Is a combination of the crosses of
patron saints of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland
three of the four regions, with Wales, form the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern Ireland. The red cross on a central white
is the St. George of England. The white saltire on a blue background is the
cross of St. Andrew, Scotland. And the red cross on a white background is the
cross of St Patrick, Ireland. It is, given the absolute hegemony English
in the UK, very commonly confused with the flag
England.
The final version of the Union Flag appeared in 1801, the
produced the union of Britain with Ireland, following which it
included the cross of St Patrick as had been previously
combined the crosses of the patron saints of England and Scotland. The cross
remains in the flag although now only Ireland
Northern part of the United Kingdom.
It should be noted that in the final version of this unofficial flag
UK has a peculiarity: the crosses reeled ie the white
on a blue or St. Andrew representing Scotland (see flag
Scotland) and St Patrick reeled red representing Ireland
inserted behind the English cross of St. George. Such collation
the crosses of St. Andrew and St. Patrick was made to avoid the
idea of the primacy of Scotland over Ireland or vice versa.
It should be noted that while the crosses of St. George and St. Andrew
have a long tradition, the "cross of Saint Patrick" is an invention
recent.
Wales is not represented in the Union flag because when
came the first official version of the flag, Wales had been
united with England, while elements of the flag of the country
Wales, a red dragon on a white background and green, from the fifteenth century.
The dragon is a symbol was probably introduced in Britain
by Roman legions.
mapa de reino unido