The History and Design of the Welsh Flag: Y Ddraig Goch
The Welsh flag, known as Y Ddraig Goch in Welsh, is one of the most striking and distinctive national flags in the world. Featuring a bold red dragon passant on a field divided horizontally into white above and green below, it is a powerful symbol of Welsh identity and heritage. Unlike many national flags that feature simple geometric patterns or crosses, Wales proudly displays a mythical creature that has been associated with the nation for over a millennium. But how did this remarkable design come to represent Wales, and what is the rich history behind the red dragon that adorns it?
Ancient Origins of the Dragon Symbol
The story of the Welsh dragon stretches back far into the mists of antiquity, long before Wales existed as a distinct nation. The use of dragon standards as military emblems can be traced to the Roman period, when Roman legions stationed in Britain carried dragon shaped standards known as dracos. These were sophisticated military banners consisting of a bronze or metal dragon head mounted on a pole, with a body made of silk or fabric that would billow and twist in the wind like a windsock. Some of these standards even incorporated whistles in the dragon heads that created eerie screaming sounds as the wind passed through them, designed to terrify enemies on the battlefield.
The Romans themselves likely adopted the dragon standard from earlier sources. Historical evidence suggests they borrowed this symbol from various peoples they encountered, including the Dacians of Eastern Europe, the Scythians, the Persians, and the Parthians. The Sarmatians, a nomadic people from the steppes of Central Asia, are particularly notable in this context. Sarmatian cavalry units were stationed at Ribchester in what is now Lancashire from the second to fourth centuries, and they carried dragon standards into battle. These foreign troops, serving in the Roman military, helped to popularize the dragon as a powerful military symbol across Roman Britain.
After the Romans withdrew from Britain in the early fifth century, the dragon symbol was adopted by Celtic British rulers who sought to demonstrate their authority and legitimacy as the successors to Roman power. The dragon transformed from a Roman military standard into a symbol of British, and specifically Welsh, sovereignty and resistance against invaders.
The Legend of the Two Dragons
The most famous legend explaining the association between Wales and the red dragon is the tale of Vortigern and the two fighting dragons, a story that has captured imaginations for over a thousand years. This legend was first recorded in the Historia Brittonum, written around 829 or 830 by the Welsh monk and historian Nennius, making it the oldest written account linking the red dragon specifically to Wales.
According to the legend, Vortigern was a fifth century Celtic king of the Britons who faced invasion from the Saxons. Seeking a safe refuge, he travelled to the mountains of Snowdonia in North Wales and chose a hilltop called Dinas Ffaraon as the site for his new fortress. However, Vortigern encountered a perplexing problem. Every night, after his workmen had laboured all day to build the castle walls, the foundations would mysteriously collapse. Morning after morning, the king’s masons would return to find their previous day’s work reduced to rubble.
Desperate for answers, Vortigern consulted his advisers, who gave him disturbing counsel. They told him he needed to find a boy born without a mortal father and sacrifice him, sprinkling his blood on the ground to stabilize the foundations. Vortigern’s men searched throughout Britain and eventually found such a child in Carmarthen. The boy’s name was Myrddin Emrys, known in English as Merlin, who would later become famous as the great wizard of Arthurian legend.
When Merlin was brought before Vortigern and learned of his intended fate, the young boy boldly challenged the wisdom of the king’s advisers. He told Vortigern that the real reason the castle walls kept falling was because the site stood directly above an underground lake, and beneath that lake, two dragons lay sleeping. Merlin explained that these dragons would periodically wake and fight each other, causing tremors that brought down the castle foundations.
Intrigued and convinced by the boy’s confidence, Vortigern commanded his men to dig into the hillside. To everyone’s astonishment, they discovered exactly what Merlin had described: an underground pool of water. As the workers drained the lake, two enormous dragons emerged from the depths, one red and one white, and they immediately began a fierce and terrible battle.
The white dragon initially had the upper hand in the combat, dominating most of the struggle. But eventually, after a long and brutal fight, the red dragon rallied and defeated the white dragon, which fled the scene. The red dragon then returned peacefully to its lair beneath the mountain.
