The Saltire: The Flag of Scotland

Each major claim carries one of three labels. established means supported by primary records, official bodies or several independent reliable sources. shared means the core fact is sound but sources disagree on details, dates or interpretation. traditional means widely repeated but not traceable to a primary or independent source.

The documented history begins with seals and orders in the 13th and 14th centuries. Everything before that, including the Athelstaneford battle, is legend. The claim to be the world's oldest flag depends on counting a symbol rather than a continuously used flag, and on that test it loses to Denmark.

The Athelstaneford legend

traditional The traditional story says that in 832, before a battle at Athelstaneford in East Lothian, a Pictish and Scottish army saw a white saltire against the blue sky, took it as a sign from St Andrew, won the battle and adopted the cross as their flag. It is a legend. No contemporary source records the battle or the vision, and the story was written down centuries later. The village of Athelstaneford is now home to the National Flag Heritage Centre.

What the records show

established The saltire appears in Scotland first as a religious emblem: Scottish seals show St Andrew on a diagonal cross from 1180. Its earliest known use as a national emblem is on the seal of the Guardians of Scotland, who governed the kingdom after the death of Alexander III, in 1286. In 1385 every Scottish soldier was ordered to wear a saltire as a field sign. The first certain picture of a white saltire on a blue field appears around 1542, in the armorial of Sir David Lindsay of the Mount, Lord Lyon. In 1672 the Lord Lyon recorded the flags of Scotland and England in the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland, which gives the flag a basis in Scots law.

St Andrew and the diagonal cross

shared The saltire was a common medieval field sign, and it may not originally have had anything to do with St Andrew. The tradition that the apostle was martyred on an X-shaped cross is not found in the earliest Christian sources; the firm link between the saint and the diagonal cross developed in the Middle Ages, and may date in Scotland to the late 14th century.

Is it the oldest flag in the world?

established The Saltire is often called the oldest national flag in Europe or the world. Guinness World Records gives the title of oldest continuously used national flag to Denmark's Dannebrog, which is certainly in use by the 1370s, shown in the Gelre Armorial. The Flag Institute, the UK's flag organisation, says the evidence for both flags is fragmentary but that the balance of evidence points to Denmark being older, and that the Saltire's history would not count as continuous use of the modern flag. The fair statement is that the Saltire is among the oldest national flags still in use.

The Saltire and the Union Flag

established After James VI became King of England in 1603, he ordered on 12 April 1606 that the crosses of St George and St Andrew be combined into a single flag for ships. Scottish shipmasters complained in August 1606 that the design put St George's cross on top of St Andrew's, and an unofficial Scottish version with the Saltire uppermost was used for a time. The Saltire remains the blue and white of the Union Flag today.

What shade of blue?

established Because natural dyes varied, the Saltire's blue ranged historically from sky blue to navy, and some makers used the dark blue of the Union Flag. In 2003 the Scottish Parliament's Education, Culture and Sport Committee considered a petition, PE512, and on 18 February agreed that Pantone 300 was the closest match to the Saltire's azure. Members stressed that this was an advisory, voluntary code, not a statutory rule.

Who may fly it

established Anyone may fly the Saltire, and it is the correct flag for private individuals and organisations to fly as Scotland's national flag. That distinguishes it from the Royal Banner of Scotland, the Lion Rampant, whose use is restricted by law. On St Andrew's Day, 30 November, Scottish Government buildings with only one flagpole fly the Saltire rather than the Union Flag.

• The saltire was used as a national emblem on a Scottish seal in 1286.
• In 1385 every Scottish soldier was ordered to wear a saltire.
• The first certain blue-and-white Saltire picture dates from around 1542.
• Guinness World Records says Denmark's flag is the oldest in continuous use.
• Scottish shipmasters complained in 1606 that the new Union Flag put England's cross on top.
• The official recommended blue, Pantone 300, was agreed by a committee in 2003 and is not law.
• Anyone may fly the Saltire, but not the Lion Rampant.
• Athelstaneford, where the flag's legend is set, has a National Flag Heritage Centre.

• Do not present the Athelstaneford vision of 832 as history.
• Do not call the Saltire the oldest national flag in the world or in Europe.
• Do not say Pantone 300 is legally required.
• Do not say the saltire was always linked to St Andrew; the link developed in the Middle Ages.
• Do not confuse the Saltire, which anyone may fly, with the Lion Rampant, which is restricted.