Great Britain
(Unofficial Scottish variant)

Scottish Union Flag
Use	Other
Proportion	3:5
Adopted	17th c. (Scotland)
Design	"Azure, a Crossgules, fimbriated,argent; over all a Saltier of the last"

Historical evidence suggests that theScottish Union Flag was used unofficially in theKingdom of Scotland during the 17th C. and existed, at least within documents and some sections of popular culture, in post-UnionScotland until at least the middle of the 19th C. This variant was the product of a popular negative reaction within sections of Scottish society towards that design ofUnion flag adopted by EnglishHeralds in 1606, following theUnion of the Crowns; James VI, King of Scots, having acceded to the thrones ofEngland andIreland asKing James I in 1603.

The flag'sblazon is described as "Azure, a Crossgules, fimbriated,argent; over all a Saltier of the last", or alternatively as "On a blue shield (field?) of Scotland the redcross of St. George fimbriated with its white field, surmounted by the whitecross of St. Andrew".^[1]

This design results in the whitesaltire ofSt. Andrew passing in front of rather than behind the cross ofSt. George, thus giving precidence to the Scottish element; their being held a belief by those who conceived this design that both the Scottish kingdom and saltire were older than their English counterparts.

In 1603, King James I & VIunited the crowns of England and Ireland together with Scotland in apersonal union; each kingdom remaining a separate state albeit sharing a single monarch.^[2] On 12 April 1606, a new flag to represent this regal union between England and Scotland was specified in a royaldecree, according to which the flag of England (a red cross on a white background, known as St. George's Cross), and the flag of Scotland (a white saltire on a blue background, known as the Saltire or St. Andrew's Cross), would be joined together^[3], forming the flag ofGreat Britain and first union flag:

In objecting strongly to the form and pattern of union flag adopted by James' heralds whereby the cross of St. George surmounted that of St. Andrew, a great number ofshipmasters andship-owners in Scotland took up the matter withJohn Erskine, 18th Earl of Mar, and were encouraged by him to send a letter of complaint, dated 7 August 1606, to James VI, via thePrivy Council of Scotland, stating:

Although those documents accompanying this letter which contained the two new draught patterns were lost in a fire, and no trace remains of any response made by King James to the complaint itself, evidence of an unofficial Scottish variant, whereby the Scottish cross was uppermost, does exist.^[6][7] An early account of the possible use of such a flag refers to an occasion in 1617 where in welcoming James VI toDumfries, the Town Commissar was reported to have stated "Your Royall Majestie, in whose sacred person the King of kings hath miraculouslie united so many glorious Kingdoms, under whose Scepter the whyte and reid crocies are so proportionablie interlaced".^[8] This description of the crosses being "so proportionablie interlaced" is interpreted by some as evidence of a Scottish version of the union flag,^[9] however others dispute this interpretation.

The Saltire is one of the key components of theUnion Flag^[10] which, since its creation in 1606, has appeared in various forms^[11] following the Flag of Scotland andFlag of England first being merged to mark theUnion of the Crowns.^[12] (The Union of the Crowns having occurred three years earlier, in 1603, whenJames VI, King of Scots, acceded to the thrones of bothEngland andIreland upon the death ofElizabeth I of England). Theproclamation by King James, made on the 12 April 1606, which led to the creation of the Union Flag states:

In objecting to the design ofUnion Flag in 1606, whereby the cross ofSaint George surmounted that of Saint Andrew, a group of Scots took up the matter withJohn Erskine, 18th Earl of Mar, and were encouraged by him to send a letter of complaint to James VI, via thePrivy Council of Scotland, which stated that the flag's design "will breid some heit and miscontentment betwix your Majesties subjectis, and it is to be feirit that some inconvenientis sail fall oute betwix thame, for our seyfaring men cannot be inducit to resave that flage as it is set down".^[13] Although documents accompanying this complaint which contained draughts for alternative designs have been lost, evidence of an unofficial Scottish variant, whereby the Scottish cross was uppermost, does exist.^[14][15] An early account of the possible use of such a flag refers to an occasion in 1617 where in welcoming James VI toDumfries, the Town Commissar was reported to have stated "Your Royall Majestie, in whose sacred person the King of kings hath miraculouslie united so many glorious Kingdoms, under whose Scepter the whyte and reid crocies are so proportionablie interlaced".^[16] This description of the crosses being "so proportionablie interlaced" is interpreted by some as evidence of a Scottish version of the union flag,^[17] however others dispute this interpretation.

