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{{short description|National flag}}
[[Image:Flag of Wales.svg|thumb|right|[[Image:FIAV 110000.svg|23px]] Flag ratio: 2:3]]
{{Use British English|date=January 2014}}
[[Image:Photo of Y Ddraig Goch.jpg|thumb|right|The Welsh Dragon]]
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox flag
| Name = Wales
| Article =
| Image = Flag of Wales 2.svg
| Use = 111000
| Symbol = {{FIAV|normal}} {{FIAV|110000}}
| Proportion = 3:5
| Adoption = 1959 (current version)
| Design = The [[Welsh Dragon]] centered on a horizontal bi-colour of white and green
}}
The '''flag of Wales''' ({{lang-cy|Baner Cymru}} or {{lang|cy|Y Ddraig Goch}}, meaning '[[Welsh Dragon|the red dragon]]') consists of a red [[European dragon|dragon]] [[attitude (heraldry)#Passant|passant]] on a green and white [[field (heraldry)|field]]. As with many [[Charge (heraldry)|heraldic charges]], the exact representation of the dragon is not standardised in law and many renderings exist. It is not represented in the [[Union Flag]].


The colours of green and white are the colours of the [[Tudor family]]; a standard featuring the red dragon was used by [[Henry VII of England|Henry VII]] at the [[Battle of Bosworth]] in 1485, after which it was carried in state to [[St Paul's Cathedral]], and a dragon added as a [[supporter (heraldry)|supporter]] of the Tudor royal arms.
The [[national flag]] of [[Wales]] is '''The Red Dragon''' ({{lang-cy|[[Y Ddraig Goch]]}}). It consists of a [[red]] [[European dragon|dragon]], [[passant]], on a [[green]] and [[white]] [[Field (heraldry)|field]]. As with any heraldic charge, the exact representation of the dragon is not standardised and many different interpretations exist.


It was officially recognised as the Welsh national flag in 1959. Several cities include a dragon in their flag design, including [[Cardiff]], the Welsh capital.
The flag was granted official status in [[1959]], but the red dragon itself has been associated with Wales for centuries; indeed, the flag is sometimes claimed to be the oldest [[national flag]] still in use, though the origin of the adoption of the dragon symbol is now lost in [[History of Wales|history]] and [[Welsh mythology|myth]]. A plausible theory is that the [[Ancient Rome|Romans]] brought the emblem to what is now Wales during their [[Roman_invasion_of_Britain|occupation]] of [[Britain]] in the form of the [[Dacian Draco|Draco]] standards borne by the Roman cavalry, but it could be even older. The green and white stripes of the flag were additions by the [[House of Tudor]], the Welsh dynasty that held the [[Kingdom of England|English throne]] from [[1485]] to [[1603]]. Green and white are also the colours of the [[leek (vegetable)|leek]], another [[national emblem]] of Wales.


== Symbolism==
The oldest recorded use of the dragon to symbolise Wales is from the ''[[Historia Brittonum]]'', written around [[830]], but it is popularly supposed to have been the battle standard of [[King Arthur|Arthur]] and other ancient [[Celt]]ic leaders. It is particularly associated in Welsh poetry with [[Cadwaladr]] king of [[Kingdom of Gwynedd|Gwynedd]] from c.[[655]] to [[682]].
{{See also|Welsh Dragon}}
[[File:Vortigern-Dragons.jpg|thumb|right|15th-century image illustrating the story of [[Vortigern]] and the red and white dragons.]]
In the [[Historia Brittonum]], there is a narrative in which [[Vortigern]] ({{Lang-cy|Gwrtheyrn}}), [[King of the Britons|King of the Celtic Britons]] from [[Kingdom of Powys|Powys]] is interrupted whilst attempting to build a fort at Dinas Emrys. He is told by Merlin/Ambrosius ({{Lang-cy|Myrddin}}) to dig up two dragons beneath the castle. He discovers a red dragon representing the [[Celtic Britons]] (now Welsh) and a [[white dragon]] representing the [[Anglo-Saxons]] (now English). Merlin/Ambrosius prophesies that the Celtic Britons will reclaim the island and push the Anglo-Saxons back to the sea.<ref>{{Cite DWB|id=s-GWRT-HEY-0400|last=Williams|first=Ifor|year=1959|title=Gwrtheyrn (Vortigern)}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Red Dragon of Wales |url=https://www.maryjones.us/jce/reddragon.html |access-date=2022-08-12 |website=www.maryjones.us}}</ref>


The Historia Brittonum was written {{Circa|828}}, and by this point, the dragon was associated with a coming deliverer from the Saxons and, for the first time, as a symbol of independence. It is also the first time that the colour of the dragon is verifiably given as red. There may well be an older attribution of red to the colour of the dragon in [[Y Gododdin|''Y Gododdin'']].<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |first=Carl |last=Lofmark |url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/1302083973 |title=A history of the red dragon |date=1995 |publisher=Gwasg Carreg Gwalch |oclc=1302083973}}</ref> The story of Lludd a Llefelys in the Mabinogion wrote that the red dragon of the Celtic Britons was in opposition with the white dragon of the [[Saxons]].<ref name=":0">''[[wikisource:History of the Britons|Historia Brittonum]]'', ch. 40–42.</ref>
Many legends are associated with the Welsh dragon. The most famous is the [[prophecy]] of [[Merlin (wizard)|Myrddin]] (or Merlin) of a long fight between a red dragon and a white dragon. According to the prophecy, the white dragon would at first dominate but eventually the red dragon would win, this eventual victory and recapturing of [[Lloegr]] would be, according to Welsh legend, brought about by [[Y Mab Darogan]]. This is believed to represent the conflict in the 5th and 6th centuries between the [[Britons|British]] [[Celts]] (who later became the [[Wales|Welsh]]) and the invading [[Saxons]].


