Saltire
A saltire, also called Saint Andrew's Cross or the crux decussata,[1] is a heraldic symbol in the form of a diagonal cross. The word comes from the Middle French sautoir, Medieval Latin saltatoria ("stirrup").[2]
From its use as field sign, the saltire came to be used in a number of flags, in the 16th century for Scotland and Burgundy, in the 18th century also as the ensign of the Russian Navy, and for Ireland. Notable 19th-century usage includes some of the flags of the Confederate States of America. It is also used in the flag of Jamaica and on seals, and as a heraldic charge in coats of arms.
The term saltirewise or in saltire refers to heraldic charges arranged as a diagonal cross. The shield may also be divided per saltire, i.e. diagonally.
A warning sign in the shape of a saltire is also used to indicate the point at which a railway line intersects a road at a level crossing.
Heraldry and vexillology
The saltire is important both in heraldry, being found in many coats of arms, and in vexillology, being found as the dominant feature of multiple flags.
The saltire is one of the so-called
When two or more saltires appear, they are usually blazoned as couped (cut off). For example, contrast the single saltire in the arms granted to G. M. W. Anderson[a]—with the three saltires couped in the coat of Kemble Greenwood.[b]
Diminutive forms include the fillet saltire,[c] usually considered half or less the width of the saltire, and the saltorel, a narrow or couped saltire.
A field (party) per saltire is divided into four areas by a saltire-shaped "cut". If two tinctures are specified, the first refers to the areas above (in chief) and below (in base) the crossing, and the second refers to the ones on either side (in the flanks).[d] Otherwise, each of the four divisions may be blazoned separately.
The phrase in saltire or saltirewise is used in two ways:
- Two long narrow charges "in saltire" are placed to cross each other diagonally. Common forms include the crossed keys found in the arms of many entities associated with Saint Peter and paired arrows.[e]
- When five or more compact charges are "in saltire", they are arranged with one in the center and the others along the arms of an invisible saltire.[f][g]
Division of the field per saltire was notably used by the
Scotland
The
The Saint Andrew's Cross was worn as a badge on hats in Scotland, on the day of the
In the
Prior to the
Cross of Burgundy
The Cross of Burgundy, a form of the Saint Andrew's Cross, is used in numerous flags across Europe and the Americas. It was first used in the 15th century as an emblem by the Valois Dukes of Burgundy. The Duchy of Burgundy, forming a large part of eastern France and the Low Countries, was inherited by the House of Habsburg on the extinction of the Valois ducal line. The emblem was therefore assumed by the monarchs of Spain as a consequence of the Habsburgs bringing together, in the early 16th century, their Burgundian inheritance with the other extensive possessions they inherited throughout Europe and the Americas, including the crowns of Castile and Aragon. As a result, the Cross of Burgundy has appeared in a wide variety of flags connected with territories formerly part of the Burgundian or Habsburg inheritance. Examples of such diversity include the Spanish naval ensign (1506-1701), the flag of Carlism (a nineteenth century Spanish conservative movement), the flag of the Dutch capital of Amsterdam and municipality of Eijsden, the flag of Chuquisaca in Bolivia and the flags of Florida and Alabama in the United States.
Gascony
In Tome 14 of the Grande Encyclopédie, published in France between 1886 and 1902 by Henri Lamirault, it says
during the hard times of the Hundred Years' War and the terrible struggles between the Armagnacs, representing the national party (white cross) and the Burgundians, allied to the English (red cross and red Saint Andrew's cross), the flag of the victorious English ends up gathering, in 1422, under Henri VI, on its field the white and red crosses of France and England, the white and red Saint Andrew's crosses of Guyenne and Burgundy.[11]
That saltire is also represented in the pattern of some talenquères in many bullrings in Gascony.[12]
Maritime flags
The naval
The
Others
The flags of the Colombian archipelago of
Saltires are also seen in several other flags, including the flags of Grenada, Jamaica, Alabama, Florida, Jersey, Logroño, Vitoria, Amsterdam, Breda, Katwijk, Potchefstroom, The Bierzo and Valdivia, as well as the former Indian princely states of Khairpur, Rajkot and Jaora.
