History of the England Flag: 1606-1801

History of the England Flag (1606–1801)

How the English St. George’s Cross evolved into the early Union Flag

Before 1606: England’s Own Flag

England’s national flag long predates the Union Flag.

St. George’s Cross — a red cross on a white field — was England’s emblem from the Middle Ages, commonly used by the 13th century.
It represented England alone and remained its national banner even as the kingdoms began political unions.

1603: The Crowns Unite

When James VI of Scotland became James I of England (1603), the two countries shared a monarch but remained legally separate states.
James I wanted a single flag to symbolize the united crowns.

1606: The First Union Flag

In 1606, a royal proclamation created the first official “Union Flag” for use at sea and by joint English–Scottish forces. It combined:

England’s St. George’s Cross
Scotland’s St. Andrew’s Saltire (white saltire on blue)

Design (1606)

The red cross of St. George was placed on top.
Behind it, the white St. Andrew’s saltire lay on a dark blue field.
The Scottish saltire was partially obscured, a point that some Scots disliked.

This flag represented the Union of the Crowns, not yet a political union.

1707: Acts of Union

The Kingdom of Great Britain was created in 1707, politically uniting England and Scotland.
The 1606 Union Flag became the official national flag of the new kingdom.

Throughout this period, England’s own flag continued to exist and was still used in many contexts, especially military and civic.

1606–1801 Usage Notes

The Union Flag was increasingly used on ships, fortifications, and government buildings.
England alone still used St. George’s Cross internally.
The Union Flag did not include Ireland yet.

1801: A Major Change — Ireland Joins

When the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland formed in 1801, a new element was added:

St. Patrick’s Saltire (red diagonal cross)

This created the modern Union Flag used today.

Summary Timeline

Before 1606

England’s flag: St. George’s Cross

1606

First Union Flag created by James I → combination of England + Scotland

1707

Acts of Union form Great Britain; the 1606 flag becomes the national flag

1606–1801

England still uses St. George’s Cross domestically
Union Flag represents the combined kingdoms of England + Scotland

1801

Union Flag redesigned to add St. Patrick’s Saltire after Ireland joins

When King James VI of Scotland ascended to the English throne, thereby becoming James I of England, the national flags of England and Scotland on land continued to be, respectively, the red St George's cross and the white St Andrew's cross. "All our subjects in this our isle and kingdom of Great Britain and the members thereof, shall bear in their main top the red cross commonly called St George's Cross and the white cross commonly called St. Andrew's Cross joined together according to a form made by our heralds and sent to our Admiral to be published to our said subjects."

Although the original design referred to has been lost, it is presumed that it was the flag which, with the addition of the St Patrick's cross, forms the basic design of the British Union Flag today. The English were not overly pleased at the obscuring of the white field of the St George's flag. The Scots proposed a number of alternative designs.

* The St George's flag with the St Andrew's flag in the canton

* The St George's flag with a St Andrew's flag in each quarter. In this bizarre design the white cross of the St Andrew's flag does not extend to the corners of the flag.

* The St George's flag with a St Andrew's flag in the centre.

England Flag Colors Represent...

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History of the England Flag: 1606-1801 Video :

England Flag Colors Represent