The dragon of Wales was used by numerous Welsh rulers as a propaganda tool; to portray their links to the Arthurian legend, the title given to such rulers is [[Mab Darogan|Y Mab Darogan]] (The prophesied Son).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Has Wales turned on Mark Drakeford over Covid? &#124; the Spectator |date=11 December 2020 |url=https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/has-wales-turned-on-mark-drakeford-over-covid-}}</ref> The Welsh term {{lang-cy|draig|lit=dragon|label=none}} was used to refer to [[List of rulers of Wales|Welsh leaders]] including [[Owain Gwynedd]],<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Llywelyn |first=Llywarch ap |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z7HfAQAACAAJ |title=Gwaith Llywarch ap Llywelyn |date=1991 |publisher=Gwasg Prifysgol Cymru |isbn=978-0-7083-1084-7 |language=cy}}</ref> [[Llywelyn ap Gruffudd]] (Llywelyn the Last)<ref>{{Cite book |last=Stephens |first=Thomas II |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YqVSAAAAcAAJ&dq=llywelyn+dragon&pg=PA381 |title=The Literature of the Kymry Beeing a Critical Essay on the History of the Language and Literature of Wales During the 12. and Two Succeeding Centuries (etc.) |date=1849 |publisher=William Rees and Longman |pages=381 |language=en}}</ref> and "the dragon" [[Owain Glyndŵr]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hemans |first=Mrs |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sDARAAAAYAAJ&dq=glyndwr+dragon+crown&pg=PA246 |title=The Poetical Works of Felicia Hemans: With Memoir, Explanatory Notes, Etc |date=1881 |publisher=J. Wurtele Lovell |pages=246 |language=en}}</ref> [[Cynddelw Brydydd Mawr]], a court poet to Owain Gwynedd refers to him in one elegy, personifying him as "The golden dragon of Snowdonia of eagles".<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Owen |first=Robert |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dzcLAAAAYAAJ&dq=welsh+gold+dragon&pg=PA70 |title=The Kymry: Their Origin, History, and International Relations |date=1891 |publisher=W. Spurrell and Son |language=en}}</ref>
The Welsh Flag is the only flag of the [[British Isles (terminology)|constituent countries of the UK]] not to be used in the [[Union Jack]]. Wales had no explicit recognition in the flag because Wales had been annexed by Edward I of England in 1282, and since the Laws in Wales Acts 1535-1542 was considered to be a part of the Kingdom of England. There have since been proposals to include the Dragon or the [[flag of Saint David]] (itself a cross) on the Union Jack but these have never met with much support.


Henry VII recognised the red dragon upon its blessing at Saint Paul's Cathedral following his victory at Bosworth Field under the realm of 'England and Wales' in 1485; the [[United Kingdom]] would not recognise the flag's official status again until 1959,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.visitwales.com/info/history-heritage-and-traditions/dragon-spirit-legend-welsh-dragon|title = Dragon spirit: The legend of the Welsh dragon| date=5 July 2023 }}</ref> despite the dragon being used by Romanised Celtic Britons since at least the fall of the Roman empire in the 6th century AD.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-47389680|title = Wales history: Why is the red dragon on the Welsh flag?|work = BBC News|date = 6 July 2019}}</ref>
Wales and [[Flag of Bhutan|Bhutan]] are at present the only countries to have a dragon on their flag, though the [[flag of China|Chinese flag]] also featured a dragon during the [[Qing Dynasty]].


==Opposition==
== History ==
{{See also|Welsh Dragon}}
In [[March 2007]], [[Reverend George Hargreaves|the Rev George Hargreaves]], the leader of the [[Welsh Christian Party]], announced that his organisation would stand in the [[2007]] [[Welsh Assembly]] [[National Assembly for Wales election, 2007|elections]] with the mandate of removing Y Ddraig Goch as the flag of Wales and replacing it with the [[Flag of Saint David|St David's Cross]]. This is because, according to his party, the dragon is symbolic of [[Satan|Satanic]] beasts described in the [[Book of Revelation]]. A number of groups have debunked this theory.

