The Saltire

Scotland’s national flag, a white or silver St Andrew’s cross on a blue background, is one of the oldest flags in the world.

Legend tells that in 832 AD the Pictish King Aengus and his men faced the Northumbrian war leader Athelstan and an overwhelming force of Angles. The night before they met on the battlefield, King Aengus prayed to God, the Virgin Mary and all the saints. Aengus vowed to give one tenth of his kingdom to the church if God would grant him victory.

In the dead of night St Andrew appeared to King Aengus and promised that the Picts would win the battle. As the dawn mist rose and King Aengus and his men faced Athelstan, an angel appeared and a vision of a white cross filled the blue sky.

When the Picts saw the St Andrew’s cross they charged the Angles, cutting them down and killing their leader Athelstan. Athelstan’s head was displayed on the island of Inchgarvie in the Firth of Forth. From that day forth, the site of the battle, at a crossing in the burn, was known as Athelstaneford.

King Aengus honoured his vow, giving land to the church, dedicated to St Andrew. In the centuries that followed the town of St Andrews grew and flourished, and the white Saltire cross on a blue background became Scotland’s national flag.

By the 13th century St Andrew was regarded as Scotland’s patron saint. He appeared on the seal of the Guardians of Scotland during the Wars of Independence. In the 14th century Scottish soldiers began to wear a simple Saltire cross so that they could tell friend from foe in battle. The St Andrew’s cross first appeared on coins during the reign of King Robert III.

At the start of the 16th century the earliest Saltire flag had a white cross on a red background. By the middle of the century, when the legend of King Aengus and the white St Andrew’s cross at the battle of Athelstaneford was well established, Saltire flags with a white or silver cross on a blue background began to appear.

At Athelstaneford, near Haddington in East Lothian, the Scottish Flag Heritage Centre tells the story of King Aengus, St Andrew and the Saltire. Traditionally the blue of the Saltire has not been set - it can be any blue from a light blue to a dark blue. In 2003 MSPs recommended that the blue to be used on the Saltire should be Pantone 300.

The Saltire has flown across Scotland for hundreds of years. The Saltire is the emblem of Scotland’s national teams and appears in the logos and designs of countless Scottish organisations including the Scottish Government. Scotland’s national flag appears at football and rugby matches, festivals, Highland games, ceilidhs, Burns Night and St Andrew’s Day celebrations around the world.