The design is also part of the
Christian symbol
Anne Roes (1937) identifies a design consisting of two crossing diagonal lines in a rectangle, sometimes with four dots or balls in the four quarters, as an emblem or vexillum (standard) of
The same design is found on coins of Christian Roman emperors of the 4th to 5th centuries (
-
Reconstruction of Saltire pattern labarum per A.Roes[17]
-
Coin of Theodosius I (393–395), with a vexillum displaying a crux decussata
-
Coin of Theodosius II (425–429), showing the emperor with globus cruciger and with the same vexillum
The association with
-
Saint Andrew martyred on a decussate cross (miniature from an East Anglian missal, c. 1320)
-
Saint Andrew holding his cross on aErnest Augustus, Elector of Brunswick-Lüneburg(1688)
The cross continues to be used in modern times by religious groups. The arms of the Episcopal Church in the United States features a saltire in its canton.[20] The logo of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) features a red chalice with a Saint Andrew's cross, representing the Scottish heritage of the denomination.[21]
Other
The diagonal cross (decussate cross) or X mark is called "saltire" in heraldic and vexillological contexts.
A black diagonal cross was used in an old European Union standard as the hazard symbol for irritants (Xi) or harmful chemicals (Xn). It indicated a hazard less severe than
The
A diagonal cross known as "
In Cameroon, a red "X" placed on illegally constructed buildings scheduled for demolition is occasionally referred to as a "St Andrew's Cross". It is usually accompanied by the letters "A.D." ("à détruire"—French for "to be demolished") and a date or deadline. During a campaign of urban renewal by the Yaoundé Urban Council in Cameroon, the cross was popularly referred to as "Tsimi's Cross" after the Government Delegate to the council, Gilbert Tsimi Evouna.[22]
In traditional timber framing a pair of crossing braces is sometimes called a saltire or a St. Andrew's Cross.[23] Half-timbering, particularly in France and Germany, has patterns of framing members forming many different symbols known as ornamental bracing.[24]
The saltire cross, X-cross, X-frame, or Saint Andrew's cross is a common piece of equipment in BDSM dungeons. It is erotic furniture that typically provides restraining points for ankles, wrists, and waist. When secured to an X-cross, the subject is restrained in a standing spreadeagle position.
Unicode encoded various decussate crosses under the name of saltire, they are U+2613 ☓ SALTIRE, U+1F7A8 🞨 THIN SALTIRE, U+1F7A9 🞩 LIGHT SALTIRE, U+1F7AA 🞪 MEDIUM SALTIRE, U+1F7AB 🞫 BOLD SALTIRE, U+1F7AC 🞬 HEAVY SALTIRE, U+1F7AD 🞭 VERY HEAVY SALTIRE and U+1F7AE 🞮 EXTREMELY HEAVY SALTIRE.
Gallery
Coats of arms
-
Gules a saltire argent (Neville)
-
Argent a saltire azure (Katwijk)
-
Per saltire azure and argent, a saltire gules (Gage of Hengrave)
-
Argent on a saltire engrailed sable nine annulets of the field (Earl of Scarsdale)
-
Quarterly 1st & 4th: Barry of six [seven] vair and gules; 2nd & 3rd: Gules, a saltire vair (Henry Beaumont of Devon, d.1591)
-
Argent a saltire floretty gules (Busséol)
-
Gules a fillet saltire couped argent above a wheel of the same (Klein-Winternheim)
-
Coat of arms of the San Andrés Archipelago
-
Hexham Coat of Arms (1953)
- saltirewise
-
Gules two keys in saltire argent and or (Coats of arms of the Holy See and Vatican City)
-
Gules a cross saltire and orle of chains linked together or, in the fess point an emerald vert (Kingdom of Navarre)
-
Gules two keys argent saltirewise (Papal coat of arms for Pope Nicholas V, 1447)
-
Argent five martlets saltirewise sable on a chief azure three ducal crowns or (Bodley)
-
Vert bordure or a caduceus argent and or and a cornucopia or with fruits and vegetables proper saltirewise (Coat of arms of Kharkiv, Ukraine)
-
Vert bordure or a torch and a caduceus or saltirewise (Federal Customs Service of Russia)
-
Argent two keys sable saltirewise under a cross pattée or (Lesser coat of arms of Riga, Latvia)
- in supporters
-
Keys of Peter saltirewise (Wernigerode Armorial, c. 1490)
-
Royal Coat of Arms of Spain (1700–1761)[26]
-
Coat of arms of Spain (1874–1931)[26]
-
Coat of arms of the House of Braganza.
- other
-
Coat of arms of Barbados with Sugar Canes held saltirewise.