=== Kingdom of Gwynedd ===
[[File:Banner of Llywelyn (Square).svg|thumb|188x188px|Banner of [[Llywelyn ap Gruffudd]] (Llywelyn the Last)]]
The Senior line of the House of Aberffraw descended from Prince [[Llywelyn the Great]] in patriline succession and became extinct on the death of [[Owain Lawgoch]] in 1378.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Davies |first1=John |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ogTq2KRuu9IC&dq=House+of+Aberffraw+extinct&pg=PT337 |title=A History of Wales |date=2007 |publisher=Penguin UK |isbn=978-0-14-192633-9 |language=en |quote=The plot was carried out (by a Scot) in 1378, and Saint Leger on the banks of the Garonne (opposite Chateau Calon Segur - not a Welsh name, alas) became the burial place of the last of the senior male line of the house of Aberffraw. Following the extinction of that line,... |access-date=23 December 2019}}</ref>

=== Owain Glyndŵr ===
[[File:Glyndwr's Banner.svg|thumb|Banner of Owain Glyndwr]]
[[File:Y Draig Aur Owain Glyndŵr.jpg|thumb|'Y Draig Aur' Owain Glyndŵr 'Golden Dragon']]
In 1400, {{lang|cy|[[Owain Glyndŵr]]|italic=no}} raised the dragon standard during his revolts against the occupation of Wales by the English crown. {{lang|cy|Owain|italic=no}}'s banner known as {{lang|cy|Y Ddraig Aur}} ('The Golden Dragon') was raised over {{lang|cy|[[Caernarfon]]|italic=no}} during the Battle of Tuthill in 1401 against the English. {{lang|cy|Glyndŵr|italic=no}} chose to fly the standard of a golden dragon on a white background, the traditional standard.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8ipmBAAAQBAJ |title=Lost Battlefields of Wales |first=Martin |last=Hackett |date=30 July 2014 |publisher=Amberley Publishing Limited |isbn=9781445637037 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_p5DgK5GCGMC |title=A History of Wales |first=John |last=Davies |date=25 January 2007 |publisher=Penguin Adult |isbn=9780140284751 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8XGoAwAAQBAJ |title=Owain Glyndŵr: The Story of the Last Prince of Wales |first=Terry |last=Breverton |date=15 May 2009 |publisher=Amberley Publishing Limited |isbn=9781445608761 }}</ref>

=== Henry VII ===
[[File:ArbfaisTuduriaid.jpg|thumb|Coat of arms of [[Henry VII of England|Henry Tudor]]]]

In 1485, [[Henry VII of England|Henry Tudor]] flew the red dragon during his invasion of England.<ref name="dragon and war">[http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/history/sites/themes/society/flag_war.shtml The dragon and war] BBC Wales history</ref> Henry was of Welsh descent and after leaving France with an army of 2,000, landed at [[Milford Haven]] on 7 August. He made capital of his Welsh ancestry by gathering support and gaining safe passage through Wales. Henry met and fought [[Richard III of England|Richard III]] at the [[Battle of Bosworth Field]], and took the English throne in victory. After the battle, Henry carried the red dragon standard in state to [[Old St Paul's Cathedral|St Paul's Cathedral]].<ref name=":3">{{cite book |last=Perrin |first=W.G. |title=British Flags|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.169115 |year=1922 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=Cambridge }}</ref>{{Citation page|page=52}} The Tudor livery of green and white was added to the flag later.<ref name=":3" />{{Citation page|page=63}}

=== Modern flag===
In 1807, the red dragon on a green mount was adopted as the [[Royal Badge of Wales]].<ref name="Davies732" /> On 11 March 1953, the motto {{lang|cy|Y Ddraig goch ddyry cychwyn}} ('The red dragon gives impetus' or 'The red dragon leads the way') was added, a line from the poem by {{lang|cy|[[Deio ab Ieuan Du]]|italic=no}}.<ref>[https://www.fotw.info/flags/gb-wales.html Origin of Y Ddraig Goch] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100611213215/https://www.fotw.info/flags/gb-wales.html |date=11 June 2010 }} Flags of the World</ref> The badge was the basis of a flag of Wales<ref>{{cite web |url=http://flagspot.net/flags/gb-wa-hs.html |title=Wales: History of Welsh Flags |work=[[Flags of the World (website)|Flags of the World]] }}</ref> in which it was placed on a horizontal white and green bicolour. However, the flag was the subject of derision, both because the tail pointed downwards in some iterations<ref>{{cite web |last1=Raeside |first1=Rob |title=Origin of Y Ddraig Goch |url=https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/Flags/gb-wales.html |website=[[Flags of the World (website)|Flags of the World]] |access-date=24 October 2018}}</ref> and because the motto was a potential double entendre, used in the original poem to allude to the penis of a copulating bull.<ref name="Davies732" /><ref name="Eriksen&Thomas80">{{cite book |last1=Eriksen |first1=Thomas |last2=Jenkins |first2=Richard |title=Flag, nation and symbolism in Europe and America |date=2007 |publisher=Routledge |location=London |isbn=9780415444040 |page=80 |edition=1. publ.}}</ref><ref name="Black109">{{cite journal |last1=Black |first1=Ronald |title=Studies in honour of James Carney (1914–89) |journal=Cambrian Medieval Celtic Studies |date=1992 |issue=23 |page=109 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yVopAQAAMAAJ&q=%22referring+to+the+bull+covering%22 }}</ref> In 1959, government use of this flag was dropped in favour of the current flag<ref>Barraclough, EMC. ''Flags of the World'', 1965.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/1959/feb/23/welsh-flag#S5CV0600P0-04661 |date=23 February 1959 |title=Welsh Flag (Hansard, 23 February 1959) |work=[[Hansard|Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)]] }}</ref> at the urging of the [[Gorsedd|{{lang|cy|Gorsedd|nocat=y}} of Bards]].<ref>[http://www.lgbtcymruhelpline.org.uk/8welshflag.htm Lofmark, C. ''A History of the Red Dragon''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080907195629/http://www.lgbtcymruhelpline.org.uk/8welshflag.htm |date=7 September 2008 }}</ref> Today the flag can be seen flying from the {{lang|cy|[[Senedd building|Senedd]]|italic=no}} in [[Cardiff]] and from [[Welsh Government]] buildings, as well as [[Government of the United Kingdom|UK Government]] buildings in Wales.

