CIRCA - ~1190 🏴 - a red cross, centered, with arms extended to the edges of a white field
HISTORY: The English use of the Cross ✚ of Saint George flag traces to King Richard I (i.e. Richard 🦁Lion-Heart) and the
12c Mediterranean🔍 campaigns of the Crusades, making it one of the oldest national flag in use today.
(Richard likely encountered the design in Genoa, where it was used it as a maritime banner.)
By the 13c, it served as a military standard, and St. George himself was officially elevated to
Patron Saint ~ 1348 with the founding the Order of the Garter. Later, in 1606, after the union of
crowns 👑, it was incorporated into an early version of the 🇬🇧Union Jack🔍, with the flag of
Scotland🔍, symbolizing England's contribution to the United Kingdom of Great Britain.
VEXILLOLOGY:* The Cross of Saint George adheres to traditional heraldry where;
The WHITE Field symbolizes purity & sincerity and...
The RED denotes warrior strength & martyrdom
The Symmetrical Greek ✚ CROSS emphasizes the universality of Christianity (as distinct from the Latin cross associated specifically with the Passion of Christ)
SAINT GEORGE, is a chivalric martial archetype that embodies Christian fortitude against persecution. A Roman soldier of Cappadocian, martyred in 303 AD, in legend he is famed for his battle & triumph, through faith, over a dragon 🐉, symbolizing the Christian conquest of paganism / Satan & underscoring themes of divine protection and moral victory.