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{{Use British English|date=January 2014}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2014}}
[[File:Welsh Dragon (Y Ddraig Goch).svg|thumb|The Welsh Dragon (Y Ddraig Goch)]]
[[File:Welsh Dragon (Y Ddraig Goch).svg|thumb|The Welsh Dragon (Y Ddraig Goch)]]
The '''Welsh Dragon''' ({{lang-cy|y Ddraig Goch}}, meaning 'the red dragon'; {{IPA-cy|ə ˈðraiɡ ˈɡoːχ|pron}}) is a [[heraldic symbol]] that represents [[Wales]] and appears on the national [[flag of Wales]].
The '''Welsh Dragon''' ({{lang-cy|y Ddraig Goch}}, meaning 'the red dragon'; {{IPA-cy|ə ˈðraiɡ ˈɡoːχ|pron}}) is a [[heraldic symbol]] that represents [[Wales]] and appears on the national [[flag of Wales]].


As an emblem, the red dragon of Wales has been used since the reign of [[Cadwaladr]], [[List of rulers of Wales|King of Gwynedd]] from around 655AD and is historically known as the "Red Dragon of Cadwaladr". Ancient leaders of the [[Celtic Britons]] that are personified as dragons include [[Maelgwn Gwynedd]], [[Mynyddog Mwynfawr]] and [[Urien|Urien Rheged]]. Later [[Welsh people|Welsh]] "dragons" include [[Owain Gwynedd]], [[Llywelyn ap Gruffudd|Llywelyn ap Gruffydd]] and [[Owain Glyndŵr]].
As an emblem, the red dragon of Wales has been used since the reign of [[Cadwaladr]], [[List of rulers of Wales|King of Gwynedd]] from around 655AD and is historically known as the "Red Dragon of Cadwaladr". Ancient leaders of the [[Celtic Britons]] that are personified as dragons include [[Maelgwn Gwynedd]], [[Mynyddog Mwynfawr]] and [[Urien|Urien Rheged]]. Later [[Welsh people|Welsh]] "dragons" include [[Owain Gwynedd]], [[Llywelyn ap Gruffudd|Llywelyn ap Gruffydd]] and [[Owain Glyndŵr]].


The red dragon appears in the ancient ''[[Mabinogion]]'' story of [[Lludd and Llefelys]] where it is confined, battling with an invading white dragon, at [[Dinas Emrys]]. The story continues in the {{lang|la|[[Historia Brittonum]]}}, written around AD 829, where [[Vortigern|Gwrtheyrn]], [[King of the Britons]] is frustrated in attempts to build a fort at Dinas Emrys. He is told by a boy Emrys, to dig up two dragons fighting beneath the castle. He discovers the white dragon representing the [[Anglo-Saxons]], which is soon to be defeated by the red dragon of the Wales.
The red dragon appears in the ancient ''[[Mabinogion]]'' story of [[Lludd and Llefelys]] where it is confined, battling with an invading white dragon, at [[Dinas Emrys]]. The story continues in the {{lang|la|[[Historia Brittonum]]}}, written around AD 829, where [[Vortigern|Gwrtheyrn]], [[King of the Britons]] is frustrated in attempts to build a fort at Dinas Emrys. He is told by a boy, Emrys, to dig up two dragons fighting beneath the castle. He discovers the white dragon representing the [[Anglo-Saxons]], which is soon to be defeated by the red dragon of the Wales.


The red dragon is now seen as [[National symbols of Wales|symbolising Wales]], present on the current national flag of Wales, which became an official flag in 1959.
The red dragon is now seen as [[National symbols of Wales|symbolising Wales]], present on the current national flag of Wales, which became an official flag in 1959.
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== History ==
== History ==


The dragon motif is known in [[Celtic art]] in diverse styles. It is assumed that the dragon is derived from ancient folklore of the Middle East and Greece which is serpent-like. Both the Greeks and the Romans considered the serpent to be a guardian spirit, represented on their altars.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gosden |first=Christopher |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YOOZBgAAQBAJ&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&pg=PA234&dq=celtic+art+dragon&hl=en |title=Celtic Art in Europe: Making Connections |last2=Crawford |first2=Sally |last3=Ulmschneider |first3=Katharina |date=2014-08-29 |publisher=Oxbow Books |isbn=978-1-78297-658-5 |pages=27 |language=en}}</ref> Celtic art suggests an association in the Celtic imagination of gods and animals. Gods were represented with animal companions or as animals. {{r|Llywelyn2017|p=28}} Although there is no evidence of a dragon mythology among insular Celts, the serpent appears to have had a prominent place in the Celtic imagination, particularly as a symbol of powers in opposition.{{r|Thomas1992|p=38}} <ref name="Thomas1992">{{Cite book |last=Thomas |first=Gwyn |title=Duwiau'r Celtiaid |year=1992 |pages=38}}</ref>
=== Roman usage ===
⚫
Dragons as an emblem can be found in the Roman period of [[Roman Britain|Britannia]]. Dragon brooches have been discovered dating to the first and second centuries.{{r|Feachem1951}} Little is known about these, but the military use of the term dragon also dates back to the [[Roman Britain|Roman period]] and this in turn is likely inspired by the symbols of the [[Scythians]], Indians, [[Persians]], [[Dacians]] or [[Parthian Empire|Parthians]].{{r|Lofmark1995|p=40|q=Among the Indians and Parthians a unit of 1,000 men was regularly assembled under the dragon flag.'° Trajan’s Column, erected at Rome in 113 A.D., shows a dragon standard being borne aloft by Dacian soldiers, another flying dragon in front of a Dacian position, and some more partially concealed dragon emblems among the trophies of victory taken by the Romans.!”}} One notable Draco symbol which may have influenced the Welsh dragon is that of the [[Sarmatians]], who contributed to the cavalry units stationed in [[Ribchester]] from the 2nd to 4th centuries.{{r|Rees2021}} Cohorts were represented by the [[Draco (military standard)|draco military standard]] from the third century in the same way that the Eagle Aquila standard represented the legions. The standard bearer of the cohort was called draconarius and carried a gilded staff with a dragon at the top.{{r|Lofmark1995|p=40}} {{efn|For instance, [[Gauls]] are attested to have marched under the dragon to distinguish the Gallic cohort from the Roman legions.{{r|Murray1892}}}} After the Roman withdrawal it has long been suggested that resistance to the Saxon incursion was led either by Romans or Romanised Britons, and this is evident in the names attributed in legend to those who led the opposition including [[Ambrosius Aurelianus]] and perhaps Artorius. This could account for how the Roman terminology came to be adopted by Britons.{{r|Lofmark1995|p=43}}