Merlin interpreted this battle as a prophecy. He told Vortigern that the white dragon represented the invading Saxons who were threatening Britain, while the red dragon symbolized the native Celtic Britons and the Welsh people. Although the Saxons would dominate for a time, the prophecy foretold that the red dragon would ultimately prevail, and the Welsh would drive out the invaders and reclaim their land.
The site where this legendary battle took place became known as Dinas Emrys, meaning “Emrys’s Fortress” in Welsh, named in honour of Myrddin Emrys. Remarkably, when archaeologists excavated Dinas Emrys in 1945, they discovered evidence of an actual underground pool and the remains of a fortress dating to the fifth century, the time period of Vortigern. While this doesn’t prove the existence of dragons, it does demonstrate that the legend was rooted in real historical places and events.
This powerful story was later retold and elaborated by Geoffrey of Monmouth in his influential Historia Regum Britanniae, written between 1120 and 1129. Geoffrey’s version explicitly linked the dragon prophecy to King Arthur and the wizard Merlin, cementing the red dragon’s place in the mythology and literature of medieval Britain. The tale resonated deeply with the Welsh people, who saw in it a promise of eventual freedom and triumph over their enemies.
The Dragon in Medieval Wales
Throughout the medieval period, the red dragon became increasingly identified with Welsh royal dynasties and Welsh resistance to English conquest. The symbol was particularly associated with Cadwaladr ap Cadwallon, who ruled the kingdom of Gwynedd from 655 to 682. Cadwaladr was remembered as a great Welsh king, and later Welsh rulers claimed descent from him to legitimize their authority. The red dragon came to be known as the Red Dragon of Cadwaladr, and Welsh kings of Aberffraw adopted it as their emblem to symbolize their power and royal lineage after the Romans had departed from Britain.
The dragon became so strongly associated with Welsh leadership that Welsh warriors and rulers were often called dragons in poetry and literature. Terms such as “pendragon” meaning “dragon head” or “chief dragon” were used as titles for great leaders. This linguistic tradition connected the dragon not just to Wales as a place, but to the very concept of Welsh leadership and martial prowess.
One of the most significant moments in the medieval history of the Welsh dragon occurred during the revolt of Owain Glyndŵr against English rule in the early fifteenth century. In 1400, Owain Glyndŵr, the last native Welsh person to hold the title Prince of Wales, raised a dragon standard as the symbol of his rebellion against King Henry IV of England. Glyndŵr’s banner was distinctive, featuring a golden dragon on a white background, known as Y Ddraig Aur. This banner was raised over Caernarfon during the Battle of Tuthill in 1401, declaring Welsh independence and defiance.
Although Glyndŵr’s rebellion ultimately failed and he disappeared into legend rather than achieving lasting independence, his use of the dragon standard reinforced its status as the premier symbol of Welsh national identity and resistance. The dragon had become synonymous with the Welsh cause and the dream of self determination.
The Tudor Connection and the Modern Flag Design
The design of the Welsh flag as we know it today owes its existence to the Tudor dynasty, and specifically to Henry Tudor, who would become King Henry VII of England. This connection is one of the most important chapters in the flag’s history and explains how the red dragon gained its distinctive green and white background.
Henry Tudor was born at Pembroke Castle in Wales in 1457. Through his father, Edmund Tudor, Earl of Richmond, and his grandfather, Owen Tudor, Henry had Welsh ancestry and connections to Welsh nobility. More significantly, Henry and his supporters claimed that he was a direct descendant of Cadwaladr, the revered Welsh king associated with the red dragon. This claim, whether historically accurate or not, was politically invaluable to Henry as he sought to build support for his challenge to the English throne.