Evidence to suggest actual use of this flag appears in the depiction ofEdinburgh Castle byJohn Slezer, in his series ofengravings entitledTheatrum Scotiae, c. 1693. Appearing in later editions ofTheatrum Scotiae, this engraving depicts theScotch (to use the appropriate adjective of that period) version of the Union Flag flying from the Castle Clock Tower.^[18] Furthermore, this flag's design is described in the 1704 edition ofThe Present State of the Universe by John Beaumont, Junior, which contains as an appendixThe Ensigns, Colours or Flags of the Ships at Sea: Belonging to The several Princes and States in the World. Within this appendix, the flag's blazon is given as "Azure, a Crossgules, fimbriated,argent; over all a Saltier of the last".^[19] This blazon is described elsewhere as "On a blue shield (field?) of Scotland the red cross of St. George fimbriated with its white field, surmounted by the white cross of St. Andrew".^[20]

On 17 April 1707, just two weeks prior to theActs of Union coming into effect, and with Sir Henry St George,Garter King of Arms, having presented seven designs of flag toQueen Anne and herPrivy Council for consideration, the flag for the soon to be unifiedKingdom of Great Britain was chosen. Along with that version finally selected, the designs for consideration had included that version of Union Flag showing the Cross of Saint Andrew uppermost; identified as being the "Scotts union flagg as said to be used by the Scotts".^[21] Despite bold lobbying on the part of the Scots representatives to the Privy Council, all their efforts were to be in vain, for that version of Union Flag showing the Cross of Saint George uppermost was destined to win the day.^[22]

In 2006, despite almost three centuries having passed since last being used, Scottish historianDavid R. Ross called for Scotland to once again adopt this design, in order to "reflect separate national identities across the UK".^[23] Despite an apparent lack of widespread public support in Scotland for such a proposal, the Scottish Union Flag may yet continue to find favour in some quarters. For example, to mark the 2009Open Day celebrations on May 31 atLennoxlove House, the historic seat of theDukes of Hamilton, the Scottish Union Flag was observed flying from the flag pole on Lennoxlove House itself.^[24]

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Various other designs for a common flag were drawn up following the union of the two Crowns in 1603, but were rarely, if ever, used.^[26] One version showed St George's cross with St Andrew's cross in the canton, and another version placed the two crosses side by side.

In objecting to the design of Union Flag adopted in 1606, whereby the cross ofSaint George surmounted that of Saint Andrew, a group of Scots took up the matter withJohn Erskine, 18th Earl of Mar, and were encouraged by him to send a letter of complaint to James VI, via thePrivy Council of Scotland, which stated that the flag's design "will breid some heit and miscontentment betwix your Majesties subjectis, and it is to be feirit that some inconvenientis sail fall oute betwix thame, for our seyfaring men cannot be inducit to resave that flage as it is set down".^[27] Although documents accompanying this complaint which contained draughts for alternative designs have been lost, evidence of an unofficial Scottish variant, whereby the Scottish cross was uppermost, does exist.^[28][29] An early account of the possible use of such a flag, whereby the Scottish cross has the place of honour,^[30] refers to an occasion in 1617 where in welcoming James VI toDumfries, the Town Commissar was reported to have stated "Your Royall Majestie, in whose sacred person the King of kings hath miraculouslie united so many glorious Kingdoms, under whose Scepter the whyte and reid crocies are so proportionablie interlaced".^[31] However, the mere mentioned of St. Andrew's cross first does not support such a conclusion.^[32]

Evidence to suggest actual use of this flag appears in the depiction ofEdinburgh Castle byJohn Slezer, in his series ofengravings entitledTheatrum Scotiae, c. 1693. Appearing in later editions ofTheatrum Scotiae, this engraving depicts theScotch (to use the appropriate adjective of that period) version of the Union Flag flying from the Castle Clock Tower.^[33] Furthermore, this flag's design is described in the 1704 edition ofThe Present State of the Universe by John Beaumont, Junior, which contains as an appendixThe Ensigns, Colours or Flags of the Ships at Sea: Belonging to The several Princes and States in the World.^[34] This flag's blazon is described elsewhere as "Azure, a Crossgules, fimbriated,argent; over all a Saltier of the last", or alternatively as "On a blue shield (field?) of Scotland the red cross of St. George fimbriated with its white field, surmounted by the white cross of St. Andrew".^[35]

On 17 April 1707, just two weeks prior to theActs of Union coming into effect, and with Sir Henry St George,Garter King of Arms, having presented several designs of flag toQueen Anne and herPrivy Council for consideration, the flag for the soon to be unifiedKingdom of Great Britain was chosen. At the suggestion of the Scots representatives, the designs for consideration included that version of Union Flag showing the Cross of Saint Andrew uppermost; identified as being the "Scotts union flagg as said to be used by the Scotts".^[36] However, the Queen and her Council approved Sir Henry's original effort, numbered "one".^[36]