It is however, thought that the western Celtic peoples were familiar with dragons in the pre-Christian age and that [[Celtic Britons|native people of Britain]] wore Celtic decorations with motifs of dragons on them during the Roman invasion. There is also archaeological evidence that the continental Celts used brooches and pins in the form of a dragon during the [[La Tène culture|La Téne]] period from c.500BC to 1 AD.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Haverfield |first=F |title=The Roman Occupation of Britain |year=1924 |pages=24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Jones |first=Frances |title=The Princes and Principalities of Wales |year=1969 |pages=167-189}}</ref>{{r|Llywelyn2017|p=28}} It has been suggested that the native Britons of Europe may have brought the dragon with them when they migrated to Britain before the Roman age.{{r|Llywelyn2017|p=28}} The earliest known use of the dragon by the Celts appear in swords and sheaths in the 4th century BC.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Heinz |first=Sabine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DQBfh1erSL4C&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&pg=PA31&dq=celtic+dragon&hl=en |title=Celtic Symbols |date=2008 |publisher=Sterling Publishing Company, Inc. |isbn=978-1-4027-4624-6 |pages=31 |language=en}}</ref> One example found in Britain is an early iron age Celtic sword that features two opposing dragons, queried to be from the [[Hallstatt culture]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=sword; sword-sheath {{!}} British Museum |url=https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/H_1862-1001-1 |access-date=2023-01-30 |website=The British Museum |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Stead |first=Ian |title=Antiquaries Journal (Vol.64) |pages=269-279}}</ref> Two other swords and scabbards (also from the bottom of the river Thames) are thought to include a dragon pair from the [[La Tène culture]] and/or [[Hallstatt culture]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=sword; sheath {{!}} British Museum |url=https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/H_1859-0122-2 |access-date=2023-01-31 |website=The British Museum |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=sword; sword-sheath {{!}} British Museum |url=https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/H_1859-0122-1 |access-date=2023-01-31 |website=The British Museum |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Stead |first=Ian Mathieson |url=https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/British_Iron_Age_Swords_and_Scabbards/hn6BAAAAMAAJ?hl=en |title=British Iron Age swords and scabbards |publisher=British Museum |year=2006}}</ref>
⚫
=== Title of Brythonic or Welsh leaders ===
⚫
From the first extant written records of the Britons, it became evident that Dragons were already associated with military leaders. Gildas, writing in about 540, spoke of the Briton chieftain Maglocunus ([[Maelgwn Gwynedd]] in Welsh) as the "insularis draco"{{r|Phillimore1978}}. More significantly, the early poets, [[Taliesin]] and [[Aneirin]] both extensively use dragons as an image for military leaders,{{r|Lofmark1995|p=44}}{{r|Llywelyn2017}} and for the Britons the word ''dragon'' began to take the form of a euphemism for a war leader, prince or ruler.{{r|Rees1997}}


⚫
Dragons as an emblem can be found in the Roman period of [[Roman Britain|Britannia]]. Dragon brooches have been discovered dating to the first and second centuries.{{r|Feachem1951}} Little is known about these, but the military use of the term "dragon" (in Latin, "draco") also dates back to the [[Roman Britain|Roman period]] and this in turn is likely inspired by the symbols of the [[Scythians]], Indians, [[Persians]], [[Dacians]] or [[Parthian Empire|Parthians]].{{r|Lofmark1995|p=40|q=Among the Indians and Parthians a unit of 1,000 men was regularly assembled under the dragon flag.'° Trajan’s Column, erected at Rome in 113 A.D., shows a dragon standard being borne aloft by Dacian soldiers, another flying dragon in front of a Dacian position, and some more partially concealed dragon emblems among the trophies of victory taken by the Romans.!”}} One notable Draco symbol which may have influenced the Welsh dragon is that of the [[Sarmatians]], who contributed to the cavalry units stationed in [[Ribchester]] from the 2nd to 4th centuries.{{r|Brzezinski2002}} Cohorts were represented by the [[Draco (military standard)|draco military standard]] from the third century in the same way that the eagle Aquila standard represented the legions. The standard bearer of the cohort was called draconarius and carried a gilded staff with a dragon at the top.{{r|Lofmark1995|p=40}} {{efn|For instance, [[Gauls]] are attested to have marched under the dragon to distinguish the Gallic cohort from the Roman legions.{{r|Murray1892}}}} After the Roman withdrawal it has long been suggested that resistance to the Saxon incursion was led either by Romans or Romanised Britons, and this is evident in the names attributed in legend to those who led the opposition, including [[Ambrosius Aurelianus]] and perhaps Artorius. This could account for how the Roman terminology came to be adopted by Britons.{{r|Lofmark1995|p=43}}
⚫
In ''[[Y Gododdin]]'', Aneirin describes his patron, [[Mynyddog Mwynfawr]] as "the dragon" when he speaks of the "feast of the dragon". he also describes the war leader, Gwernabwy mab Gwen, as the dragon of the battle of Catraeth.{{r|Winterbottom1961}}{{r|Chadwick1991|p=43-44}} Meanwhile Taliesin, on Urien Rheged, described inexperienced and skilful leaders as {{lang-wlm|dreic dylaw|lit=inexperienced dragon|label=none}} and {{lang-wlm|dreic hylaw|lit=skillful dragon|label=none}} respectively.{{r|Williams1960}} Owain ap Urien is called Owain ben draic, the chief dragon.{{r|Lofmark1995|p=44}} Although not compiled until later, the main part of Y Gododdin and the heroic poems on [[Urien|Urien Rheged]] by Taliesin almost certainly date in origin to the sixth century.{{r|Williams1938}}{{r|Chadwick1991|p=285}}


⚫
=== Use of "dragon" as title of Brythonic or Welsh leaders ===
⚫
The Welsh term {{lang-cy|draig|lit=dragon|label=none}} was used to refer to [[List of rulers of Wales|Welsh leaders]] including [[Owain Gwynedd]],{{r|Jones1991}} [[Llywelyn ap Gruffudd]] (Llywelyn the Last){{r|Thomas1849}} and "the dragon" [[Owain Glyndŵr]].{{r|Hemans1881}} [[Cynddelw Brydydd Mawr]], a court poet to Owain Gwynedd refers to him in one elegy, personifying him as "The golden dragon of Snowdonia of eagles".{{r|Jones1991}}{{r|Owen1891}}
⚫
From the first extant written records of the Britons, it became evident that dragons were already associated with military leaders. Gildas, writing in about 540, spoke of the Briton chieftain Maglocunus ([[Maelgwn Gwynedd]] in Welsh) as the "insularis draco"{{r|Phillimore1978}}. More significantly, the early poets, [[Taliesin]] and [[Aneirin]] both extensively use dragons as an image for military leaders,{{r|Lofmark1995|p=44}}{{r|Llywelyn2017}} and for the Britons the word ''dragon'' began to take the form of a term for a war leader, prince or ruler.{{r|Rees1997}}


⚫
In ''[[Y Gododdin]]'', Aneirin describes his patron, [[Mynyddog Mwynfawr]] as "the dragon" when he speaks of the "feast of the dragon". He also describes the war leader, Gwernabwy mab Gwen, as the dragon of the battle of Catraeth.{{r|Winterbottom1961}}{{r|Chadwick1991|p=43-44}} Meanwhile Taliesin, on Urien Rheged, described inexperienced and skilful leaders as {{lang-wlm|dreic dylaw|lit=inexperienced dragon|label=none}} and {{lang-wlm|dreic hylaw|lit=skillful dragon|label=none}} respectively.{{r|Williams1960}} Owain ap Urien is called Owain ben draic, the chief dragon.{{r|Lofmark1995|p=44}} Although not compiled until later, the main part of Y Gododdin and the heroic poems on [[Urien|Urien Rheged]] by Taliesin almost certainly date in origin to the sixth century.{{r|Williams1938}}{{r|Chadwick1991|p=285}}
=== Cadwaladr ===

⚫
The Welsh term {{lang-cy|draig|lit=dragon|label=none}} was used to refer to [[List of rulers of Wales|Welsh leaders]] including [[Owain Gwynedd]],{{r|Jones1991}} [[Llywelyn ap Gruffudd]] (Llywelyn the Last){{r|Thomas1849}} and "the dragon" [[Owain Glyndŵr]].{{r|Hemans1881}} [[Cynddelw Brydydd Mawr]], a court poet to Owain Gwynedd, refers to him in one elegy, personifying him as "The golden dragon of Snowdonia of eagles".{{r|Jones1991}}{{r|Owen1891}}

