Expert: Malcolm Speechley - 9/4/2009

Question
QUESTION: Many types of flag are denoted as english.
The original flag or ensign would have been that of the ORIGINAL tribe that inhabited England. Which tribe was this and what emblem did they fly on standards?.
Celts or pre celts?.

ANSWER: Hello Reuben

There was no single original tribe but a number of tribes. These emerged during neolithic times. However this was a long time before the concept of national emblems or flags. The Celts may have had standards but these were the personal standards of their leaders rather than national flags.

It is claimed that the Saxons were represented by a white dragon standard, however this claim was only made in hindsight. The claim therefore, cannot be regarded as historical.

National flags as we understand them did not emerge until the later medieval period. Even then these were, in most cases, the personal standards of the rulers translated into national Emblems. Or in the case of the UK the personal standards attributed the the patron saints of the constituent countries.

Hope this answers your question.

Malcolm.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: As England was unified under Harold as king and his personal standard was known as "The Fighting Man" then would it be correct to assume this would be our  first national flag. Or would a  Saxon Dragon flag have been present also?.Was a Dragon flag flown at Stanford Bridge?.I assume Harolds banner would have been there.

Answer
Hello Reuben

'The Fighting Man' was Harold's personal standard and cannot be considered to be a national flag. If this were the case then the national flag would change every time a new king with a new personal standard came to the throne.

A dragon flag was present at Hastings and almost certainly at Stamford Bridge. This was because the dragon standard was by now the emblem of Harold's Earldom of Wessex.

The first truly National flag in England was the red St Georges cross that is now incorporated into the Union Jack.

Best Wishes

Malcolm.