In 1485, Henry Tudor was living in exile in France, but he saw an opportunity to claim the English crown from King Richard III. Richard’s reign was troubled, and Henry gathered an invasion force of approximately 2,000 men, including English and Welsh supporters as well as French and Scottish mercenaries. On 7 August 1485, Henry’s small fleet landed at Mill Bay in Milford Haven on the Pembrokeshire coast of Wales. The location was carefully chosen. Landing in Wales allowed Henry to capitalize on his Welsh heritage and gather support from Welsh nobles and common people who saw him as one of their own.
As Henry marched through Wales towards England, he deliberately emphasized his Welsh ancestry and his connection to the ancient Welsh kings. To symbolize this heritage and to rally Welsh support to his cause, Henry flew a distinctive banner that featured a red dragon. Contemporary accounts describe this standard as showing “a red fiery dragon painted upon white and green sarcenet.” The dragon was displayed against a background divided horizontally into two colours: white on the upper half and green on the lower half.
These green and white colours were the livery colours of the Tudor family, and Henry chose them to represent his dynasty. The combination of the ancient red dragon of Cadwaladr with the Tudor colours of green and white created a powerful symbol that merged Welsh heritage with Tudor ambition. It suggested that Henry was not just another foreign claimant to the English throne, but rather the fulfillment of Welsh prophecy and the rightful heir to both Welsh and English sovereignty.
Henry’s strategy worked. As he marched through Wales, he gathered significant support, and on 22 August 1485, his forces met those of King Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field in Leicestershire. Henry carried three standards into battle: the arms of Saint George representing England, the arms of the House of Beaufort representing his Lancastrian lineage, and the red dragon on white and green representing Wales. The battle was decisive. Richard III was killed in the fighting, becoming the last English king to die in combat, and Henry Tudor claimed the throne as King Henry VII, founding the Tudor dynasty that would rule England and Wales for over a century.
After his victory, Henry carried the red dragon standard in state to St Paul’s Cathedral in London, where it was blessed and recognized. This ceremonial act elevated the red dragon to unprecedented prominence. Henry incorporated the dragon into the royal symbolism of England, adding it as a supporter of the Tudor royal arms to signify the dynasty’s Welsh origins. During the reign of his son, Henry VIII, the red dragon on a green and white background became a popular emblem on Royal Navy ships, further spreading the symbol throughout Britain and beyond.
The Tudor monarchs ruled England and Wales from 1485 to 1603, and throughout this period, the red dragon remained associated with Wales and with the Welsh heritage of the royal family. However, when the Tudor line ended and new dynasties took the throne, the prominence of the Welsh dragon declined somewhat in official symbolism.
The Road to Official Recognition
Despite its long history and deep cultural significance, the red dragon faced a long struggle to achieve official recognition as the national flag of Wales. When the Union Flag was created in 1606, combining the flags of England and Scotland, Wales was not represented. This was because Wales had been legally incorporated into the Kingdom of England by the Laws in Wales Acts of 1535 and 1542, and was therefore considered part of England rather than a separate nation requiring distinct representation on the flag. This omission would become a source of frustration for Welsh people who felt their nation deserved equal recognition.
In 1807, the red dragon on a green mount was adopted as the Royal Badge of Wales, providing some official acknowledgment of the symbol’s importance. However, this was merely a badge rather than a flag, and its use was limited.
The dragon regained popular prominence in the early twentieth century as Welsh national consciousness grew stronger. In 1911, the red dragon was prominently displayed during the investiture of Edward, Prince of Wales, at Caernarfon Castle, introducing the symbol to a wide audience. However, official attitudes towards a distinct Welsh flag remained resistant.
Between 1910 and 1916, Caernarfon town council repeatedly petitioned to have the Welsh flag flown on top of Caernarfon Castle’s Eagle Tower instead of the Union Flag. These requests were consistently rejected. In April 1916, the mayor and deputy constable of the castle, Charles A. Jones, explained the refusal by stating that “the authorities were advised that there was no such thing as a Welsh flag, it was only a badge.” This dismissive attitude towards Welsh national symbols reflected the official view that Wales did not warrant its own flag.