=== Cadwaladr: traditional red dragon origin ===
[[File:Llandaf, yr eglwys gadeiriol Llandaf Cathedral De Cymru South Wales 165.JPG|thumb|[[Cadwaladr]] goes forth to battle under the banner of the red dragon. (Llandaf Church, Cardiff)]]As an emblem, the red dragon of Wales has been used since the reign of [[Cadwaladr]], [[List of rulers of Wales|King of Gwynedd]] from around 655AD.{{r|BBC2019}}{{r|Llywelyn2017}} The Red Welsh dragon is often described as the "Red Dragon of Cadwaladr" for this reason.{{r|Sikes1881}} Later Taliesin poems reference the return of Cadwaladr (r. circa 655 to 682) and coming Saxon liberation. Nevertheless these are perhaps as old as late 7th century, and speak of the {{lang-wlm|draig ffaw ffyst gychwyned"|the fated dragon, quick to rise|label=none}}.{{r|Williams1960}}
[[File:Llandaf, yr eglwys gadeiriol Llandaf Cathedral De Cymru South Wales 165.JPG|thumb|[[Cadwaladr]] goes forth to battle under the banner of the red dragon. (Llandaf Church, Cardiff)]]As an emblem, the red dragon of Wales has been used since the reign of [[Cadwaladr]], [[List of rulers of Wales|King of Gwynedd]] from around 655AD.{{r|BBC2019}}{{r|Llywelyn2017}} The Red Welsh dragon is often described as the "Red Dragon of Cadwaladr" for this reason.{{r|Sikes1881}} Later Taliesin poems reference the return of Cadwaladr (r. circa 655 to 682) and coming Saxon liberation. Nevertheless these are perhaps as old as late 7th century, and speak of the {{lang-wlm|draig ffaw ffyst gychwyned"|the fated dragon, quick to rise|label=none}}.{{r|Williams1960}}


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The tale is taken up in the [[Historia Brittonum]], written by [[Nennius]]. Historia Brittonum was written circa 828, and by this point the dragon was no longer just a military symbol but associated with a coming deliverer from the Saxons, and for the first time as a symbol of independence. It is also the first time that the colour of the dragon is verifiably given as red. Nevertheless there may well be an older attribution of red to the colour of the dragon in Y Gododdin.{{r|Lofmark1995|p=46}}{{efn|A passage reads {{lang-wlm|Disgleiryawr ac archawr tal achon//arrud dhreic fud pharaon|label=none}}, which defies clear translation, but {{lang-wlm|rud dhreic}} is widely held to be red dragon, and the word {{lang-wlm|pharaon}} is found in the later Mabinogion work, Lludd a Llefelys, in the passage on the two dragons at Vortigern's tower, suggesting this passage is source material for the Mabinogion account, where the dragon is again described as red.{{r|Lofmark1995|p=46}}}} The story of Lludd a Llefelys in the Mabinogion settles the matter, firmly establishing the red dragon of the [[Celtic Britons]] being in opposition with the white dragon of the [[Saxons]].<ref>''[[wikisource:History of the Britons|Historia Brittonum]]'', ch. 40–42.</ref>
The tale is taken up in the [[Historia Brittonum]], written by [[Nennius]]. Historia Brittonum was written circa 828, and by this point the dragon was no longer just a military symbol but associated with a coming deliverer from the Saxons, and for the first time as a symbol of independence. It is also the first time that the colour of the dragon is verifiably given as red. Nevertheless there may well be an older attribution of red to the colour of the dragon in Y Gododdin.{{r|Lofmark1995|p=46}}{{efn|A passage reads {{lang-wlm|Disgleiryawr ac archawr tal achon//arrud dhreic fud pharaon|label=none}}, which defies clear translation, but {{lang-wlm|rud dhreic}} is widely held to be red dragon, and the word {{lang-wlm|pharaon}} is found in the later Mabinogion work, Lludd a Llefelys, in the passage on the two dragons at Vortigern's tower, suggesting this passage is source material for the Mabinogion account, where the dragon is again described as red.{{r|Lofmark1995|p=46}}}} The story of Lludd a Llefelys in the Mabinogion settles the matter, firmly establishing the red dragon of the [[Celtic Britons]] being in opposition with the white dragon of the [[Saxons]].<ref>''[[wikisource:History of the Britons|Historia Brittonum]]'', ch. 40–42.</ref>


In chapters 40–42 there is a narrative in which the tyrant [[Vortigern]] flees into Wales to escape the [[Anglo-Saxons|Anglo-Saxon]] invaders. There he chooses a hill-fort as the site for his royal retreat, and attempts to build a citadel, but the structure collapses repeatedly. His wise men tell him he must sacrifice a young boy born without a father on the spot to alleviate the curse. The King sent his soldiers out across the land to find such a lad. and discovers such a boy, Emrys ([[Ambrosius Aurelianus]]), but Emrys reveals the real reason for the collapsing towers: a hidden pool containing two dragons, one red and one white, representing the Britons and the Saxons specifically, are buried beneath the foundation.{{r|HistoriaBrittonum|at=§40-42}} He explained how the White Dragon of the Saxons though winning the battle at present, would soon be defeated by the [[Britons (historical)|Welsh]] [[Y Ddraig Goch|Red Dragon]]. After Vortigern's downfall, the fort was given to High-King [[Ambrosius Aurelianus]], known in Welsh as Emrys Wledig, hence its name.{{r|HistoriaBrittonum|at=§40-43}}
In chapters 40–42 there is a narrative in which the tyrant [[Vortigern]] flees into Wales to escape the [[Anglo-Saxons|Anglo-Saxon]] invaders. There he chooses a hill-fort as the site for his royal retreat, and attempts to build a citadel, but the structure collapses repeatedly. His wise men tell him he must sacrifice a young boy born without a father on the spot to alleviate the curse. The King sent his soldiers out across the land to find such a lad. and discovers such a boy, Emrys ([[Ambrosius Aurelianus]]), but Emrys reveals the real reason for the collapsing towers: a hidden pool containing two dragons, one red and one white, representing the Britons and the Saxons specifically, are buried beneath the foundation.{{r|HistoriaBrittonum|at=§40-42}} He explains how the White Dragon of the Saxons, though winning the battle at present, would soon be defeated by the [[Britons (historical)|Welsh]] [[Y Ddraig Goch|Red Dragon]]. After Vortigern's downfall, the fort was given to High-King [[Ambrosius Aurelianus]], known in Welsh as Emrys Wledig, hence its name.{{r|HistoriaBrittonum|at=§40-43}}


=== Geoffrey of Monmouth ===
=== Geoffrey of Monmouth ===
{{See also|Historia Regum Britanniae}}[[File:History_of_the_Kings_(f.75.v)_King_Arthur.jpg|thumb|216x216px|King Arthur. An illustration from a 15th-century [[Welsh language]] Historia Regum Britanniae (‘History of the [[List of legendary kings of Britain|Kings of Britain]]’) by Geoffrey of Monmouth.]]
{{See also|Historia Regum Britanniae}}[[File:History_of_the_Kings_(f.75.v)_King_Arthur.jpg|thumb|216x216px|King Arthur. An illustration from a 15th-century [[Welsh language]] Historia Regum Britanniae (‘History of the [[List of legendary kings of Britain|Kings of Britain]]’) by Geoffrey of Monmouth.]]
The same story of the red and white dragon is repeated in [[Geoffrey of Monmouth]]'s ''[[Historia Regum Britanniae|History of the Kings of Britain]]'', where the red dragon is also a prophecy of the coming of [[King Arthur]].{{r|Barber1999}}
The same story of the red and white dragons is repeated in [[Geoffrey of Monmouth]]'s ''[[Historia Regum Britanniae|History of the Kings of Britain]]'', where the red dragon is also a prophecy of the coming of [[King Arthur]].{{r|Barber1999}}