Between 1910 and 1916, [[Council Offices, Caernarfon|Caernarfon town council]] continuously appealed to have the Welsh flag hoisted on top of [[Caernarfon castle]]'s Eagle tower to replace that of the [[Union Jack]]. In April 1916, the mayor at the time, Charles A. Jones (who was also the deputy constable of the castle)<ref>''Caernarvon & Denbigh Herald'', Friday 20 October 1916 - https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002967/19161020/096/0006</ref> said the reasoning behind rejecting the Welsh dragon was that "the authorities were advised that there was no such thing as a Welsh flag.. it was only a badge".<ref>''Western Mail'', Friday 07 April 1916. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000104/19160407/130/0004</ref><ref>''Liverpool Echo'', Thursday 09 April 1914 - https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000271/19140409/144/0008</ref>

In 1932, the 'Welsh Nationalist Party' (who would later be rebranded as [[Plaid Cymru]]) appealed to the [[Ministry of Works (United Kingdom)|Office of Works]] to replace the Union flag with that of the Welsh flag on Caernarfon castle's Eagle tower on [[St David's Day]]. The office ignored them; as a consequence, on March 1, a group of Welsh patriots climbed the towers and hauled the Union flag down from the Eagle tower and the eastern tower and replaced it with the Welsh flag. The castle's officials promptly took the Welsh flags down and restored the Union flags. Later in the afternoon, the Union flag was again hauled down from the Eagle tower and taken to the castle square where it was torn to pieces by some 30 or 40 students. The students passed through the turnstiles of the castle as ordinary visitors, climbed the stone steps to the Eagle Tower, and carried away the Union Jack, which had previously been removed during the morning. Several ex-servicemen looked on with evident displeasure at the treatment of the Union Flag and at one point it was likely that a conflict would ensue between the two sections.<ref>''Western Morning News'', Wednesday 02 March 1932 - https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000329/19320302/071/0007</ref>

In 2017, the [[Unicode Consortium]] approved [[emoji]] support for the Flag of Wales<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2017/01/27/emoji-england-scotland-wales-flags-released-year/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2017/01/27/emoji-england-scotland-wales-flags-released-year/ |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Emoji for England, Scotland and Wales flags to be released this year |last=Titcomb |first=James |date=2017 |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |access-date=18 October 2018 }}{{cbignore}}</ref> following a proposal from [[Jeremy Burge]] of [[Emojipedia]] and Owen Williams of [[BBC Cymru Wales|BBC Wales]]<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-40032325 |title=Wales flag emoji arrives on Twitter |date=24 May 2017 |work=BBC News |access-date=18 October 2018 }}</ref> in 2016.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-36985749 |title=Wales flag emoji decision awaited |last=Thomas |first=Huw |date=5 August 2016 |work=BBC News |access-date=18 October 2018 }}</ref> This was added to major smartphone platforms alongside the flags of [[Flag of England|England]] and [[Flag of Scotland|Scotland]] in the same year.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-41839176 |title=Wales flag emoji arrives on iPhone |date=1 November 2017 |work=BBC News |access-date=18 October 2018 }}</ref> Prior to this update, ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' reported that users had "been able to send emojis of the Union Flag, but not of the individual nations".<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/12/11/flags-england-wales-scotland-given-thumbs-emoji-chiefs/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/12/11/flags-england-wales-scotland-given-thumbs-emoji-chiefs/ |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Flags of England, Wales and Scotland given thumbs up by emoji chiefs |date=11 December 2016 |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |access-date=18 October 2018 }}{{cbignore}}</ref>

<gallery>
File:Flag of Wales from 1919 Marshal Foch victory-harmony banner - Edited.png|Flag of Wales from the 1919 [[Ferdinand Foch|Marshal Foch]] victory-harmony banner
File:Flag of Wales, 1807-1953.svg|Variant depicting the dragon on a green mount<ref>{{cite book |last1=Barraclough |first1=E.M.C. |title=Flags of the World |date=1969 |publisher=Frederick Warne & Co Ltd |location=London |page=55}}</ref>
File:Flag of Wales (1953-1959).svg|Flag depicting the Royal Badge of Wales after its [[augmentation of honour]], used 1953–1959
File:Flag of the Welsh colony in Patagonia.svg|Flag of {{lang|cy|[[Y Wladfa]]}}
File:Australian Welsh-heritage flag.svg|[[Welsh Australian]] flag<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Welsh Australian Flag 1988 |url=https://australianaflags.com.au/flags/the-welsh-australian-flag-1988/ |access-date=2024-04-19 |website=Australiana Flags |language=en-GB}}</ref>
File:House flag of Cory Brothers.svg|House flag of the [[Clifford Cory|Cory Brothers]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/rmgc-object-203 |title=House flag, Cory Brothers |author= |date= |work=Royal Museums Greenwich |access-date=19 April 2024}}</ref>
File:House flag of John Byford and Son.svg|House flag of John Byford and Son<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/rmgc-object-1105 |title=House flag, John Byford & Son Ltd |author= |date= |work=Royal Museums Greenwich |access-date=19 April 2024}}</ref>
File:flagofwales.atr42.arp.750pix.jpg|The red dragon on the tailfin of an [[Air Wales]] [[ATR 42]] aircraft.
</gallery>

==Other flags==
===Flag of Saint David===
{{main|Flag of Saint David}}
[[File:Flag of Saint David.svg|thumb|right|200px|[[Flag of Saint David]]]]
The [[flag of Saint David]], a yellow cross on a black field, is used in the emblem of the [[Diocese of St&nbsp;Davids]] and is flown on [[St&nbsp;David's Day]].

