ANNIVERSARIES
DOMINIC SANDBROOK highlights events
that took place in April in historyNATIONAL MARITIME MUSEUM, LONDON
12 APRIL 1606
Britain is united
under one flag
Confusion at sea is settled with
the creation of the Union JackT
hree years after James VI of Scotland
headed south to take the English throne,
the king and his advisers contemplated
a question that would have enormously
long-lasting consequences. Although the two
kingdoms remained separate jurisdictions,
should their ships fly the same flag?
The issue might seem academic, but after
reports of altercations between English and
Scottish ships, the king was keen to find a
symbol of harmony. For months his courtiers
discussed various designs, and at last, in the
spring of 1606, they came up with a winner.
On 12 April, then, James issued a proclam-
ation, “declaring what Flags South and North
Britons shall bear at Sea”. It was evident, he
said, that “some difference has arisen between
our Subjects of South and North Britain,
Travelling by Sea, about the bearing of their
flags”. So “henceforth all our subjects of this
Isle and Kingdom of Great Britain” should fly
from the maintop “the Red Cross, common-
ly called St George’s Cross, and the White
Cross, commonly called St Andrew’s Cross,
joined together”.
The exact original design is now lost, but it
was probably very similar to the flag generally
flown before 1801, when it was adapted to
include the cross of St Patrick. And to settle a
hoary old question: was it the union flag, or the
union jack? The answer is simple. For the first
few years, at least, nobody called it either.A union flag flown on HMS Queen Charlotte at the
battle known as the Glorious First of June, 1794Joan of Arc arrives at the Château de
Chinon in March 1429 to request the
dauphin’s help in raising an army.
A month later, she would ride to the
rescue of OrléansANNIVERSARIES
DOMINIC SANDBROOK highlights events
that took place in April in historyNATIONAL MARITIME MUSEUM, LONDON
12 APRIL 1606
Britain is united
under one flag
Confusion at sea is settled with
the creation of the Union JackT
hree years after James VI of Scotland
headed south to take the English throne,
the king and his advisers contemplated
a question that would have enormously
long-lasting consequences. Although the two
kingdoms remained separate jurisdictions,
should their ships fly the same flag?
The issue might seem academic, but after
reports of altercations between English and
Scottish ships, the king was keen to find a
symbol of harmony. For months his courtiers
discussed various designs, and at last, in the
spring of 1606, they came up with a winner.
On 12 April, then, James issued a proclam-
ation, “declaring what Flags South and North
Britons shall bear at Sea”. It was evident, he
said, that “some difference has arisen between
our Subjects of South and North Britain,
Travelling by Sea, about the bearing of their
flags”. So “henceforth all our subjects of this
Isle and Kingdom of Great Britain” should fly
from the maintop “the Red Cross, common-
ly called St George’s Cross, and the White
Cross, commonly called St Andrew’s Cross,
joined together”.
The exact original design is now lost, but it
was probably very similar to the flag generally
flown before 1801, when it was adapted to
include the cross of St Patrick. And to settle a
hoary old question: was it the union flag, or the
union jack? The answer is simple. For the first
few years, at least, nobody called it either.
A union flag flown on HMS Queen Charlotte at the
battle known as the Glorious First of June, 1794
Joan of Arc arrives at the Château de
Chinon in March 1429 to request the
dauphin’s help in raising an army.
A month later, she would ride to the
rescue of Orléans