When the later Arthurian legends reached their modern form, [[Geoffrey of Monmouth]], writing in the 12th century for a French and Breton audience, wrote that [[King Arthur]] used a golden dragon banner.{{r|TheNational2021}} His standard was also emblazoned with a golden dragon.{{r|Hart2020}}{{r|HistoriaRegumBritanniae}} It is also mentioned in at least four manuscripts that Arthur is associated with the golden dragon, and the standard functions as a haven for wounded soldiers in battles. Geoffrey of Monmouth reports that Arthur used the standard within his vicinity at the rear of the battle for the attention of his wounded soldiers.{{r|Ferris1959|p=69-71}}[[File:Uther-ben-dragon-1.tif|thumb|Welsh: "Ythr Ben Dragwn" (translated: Uther, Chief Dragon) in "Dares Phrygius & Brut Tysilio" held at Jesus College, Oxford{{efn|This text is found in the Brut Tysilio, a Welsh text which is probably a late reworking of Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia regum Britanniae. The image comes from a 1695 folio, Jesus College MS. 28, but was transcribed from a 15th century manuscript, Jesus College MS. 61 by Hugh Jones, Underkeeper of the Ashmolean Museum, in 1695. {{r|JC.MS.28}}}}]]
When the later Arthurian legends reached their modern form, [[Geoffrey of Monmouth]], writing in the 12th century for a French and Breton audience, wrote that [[King Arthur]] used a golden dragon banner.{{r|TheNational2021}} His standard was also emblazoned with a golden dragon.{{r|Hart2020}}{{r|HistoriaRegumBritanniae}} It is also mentioned in at least four manuscripts that Arthur is associated with the golden dragon, and the standard functions as a haven for wounded soldiers in battles. Geoffrey of Monmouth reports that Arthur used the standard within his vicinity at the rear of the battle for the attention of his wounded soldiers.{{r|Ferris1959|p=69-71}}[[File:Uther-ben-dragon-1.tif|thumb|Welsh: "Ythr Ben Dragwn" (translated: Uther, Chief Dragon) in "Dares Phrygius & Brut Tysilio" held at Jesus College, Oxford{{efn|This text is found in the Brut Tysilio, a Welsh text which is probably a late reworking of Geoffrey of Monmouth's ''Historia regum Britanniae''. The image comes from a 1695 folio, Jesus College MS. 28, but was transcribed from a 15th century manuscript, Jesus College MS. 61, by Hugh Jones, Underkeeper of the Ashmolean Museum, in 1695. {{r|JC.MS.28}}}}]]
=== Owain Glyndŵr ===
=== Owain Glyndŵr ===
[[File:Y_Draig_Aur_Owain_Glyndŵr.jpg|thumb|{{circa|1400}} – {{circa|1416}}, {{lang|cy|Y Ddraig Aur}}, royal standard of {{lang|cy|[[Owain Glyndŵr]]|italic=no}}, Prince of Wales, raised over {{lang|cy|[[Caernarfon]]|italic=no}} during the [[Battle of Tuthill]] in 1401 against the English.]]
[[File:Y_Draig_Aur_Owain_Glyndŵr.jpg|thumb|{{circa|1400}} – {{circa|1416}}, {{lang|cy|Y Ddraig Aur}}, royal standard of {{lang|cy|[[Owain Glyndŵr]]|italic=no}}, Prince of Wales, raised over {{lang|cy|[[Caernarfon]]|italic=no}} during the [[Battle of Tuthill]] in 1401 against the English.]]
{{lang|cy|[[Owain Glyndŵr]]|italic=no}}'s banner was known as {{lang|cy|Y Ddraig Aur}} or 'The Golden Dragon' ({{lang-enm|Gilden Dragoun}}). It was famously raised over {{lang|cy|[[Caernarfon]]|italic=no}} during the [[Battle of Tuthill]] in 1401 against the English. {{lang|cy|Glyndŵr|italic=no}} chose to fly the standard of a golden dragon on a white background, the traditional standard that, supposedly, [[Uther Pendragon]] had flown when the first [[Celtic Britons]] had fought the [[Saxons]] to a standstill almost 1,000 years before, which had been passed down to his son King Arthur.{{r|Hackett2014}}{{r|John2007}}{{r|Breverton2009}} [[Adam of Usk]] reports that Glyndwr's golden dragon was the first use of a dragon standard used in war by Welsh troops on the 1st of November, 1401.{{r|Jones1969}}{{r|Ramsay1892}} Historian John Davies adds that the dragon raised by Glyndwr was a symbol of victory for the [[Celtic Britons]].{{r|Davies2007}}
{{lang|cy|[[Owain Glyndŵr]]|italic=no}}'s banner was known as {{lang|cy|Y Ddraig Aur}} or 'The Golden Dragon' ({{lang-enm|Gilden Dragoun}}). It was famously raised over {{lang|cy|[[Caernarfon]]|italic=no}} during the [[Battle of Tuthill]] in 1401 against the English. {{lang|cy|Glyndŵr|italic=no}} chose to fly the standard of a golden dragon on a white background, the traditional standard that, supposedly, [[Uther Pendragon]] had flown when the first [[Celtic Britons]] had fought the [[Saxons]] to a standstill almost 1,000 years before, and passed down to his son King Arthur.{{r|Hackett2014}}{{r|John2007}}{{r|Breverton2009}} [[Adam of Usk]] reports that Glyndwr's golden dragon was the first use of a dragon standard used in war by Welsh troops on the 1st of November, 1401.{{r|Jones1969}}{{r|Ramsay1892}} Historian John Davies adds that the dragon raised by Glyndwr was a symbol of victory for the [[Celtic Britons]].{{r|Davies2007}}


On his [[Welsh Seal|seals]] Glyndwr is also depicted with a Welsh dragon on his helmet, his horse's head and his crown.{{r|ArchaeologiaCambrensis1853}} Glyndŵr's [[Welsh Seal#Owain Glyndwr|Great Seal]] as Prince of Wales also included a dragon gules on his crest.{{r|Kay1979}}<gallery mode="packed" heights="150">
On his [[Welsh Seal|seals]] Glyndwr is also depicted with a Welsh dragon on his helmet, his horse's head and his crown.{{r|ArchaeologiaCambrensis1853}} Glyndŵr's [[Welsh Seal#Owain Glyndwr|Great Seal]] as Prince of Wales also included a dragon gules on his crest.{{r|Kay1979}}<gallery mode="packed" heights="150">
Line 69: Line 72:
There is a further badge for Wales, belonging to the Princes of Wales since 1901, of the red dragon on a mount but with a [[Label (heraldry)|label]] of three points Argent about the shoulder to difference it from the monarch's badge.{{r|LondonGazette1901|p=8714}} The badge became a part of the [[Coat of arms of the Prince of Wales]] by Royal Warrant.{{r|Gazette}}
There is a further badge for Wales, belonging to the Princes of Wales since 1901, of the red dragon on a mount but with a [[Label (heraldry)|label]] of three points Argent about the shoulder to difference it from the monarch's badge.{{r|LondonGazette1901|p=8714}} The badge became a part of the [[Coat of arms of the Prince of Wales]] by Royal Warrant.{{r|Gazette}}