===Government ensign===
[[File:Government_Ensign_of_Wales.svg|thumb|right|200px|Welsh Government ensign]]
An ensign for use aboard ships used by the Welsh Government, such as the patrol boats of the [[Marine and Fisheries Division]], was granted in 2017.<ref>Flag Institute Flagmaster Issue 160</ref> The flag is a British [[blue ensign]] defaced with a yellow dragon with red claws and tongue.

==In popular culture==
The flag of Wales has been used by those in the arts, sport and business to show a sense of patriotism or recognition with Wales. During the [[1999 Rugby World Cup]], which was hosted in Wales, the opening ceremony used the motif of the dragon several times; the flag was worn on a dress by Welsh singer [[Shirley Bassey]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/461052.stm |title=World Cup kicks off in style |work=[[BBC News Online]] |date=1 October 1999 }}</ref>

Other musicians to have used the flag, include [[Nicky Wire]] of [[Manic Street Preachers]], who will often drape the Welsh flag over amps when playing live,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/music/sites/manic-street-preachers/pages/nicky.shtml |title=Manic Street Preachers – Nicky Wire |publisher=BBC Wales Music }}</ref> and [[Cerys Matthews]] who has worn the image on her clothes,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/pop-music-the-changing-face-of-brit-guitar-rock-1152664.html |title=Pop music: The changing face of Brit guitar rock |work=[[The Independent]] |date=27 March 1998 }}</ref> while classical singer [[Katherine Jenkins]] has taken the flag on stage during live performances.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/showbiz/article-23543895-katherine-jenkins-threatens-to-spill-out-of-dress-on-stage-as-boyfriend-gethin-jones-looks-on.do |title=Katherine Jenkins threatens to spill out of dress on stage as boyfriend Gethin Jones looks on |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100405072446/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/showbiz/article-23543895-katherine-jenkins-threatens-to-spill-out-of-dress-on-stage-as-boyfriend-gethin-jones-looks-on.do |archive-date=5 April 2010 |work=[[Evening Standard]] |date=25 August 2008 }}</ref>

Former [[Pink Floyd]] bassist [[Roger Waters]]'s album ''[[Radio K.A.O.S.]]'' (1987) follows the story of a young disabled Welsh man, grounded in California, who regularly expresses nostalgia and a hope for return to his home country. The chorus of "[[Sunset Strip (song)|Sunset Strip]]" uses the imagery of the flag of Wales to further emphasise this:
{{Poemquote |text=And I sit in the canyon with my back to the sea
There's a blood-red dragon on a field of green
Calling me back, back to the Black Hills again. }}

In 2018, the flag made an unexpected appearance in ''[[Black Panther (film)|Black Panther]]'', during a scene set in the [[Headquarters of the United Nations|United Nations]]. The flag is displayed alongside those of independent sovereign nations, leading to speculation that Wales is an independent nation in the [[Marvel Cinematic Universe]]. The scene led to comments and discussions, including from the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Brennan |first1=Shane |title=Marvel movie franchise recognises Welsh independence |url=https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/wales-wins-independence-united-nations-14298958 |access-date=12 March 2021 |agency=North Wales Live |date=16 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Black Panther's universe features an 'independent Wales' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-43085864 |access-date=12 March 2021 |agency=BBC |date=16 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Williams |first1=Kathryn |title=Welsh flag flies as independent state in Marvel superhero film Black Panther |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/film-news/welsh-flag-flies-independent-state-14296040 |access-date=12 March 2021 |agency=Wales Online |date=16 February 2018}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
{{portal|Wales}}
* [[List of British flags]]
* [[List of flags of the United Kingdom]]
* [[List of Welsh flags]]
* [[List of Welsh flags]]
* [[National symbols of Wales]]
* [[Flags of Europe]]


==External links==
==References==
{{Reflist|30em|refs=
* [http://www.famouswelsh.com/13_Articles/Union_Jack/Flag_of_Wales.html HiJack], an article addressing the question of why Wales has no explicit symbolic representation on the [[Union Flag]].
<!--
* {{FOTW | title=Wales | id=gb-wales}}
<ref name="Llywelyn2017">{{cite thesis |type=MPhil |last=Llywelyn |first=Mared |date=2017 |title=Y Ddraig yn Nychymyg a Llenyddiaeth y Cymry c.600 – c.1500 |publisher=Aberystwyth University |lang=cy |url=https://pure.aber.ac.uk/portal/files/26607451/Llywelyn_Mared.pdf |access-date=25 September 2022}}</ref>-->
<ref name="Davies732">{{Cite book|last=Davies |first=John| author2=Jenkins, Nigel| title=The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales |year=2008 |publisher=University of Wales Press |location=Cardiff |isbn=978-0-7083-1953-6}}</ref>
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<ref name=":5">{{Cite book |last=Sikes |first=Wirt |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VEUZAAAAYAAJ&dq=red+dragon+of+cadwaladr&pg=PA393 |title=British Goblins: Welsh Folk Lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions |date=1881 |publisher=J. R. Osgood |pages=393 |language=en}}</ref> -->
}}


