CIRCA - 1385 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 - a white diagonal cross extending to the edges of a blue field

HISTORY: The Saltire* or 𓏵 Cross of Saint Andrew was officially recognized as national the banner by the 16c, but had been in

consistent use throughout the 15c; since it was 1st decreed that all Scottish soldiers in France during the Hundred Years' War

should bear it to distinguish them from England's🔍 red cross ✚ of Saint George

 Frequently combined with a thistle, unicorn, or as Church of Scotland's blue🔍 saltire with burning

  bush, the earliest uses of the motif are 8c iconography, tied to Andrew's cult, patron saint of Scotland

(after his relics came to Scotland ~4c & formally recognized in 1320, when independence was asserted in his name)

It's linked to a legend of the white 𓏵 cross appearing in the sky at the Battle of Athelstaneford.

[c.832 AD seen as divine assurance of victory, where-after Pictish & Scottish forces reportedly defeated Anglo-Saxon invaders]

There is evidence of military use of saltires as early as an 1165 heraldic seal plus as a field sign during the Wars of Independence

in the 13c. and worn in the Crusades, including among Ulster Scots.

(Variations included changes to the shade of blue, but they mostly reflect evolving dye practices rather than deliberate alterations)

The Saltire was integrated with the cross of England in 1606, following the Union of the Crowns 👑, creating an early version

of the 🇬🇧 Union Jack🔍, symbolizing Scotland's contribution to the United Kingdom of Great Britain.

VEXILLOLOGY:** Interpreted to signify aspiration or elevation, with themes of resilience, faith & pride of collective identity.

• The CROSS OF SAINT ANDREW, (crux decussata) represents the X-shaped cross upon which it's believed Jesus' apostle (& brother of Saint Peter) Saint Andrew was crucified, by his own request, in Patras, Greece, `60AD.

  • Said to have deemed himself unworthy of the same upright cross as Christ; he preached for two days while bound to it before his death.

  • And THE WHITE is linked to the vision of the legend, is traditionally a symbol of ☮︎ peace & purity

• The  BLUE Field is derived from the legend, where the cross appeared against a blue sky, (later also evoking the sea🔍 ) & traditionally associated with loyalty & truth in heraldry

* From Old French sautoir = stirrup due to resemblance to crossed bands of stirrup leathers.

** The STUDY of FLAGS; their history, symbolism, usage, and design. From Latin vexillum - referring to a Roman military standard / flag (from velum= cloth/ covering/sail/curtain

[PIE🔍 root weg = to weave / to cover]) + Greek suffix -logia = study]