In 1953, the red dragon badge was given an [[Augmentation of Honour|augmentation of honour]]. The augmented badge is [[blazon]]ed: ''Within a circular riband [[Argent]] fimbriated [[Or (heraldry)|Or]] bearing the motto'' <small>Y DDRAIG GOCH DDYRY CYCHWYN</small> ["the red dragon inspires action"]'', in letters Vert, and ensigned with a representation of the Crown proper, an escutcheon per fesse Argent and Vert and thereon the Red Dragon passant''{{r|Gazette}} [[Winston Churchill]], the then prime minister, despised the badge's design, as is revealed in the following Cabinet minute from 1953:
In 1953, the red dragon badge was given an [[Augmentation of Honour|augmentation of honour]]. The augmented badge is [[blazon]]ed: ''Within a circular riband [[Argent]] fimbriated [[Or (heraldry)|Or]] bearing the motto'' <small>Y DDRAIG GOCH DDYRY CYCHWYN</small> ["the red dragon inspires action"]'', in letters Vert, and ensigned with a representation of the Crown proper, an escutcheon per fesse Argent and Vert and thereon the Red Dragon passant''.{{r|Gazette}} [[Winston Churchill]], the then prime minister, despised the badge's design, as is revealed in the following Cabinet minute from 1953:


{{blockquote|
{{blockquote|
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<!--[[File:Women's_Suffrage_Pilgrimage_in_Cathays_Park,_Cardiff_1913.jpg|right|thumb|Suffragettes at a rally in [[Cathays Park]] in 1913.]]-->
<!--[[File:Women's_Suffrage_Pilgrimage_in_Cathays_Park,_Cardiff_1913.jpg|right|thumb|Suffragettes at a rally in [[Cathays Park]] in 1913.]]-->
[[File:Cardiff_&_District_Womens_Suffrage_Society.jpg|right|thumb|1908 banner of the Cardiff & District Women's Suffrage Society]]
[[File:Cardiff_&_District_Womens_Suffrage_Society.jpg|right|thumb|1908 banner of the Cardiff & District Women's Suffrage Society]]
In the 1909 national pageant of Wales, the Welsh dragon apperas upright on a white background. The Welsh dragon that appears on the flag on board Captain Scott's Terra Nova is also an upright dragon (sergeant) on a white and green background. Up until this point, there was no standardised version of the Welsh dragon.{{r|Phillips2012}}
In the 1909 national pageant of Wales, the Welsh dragon appears upright on a white background. The Welsh dragon that appears on the flag on board Captain Scott's Terra Nova is also an upright dragon (sergeant) on a white and green background. Up until this point, there was no standardised version of the Welsh dragon.{{r|Phillips2012}}
The dragon was used on banners during women's suffrage events in Wales in the 1900s and 1910s. The banner's accession documents included a note from one of the former members "The banner was worked by Mrs Henry Lewis… [she] was also President of the South Wales Federation of Women's Suffrage Societies + she led the S. Wales section of the great Suffrage Procession in London on June 17th 1911, walking in front of her own beautiful banner… It was a great occasion, some 40,000 to 50,000 men + women taking part in the walk from Whitehall through Pall Mall, St James's Street + Piccadilly to the Albert Hall. The dragon attracted much attention – “Here comes the Devil” was the greeting of one group of on lookers."<ref>{{Cite web |title="Here comes the Devil": Welsh Suffrage and the Suffragettes |url=https://museum.wales/articles/1897/Here-comes-the-Devil-Welsh-Suffrage-and-the-Suffragettes/ |access-date=2022-10-06 |website=Museum Wales |language=en}}</ref>
The dragon was used on banners during women's suffrage events in Wales in the 1900s and 1910s. The banner's accession documents included a note from one of the former members "The banner was worked by Mrs Henry Lewis… [she] was also President of the South Wales Federation of Women's Suffrage Societies + she led the S. Wales section of the great Suffrage Procession in London on June 17th 1911, walking in front of her own beautiful banner… It was a great occasion, some 40,000 to 50,000 men + women taking part in the walk from Whitehall through Pall Mall, St James's Street + Piccadilly to the Albert Hall. The dragon attracted much attention – “Here comes the Devil” was the greeting of one group of on lookers."<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title="Here comes the Devil": Welsh Suffrage and the Suffragettes |url=https://museum.wales/articles/1897/Here-comes-the-Devil-Welsh-Suffrage-and-the-Suffragettes/ |access-date=2022-10-06 |website=Museum Wales |language=en}}</ref>



== Current use ==
== Current use ==
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=== Welsh government logo ===
=== Welsh government logo ===
The emblem (or logo) used by the [[Welsh Government]] is that of the Welsh dragon. According to their guidance, the; "logo consists of a dragon and Welsh Government name separated by a horizontal line, positioned together in a fixed relationship which must not be altered. These elements are aligned centrally with each other. The logo is always bilingual Regardless of the language of the material it appears on {{r|WG2020}} with "Welsh first, followed by English if necessary" {{r|WG2022a}} They also mention, "The dragon must always face to the left.", this follows the same rule which is applied to the dragon when flown on a pole.{{r|WG2019}}
The emblem (or logo) used by the [[Welsh Government]] is that of the Welsh dragon. According to their guidance, the "logo consists of a dragon and Welsh Government name separated by a horizontal line, positioned together in a fixed relationship which must not be altered. These elements are aligned centrally with each other. The logo is always bilingual Regardless of the language of the material it appears on {{r|WG2020}} with "Welsh first, followed by English if necessary" {{r|WG2022a}} They also mention, "The dragon must always face to the left"; this follows the same rule which is applied to the dragon when flown on a pole.{{r|WG2019}}


=== Welsh language society ===
=== Welsh language society ===


[[Tafod y Ddraig]] (Tongue of the dragon) is a symbol which represents the [[Welsh Language Society]], whose aims are to protect Welsh speakers from discrimination.
[[Tafod y Ddraig]] (Tongue of the dragon) is a symbol which represents the [[Welsh Language Society]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hill |first=Sarah |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UEArDwAAQBAJ&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&pg=PA137&dq=tafod+y+ddraig+symbol&hl=en |title='Blerwytirhwng?' The Place of Welsh Pop Music |date=2017-07-05 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-351-57346-7 |pages=137 |language=en}}</ref>