Frustrated by this refusal to recognize Welsh identity, Welsh nationalists took matters into their own hands. In 1932, the Welsh Nationalist Party, which would later become Plaid Cymru, appealed to the Office of Works to replace the Union Flag with the Welsh flag on Caernarfon Castle on St David’s Day. When this appeal was ignored, on 1 March, a group of Welsh patriots climbed the castle towers and hauled down the Union Flags from the Eagle Tower and the eastern tower, replacing them with Welsh dragon flags.
The castle officials promptly removed the Welsh flags and restored the Union Flags. However, later that same afternoon, the Union Flag was hauled down again from the Eagle Tower by a group of about 30 to 40 students, who took it to the castle square and tore it to pieces. The students had entered the castle as ordinary visitors, climbed the stone steps to the Eagle Tower, and carried away the Union Flag. The incident nearly sparked a violent confrontation between the students and ex servicemen who were outraged at the treatment of the Union Flag, but thankfully no serious violence occurred.
These acts of protest highlighted the depth of feeling about Welsh national symbols and put pressure on authorities to address Welsh aspirations for recognition. However, it would take nearly three more decades before official recognition was granted.
In 1953, as preparations were being made for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, a new Royal Badge of Wales was created. This badge featured the red dragon on a green and white striped background and included the motto “Y Ddraig Goch Ddyry Cychwyn,” which translates to “The Red Dragon Gives Impetus” or “The Red Dragon Leads the Way.” This phrase came from a poem by the medieval Welsh poet Deio ab Ieuan Du. However, the badge was controversial. In some versions, the dragon’s tail pointed downward, which was considered poor heraldic form, and the motto was potentially embarrassing because the original poem had used the phrase as a double entendre referring to a copulating bull.
Finally, after continued political pressure and public campaigns, particularly following controversies around St David’s Day celebrations in 1958, Queen Elizabeth II granted official recognition to the Welsh flag. On 11 March 1959, the Queen decreed that “only the red dragon on a green and white flag should be flown on government buildings in Wales.” This royal proclamation finally gave Wales its official national flag, more than 450 years after the Tudor dynasty had first prominently displayed the red dragon on green and white at Bosworth Field.
The 1959 recognition established the design that remains Wales’s flag today: a red dragon passant, walking with its right foreleg raised, on a field divided horizontally into white on top and green on the bottom. As with many heraldic symbols, the exact artistic representation of the dragon is not rigidly standardized by law, which is why various slightly different depictions of the dragon exist on different versions of the flag. However, the basic elements of the design are consistent and instantly recognizable.
Symbolism and Meaning
Every element of the Welsh flag carries deep symbolic meaning that reflects Welsh history, culture, and aspirations. The red dragon itself is the most obvious and powerful symbol, representing several interconnected concepts. First and foremost, it embodies the strength, courage, and fierce independence of the Welsh people. Dragons in mythology are powerful, formidable creatures, and by choosing a dragon as their national symbol, the Welsh proclaim their determination to defend their land and culture.
The red colour of the dragon specifically recalls the ancient prophecy of Merlin and the victory of the red dragon over the white dragon. It symbolizes the Welsh people’s ultimate triumph and survival despite centuries of conflict and attempts at conquest. The dragon is also depicted passant, a heraldic term meaning it is shown walking with one foot raised, which suggests vigilance, readiness, and forward movement. This posture represents a nation that is always alert and prepared to defend its identity and freedom.
The green and white background colours have their own significance. As noted earlier, these were the Tudor family colours, connecting the flag to the dynasty that elevated the dragon to royal status. However, these colours have also been interpreted in other meaningful ways. Green is often associated with the lush, verdant landscapes of Wales, with its rolling green hills, valleys, and mountains. The natural beauty of the Welsh countryside is one of the defining features of the nation, and green captures this perfectly. White is traditionally associated with peace, purity, and harmony. Together, green and white suggest a nation of natural beauty and peaceful aspirations, balanced by the fierce protective spirit of the red dragon.