==Bibliography==
{{UKFlags}}
*{{Cite book|last=Davies |first=John| author2=Jenkins, Nigel| title=The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales |year=2008 |publisher=University of Wales Press |location=Cardiff |isbn=978-0-7083-1953-6}}
{{nationalflags}}<!-- to edit this table, go to [[Template:Nationalflags]] -->
*{{cite book|last1=Eriksen|first1=Thomas|last2=Jenkins|first2=Richard|title=Flag, nation and symbolism in Europe and America|date=2007|publisher=Routledge|location=London|isbn=9780415444040|pages=80|edition=1. publ.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=scHXHTkRmZcC&pg=PA80}}


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{{DEFAULTSORT:Wales, Flag Of}}
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[[Category:National symbols of Wales|Flag of Wales]]
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[[es:Bandera de Gales]]
[[Category:Welsh heraldry]]
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[[Category:Flags introduced in 1959]]
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[[Category:National flags]]
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[[nl:Vlag van Wales]]
[[Category:Dragons in art]]
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[[pt:Bandeira do País de Gales]]
[[sv:Wales flagga]]

Latest revision as of 12:06, 20 April 2024

Wales
UseNational flag Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag
Proportion3:5
Adopted1959 (current version)
DesignThe Welsh Dragon centered on a horizontal bi-colour of white and green

The flag of Wales (Welsh: Baner Cymru or Y Ddraig Goch, meaning 'the red dragon') consists of a red dragon passant on a green and white field. As with many heraldic charges, the exact representation of the dragon is not standardised in law and many renderings exist. It is not represented in the Union Flag.

The colours of green and white are the colours of the Tudor family; a standard featuring the red dragon was used by Henry VII at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485, after which it was carried in state to St Paul's Cathedral, and a dragon added as a supporter of the Tudor royal arms.

It was officially recognised as the Welsh national flag in 1959. Several cities include a dragon in their flag design, including Cardiff, the Welsh capital.

Symbolism[edit]

See also: Welsh Dragon
15th-century image illustrating the story of Vortigern and the red and white dragons.

In the Historia Brittonum, there is a narrative in which Vortigern (Welsh: Gwrtheyrn), King of the Celtic Britons from Powys is interrupted whilst attempting to build a fort at Dinas Emrys. He is told by Merlin/Ambrosius (Welsh: Myrddin) to dig up two dragons beneath the castle. He discovers a red dragon representing the Celtic Britons (now Welsh) and a white dragon representing the Anglo-Saxons (now English). Merlin/Ambrosius prophesies that the Celtic Britons will reclaim the island and push the Anglo-Saxons back to the sea.[1][2]

The Historia Brittonum was written c. 828, and by this point, the dragon was associated with a coming deliverer from the Saxons and, for the first time, as a symbol of independence. It is also the first time that the colour of the dragon is verifiably given as red. There may well be an older attribution of red to the colour of the dragon in Y Gododdin.[3] The story of Lludd a Llefelys in the Mabinogion wrote that the red dragon of the Celtic Britons was in opposition with the white dragon of the Saxons.[4]

The dragon of Wales was used by numerous Welsh rulers as a propaganda tool; to portray their links to the Arthurian legend, the title given to such rulers is Y Mab Darogan (The prophesied Son).[5] The Welsh term draig, 'dragon' was used to refer to Welsh leaders including Owain Gwynedd,[6] Llywelyn ap Gruffudd (Llywelyn the Last)[7] and "the dragon" Owain Glyndŵr.[8] Cynddelw Brydydd Mawr, a court poet to Owain Gwynedd refers to him in one elegy, personifying him as "The golden dragon of Snowdonia of eagles".[6][9]

Henry VII recognised the red dragon upon its blessing at Saint Paul's Cathedral following his victory at Bosworth Field under the realm of 'England and Wales' in 1485; the United Kingdom would not recognise the flag's official status again until 1959,[10] despite the dragon being used by Romanised Celtic Britons since at least the fall of the Roman empire in the 6th century AD.[11]

History[edit]

See also: Welsh Dragon

Kingdom of Gwynedd[edit]

Banner of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd (Llywelyn the Last)

The Senior line of the House of Aberffraw descended from Prince Llywelyn the Great in patriline succession and became extinct on the death of Owain Lawgoch in 1378.[12]

Owain Glyndŵr[edit]

Banner of Owain Glyndwr
'Y Draig Aur' Owain Glyndŵr 'Golden Dragon'

In 1400, Owain Glyndŵr raised the dragon standard during his revolts against the occupation of Wales by the English crown. Owain's banner known as Y Ddraig Aur ('The Golden Dragon') was raised over Caernarfon during the Battle of Tuthill in 1401 against the English. Glyndŵr chose to fly the standard of a golden dragon on a white background, the traditional standard.[13][14][15]