=== Wales football ===
=== Wales football ===
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<ref name="BBC2019">{{Cite news |date=2019-07-06 |title=Wales history: Why is the red dragon on the Welsh flag? |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-47389680 |access-date=2022-09-06}}</ref>
<ref name="BBC2019">{{Cite news |date=2019-07-06 |title=Wales history: Why is the red dragon on the Welsh flag? |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-47389680 |access-date=2022-09-06}}</ref>
<ref name="Breverton2009">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8XGoAwAAQBAJ |title=Owain Glyndwr: The Story of the Last Prince of Wales |first=Terry |last=Breverton |date=15 May 2009 |publisher=Amberley Publishing |isbn=9781445608761 |via=[[Google Books]] }}</ref>
<ref name="Breverton2009">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8XGoAwAAQBAJ |title=Owain Glyndwr: The Story of the Last Prince of Wales |first=Terry |last=Breverton |date=15 May 2009 |publisher=Amberley Publishing |isbn=9781445608761 |via=[[Google Books]] }}</ref>
<ref name="Brzezinski2002">{{cite book |last1=Brzezinski |first1=Richard |title=The Sarmatians, 600 B.C.-A.D. 450 |date=2002 |publisher=Osprey Military |location=Oxford |isbn=9781841764856}}</ref>
<ref name="CambrianJournal1864">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h60xAQAAIAAJ&pg=RA1-PA148 |title=The Cambrian Journal |date=1864 |pages=148 |language=en}}</ref>
<ref name="CambrianJournal1864">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h60xAQAAIAAJ&pg=RA1-PA148 |title=The Cambrian Journal |date=1864 |pages=148 |language=en}}</ref>
<ref name="Chadwick1991">{{cite book |last1=Chadwick |first1=Nora K. |title=The Celts |date=1991 |publisher=Penguin Books |location=London |isbn=978-0140136074}}</ref>
<ref name="Chadwick1991">{{cite book |last1=Chadwick |first1=Nora K. |title=The Celts |date=1991 |publisher=Penguin Books |location=London |isbn=978-0140136074}}</ref>
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<ref name="Ramsay1892">{{Cite book |last=Ramsay |first=Sir James Henry |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kloLAAAAYAAJ&dq=glyndwr+gold+dragon&pg=PA43 |title=Lancaster and York: A Century of English History (A.D. 1399-1485) |date=1892 |publisher=Clarendon Press |language=en}}</ref>
<ref name="Ramsay1892">{{Cite book |last=Ramsay |first=Sir James Henry |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kloLAAAAYAAJ&dq=glyndwr+gold+dragon&pg=PA43 |title=Lancaster and York: A Century of English History (A.D. 1399-1485) |date=1892 |publisher=Clarendon Press |language=en}}</ref>
<ref name="Rees1997">{{Cite book |last=Rees |first=David |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S7wqAQAAMAAJ&q=rhodri+mawr+gold+dragon |title=The Son of Prophecy: Henry Tudor's Road to Bosworth |date=1997 |publisher=J. Jones |isbn=978-1-871083-01-9 |pages=21 |language=en}}</ref>
<ref name="Rees1997">{{Cite book |last=Rees |first=David |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S7wqAQAAMAAJ&q=rhodri+mawr+gold+dragon |title=The Son of Prophecy: Henry Tudor's Road to Bosworth |date=1997 |publisher=J. Jones |isbn=978-1-871083-01-9 |pages=21 |language=en}}</ref>
<ref name="Rees2021">{{cite news |last1=Rees |first1=Huw |date=24 February 2021 |title=Enter the Dragon: the history of the Welsh flag revealed |agency=The National |url=https://www.thenational.wales/culture/19114269.revealing-secret-history-wales-flag/}}</ref>
<!--<ref name="Reiter2021">{{Cite book |last=Reiter |first=Virgile |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l20jEAAAQBAJ&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&pg=PA5&dq=arthur+in+northern+translations&hl=en |title=Arthur in Northern Translations: Material Culture, Characters, and Courtly Influence |last2=Jamet |first2=Raphaëlle |date=2021-08-11 |publisher=LIT Verlag Münster |isbn=978-3-643-91354-8 |pages=41 |language=en}}</ref>-->
<!--<ref name="Reiter2021">{{Cite book |last=Reiter |first=Virgile |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l20jEAAAQBAJ&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&pg=PA5&dq=arthur+in+northern+translations&hl=en |title=Arthur in Northern Translations: Material Culture, Characters, and Courtly Influence |last2=Jamet |first2=Raphaëlle |date=2021-08-11 |publisher=LIT Verlag Münster |isbn=978-3-643-91354-8 |pages=41 |language=en}}</ref>-->
<ref name="Rhys1911">{{Cite book |last=Rhys |first=Ernest |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PTgGAQAAIAAJ&q=anorchfygol+ddraig+cymru |title=The South Wales Coast from Chepstow to Aberystwyth |date=1911 |publisher=T. Fisher Unwin |pages=257 |language=en}}</ref>
<ref name="Rhys1911">{{Cite book |last=Rhys |first=Ernest |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PTgGAQAAIAAJ&q=anorchfygol+ddraig+cymru |title=The South Wales Coast from Chepstow to Aberystwyth |date=1911 |publisher=T. Fisher Unwin |pages=257 |language=en}}</ref>
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* {{citation |last=Lofmark |first=Carl |date=1995 |title=A History of the Red Dragon |location=Llanrwst |publisher=Gwasg Carreg Gwalch |isbn=0-86381-317-8}}
* {{citation |last=Lofmark |first=Carl |date=1995 |title=A History of the Red Dragon |location=Llanrwst |publisher=Gwasg Carreg Gwalch |isbn=0-86381-317-8}}
* {{cite book |last=Koch |first=John T. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=f899xH_quaMC |title=Celtic Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia |publisher=ABC-CLIO |year=2006 |isbn=1-85109-440-7 |accessdate=July 26, 2010}}
* {{cite book |last=Koch |first=John T. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=f899xH_quaMC |title=Celtic Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia |publisher=ABC-CLIO |year=2006 |isbn=1-85109-440-7 |accessdate=July 26, 2010}}
⚫
{{Wales topics}}{{National personifications}}{{Royal heraldry in the United Kingdom}}

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{{Royal heraldry in the United Kingdom}}
{{National personifications}}
{{portalbar|Wales|Heraldry}}
{{portalbar|Wales|Heraldry}}


Revision as of 20:47, 31 January 2023

"Y Ddraig Goch" redirects here. For the Welsh national flag, see Flag of Wales.

The Welsh Dragon (Y Ddraig Goch)

The Welsh Dragon (Welsh: y Ddraig Goch, meaning 'the red dragon'; pronounced [ə ˈðraiɡ ˈɡoːχ]) is a heraldic symbol that represents Wales and appears on the national flag of Wales.

As an emblem, the red dragon of Wales has been used since the reign of Cadwaladr, King of Gwynedd from around 655AD and is historically known as the "Red Dragon of Cadwaladr". Ancient leaders of the Celtic Britons that are personified as dragons include Maelgwn Gwynedd, Mynyddog Mwynfawr and Urien Rheged. Later Welsh "dragons" include Owain Gwynedd, Llywelyn ap Gruffydd and Owain Glyndŵr.

The red dragon appears in the ancient Mabinogion story of Lludd and Llefelys where it is confined, battling with an invading white dragon, at Dinas Emrys. The story continues in the Historia Brittonum, written around AD 829, where Gwrtheyrn, King of the Britons is frustrated in attempts to build a fort at Dinas Emrys. He is told by a boy, Emrys, to dig up two dragons fighting beneath the castle. He discovers the white dragon representing the Anglo-Saxons, which is soon to be defeated by the red dragon of the Wales.

The red dragon is now seen as symbolising Wales, present on the current national flag of Wales, which became an official flag in 1959.

History

The dragon motif is known in Celtic art in diverse styles. It is assumed that the dragon is derived from ancient folklore of the Middle East and Greece which is serpent-like. Both the Greeks and the Romans considered the serpent to be a guardian spirit, represented on their altars.[1] Celtic art suggests an association in the Celtic imagination of gods and animals. Gods were represented with animal companions or as animals. [2]: 28  Although there is no evidence of a dragon mythology among insular Celts, the serpent appears to have had a prominent place in the Celtic imagination, particularly as a symbol of powers in opposition.[3]: 38  [3]

It is however, thought that the western Celtic peoples were familiar with dragons in the pre-Christian age and that native people of Britain wore Celtic decorations with motifs of dragons on them during the Roman invasion. There is also archaeological evidence that the continental Celts used brooches and pins in the form of a dragon during the La Téne period from c.500BC to 1 AD.[4][5][2]: 28  It has been suggested that the native Britons of Europe may have brought the dragon with them when they migrated to Britain before the Roman age.[2]: 28  The earliest known use of the dragon by the Celts appear in swords and sheaths in the 4th century BC.[6] One example found in Britain is an early iron age Celtic sword that features two opposing dragons, queried to be from the Hallstatt culture.[7][8] Two other swords and scabbards (also from the bottom of the river Thames) are thought to include a dragon pair from the La Tène culture and/or Hallstatt culture.[9][10][11]

