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When was the Union Jack concocted?
13 Jun 2006 21:45:05 -0700
alt.talk.royalty
previous
atsarisborn...
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Idle question for minds stuffed full of trivia (like mine):
Who first put the Union Jack together, and when, and why?
I know it was before 1756 (I have a copy of French chart of 1756 of
"les pavillions sur la mer" which includes it, and also a Russian flag
that was its obverse).
Frank R.A.J. Maloney...
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Strictly speaking on land it's the Union Flag, a jack being a flag raised on
the jack staff of a ship; but terminologically speaking that ship has
definitely sailed so I will use the two terms interchangeably.
The history of the Union Jack goes back to 1606 when the crowns of England
and Scotland where united by James I/VI. Each kingdom on land retained its
own national flag, the St. George's Cross and the St. Andrew's Cross
respectively.
But at sea a new flag was needed for the new navy of Great Britain. James
proclaimed that the maintops of his navy's ships fly a flag made of the two
national flags, but left it to his heralds to create the exact design.
Nobody actually knows what the heralds came up with, although most everyone
assumes it was more or less like the present Union Flag without the St.
Patrick's Cross of Ireland, which was added after the Second Act of Union.
The flag was controversial with both the English and the Scots, who in
particular came up with several variants that gave more honor to their
emblem.
The first Union Jack went out of use during the Commonwealth and was
restored for use by the king's ships with the Stuart Restoration. The First
Act of Union in 1707 specified it as the "ensign armorial of the United
Kingdom."
When Ireland was joined to the United Kingdom, the so-called St. Patrick's
Cross was added to the Union Flag. However, the St. Patrick's Cross was
never a national symbol of Ireland or its national flag. However, a red
saltire on a white background was part of the regalia of the Order of St.
Patrick, founded 20 years before the union with Great Britain.
The device was also found on the arms of the Duke of Leinster, one of the
founders of the Order; the red saltire on white had been borne by his
family, the FitzGeralds, for centuries.
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susuhanan...
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good overview and includes the Royal proclamations of James I and
Charles I.
atsarisborn...
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A very useful summing up, thanks.
I am shocked, shocked, to find Frank, one of my favorite rmo posters,
making a couple of historical howlers on this question.
Frank R.A.J. Maloney...
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Please point them out to me so that I won't repeat them the next time this
topic arises. Really and most sincerely. I am always happy to be corrected.
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Jean Coeur de Lapin
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As for the St Patrick's Cross, St Patrick wasn't martyred and thus
should not have a cross to represent him. Nevertheless, there are
reports dating from the 1760's showing that people wore crosses to
represent him on St Patrick's Day, including the King and members of
the Royal Family. However, we do not know exactly what colours were
used or even if it was worn saltire.
Christopher Buyers
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Best,
Jean Coeur de Lapin
Hovite...
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