Flags
-
Vatican City's flag (Flag of Vatican City)
-
Saint Alban's flag (13th century)
-
Naval flag of theroyalcoat of arms.
-
Flag of Scotland (c. 1507)[27]
-
Cross of Burgundy Flag, Spanish Empire (16th century)
-
Tercio de la Liga (1571)
-
Saint Patrick's Flag (1783)
-
Union Jack (1606)
-
Union Jack in Scotland (1606)
-
Union Jack (1801)
-
Unknown Tercio flag (appears near commander Ambrogio Spinola in the painting "The Surrender of Breda" of Diego Velázquez) (1621)
-
Tercio de Alburquerque (1643)
-
Tercio Morados Viejos (1670)
-
Tercio Amarillos Viejos (1680)
-
Scottish Covenanter flag (17th century)
-
Flag of Argyll's Rising (1685)
-
St Andrew's flag of the Russian Navy and Imperial Russian Navy(1712)
-
Jack of the Russian Navy (1992)
-
Flag of Congress Poland (1815)
-
Flag of Nova Scotia (1858)
-
Confederate Army of Northern Virginia battle flag (1863–1865)
-
Flag of Shanghai Municipal Council, Shanghai International Settlement (1869 – c. 1917)
-
Flag of Shanghai Municipal Council, Shanghai International Settlement (c. 1917 – 1943)
-
Ensign of Chinese Customs (1867–1911)
-
Flag of Peru (1821–1825)
-
Flag of Rio de Janeiro(1908)
-
Flag of the Empire of China (1915–1916)
-
White Army General Markov's Regiment flag (1917–1922)
-
Naval flag of the Far Eastern Republic (1921–1922)
-
Jack of the Estonian Navy (1926)
-
Flag of the Inspector-General of Customs (1929–1950) and the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of China (1950–2014)
-
Flag of Fortaleza (1958)
-
Flag of Jamaica (1962)
-
Flag of Katwijk (1970)
-
Banner of Kraków (2004)
-
Flag of Grenada (1974)
-
Flag of Amsterdam (1975)
-
Flag of the Basque Country (the Ikurrina) (1978)
-
Flag of Jersey (1981)
-
Flag of Burundi (1982)
-
Flag of Tenerife (1989)
-
Jack of the Bulgarian Navy (1991)
-
Flag of the Federal Customs Service of Russia (1994)
-
Ceremonial ensign of the Coast Guard of Georgia (1999)
-
Battle ensign of the Coast Guard of Georgia (2004)
-
Naval Ensign of Georgia (2004–2009)
-
Flag of the Russian Coast Guard (2008)
-
Flag of Arkhangelsk Oblast (2009)
-
Flag of Katwijk (2009)
-
Flag of Novorossiya(2014)
-
Flag of Ruhnu Parish, Estonia (2015)
-
Flag of Vladivostok (2016)
-
Flag of Sutherland (2018)
- International Code of Signals
- United States
-
Flag of Alabama (1895)
-
Flag of Florida (1868, 1900)
-
Flag of Georgia (1956–2001)
-
Flag of Mississippi (1894–2020)
Military insignia
-
Spanish Air Forcefin flash
-
Bulgarian Air Force roundel (1941–1944)
-
Bayonets in saltire create Roman numeral X for the US Army's 10th Mountain Division.
Orders
-
Order of St Andrew
See also
Notes
- ^ Or on a saltire engrailed Azure two quill pens in saltire Argent enfiling a Loyalist military coronet Or[4]
- ^ Sable a chevron Erminois cotised between three saltires couped Or[5]
- ^ The coat of the South African National Cultural and Open-air Museum: Or; an ogress charged with a fillet saltire surmounted by an eight spoked wheel or, and ensigned of a billet sable; a chief nowy gabled, Sable
- ^ The coat of the Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council: Per saltire Vert and Or four Fers de Moline counterchanged in fess point a Fountain.[6]
- ^ Suffolk County Council's Gules a Base barry wavy enarched Argent and Azure issuant therefrom a Sunburst in chief two Ancient Crowns enfiled by a pair of Arrows in saltire points downwards all Or[7]
- ^ Winchester City Council: Gules five castles triple towered, in saltire, argent, masoned proper the portcullis of each part-raised, or, and on either side of the castle in fess point a lion passant guardant that to the dexter contourny Or[8]
- ^ The arms of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America: Argent; a quarter azure charged with nine cross crosslets in saltire argent, overall a cross gules[9]
References
- ^ "Crux decussata". Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Merriam-Webster, Inc. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
- ^ Heraldic use 13th century (attested 1235, Huon de Méry, Tournoiemenz Antecrist, v. 654). In 1352 also of a particular form of stirrup (Comput. Steph. de la Fontaine argent, du Cange s.v. "saltatoria"). 15th-century use in the sense of a barrier of wooden pegs arranged crosswise, preventing the passage of livestock that can still be jumped by people. "sautoire" in TLFi; see also "saltire" at etymonline.com.