Some scholars and historians have also suggested that green and white were recognized as Welsh national colours as early as the fourteenth century. Records indicate that Welsh soldiers fighting for the Black Prince at the Battle of Crécy in 1346 wore uniforms of green and white, making them among the first troops to appear on a continental battlefield in a national uniform. If this interpretation is correct, then Henry Tudor was drawing on even older Welsh traditions when he chose these colours for his dragon banner.
Another dimension of the flag’s symbolism lies in its uniqueness. Wales has the distinction of being one of the very few countries in the world with a dragon on its national flag, and certainly the only nation in the United Kingdom with such a symbol. While England displays the cross of St George, Scotland the saltire of St Andrew, and Northern Ireland the cross of St Patrick, Wales proudly features a mythical creature that sets it apart. This uniqueness reinforces Welsh distinctiveness and the sense that Wales is a nation with its own character and heritage, not merely a region of a larger entity.
The Flag in Modern Welsh Life
Today, the Welsh flag is ubiquitous throughout Wales and in Welsh communities around the world. It flies from public buildings, schools, businesses, and homes on St David’s Day, which is celebrated on 1 March, as well as during international rugby matches, football tournaments, and other occasions of national pride. The sight of thousands of Welsh flags being waved by fans at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff during Six Nations rugby matches is one of the most stirring displays of national identity in modern sport.
The flag has become a commercial symbol as well, appearing on merchandise ranging from clothing and accessories to food products and souvenirs. Welsh goods exported around the world often prominently display the dragon, serving as a mark of Welsh origin and quality. The flag has even been adopted by the Welsh diaspora, appearing at Welsh societies and cultural events in countries as far flung as Patagonia in Argentina, where Welsh settlers established communities in the nineteenth century.
In recent decades, as Wales has gained greater political autonomy through devolution, the flag has taken on additional significance as a symbol of modern Welsh democracy and self governance. The establishment of the Senedd, the Welsh Parliament, in 1999 created new contexts for the display of the flag and new associations between the dragon and contemporary Welsh political institutions.
The flag has also become a symbol of Welsh sporting excellence and achievement. Welsh athletes competing in international competitions wear the dragon with pride, and victories by Welsh teams or individuals are celebrated with enthusiastic displays of the flag. The dragon has become synonymous with the fighting spirit and determination that characterizes Welsh sporting culture.
A Living Symbol
The Welsh flag is remarkable not only for its distinctive and eye catching design but also for the extraordinary depth of history and legend it embodies. From its possible origins with Roman cavalry standards and Sarmatian warriors, through the prophecy of Merlin and the kings of Gwynedd, to its adoption by Henry Tudor and its eventual official recognition in 1959, the red dragon has been on a journey spanning more than 1,500 years.
Unlike flags that were designed by committees or chosen for purely aesthetic or symbolic reasons, the Welsh flag evolved organically from the lived experience of the Welsh people. It grew out of their myths and legends, their struggles for survival and sovereignty, their pride in their Celtic heritage, and their determination to maintain a distinct national identity. The dragon represents not just Wales as a geographic entity but the spirit of the Welsh people themselves: resilient, proud, fierce when threatened, and enduring through the centuries.
The flag’s path to official recognition was neither smooth nor inevitable. It required the persistence and passion of ordinary Welsh people who insisted that their nation deserved proper recognition and that the dragon was not merely a badge but the rightful flag of Wales. The protests at Caernarfon Castle and the decades of campaigning that finally achieved success in 1959 demonstrate that the flag’s meaning goes beyond its historical origins. It is also a symbol of modern Welsh determination and the democratic right of peoples to define and celebrate their own identity.
Today, Y Ddraig Goch stands as one of the most recognizable and beloved national flags in the world. It tells the story of a small nation that has maintained its language, culture, and distinct identity against considerable odds. Every time the red dragon is raised and flies in the wind, it recalls ancient prophecies, medieval warriors, Tudor ambitions, and the ongoing vitality of Welsh national life. It is a flag that truly deserves the motto associated with it: Y Ddraig Goch Ddyry Cychwyn. The Red Dragon Leads the Way.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the Welsh flag officially adopted?
