The Scottish Saltire

Athelstaneford is a village in East Lothian, Scotland. It is close to the town of Haddington and lies approximately 20 miles east of Edinburgh. Image File history File links Scohadd. ... East Lothian (Lodainn an Ear in Gaelic) is one of 32 unitary council areas in Scotland, and a Lieutenancy Area. ... Motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (English: No one provokes me with impunity) Scotlands location within Europe Scotlands location within the United Kingdom Languages English, Gaelic, Scots Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow First Minister Jack McConnell Area - Total - % water Ranked 2nd UK 78,782 km² 1. ... Haddington is a burgh in East Lothian, Scotland. ... For other uses, see Edinburgh (disambiguation). ...

According to popular legend, Athelstaneford is where the original Scottish saltire - the white diagonal cross on a sky blue background - was first adopted. On the eve of a battle pitting the combined Picts and Scots against the Angles (English) in 832AD, Saint Andrew, who was crucified on a diagonal cross, came to the Pictish King Óengus II in a vision and promised him victory. The next morning the Scots and Picts observed a white cross formed by clouds in the sky. They won the battle, and the victorious forces attributed their victory to the blessing of Saint Andrew, adopting Saint Andrew's cross as their flag, and naming him their patron saint. The Saltire, the flag of Scotland, with an official Pantone 300 coloured field. ... Saint Andrew (Greek: Andreas, manly), called in the Orthodox tradition Protocletos, or the First-called, is a Christian Apostle, brother of Saint Peter. ... Óengus (Scottish Gaelic: Óengus mac Fergusa), alternative translations: Onuist, Hungus or Angus, was king of Dál Riata and Fortriu, in modern Scotland, from about 820 until 834. ... In several forms of Christianity, but especially in Roman Catholicism, a patron saint has special affinity for a trade or group. ...

The retreating English King^[1], Aethelstan^[2], was slain at a nearby river crossing, hence the name Athelstaneford. There are several versions of the story, of which this is one of the more widely accepted. Whatever the truth, the legend has cemented Athelstaneford's place in Scottish history.

Traditionally, the blue of the Saltire wasn't specified, like many things Scottish. It was much more practical to simply use whatever blue pigment was available to the locals. Standardisation has angered some traditionalists. The Scottish Parliament has decreed the flag should have the colour pantone 300, darker than many would like but still lighter than the blue in the Union Jack (generally pantone 280).

Today the village is surrounded by farmland and has little in the way of amenities. Tourists can follow the "Saltire Trail", a road route which passes by various local landmarks and places of historical interest.

Footnotes

1. ↑  Some accounts describe Aethelstan as a leader not a king. In 832, Eanred was King of Northumbria.
2. ↑  Not to be confused with Athelstan, the 10th Century King of England.

Eanred was king of Northumbria from c. ... Section from Shepherds map of the British Isles about 802 AD showing the kingdom of Northumbria Northumbria is primarily the name of a petty kingdom of Angles, Danes and Norwegians which was formed in Great Britain at the beginning of the 7th century, and of the much smaller earldom... Athelstan or Æþelstan (c. ...

External links

• This History of the Saltire at visitscotland.com
• The Scottish Saltire at Flags of the World