The Saltire is one of the key components of theUnion Flag^[37] which, since its creation in 1606, has appeared in various forms^[38] following the Flag of Scotland andFlag of England first being merged to mark theUnion of the Crowns.^[39] (The Union of the Crowns having occurred three years earlier, in 1603, whenJames VI, King of Scots, acceded to the thrones of bothEngland andIreland upon the death ofElizabeth I of England). Theproclamation by King James, made on the 12 April 1606, which led to the creation of the Union Flag states:

In objecting strongly to the form and pattern of Union Flag adopted by James' heralds whereby the cross ofSaint George surmounted that of Saint Andrew, (regarded in Scotland as a slight upon the Scottish nation), a great number ofshipmasters andship-owners in Scotland took up the matter withJohn Erskine, 18th Earl of Mar, and were encouraged by him to send a letter of complaint, dated 7 August 1606, to James VI, via thePrivy Council of Scotland, stating:

Although those documents accompanying this letter which contained the two new draught patterns were lost in a fire, and no trace remains of any response made by King James to the complaint itself, evidence of an unofficial Scottish variant, whereby the Scottish cross was uppermost, does exist.^[42][43] An early account of the possible use of such a flag refers to an occasion in 1617 where in welcoming James VI toDumfries, the Town Commissar was reported to have stated "Your Royall Majestie, in whose sacred person the King of kings hath miraculouslie united so many glorious Kingdoms, under whose Scepter the whyte and reid crocies are so proportionablie interlaced".^[44] This description of the crosses being "so proportionablie interlaced" is interpreted by some as evidence of a Scottish version of the union flag,^[45] however others dispute this interpretation.

Evidence to suggest actual use of this flag appears in the depiction ofEdinburgh Castle byJohn Slezer, in his series ofengravings entitledTheatrum Scotiae, c. 1693. Appearing in later editions ofTheatrum Scotiae, this engraving depicts theScotch (to use the appropriate adjective of that period) version of the Union Flag flying from the Castle Clock Tower.^[46] Furthermore, this flag's design is described in the 1704 edition ofThe Present State of the Universe by John Beaumont, Junior, which contains as an appendixThe Ensigns, Colours or Flags of the Ships at Sea: Belonging to The several Princes and States in the World. Within this appendix, the flag's blazon is given as "Azure, a Crossgules, fimbriated,argent; over all a Saltier of the last".^[47] This blazon is described elsewhere as "On a blue shield (field?) of Scotland the red cross of St. George fimbriated with its white field, surmounted by the white cross of St. Andrew".^[48]

On 17 April 1707, just two weeks prior to theActs of Union coming into effect, and with Sir Henry St George,Garter King of Arms, having presented seven designs of flag toQueen Anne and herPrivy Council for consideration, the flag for the soon to be unifiedKingdom of Great Britain was chosen. Along with that version finally selected, the designs for consideration had included that version of Union Flag showing the Cross of Saint Andrew uppermost; identified as being the "Scotts union flagg as said to be used by the Scotts".^[49] Despite bold lobbying on the part of the Scots representatives to the Privy Council, all their efforts were to be in vain, for that version of Union Flag showing the Cross of Saint George uppermost was destined to win the day.^[50]

From 1801, in order to symbolise the union of the Kingdom of Great Britain with theKingdom of Ireland a new design, which included theSt Patrick's Cross, was adopted for the flag of theUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.^[51] TheFlag of the United Kingdom, having remained unchanged following thepartition of Ireland in 1921 and creation of theIrish Free State andNorthern Ireland, continues to be used as the flag of theUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

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  The Saltire, the flag ofScotland: A white (argent)saltire on a blue (azure) field. (Shown is the Scottish Parliamentary Committee's recommended shade of blue:Pantone 300).
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  Scottish Union Flag. An unofficial Scottish variant of the 1606 Union Flag used in theKingdom of Scotland from the early 17th c. until 1707, following theUnion of the Crowns in 1603.
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  The Union Flag used in theKingdom of England from 1606 and, following theActs of Union between Scotland and England, the flag of theKingdom of Great Britain from 1707-1800.
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  Union Flag used since 1801, incorporating the Cross ofSaint Patrick, following theAct of Union between the Kingdom of Great Britain and theKingdom of Ireland. (3:5 variant shown)

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