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United Kingdom

 

Contents

Flags

Historical Flags

Meaning/Origin of the Flag

Coat of Arms

Meaning/Origin of the Coat of Arms

Aircraft Roundel

Map

Numbers and Facts

History

Possessions

regional Flags

Origin of the Country's Name



Flags

Flagge Fahne Flag Großbritannien Vereinigtes Königreich United Kingdom UK Great Britain National flag
National flag,
ratio = 3:5,
Source, by: Flags of all Nations




Flagge Fahne Flag Großbritannien Vereinigtes Königreich United Kingdom UK Great Britain Naval jack jack State flag state
State flag und Naval jack,
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by: Wikipedia (EN)




Flagge Fahne Flag Großbritannien Vereinigtes Königreich United Kingdom UK Great Britain Merchant flag merchant civil ensign
Merchant flag,
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by: Flags of all Nations




Flagge Fahne Flag Großbritannien Vereinigtes Königreich United Kingdom UK Great Britain Navy Naval flag
Naval flag,
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by: Flags of all Nations




Flagge Fahne Flag Großbritannien Vereinigtes Königreich United Kingdom UK Great Britain Merchant flag für Reserveoffiziere der Marine merchant flag for naval reserve officers
Merchant flag for naval reserve officers,
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by: Flags of all Nations




Flagge Fahne Flag Großbritannien Vereinigtes Königreich United Kingdom UK Great Britain Lotse Naval jack
Pilot flag and civil jack,
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by: Flags of all Nations




Flagge Fahne Flag Großbritannien Vereinigtes Königreich United Kingdom UK Great Britain Heer Army
Flag of the Army,
ratio = 3:5,
Source, by: Flags of all Nations




Flagge Fahne Flag Großbritannien Vereinigtes Königreich United Kingdom UK Great Britain Luftwaffe Air Force
Flag of the Royal Air Force,
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by: Flags of all Nations




Flagge Fahne Flag Großbritannien Vereinigtes Königreich United Kingdom UK Great Britain Zoll customs
Customs ensign,
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by: Flags of all Nations




Flagge Fahne Flag Großbritannien Vereinigtes Königreich United Kingdom UK Great Britain Zivilluftfahrt civil air ensign
Civil air ensign,
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by: Flags of all Nations




Flagge Fahne Flag Königliche Standarte royal standard Großbritannien Vereinigtes Königreich United Kingdom UK Great Britain Königin Queen
Royal standard,
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by: Flags of all Nations




Flagge Fahne Flag Königliche Standarte royal standard Großbritannien Vereinigtes Königreich United Kingdom UK Great Britain Königin Queen Schottland Scotland
Royal standard for use in Scotland,
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by: Flags of all Nations




Flagge Fahne Flag Großbritannien Vereinigtes Königreich United Kingdom UK Great Britain Verteidigungsminister minister of defense
Flag of the Minister of Defence,
ratio = 3:5,
Source, by: Flags of all Nations




Flagge Fahne Flag Großbritannien Vereinigtes Königreich United Kingdom UK Great Britain Lord High Admiral
Flag of the Lord High Admiral,
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by: Flags of all Nations




Flagge Fahne Flag Großbritannien Vereinigtes Königreich United Kingdom UK Great Britain Admiral der Flotte of the fleet
Flag of the Admiral of the Fleet,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flags of all Nations




Flagge Fahne Flag Großbritannien Vereinigtes Königreich United Kingdom UK Great Britain Admiral
Flag for Admirals,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flags of all Nations




Flagge Fahne Flag Großbritannien Vereinigtes Königreich United Kingdom UK Great Britain Chef des Generalstabs Chief of the General Staff
Flag of the Chief of the General Staff,
ratio = 3:5,
Source, by: Flags of all Nations




Flagge Fahne Flag Großbritannien Vereinigtes Königreich United Kingdom UK Great Britain Hafenaufsicht Harbour Master
Queen's Harbour Master,
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by: Flags of all Nations




Flagge Fahne Flag City of London
Flag of the City of London,
the historical core of the capital,
ratio = 3:5,
Source, by: Flags of all Nations



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Historical Flags

Flagge Fahne Flag Großbritannien Great Britain England Schottland Scotland Commonwealth Union Jack
1606–1649, State flag,
1634–1649, Naval flag
Source, by: Die Welt der Flaggen, Wikipedia (EN)




