The Red Dragon Of Wales – Ancient Symbol Dating Back To Roman Times

AncientPages.com - On the national flag of Wales there is a red dragon that most people associate with the battle standard of King Arthur and other ancient Celtic leaders.

However, the Red Dragon of Wales dates back to Roman times. It was a Roman symbol cavalry units carried on their flags. The banners were used both to serve as markers on which the riders formed into different formations and to give orders by means of vigorous waving.

The Red Dragon Of Wales – Ancient Symbol Dating Back To Roman Times

Flag of Wales

The Roman dragon was made of metal, and had a head with an open mouth. The animal’s body made up of a tube of fabric, rather like a modern wind sock.

Following the fall of Rome, British princes continued to use Roman-style dracos as battle standards. The British military adopted many aspects of Roman military gear, and the red dragon was one of them.

See also:

History Of The Saltire – Scotland’s National Flag And World’s Oldest Sovereign Flag

SPQR Was A Symbol Of The Roman Republic

Mystery Of The Ancient Double-Headed Eagle Symbol

Dragons And Dragon Kings In Ancient Mythology

The last recorded use of the draco by a British army was in about 1250, after which the red dragon of Wales began to beembroidered onto a flag as if it were a heraldic device. he green and white background, incidentally, comes from the family colors of the Tudor dynasty and were added in 1959.

The Red Dragon Of Wales – Ancient Symbol Dating Back To Roman Times

Coat of arms of Henry VII, showing a Welsh Dragon as a supporter on the Royal arms of England. Credit: Wikipedia

Henry Tudor flew the red dragon of Cadwaladr ap Cadwallon as his banner, overlaid on a green and white field representing the Tudor House, when he marched through Wales on his way to Bosworth Field. After the battle the flag was carried in state to St. Paul's Cathedral to be blessed.

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