white border was added around the red cross for reasons of heraldry.
>> (The rules of heraldry demanded that two colours must never touch each
>> other.)
>>
>> On 28th July, 1707, during the reign of Queen Anne, this flag was by
>> royal proclamation made the National flag of Great Britain, for use
>> ashore and afloat.
>>
>> The Act of Union of 1707, joined England and Scotland together,
>> creating a single kingdom with a single Parliament called 'United
>> Kingdom of Great Britain'.
>>
>> England Wales and Scotland were now united together under one monarch
>> and one parliament.
>>
>> The Royal Navy christened the British flag " The Union".
>>
>> Interesting Fact:
>> When the 'Union Flag' was first introduced, in 1606, it was known
>> simply as 'the British flag' or 'the flag of Britain'.
>>
>> Nearly one hundred years later, another country was added to the Union
>> flag ....
>>
>> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
>> ----------
>>
>> Northern Ireland - St Patrick
>>
>> Picture 05 -- Ireland is represented by the cross of St. Patrick
>> (a diagonal red cross on a white background.)
>>
>>
>>
>> On 1 January 1801, Ireland was united with Great Britain and it became
>> necessary to have a new National Flag in which Ireland was
>> represented. The cross St Patrick was combined with the Union Flag of
>> St George and St Andrew, to create the Union Flag that has been flown
>> ever since.
>>
>> Picture 06 -- Union Flag
>>
>> The cross of St. Patrick was inserted so the position given to St.
>> Andrew's Cross in one quarter was the same as that given to the Irish
>> one in the diagonally opposite quarter; in heraldry this is known as
>> "counterchanging"
>>
>>
>> The Union Flag with the St. George's Cross removed showing how the
>> saltires (diagonal crosses) are counterchanged.
>>
>> The 'new' British flag is not symmetrical because of the
>> counterchange.
>>
>> As Scotland joined the Union nearly two hundred years before Ireland,
>> St Andrew's Cross was placed uppermost in the top quarter nearest the
>> flagstaff, this being the most honourable position according to
>> heraldry, while the Irish Cross was given the second most honourable
>> position, the top quarter of the fly.
>>
>> In order to avoid having the red of the Irish Cross directly upon the
>> blue field of the Scottish one an edging of the white field of the
>> Irish Cross is used.
>>
>> The symbols of Scotland and Ireland are placed sided by side on the
>> Union Flag.
>>
>> England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland were now all joined together and
>> called the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. The name was
>> later changed to United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
>> when the greater part of Ireland left the United Kingdom in 1921.
>>
>> NB. The St. Patrick's Cross remains in the flag even though today only
>> Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom.
>>
>> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
>> ----------
>>
>>
>>
>> To summarize...
>>
>> The formation of the Union Flag (Union Jack) came about as the result
>> of the progressive merging of the inhabitants of the British Isles
>> under one throne.
>>
>> 1603 - King James VI of Scotland inherited the English throne and
>> became King James I of England.
>>
>> 1606 - the National Flags of Scotland and England were united for use
>> at sea, thus making the first Union Flag
>>
>> The Union Flag of 1606
>> The first Union Flag (1606)
>>
>> 1707 - during the reign of Queen Anne, the first Union Flag was by
>> royal proclamation made the National flag of Great Britain, for use
>> ashore and afloat.
>>
>> 1801 - Ireland was united with Great Britain and the present Union
>> Flag was formed.
>>
>> The Union Flag consists of the three heraldic crosses of St George, St
>> Andrew and St Patrick.
>>
>> The flags of the Patron Saints of England, Scotland and Ireland are
>> represented on the Union Flag. But, why is Wales not represented on
>> the Union Flag?
>>
>> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
>> -----------
>>
>> Why doesn't the Welsh dragon appear on the Union Flag?
>>
>> Picture 07 -- Welsh Flag
>>
>> The Welsh dragon does not appear on the flag because when the first
>> Union Flag was created in 1606, Wales was already united with England
>> from the 13th century. This meant that Wales was a Principality
>> instead of a Kingdom and as such could not be included.
>>
>> In 1536, under Henry VIII, the Act of Union joined England and Wales
>> officially.