Flagge Fahne Flag Großbritannien Great Britain England Commonwealth
1634–1707,
Merchant flag for vessels from England,
Source, by: Die Welt der Flaggen, Wikipedia (EN)




Flagge Fahne Flag Großbritannien Great Britain Schottland Scotland Commonwealth
1634–1707,
Merchant flag for vessels from Scotland,
Source, by: Die Welt der Flaggen, Wikipedia (EN)




Flagge Fahne Flag Großbritannien Great Britain England Commonwealth
1649–1651,
Flag of the Commonwealth of England,
Source, by: Die Welt der Flaggen, Wikipedia (EN)




Flagge Fahne Flag Großbritannien Great Britain England Schottland Scotland Commonwealth
1651–1658,
Flag of the Commonwealth of England,
Source, by: Die Welt der Flaggen, Wikipedia (EN)




Flagge Fahne Flag Großbritannien Great Britain England Schottland Scotland Commonwealth Union Jack
1658–1660,
State and Naval flag,
Source, by: Die Welt der Flaggen, Wikipedia (EN)




Flagge Fahne Flag Großbritannien Vereinigtes Königreich United Kingdom UK Great Britain England Schottland Scotland Commonwealth
1660–1801,
State and Naval flag,
Source, by: Die Welt der Flaggen, Wikipedia (EN)




Flagge Fahne Flag Großbritannien Vereinigtes Königreich United Kingdom UK Great Britain England Schottland Scotland Commonwealth
1707–1801,
Merchant flag,
Source, by: Die Welt der Flaggen, Wikipedia (EN)




Flagge Fahne Flag Großbritannien Vereinigtes Königreich United Kingdom UK Great Britain Zivilverteidigung civil defense Civil Defence Service Civil Defence Corps
1943–1968,
Flag of the Civil Defense,
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by: Die Welt im bunten Flaggenbild, Wikipedia (EN)



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Meaning/Origin of the Flag

When James I. (1567–1625) – since 1567 King of Scotland and after the death of Queen Elisabeth I. in 1603 – united the crowns of Scotland and England into a personal union, a new flag was created for this kingdom, which united the flags of England and Scotland. The flag of England is white with an uninterrupted red bar cross in the middle (cross of the Holy George → St. George's Cross), and the flag of Scotland is dark blue with an uninterrupted white diagonal cross in the middle (cross of the Holy Andrew → St. Andrew's Cross). Both symbols were effectively combined with each other.

Flagge Fahne Flag England + Flagge Fahne Flag England = Flagge Fahne Flag England

This flag was named the "Union Jack" at least since 1633 . This designation goes probably back directly to the short form of the name of King James I. (→ Jack). With the execution of King Charles I. in 1649 the dynastic connection with Scotland was broken. A change in the design of the flag was also necessary after the capture of Ireland in the same year. In this way the flag of England was combined with the coat of arms of Ireland. Originally Ireland had no flag and possibly no coat of arms. When the English King Henry VIII. also became King of Ireland in 1541 he introduced the golden harp on a blue ground as the Irish coat of arms. With the re-establishment of the monarchy in the year 1654 the "Union Jack" was also re-established. The combination with the Irish coat of arms was, however, maintained. In 1707 follows, in addition to the dynastic unification, the constitutional unification of England and Scotland into United Kingdom. Then in 1801 follows the unification with Ireland. The Patrick's Cross, a red uninterrupted diagonal cross was added to the "Union Jack" and superimposed onto the Scottish St. Andrew's Cross effective on the 1st of January, 1801. St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland (cross of the Holy Patricius → St. Patrick's Cross). With these many changes the "Union Jack" came to its present form.

Flagge Fahne Flag England + Flagge Fahne Flag England + Flagge Fahne Flag England = Flagge Fahne Flag England

The Irish Patrick's Cross dates back to to the year 1783 and King George III. who created this symbol for Ireland. In Ireland in particular, parts of the population reject it as an English creation. If the Scottish flag is used alone, i.e. outside of the Union Jack, the blue must appear much lighter. United Kingdom introduced a flag system in 1864 in which:

• war ships fly the "White Ensign" (naval flag), a white flag often with an uninterrupted red St. George's-Cross and with the Union Jack in the upper staff quadrant of the flag,

• merchant ships fly a "Red Ensign" (also named "Civil Ensign" → civil flag, the real merchant flag), a red flag with the Union Jack in the upper staff quadrant of the flag, and

• governmental ships fly the "Blue Ensign" (flag for the use by the gouvernment → the actual state flag), a blue flag with the Union Jack in the upper staff quadrant of the flag.