The Welsh flag was officially recognized on 11 March 1959, when Queen Elizabeth II decreed that only the red dragon on a green and white flag should be flown on government buildings in Wales. However, the dragon symbol itself has been associated with Wales for over a thousand years, and the specific design of a red dragon on green and white dates back to 1485.
Why does the Welsh flag have a dragon on it?
The red dragon has been a symbol associated with Wales since ancient times, possibly originating from Roman military standards. According to Welsh legend, the red dragon represents the Welsh people and appeared in the prophecy of Merlin, where it defeated a white dragon representing the invading Saxons. Medieval Welsh kings adopted the dragon as their emblem, and it became the defining symbol of Welsh identity and resistance.
What do the colours on the Welsh flag mean?
The green and white background colours are the livery colours of the Tudor dynasty, introduced by Henry VII when he used the red dragon banner at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485. Green is also associated with the lush, verdant landscapes of Wales, while white represents peace and harmony. Some historians believe green and white may have been recognized as Welsh colours as early as the fourteenth century.
Who first used the red dragon as a Welsh symbol?
The oldest written record of the red dragon as a Welsh symbol appears in the Historia Brittonum, written around 829 by the Welsh monk Nennius. However, the dragon was likely used earlier. Cadwaladr ap Cadwallon, King of Gwynedd from 655 to 682, is particularly associated with the red dragon, which became known as the Red Dragon of Cadwaladr.
Why isn’t Wales represented on the Union Flag?
Wales is not represented on the Union Flag because when the flag was created in 1606, Wales had already been legally incorporated into the Kingdom of England through the Laws in Wales Acts of 1535 and 1542. Wales was therefore considered part of England rather than a separate kingdom requiring representation. This remains a source of disappointment for many Welsh people who feel their nation deserves equal recognition.
What is the legend of the two dragons?
According to Welsh legend, King Vortigern tried to build a castle at Dinas Emrys in Snowdonia, but the walls kept collapsing. The young Merlin revealed that two dragons, one red and one white, were fighting beneath the mountain, causing the destruction. The dragons were released and battled, with the red dragon ultimately defeating the white dragon. Merlin explained that the white dragon represented the Saxons and the red dragon represented the Welsh, prophesying that the Welsh would eventually triumph over the invaders.
How did Henry Tudor contribute to the Welsh flag?
Henry Tudor, who became King Henry VII, was of Welsh ancestry and claimed descent from the Welsh king Cadwaladr. When he invaded England in 1485 to claim the throne, he flew a banner featuring the red dragon of Cadwaladr on a background of Tudor green and white. After his victory at the Battle of Bosworth, he carried this standard to St Paul’s Cathedral, elevating it to royal status. This is the origin of the modern Welsh flag design.
Is the design of the dragon on the Welsh flag standardized?
No, the exact artistic representation of the dragon is not rigidly standardized by law. Different versions of the flag may show slightly different depictions of the dragon. However, the dragon is always red, shown passant with one foot raised, and placed on a green and white horizontally divided field.
When is the Welsh flag typically displayed?
The Welsh flag is displayed year round on government buildings in Wales, but it is particularly prominent on St David’s Day, 1 March, which is the national day of Wales. It is also widely displayed during international rugby and football matches, cultural festivals, and other occasions of national celebration or pride.
What does Y Ddraig Goch mean?
Y Ddraig Goch is Welsh for “The Red Dragon.” It is one of the names by which the Welsh flag is known, along with Baner Cymru, which means “The Flag of Wales.”
Were there other symbols considered for the Welsh flag?
While the red dragon has been the dominant symbol of Wales for centuries, the leek and the daffodil are also traditional Welsh emblems. However, by the time of official recognition in 1959, the red dragon was so firmly established in Welsh consciousness and tradition that no other symbol was seriously considered for the national flag.
Can anyone fly the Welsh flag?
Yes, the Welsh flag can be freely flown by anyone. It is not restricted to government use or special occasions. Many Welsh people and Welsh institutions around the world display the flag as an expression of Welsh identity and pride.