>>
>> Please note:
>> Wales has never been conquered (forcibly take control and possession
>> of a foreign land) not by the Romans and certainly not the English or
>> anyone. Partial invasion took place but possession was never fulfilled
>> because of the geography and terrain allowed the native population an
>> ideal base to operate a very effective resistance. There was always a
>>
>>
>> Picture 08 -- What would the Union Flag look like if Wales was
>> represented?
>>
>> In November 2007, a Welsh MP, Ian Lucas, asked parliament why Wales is
>> not represented in the Union Jack. Of course, we have the answer here
>> on our website, but what if Wales was represented, what would the flag
>> look like?
>>
>> Below you can see Ian Lucas' version of the Union flag with Wales
>> represented:
>>
>> Union Flag with Wales represented
>>
>> Does the Union Flag as we know it, have a future?
>>
>> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
>> -----------
>>
>> The Future of the UK's Flag
>>
>>
>> At the moment, the countries representing the UK, are still united
>> under one flag. How long this will be so, no one knows. Even now, each
>> of the countries which form the United Kingdom, is fighting for its
>> own independence.
>>
>> For the first time since 1707, the Scots now have their own Parliament
>> in Edinburgh, and the Welsh their own national assembly in Cardiff. As
>> a result, the Scottish saltire and the red dragon of Wales are much
>> more in evidence.
>>
>> Is the Union Flag (Union Jack) on its way out?
>>
>> In 1997, British Airways decided to scrub the Union Flag off the tails
>> of its airliners and replace it with pictures of jackals from Africa
>> and other ethnic designs. Its chief executive, Bob Ayling, said that
>> the airline was no longer a British company with global operations,
>> we want to show Britain as modern, not imperial...We still have our
>>
>>
>> Picture 07 -- Nigel Turner's proposed new multicultural union flag,
>> shown here
>>
>>
>> In 2003, a campaign was launched to try and modernise the red, white
>> and blue flag by adding a touch of black to reflect multicultural
>> Britain in the 21st Century. The proposed new flag (see right) was the
>> work of Nigel Turner, an enthusiastic fan of the UK's transformation
>> into a multiracial society over the past 50 years. The campaign was
>> NOT successful.
>>
>> 2007
>>
>> More teenagers see themselves as English, Scottish or Welsh rather
>> than British
>> A YouGov poll carried out by the Daily Telegraph in 2007 found that
>> fewer than one third of today's teenagers instinctively think of
>> themselves as British rather than English, Scottish or Welsh. But,
>> pressed to say whether they also think of themselves as British, the
>> great majority say yes. Only 10 per cent of the teenage sample, many
>> of them Scots, reject a British identity altogether.
>>
>> Most people want the United Kingdom broken up
>> An ICM poll published by the Daily Mail in 2007 suggested that
>> majorities of voters in both Scotland and England now want the
>> countries to split.
>>
>> The Future?
>>
>> Will the Union flag be replaced by four separate flags or will all the
>> flags and the Union Jack, be replaced by something else?
>>
>> Only time will tell.
>>
>> ========================================
>>
>>
>> When is the Union Flag Flown?
>>
>> The Union Flag is flown on government buildings on days marking:
>>
>> * the birthdays of members of the Royal family,
>> * Commonwealth Day,
>> * Coronation Day,
>> * The Queen's official birthday,
>> * Remembrance Day and
>> * on the days of the State Opening and prorogation of Parliament.
>>
>> It is also flown on St David's Day (Wales), St George's Day (England),
>> St Andrew's Day (Scotland), and St Patrick's Day (Northern Ireland).
>>
>> ========================================
>>
>
>AT LAST!! Yes, the UNION JACK is known only as that when flown from the
>jackstaff of a moored or anchored British Warship. I have spent decades
>telling the ignorant sods who call the UNION FLAG flying on public
>building the UNION JACK to get it right. I have even mailed the BBC
>whose newsreaders are supposed to be so perfect but to not know the
>correct name of our Flag. Trust a texan to find it and post it LOL x 10
>Gordon Brown stated some time ago that he wants to see the Union Flag
>flying on ALL public buildings permanently. Well it sure flies on my
>jacket lapel permanently.
>
>Mercury.
Aw shucks...
Blushes
lol,
darkshadows
p.s. I also showed how not to display the flag upside down.
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