Since 1865 ships of colonial governments were permitted to fly the Blue Ensign with a badge in the flying end of the flag. The respective governments were asked to design appropriate badges. Merchant ships and seafaring persons from colonies were only permitted to use the Red Ensign with a badge, then also named Civil Ensign, if permission has been given to the respective colony by the British admiralty. In British colonies and dependent territories, the representation of the badge (respectively of the coat of arms) was often placed on a white disc in the flying end of the ensigns. That regulation – with the white disc – was officially abolished in 1999, and the arms of the colony is then represented enlarged. However, there are still many flags in the old design in use, especially on land. The colors of the flags of the United Kingdom are specified as blue pt 280c and red pt 186c.

Translator of the English text: Joachim Nuthack

Source: Die Welt der Flaggen, Wikipedia (EN), Flags of the World, Volker Preuß

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Coat of Arms


Wappen coat of arms Großbritannien Great Britain United Kingdom
Coat of arms of United Kingdom,
Source, by: Corel Draw 4

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Meaning/Origin of the Coat of Arms

The coat of arms of the British King and the United Kingdom consists of a quartered shield and shows in the first (upper left) field three golden leopards on a red background (England), in the second field a red lion on a golden background (Scotland), in the third field a golden harp on a blue background (Ireland), and in the fourth field three golden leopards on a red background again (England). The blazon is surrounded by the Order of the Garter with the French inscription: "Honi soit qui mal y pense" → "shame on anyone who thinks evil of it". The shield holders are an English lion and a Scottish unicorn. Above the shield sits a golden helmet with the crown of the Holy Edward, on which the British lion stands. The coat of arms rests on a pedestal which depicts a meadow with Tudor roses. At the foot of the coat of arms on a banner the motto reads in French: "Dieu et mon droit" → "God and my right". The coat of arms of the British King and the United Kingdom received their present format in 1837 on the occasion of the accession to the Throne by Queen Victoria. Since 1910 a slightly changed coat of arms and a slightly changed flag of the queen in use in Scotland. The flag of the queen is developed from the blazon of the scutcheon flag.

Translator of the English text: Joachim Nuthack

Source: Wikipedia (DE), Flaggen Wappen Hymnen

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Aircraft Roundel

Flugzeugkokarde Kokarde aircraft roundel Großbritannien Great Britain United Kingdom
Aircraft Roundel,
Source, by: Wikipedia (EN)

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Map

Location:

Source: CIA World Factbook

Map of the country:

Source: CIA World Factbook

clickable Map:

Source: Freeware, University of Texas Libraries,
modyfied by: Volker Preuß

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Numbers and Facts

Area: 94.058 square miles

Inhabitants: 66.800.000 (2019)

Religions: 45% Anglican, 19% Protestant, 10% Roman Catholic, 5% Muslim, 25% Non-Religious

Density of Population: 710 inh./sq.mi.

Capital: London, 8.962.000 inh. (2019)

official Language: English

other Languages: Gaelic languages

Currency: 1 Pfund Sterling (£, GBP) = 100 Pence

Time Zone: Greenwich Meantime = CET – 1 h

Source: Wikipedia (DE)

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History

ca. 600 B.C. · immigration of Celtic tribes to the British Isles

55/54 B.C. · first Roman attacks

43 · Roman legions conquer the region of the today's England

85 · Britain becomes a province of the Roman Empire

120–128 · construction of Hadrian's Wall against the Scots

195 · Hadrian's Wall is overrun

200–400 · frequent riotings of the British Celts against the Roman

from ca. 400 · withdrawal of the Roman legions, in the following years immigration of the Germanic tribes of the Angles, Saxons and Jutes, which were later summarized under the term Anglo-Saxons

450–500 · battles of the British Celts and Saxon against the Pikts and Scots, ousting of the British Celts by the Saxons, formation of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of Sussex, Wessex, Essex, Kent, East Anglia, Mercia and Northumbria