Dragons as an emblem can be found in the Roman period of Britannia. Dragon brooches have been discovered dating to the first and second centuries.[12] Little is known about these, but the military use of the term "dragon" (in Latin, "draco") also dates back to the Roman period and this in turn is likely inspired by the symbols of the Scythians, Indians, Persians, Dacians or Parthians.[13]: 40  One notable Draco symbol which may have influenced the Welsh dragon is that of the Sarmatians, who contributed to the cavalry units stationed in Ribchester from the 2nd to 4th centuries.[14] Cohorts were represented by the draco military standard from the third century in the same way that the eagle Aquila standard represented the legions. The standard bearer of the cohort was called draconarius and carried a gilded staff with a dragon at the top.[13]: 40  [a] After the Roman withdrawal it has long been suggested that resistance to the Saxon incursion was led either by Romans or Romanised Britons, and this is evident in the names attributed in legend to those who led the opposition, including Ambrosius Aurelianus and perhaps Artorius. This could account for how the Roman terminology came to be adopted by Britons.[13]: 43 

Use of "dragon" as title of Brythonic or Welsh leaders

From the first extant written records of the Britons, it became evident that dragons were already associated with military leaders. Gildas, writing in about 540, spoke of the Briton chieftain Maglocunus (Maelgwn Gwynedd in Welsh) as the "insularis draco"[16]. More significantly, the early poets, Taliesin and Aneirin both extensively use dragons as an image for military leaders,[13]: 44 [2] and for the Britons the word dragon began to take the form of a term for a war leader, prince or ruler.[17]

In Y Gododdin, Aneirin describes his patron, Mynyddog Mwynfawr as "the dragon" when he speaks of the "feast of the dragon". He also describes the war leader, Gwernabwy mab Gwen, as the dragon of the battle of Catraeth.[18][19]: 43-44  Meanwhile Taliesin, on Urien Rheged, described inexperienced and skilful leaders as dreic dylaw, 'inexperienced dragon' and dreic hylaw, 'skillful dragon' respectively.[20] Owain ap Urien is called Owain ben draic, the chief dragon.[13]: 44  Although not compiled until later, the main part of Y Gododdin and the heroic poems on Urien Rheged by Taliesin almost certainly date in origin to the sixth century.[21][19]: 285 

The Welsh term draig, 'dragon' was used to refer to Welsh leaders including Owain Gwynedd,[22] Llywelyn ap Gruffudd (Llywelyn the Last)[23] and "the dragon" Owain Glyndŵr.[24] Cynddelw Brydydd Mawr, a court poet to Owain Gwynedd, refers to him in one elegy, personifying him as "The golden dragon of Snowdonia of eagles".[22][25]

Cadwaladr: traditional red dragon origin

Cadwaladr goes forth to battle under the banner of the red dragon. (Llandaf Church, Cardiff)

As an emblem, the red dragon of Wales has been used since the reign of Cadwaladr, King of Gwynedd from around 655AD.[26][2] The Red Welsh dragon is often described as the "Red Dragon of Cadwaladr" for this reason.[27] Later Taliesin poems reference the return of Cadwaladr (r. circa 655 to 682) and coming Saxon liberation. Nevertheless these are perhaps as old as late 7th century, and speak of the draig ffaw ffyst gychwyned".[20]

Mabinogion

Main article: Lludd and Llefelys

In the Mabinogion story Lludd and Llefelys, the red dragon fights with an invading White Dragon. A plague is caused by a battle between a red dragon and a foreign white dragon. Lludd must set a trap for them at the exact centre of the island called Oxford, put them to sleep with mead, and then bury them underground in a stone chest. The third plague is caused by a mighty magician, who casts a spell to make the whole court fall asleep while he raids their stores. Lludd must confront him, keeping himself awake with a vat of cold water.[28]: 131–133  Lludd returns home to Britain. He destroys the Coraniaid with the insect mixture and confines the dragons at Dinas Emrys. Finally he fights the magician, who submits to him to become his loyal servant.[28]: 131–133 

Historia Brittonum

Main article: Historia Brittonum
Vortigern and Ambros watch the fight between the red and white dragons: an illustration from a 15th-century manuscript of Geoffrey of Monmouth's History of the Kings of Britain.

The tale is taken up in the Historia Brittonum, written by Nennius. Historia Brittonum was written circa 828, and by this point the dragon was no longer just a military symbol but associated with a coming deliverer from the Saxons, and for the first time as a symbol of independence. It is also the first time that the colour of the dragon is verifiably given as red. Nevertheless there may well be an older attribution of red to the colour of the dragon in Y Gododdin.[13]: 46 [b] The story of Lludd a Llefelys in the Mabinogion settles the matter, firmly establishing the red dragon of the Celtic Britons being in opposition with the white dragon of the Saxons.[29]

In chapters 40–42 there is a narrative in which the tyrant Vortigern flees into Wales to escape the Anglo-Saxon invaders. There he chooses a hill-fort as the site for his royal retreat, and attempts to build a citadel, but the structure collapses repeatedly. His wise men tell him he must sacrifice a young boy born without a father on the spot to alleviate the curse. The King sent his soldiers out across the land to find such a lad. and discovers such a boy, Emrys (Ambrosius Aurelianus), but Emrys reveals the real reason for the collapsing towers: a hidden pool containing two dragons, one red and one white, representing the Britons and the Saxons specifically, are buried beneath the foundation.[30]: §40-42  He explains how the White Dragon of the Saxons, though winning the battle at present, would soon be defeated by the Welsh Red Dragon. After Vortigern's downfall, the fort was given to High-King Ambrosius Aurelianus, known in Welsh as Emrys Wledig, hence its name.[30]: §40-43 

Geoffrey of Monmouth

See also: Historia Regum Britanniae
King Arthur. An illustration from a 15th-century Welsh language Historia Regum Britanniae (‘History of the Kings of Britain’) by Geoffrey of Monmouth.

The same story of the red and white dragons is repeated in Geoffrey of Monmouth's History of the Kings of Britain, where the red dragon is also a prophecy of the coming of King Arthur.[31]

When the later Arthurian legends reached their modern form, Geoffrey of Monmouth, writing in the 12th century for a French and Breton audience, wrote that King Arthur used a golden dragon banner.[32] His standard was also emblazoned with a golden dragon.[33][34] It is also mentioned in at least four manuscripts that Arthur is associated with the golden dragon, and the standard functions as a haven for wounded soldiers in battles. Geoffrey of Monmouth reports that Arthur used the standard within his vicinity at the rear of the battle for the attention of his wounded soldiers.[35]: 69-71 

Welsh: "Ythr Ben Dragwn" (translated: Uther, Chief Dragon) in "Dares Phrygius & Brut Tysilio" held at Jesus College, Oxford[c]

Owain Glyndŵr

c. 1400 – c. 1416, Y Ddraig Aur, royal standard of Owain Glyndŵr, Prince of Wales, raised over Caernarfon during the Battle of Tuthill in 1401 against the English.

Owain Glyndŵr's banner was known as Y Ddraig Aur or 'The Golden Dragon' (Middle English: Gilden Dragoun). It was famously raised over Caernarfon during the Battle of Tuthill in 1401 against the English. Glyndŵr chose to fly the standard of a golden dragon on a white background, the traditional standard that, supposedly, Uther Pendragon had flown when the first Celtic Britons had fought the Saxons to a standstill almost 1,000 years before, and passed down to his son King Arthur.[37][38][39] Adam of Usk reports that Glyndwr's golden dragon was the first use of a dragon standard used in war by Welsh troops on the 1st of November, 1401.[40][41] Historian John Davies adds that the dragon raised by Glyndwr was a symbol of victory for the Celtic Britons.[42]

On his seals Glyndwr is also depicted with a Welsh dragon on his helmet, his horse's head and his crown.[43] Glyndŵr's Great Seal as Prince of Wales also included a dragon gules on his crest.[44]

  • Depiction of Glyndwr as described with a dragon crown and dragon on the head of his horse.
    Depiction of Glyndwr as described with a dragon crown and dragon on the head of his horse.