Henry VII[edit]

Coat of arms of Henry Tudor

In 1485, Henry Tudor flew the red dragon during his invasion of England.[16] Henry was of Welsh descent and after leaving France with an army of 2,000, landed at Milford Haven on 7 August. He made capital of his Welsh ancestry by gathering support and gaining safe passage through Wales. Henry met and fought Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field, and took the English throne in victory. After the battle, Henry carried the red dragon standard in state to St Paul's Cathedral.[17]: 52  The Tudor livery of green and white was added to the flag later.[17]: 63 

Modern flag[edit]

In 1807, the red dragon on a green mount was adopted as the Royal Badge of Wales.[18] On 11 March 1953, the motto Y Ddraig goch ddyry cychwyn ('The red dragon gives impetus' or 'The red dragon leads the way') was added, a line from the poem by Deio ab Ieuan Du.[19] The badge was the basis of a flag of Wales[20] in which it was placed on a horizontal white and green bicolour. However, the flag was the subject of derision, both because the tail pointed downwards in some iterations[21] and because the motto was a potential double entendre, used in the original poem to allude to the penis of a copulating bull.[18][22][23] In 1959, government use of this flag was dropped in favour of the current flag[24][25] at the urging of the Gorsedd of Bards.[26] Today the flag can be seen flying from the Senedd in Cardiff and from Welsh Government buildings, as well as UK Government buildings in Wales.

Between 1910 and 1916, Caernarfon town council continuously appealed to have the Welsh flag hoisted on top of Caernarfon castle's Eagle tower to replace that of the Union Jack. In April 1916, the mayor at the time, Charles A. Jones (who was also the deputy constable of the castle)[27] said the reasoning behind rejecting the Welsh dragon was that "the authorities were advised that there was no such thing as a Welsh flag.. it was only a badge".[28][29]

In 1932, the 'Welsh Nationalist Party' (who would later be rebranded as Plaid Cymru) appealed to the Office of Works to replace the Union flag with that of the Welsh flag on Caernarfon castle's Eagle tower on St David's Day. The office ignored them; as a consequence, on March 1, a group of Welsh patriots climbed the towers and hauled the Union flag down from the Eagle tower and the eastern tower and replaced it with the Welsh flag. The castle's officials promptly took the Welsh flags down and restored the Union flags. Later in the afternoon, the Union flag was again hauled down from the Eagle tower and taken to the castle square where it was torn to pieces by some 30 or 40 students. The students passed through the turnstiles of the castle as ordinary visitors, climbed the stone steps to the Eagle Tower, and carried away the Union Jack, which had previously been removed during the morning. Several ex-servicemen looked on with evident displeasure at the treatment of the Union Flag and at one point it was likely that a conflict would ensue between the two sections.[30]

In 2017, the Unicode Consortium approved emoji support for the Flag of Wales[31] following a proposal from Jeremy Burge of Emojipedia and Owen Williams of BBC Wales[32] in 2016.[33] This was added to major smartphone platforms alongside the flags of England and Scotland in the same year.[34] Prior to this update, The Daily Telegraph reported that users had "been able to send emojis of the Union Flag, but not of the individual nations".[35]

Other flags[edit]

Flag of Saint David[edit]

Main article: Flag of Saint David
Flag of Saint David

The flag of Saint David, a yellow cross on a black field, is used in the emblem of the Diocese of St Davids and is flown on St David's Day.

Government ensign[edit]

Welsh Government ensign

An ensign for use aboard ships used by the Welsh Government, such as the patrol boats of the Marine and Fisheries Division, was granted in 2017.[40] The flag is a British blue ensign defaced with a yellow dragon with red claws and tongue.

In popular culture[edit]

The flag of Wales has been used by those in the arts, sport and business to show a sense of patriotism or recognition with Wales. During the 1999 Rugby World Cup, which was hosted in Wales, the opening ceremony used the motif of the dragon several times; the flag was worn on a dress by Welsh singer Shirley Bassey.[41]

Other musicians to have used the flag, include Nicky Wire of Manic Street Preachers, who will often drape the Welsh flag over amps when playing live,[42] and Cerys Matthews who has worn the image on her clothes,[43] while classical singer Katherine Jenkins has taken the flag on stage during live performances.[44]

Former Pink Floyd bassist Roger Waters's album Radio K.A.O.S. (1987) follows the story of a young disabled Welsh man, grounded in California, who regularly expresses nostalgia and a hope for return to his home country. The chorus of "Sunset Strip" uses the imagery of the flag of Wales to further emphasise this:

And I sit in the canyon with my back to the sea
There's a blood-red dragon on a field of green
Calling me back, back to the Black Hills again.

