Saint Piran's Flag

The earliest known evidence of this flag was recorded by Davies Gilbert in his 1838 work: The Parochial History of Cornwall, in which he gives reference to a white cross on a black ground [that] was formerly the banner of St Perran and the Standard of Cornwall; probably with some allusion to the black ore and the white metal of tin Germanus, Julian, Cyriacus, Constantine, Nonna and Geraint in tiers below. The head of St Piran appears to be a portrait of Trevithick himself, and the figure carries the banner of Cornwall. ==Clues to its origin==

Saint Piran's Flag has similarities to the old Breton flag and the flag of Saint David. The cultural links between Brittany, Wales and Cornwall are well recorded. Saint Piran's Flag is the negative image of the old Breton flag, a black cross on a white field. The flag of Saint David shares a black background with Saint Piran's Flag, but is surmounted by a gold, rather than a white, cross. |thumb It has also been suggested that it may have been based on the arms of the Earl of Cornwall, or the later Duchy of Cornwall; based on the arms of other Cornish families; or be linked with the black and white livery of the Knights of St John. ==French and Breton family arms==

The arms of the Saint-Peran family in Brittany, show a white cross pattée on a black field. File:Borgnearms.jpg|Arms of Geoffroy le Borgne File:Arneke2.jpg|Arms of the Arnèke family File:Rouvroy.jpg|Arms of Rouvroy de Saint-Simon File:Blason famille bzh de Saint-Péran.svg|Arms of Saint-Peran family (Brittany) Several other French and Breton families also had coats of arms that bear a striking resemblance to the St Piran's flag: • Saint Peran or Saint Pezran (= Piran) of Brittany (from Glomel, in Cornouaille), is described as, ''sable à croix patée d'argent''. • Geoffroy le Borgne of Brittany is described as . • Rossillon de Gex, coat of arms described: . • Brunet, de la Besse, coat of arms described: . • Arnèke Family coat of arms. • Rouvroy de Saint-Simon of Picardy, described: . ==Myths about the origins==

There are a very large number of modern legends about the origins of the flag. An article in the old Encyclopaedia Britannica on "Cornish Wrestling" stated that the flag was carried by the Cornish contingent at the Battle of Agincourt (1415). However, the reference given by the Encyclopaedia Britannica seems to have been confused with one that comes from a 1590 poem entitled Poly-Olbion by Michael Drayton. It states that the banner carried by the Cornish men at Agincourt depicted two Cornish wrestlers in a hitch. ==Usage==

The flag is often displayed on bumper stickers, and flying from buildings, including those of Cornwall Council. It is flown at most Cornish gatherings, such as the Gorsedh Kernow, St Piran's Day (5 March), Camborne's Trevithick Day (April), Padstow's 'Obby 'Oss festival (May), Helston's Flora Day (May), and at Cornish rugby matches. It is regularly seen around Cornwall on car stickers with the word (Cornish for Cornwall), and is used around the world as a symbol of the Cornish diaspora or overseas Cornish associations. It has been adapted for use in the logos of a number of organisations, such as the Cornwall district of the Methodist Church, is used by a variety of Cornish businesses such as Ginsters, and is seen on the design of the Cornish All Blacks rugby shirts as well as the Cornish Pirates rugby logo. The flags of Smith Island, Maryland and Tangier, Virginia incorporate St. Piran's cross in the upper-left canton in recognition of the early settlers who came to the islands from Cornwall and Devon. The flag can be seen in Doc Martin, which is set in the fictional Cornwall fishing village of Portwenn and filmed in the real-life one of Port Isaac. ==Gallery==

File:Flag of the Duke of Cornwall.svg|The flag of the Duke of Cornwall File:Cornish Ensign.svg|Cornish Ensign File:Flag of Malpas, Cornwall.svg|Flag of Malpas File:Burgee of Penzance Sailing Club.svg|Burgee of Penzance Sailing Club File:Burgee of Port Navas Yacht Club.svg|Burgee of Port Navas Yacht Club File:Australian Cornish-heritage flag.svg|Cornish Australian heritage flag File:Flag of Smith Island, Maryland.svg|Flag of Smith Island, Maryland File:Flag of Tangier, Virginia.svg|Flag of Tangier, Virginia == See also ==