825 · unification of Wessex, Sussex, Kent and Mercia under King Egbert of Wessex

865 · Danish invasion: Essex, East Anglia and parts of Mercia become Danish possession until 954 → Danelaw

1016 · the Dane Knut the Great forces his election as King of England

1050 · ultimate end of the Danish rule

1066 · the Saxon Harald II. becomes king of England

1066 · the invading Normans defeat the Saxons in the Battle of Hastings and establish their power in England

1169 · beginning of the conquest of Ireland by the Kingdom of England

1265 · first English parliament

1284 · conquest of Wales

1297 · establishment of a first Irish Parliament, the conquest of Ireland by the Kingdom of England is essentially complete

1338–1453 · 100-year War in France for rights of the English King to the French throne

1455–1485 · War of the Roses between the House of Lancaster (coat of arms: red rose) and the House of York (coat of arms: white rose)

1603 · the House of Tudor line ends with the death of Elisabeth I.

1603 · personal union between Scotland and England under James I. of the House of Stuart

1649 · execution of King Charles I.

1649–1654 · England is a republic under Oliver Cromwell

1654 · re-establishment of the monarchy

1707 · constitutional unification of England and Scotland to Great Britain

1714 · the House of Hanover provides a king with George I.

1727–1760 · extensive colonial conquests

1783 · the USA achieve independence from United Kingdom

19th cent. · phase of further large colonial conquests

1901 · the House Saxony-Coburg-Gotha (Windsor) provides the king with Edward VII.

1914–1918 · First World War

1921 · creation of the Irish free state

1939 · United Kingdom declares war on Germany

1939–1945 · Second World War

1947 · India receives independence

1956 · United Kingdom intervenes in the Suez-Canal-Zone

1960–1966 · United Kingdom loses most of its colonial empire

1969 · United Kingdom intervenes in Northern Ireland

1973 · the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland joines the EEC (the later EU)

1982 · Argentina occupies the Falkland Islands, British re-capture

1991 · United Kingdom intervenes with the USA in Iraq

1999 · participation of United Kingdom in the NATO-intervention in Yugoslavia

1999 · Scotland and Wales get their own parliaments, Northern Ireland receives autonomy

2000 · the autonomy for Northern Ireland is reversed

2003 · United Kingdom intervenes with the USA in Iraq again and illegally

2016 · a referendum in Britain decides with a majority to leave the European Union

31st of Janauary in 2020 · United Kingdom (UK) leaves the European Union

Translator of the English text: Joachim Nuthack

Source: Atlas zur Geschichte, World Statesmen, Wikipedia (D)

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Possessions (with an own flag)

Anguilla

Bermuda Islands)

British Virgin Islands

British Antarctic Territory

(British Indian Ocean Territory

Cayman Islands

Falkland Islands

Gibraltar

Montserrat

Pitcairn

Saint Helena

South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands

Turks and Caicos Islands

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regional Flags

Alderney (Channel Islands)

Cornwall

England

Guernsey (Channel Islands)

Herm (Channel Islands)

Jersey (Channel Islands)

Man

Northern Ireland (Ulster)

Orkney-Inseln (Orkney-Islands)

East Anglia

Sark (Channel Islands)

Scotland

Shetland Islands

Wales

Source: Wikipedia (DE)

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Origin of the Country's Name

In the entire English-speaking world, the country is known only as "United Kingdom", which means the kingdom as the union of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. In the German-speaking world, the translation of the country's name as "Vereinigtes Königreich" (United Kingdom) is hardly used at all. Here they say "Großbritannien → Great Britain". "Great Britain" actually only refers to the union of England and Scotland.

In 1707, when United Kingdom was created, by the union of England and Scotland and when it was named "Great Britain", then, and even in the centuries before, a "Britannia" was always present. Firstly the country was called "Britannia" as a Roman province, and secondly ther was the Brittany, the home of the Bretons, the Celtic brothers of the indigenous people of the British Isles. The now emerging new Britain, was of course bigger and more significant. It was therefore a good idea to choose on the one hand a name, which disadvantaged neither England nor Scotland, and on the other hand gives a possibility for distinction from Brittany.

Source: Volker Preuß

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