In 2018, the flag made an unexpected appearance in Black Panther, during a scene set in the United Nations. The flag is displayed alongside those of independent sovereign nations, leading to speculation that Wales is an independent nation in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The scene led to comments and discussions, including from the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru.[45][46][47]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Williams, Ifor (1959). "Gwrtheyrn (Vortigern)". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales.
  2. ^ "Red Dragon of Wales". www.maryjones.us. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  3. ^ Lofmark, Carl (1995). A history of the red dragon. Gwasg Carreg Gwalch. OCLC 1302083973.
  4. ^ Historia Brittonum, ch. 40–42.
  5. ^ "Has Wales turned on Mark Drakeford over Covid? | the Spectator". 11 December 2020.
  6. ^ a b Llywelyn, Llywarch ap (1991). Gwaith Llywarch ap Llywelyn (in Welsh). Gwasg Prifysgol Cymru. ISBN 978-0-7083-1084-7.
  7. ^ Stephens, Thomas II (1849). The Literature of the Kymry Beeing a Critical Essay on the History of the Language and Literature of Wales During the 12. and Two Succeeding Centuries (etc.). William Rees and Longman. p. 381.
  8. ^ Hemans, Mrs (1881). The Poetical Works of Felicia Hemans: With Memoir, Explanatory Notes, Etc. J. Wurtele Lovell. p. 246.
  9. ^ Owen, Robert (1891). The Kymry: Their Origin, History, and International Relations. W. Spurrell and Son.
  10. ^ "Dragon spirit: The legend of the Welsh dragon". 5 July 2023.
  11. ^ "Wales history: Why is the red dragon on the Welsh flag?". BBC News. 6 July 2019.
  12. ^ Davies, John (2007). A History of Wales. Penguin UK. ISBN 978-0-14-192633-9. Retrieved 23 December 2019. The plot was carried out (by a Scot) in 1378, and Saint Leger on the banks of the Garonne (opposite Chateau Calon Segur - not a Welsh name, alas) became the burial place of the last of the senior male line of the house of Aberffraw. Following the extinction of that line,...
  13. ^ Hackett, Martin (30 July 2014). Lost Battlefields of Wales. Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 9781445637037.
  14. ^ Davies, John (25 January 2007). A History of Wales. Penguin Adult. ISBN 9780140284751.
  15. ^ Breverton, Terry (15 May 2009). Owain Glyndŵr: The Story of the Last Prince of Wales. Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 9781445608761.
  16. ^ The dragon and war BBC Wales history
  17. ^ a b Perrin, W.G. (1922). British Flags. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  18. ^ a b Davies, John; Jenkins, Nigel (2008). The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. ISBN 978-0-7083-1953-6.
  19. ^ Origin of Y Ddraig Goch Archived 11 June 2010 at the Wayback Machine Flags of the World
  20. ^ "Wales: History of Welsh Flags". Flags of the World.
  21. ^ Raeside, Rob. "Origin of Y Ddraig Goch". Flags of the World. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  22. ^ Eriksen, Thomas; Jenkins, Richard (2007). Flag, nation and symbolism in Europe and America (1. publ. ed.). London: Routledge. p. 80. ISBN 9780415444040.
  23. ^ Black, Ronald (1992). "Studies in honour of James Carney (1914–89)". Cambrian Medieval Celtic Studies (23): 109.
  24. ^ Barraclough, EMC. Flags of the World, 1965.
  25. ^ "Welsh Flag (Hansard, 23 February 1959)". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). 23 February 1959.
  26. ^ Lofmark, C. A History of the Red Dragon Archived 7 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  27. ^ Caernarvon & Denbigh Herald, Friday 20 October 1916 - https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002967/19161020/096/0006
  28. ^ Western Mail, Friday 07 April 1916. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000104/19160407/130/0004
  29. ^ Liverpool Echo, Thursday 09 April 1914 - https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000271/19140409/144/0008
  30. ^ Western Morning News, Wednesday 02 March 1932 - https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000329/19320302/071/0007
  31. ^ Titcomb, James (2017). "Emoji for England, Scotland and Wales flags to be released this year". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  32. ^ "Wales flag emoji arrives on Twitter". BBC News. 24 May 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  33. ^ Thomas, Huw (5 August 2016). "Wales flag emoji decision awaited". BBC News. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  34. ^ "Wales flag emoji arrives on iPhone". BBC News. 1 November 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  35. ^ "Flags of England, Wales and Scotland given thumbs up by emoji chiefs". The Daily Telegraph. 11 December 2016. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  36. ^ Barraclough, E.M.C. (1969). Flags of the World. London: Frederick Warne & Co Ltd. p. 55.
  37. ^ "The Welsh Australian Flag 1988". Australiana Flags. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  38. ^ "House flag, Cory Brothers". Royal Museums Greenwich. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  39. ^ "House flag, John Byford & Son Ltd". Royal Museums Greenwich. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  40. ^ Flag Institute Flagmaster Issue 160
  41. ^ "World Cup kicks off in style". BBC News Online. 1 October 1999.
  42. ^ "Manic Street Preachers – Nicky Wire". BBC Wales Music.
  43. ^ "Pop music: The changing face of Brit guitar rock". The Independent. 27 March 1998.
  44. ^ "Katherine Jenkins threatens to spill out of dress on stage as boyfriend Gethin Jones looks on". Evening Standard. 25 August 2008. Archived from the original on 5 April 2010.
  45. ^ Brennan, Shane (16 February 2018). "Marvel movie franchise recognises Welsh independence". North Wales Live. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  46. ^ "Black Panther's universe features an 'independent Wales'". BBC. 16 February 2018. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  47. ^ Williams, Kathryn (16 February 2018). "Welsh flag flies as independent state in Marvel superhero film Black Panther". Wales Online. Retrieved 12 March 2021.

Bibliography[edit]

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