House of Tudor

On Edmund Tudor, 1st Earl of Richmond's tomb is an effigy detailing him wearing a crown affixed with the dragon of Cadwaladr.[45]: 148 [46]: 131  Following his son's victory at Bosworth field, Henry VII used a red dragon on a white and green background upon entering St Paul's.[43]: 195  Henry the VII used the dragon motif, but this was used as part of the heraldry of house Tudor rather than of Wales.[42] The dragon of Cadwaladr was used as a supporter on the royal arms of all Tudor sovereigns of England and also appeared on the standards of Henry VII and Henry VIII.[47]

Royal badge

Main article: Royal Badge of Wales
The 1953 Royal Badge of Wales

The red dragon did not become an official royal heraldic badge until 1800, when George III issued a royal warrant confirming the badge, blazoned as: On a mount Vert a dragon passant with wings elevated Gules.[48]

There is a further badge for Wales, belonging to the Princes of Wales since 1901, of the red dragon on a mount but with a label of three points Argent about the shoulder to difference it from the monarch's badge.[49]: 8714  The badge became a part of the Coat of arms of the Prince of Wales by Royal Warrant.[50]

In 1953, the red dragon badge was given an augmentation of honour. The augmented badge is blazoned: Within a circular riband Argent fimbriated Or bearing the motto Y DDRAIG GOCH DDYRY CYCHWYN ["the red dragon inspires action"], in letters Vert, and ensigned with a representation of the Crown proper, an escutcheon per fesse Argent and Vert and thereon the Red Dragon passant.[50] Winston Churchill, the then prime minister, despised the badge's design, as is revealed in the following Cabinet minute from 1953:

P.M. [Churchill]

Odious design expressing nothing. but spite, malice, ill-will and monstrosity.
Words (Red Dragon takes the lead) are untrue and unduly flattering to Bevan.

Ll.G. [Gwilym Lloyd George]

Wd. rather be on R[oyal] Arms. This (dating from Henry VII) will be something.


We get no recognition in Union – badge or flags.[51]

In 1959, Government use of this flag was dropped in favour of the current flag[52][53] at the urging of the Gorsedd of Bards.[13]

The badge was used by the Wales Office[54] and was printed on Statutory Instruments made by the National Assembly for Wales.[55] The badge was previously used in the corporate logo of the Assembly until the "dynamic dragon" logo was adopted.[56]

This Royal badge was supplanted by a new official Royal badge in 2008, which eliminated the red dragon altogether.[57]

Early modern use

1908 banner of the Cardiff & District Women's Suffrage Society

In the 1909 national pageant of Wales, the Welsh dragon appears upright on a white background. The Welsh dragon that appears on the flag on board Captain Scott's Terra Nova is also an upright dragon (sergeant) on a white and green background. Up until this point, there was no standardised version of the Welsh dragon.[58] The dragon was used on banners during women's suffrage events in Wales in the 1900s and 1910s. The banner's accession documents included a note from one of the former members "The banner was worked by Mrs Henry Lewis… [she] was also President of the South Wales Federation of Women's Suffrage Societies + she led the S. Wales section of the great Suffrage Procession in London on June 17th 1911, walking in front of her own beautiful banner… It was a great occasion, some 40,000 to 50,000 men + women taking part in the walk from Whitehall through Pall Mall, St James's Street + Piccadilly to the Albert Hall. The dragon attracted much attention – “Here comes the Devil” was the greeting of one group of on lookers."[59]


Current use

Flag of Wales

Main article: Flag of Wales
Y Ddraig Goch

As an emblem, the red dragon of Wales is present on the national flag of Wales, which became an official flag in 1959.[26]

The emblem (or logo) used by the Welsh Government is that of the Welsh dragon. According to their guidance, the "logo consists of a dragon and Welsh Government name separated by a horizontal line, positioned together in a fixed relationship which must not be altered. These elements are aligned centrally with each other. The logo is always bilingual Regardless of the language of the material it appears on [60] with "Welsh first, followed by English if necessary" [61] They also mention, "The dragon must always face to the left"; this follows the same rule which is applied to the dragon when flown on a pole.[62]

Welsh language society

Tafod y Ddraig (Tongue of the dragon) is a symbol which represents the Welsh Language Society.[63]

Wales football

The Welsh dragon, "the most iconic of Welsh emblems", is also used as the official emblem or logo of the Football Association of Wales which was redesigned in 2019.[64]

Mottos

The motto "Anorchfygol Ddraig Cymru" ("Unconquerable Dragon of Wales') is associated with the red dragon.[65][66]

The motto "Y ddraig goch ddyry cychwyn" ("The red dragon will show the way").[67] This motto is in the strict poetic metre of cynghanedd.[68]

Gallery

Notes

  1. ^ For instance, Gauls are attested to have marched under the dragon to distinguish the Gallic cohort from the Roman legions.[15]
  2. ^ A passage reads Disgleiryawr ac archawr tal achon//arrud dhreic fud pharaon, which defies clear translation, but Middle Welsh: rud dhreic is widely held to be red dragon, and the word Middle Welsh: pharaon is found in the later Mabinogion work, Lludd a Llefelys, in the passage on the two dragons at Vortigern's tower, suggesting this passage is source material for the Mabinogion account, where the dragon is again described as red.[13]: 46 
  3. ^ This text is found in the Brut Tysilio, a Welsh text which is probably a late reworking of Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia regum Britanniae. The image comes from a 1695 folio, Jesus College MS. 28, but was transcribed from a 15th century manuscript, Jesus College MS. 61, by Hugh Jones, Underkeeper of the Ashmolean Museum, in 1695. [36]

References

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  2. ^ a b c d e Llywelyn, Mared (2017). Y Ddraig yn Nychymyg a Llenyddiaeth y Cymry c.600 – c.1500 (PDF) (MPhil) (in Welsh). Aberystwyth University. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  3. ^ a b Thomas, Gwyn (1992). Duwiau'r Celtiaid. p. 38.
  4. ^ Haverfield, F (1924). The Roman Occupation of Britain. p. 24.
  5. ^ Jones, Frances (1969). The Princes and Principalities of Wales. pp. 167–189.
  6. ^ Heinz, Sabine (2008). Celtic Symbols. Sterling Publishing Company, Inc. p. 31. ISBN 978-1-4027-4624-6.
  7. ^ "sword; sword-sheath | British Museum". The British Museum. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  8. ^ Stead, Ian. Antiquaries Journal (Vol.64). pp. 269–279.
  9. ^ "sword; sheath | British Museum". The British Museum. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  10. ^ "sword; sword-sheath | British Museum". The British Museum. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
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  12. ^ Feachem, R. W. de F. (April 1951). "Dragonesque Fibulae". The Antiquaries Journal. 31 (1–2): 32–44. doi:10.1017/S0003581500057978. ISSN 1758-5309. S2CID 246041667.
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  50. ^ a b "The Gazette – Official Public Record". gazettes-online.co.uk.
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  52. ^ Barraclough, Edward Murray Conrad (1965). Flags of the World. Warne.
  53. ^ "WELSH FLAG (Hansard, 23 February 1959)". hansard.millbanksystems.com.
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  58. ^ Phillips, Elen (1 March 2012). "Captain Scott's Welsh Flag". Amgueddfa Cymru: Museum Wales. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
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  61. ^ "Welsh Language Standards: communication and marketing guidelines [HTML]". GOV.WALES. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
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  66. ^ Rhys, Ernest (1911). The South Wales Coast from Chepstow to Aberystwyth. T. Fisher Unwin. p. 257.
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Bibliography

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