- ^ Berhard Peter, Die Wappen des Hauses Oettingen (2010–2016).
- ^ "Anderson, George Milton William [Individual]". Archive.gg.ca. 2005-07-28. Retrieved 2012-09-09.
- ^ "Greenwood, Kemble [Individual]". Archive.gg.ca. 2005-07-28. Retrieved 2013-10-25.
- ^ "Civic Heraldry Of England And Wales-West Midlands". Civicheraldry.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-09-09.
- ^ "Civic Heraldry Of England And Wales – East Anglia And Essex Area". Civicheraldry.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2009-08-28. Retrieved 2012-09-09.
- ^ "Civic Heraldry Of England And Wales - Cornwall And Wessex Area". Civicheraldry.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2016-11-20. Retrieved 2012-09-09.
- ^ "Logos, Shields & Graphics".
- ^ "Scottish Government - Saltire Intranet". stormid. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
- ^ a b La grande encyclopédie : Inventaire raisonné des sciences, des lettres et des arts. Tome 14 / Par une société de savants et de gens de lettres ; sous la dir. De MM. Berthelot,... Hartwig Derenbourg,... F.-Camille Dreyfus,... A. Giry,... [et al.].
- ^ @Pickwicq (February 21, 2016). "Amandine derrière la talenquère pour pentecôte à Samadet 2015" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ISBN 978-0-674-01722-1.
- ISBN 978-0-674-01722-1.
- ^ Roes (1937), footnote 15, citing Henri de La Tour, Atlas de monnaies gauloises (1892), plates xxi, xxiii, coins of the Aulerci Diablintes, Aulerci Cenomani and Osismii.
- ^ Trésors monétaires, volume XXIV, BNF, 2011.
- ^ S2CID 162699148.
- ^ Cudith Calvert, "The Iconography of the St. Andrew Auckland Cross", The Art Bulletin 66.4 (December 1984:543–555) p. 545, note 12, citing Louis Réau, Iconographie de l'art chrétien III.1 (Paris) 1958:79.
- ^ The Records of the Parliaments of Scotland to 1707, K.M. Brown et al. (eds.), St Andrews (2007-2019), 1385/6/4 "ordinance made in council concerning the French army": Item, que tout homme, Francois et Escot, ait un signe devant et derrere cest assavoir une croiz blanche Saint Andrieu et se son jacque soit blanc ou sa cote blanche il portera la dicte croiz blanche en une piece de drap noir ronde ou quarree.
- ^ "Journal of the General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America" (PDF). The Episcopal Church. 1940. p. 288.
- ^ "The Story of the Chalice Logo" (PDF). Disciples of Christ. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-04-18. Retrieved 2017-02-02.
- ^ "Célestin Obama. Tsimi Evouna s'attaque aux édifices publics, Le Messager, 23 Sept 2008". Archived from the original on December 17, 2008.
- ^ Hansen, Hans Jürgen, and Arne Berg. Architecture in wood; a history of wood building and its techniques in Europe and North America. New York: Viking Press, 1971. Print.
- ISBN 3-598-10461-8
- ^ "CIVIC HERALDRY OF ENGLAND AND WALES - HERTFORDSHIRE". www.civicheraldry.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2008-10-16. Retrieved 2019-03-22.
- ^ ISSN 0482-5748. PP. 37-69.
- ^ As a naval flag for the carrack Great Michael. As square flag carried by heraldic supporters c. 1542. National Library of Scotland (1542). "Plate from the Lindsay Armorial". Scran. Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. Retrieved 2009-12-09.
- This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chambers, Ephraim, ed. (1728). "Saltier". Cyclopædia, or an Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences (1st ed.). James and John Knapton, et al.
External links
- Media related to Saint Andrew's crosses at Wikimedia Commons