St George and England: A Special Connection

Welcome back to our journey exploring St. George! We’ve already learned about the brave knight and the dragon, and how St. George’s Day is celebrated in Britain today. But why is this ancient saint, who probably never even visited England, so important to our country? Let’s find out how he became England’s patron saint and what his famous flag means.

How St. George Became England’s Patron Saint

It might seem strange that England’s patron saint isn’t someone who was born or lived in England. St. George was actually born in what is now Turkey, around 280 AD, and died in Palestine. So, how did he become so special to England?

His story became very popular with English soldiers during the Crusades in the Middle Ages (around the 11th to 13th centuries). English knights, who were fighting far from home, felt inspired by tales of St. George’s courage and his fight against evil. They believed he protected them in battle and would shout his name as a battle cry.

King Edward III, who ruled England from 1327 to 1377, was a big supporter of St. George. He made St. George the patron saint of the Order of the Garter, which is the oldest and most senior order of chivalry in England. This was a very important step. By the 14th century, St. George was widely seen as the protector of England, and his name was often shouted as a battle cry by English armies, such as at the famous Battle of Agincourt.

The Flag of St. George

You’ve probably seen the flag of St. George many times. It’s a simple, striking design: a red cross on a white background. This flag is the national flag of England. But where did it come from?

The red cross was a symbol used by many crusaders. It became particularly associated with St. George. English ships started flying the St. George’s Cross in the 13th century to protect themselves and show they were English. It was a way for them to be identified and, it was hoped, to be safe from attack by pirates or enemy ships. The port of London also adopted the flag to protect its ships.

By the 16th century, the St. George’s Cross was firmly established as the flag of England. When England, Scotland, and Ireland were united under one monarch, the St. George’s Cross was combined with the Scottish Saltire (St. Andrew’s Cross) and later the Irish Saltire (St. Patrick’s Cross) to create the Union Flag, or Union Jack, which is the flag of the United Kingdom. But the St. George’s Cross remains the proud, distinct symbol of England alone.

What St. George Represents

Even though the historical St. George lived a long time ago and far away, the legend of St. George and the Dragon became a powerful symbol for England. He represents many qualities that people admire:

Bravery and Courage:

Written by Mandy Barrow

Project Britain