why is a dragon a welsh symbol?

Answer 1

You`ve not seen their women then have you?

Answer 2

In 1284 Edward I incorporated Wales into England under the Statute of Rhuddlan. In 1301, Edward made his eldest son - also called Edward - Prince of Wales. Since then the eldest son of each English monarch has been given the title.

The Laws in Wales Acts, passed in 1536 and 1543 during the reign of Henry VIII from the Welsh Tudor dynasty, created a single state and legal jurisdiction, effectively annexing Wales to England.

Henry did, however, use the red dragon on green and white as an emblem on many Royal Navy vessels. It was also used by Queen Elizabeth I. Yet the Welsh influence waned when the Scottish James VI became James I (England) in 1605, and the dragon was replaced by a unicorn in the royal arms. It didn't return to the Royal Badge of Wales until 1807.

Largely because of the Laws in Wales Acts and the Statute of Rhuddlan, Wales is not represented on the Union Jack, other than through the cross of St George (Wales and England being, according to the acts, one country). Although proposals to incorporate it have been made, they have been met with muted enthusiasm.

In 1901 the dragon became the official symbol of Wales, and in Caernarfon in 1911, at the investiture of Edward, Prince of Wales, the flag appeared in its current form, helping its rise to prominence.

In 1953 it was announced that there would be a new royal badge containing the motto "Y Ddraig Goch Ddyry Cychwyn" (an approximate translation is "the red dragon inspires action").

In 1959, after successful lobbying by the Gorsedd of Bards and others, Queen Elizabeth II made the red dragon on a green and white background the official flag for Wales.

It was announced that the flag to be flown on government buildings would consist only of the red dragon on a green and white flag, rather than the 1953 badge, which was still in occasional use.

The 1959 design can today be seen right across Wales, and is a symbol of pride in history and heritage for Welsh people across the world.


The red dragon has featured heavily in Welsh culture for many years, including the legends of the Mabinogion and King Arthur who's surname was Pendragon.

Answer 3

The Welsh dragon was the standard of Hywel Dda (good howell) who was the father of Owen Glyndwr the man who fought for Welsh independance and pushed the English out of Wales as far as Worcester. He set up the first Welsh Parliament when England was still ruled by a Tyrant king.

Answer 4

Despite its occasional use by other figures famous in Welsh history, the red dragon became the symbol of the Welsh nation through its adoption by the Tudor ancestors of king Henry VII. Edmund and Jasper Tudor had a dragon as crest and supporter to the arms granted them by Henry VI. When Henry Tudor faced king Richard III at the battle of Bosworth in 1485 his battle standards numbered three. One of these carried the arms of St. George of England, one the arms of the house of Beaufort and on one was a "Red ffyry dragon peyntid upon white and Grene Sarcenet". It is held that this dragon banner represented Henry Tudor's claim to be a true representative of the ancient kings of Britain and served as his tribute to the Welsh people who had made his victory possible.

It appears that there is no "standard" Welsh dragon, modern renderings must be based on historic precedents but a degree of variation is inevitable. The dragon on the flag must, however, face to the left, be sited centrally and cover equal parts of the white and green panels.

The flag was granted official status in 1959, but the red dragon itself has been associated with Wales for centuries; indeed, the flag is sometimes claimed to be the oldest national flag still in use, though the origin of the adoption of the dragon symbol is now lost in history and myth

The oldest recorded use of the dragon to symbolise Wales is from the Historia Brittonum, written around 830, but it is popularly supposed to have been the battle standard of Arthur and other ancient Celtic leaders. It is particularly associated in Welsh poetry with Cadwaladr king of Gwynedd from c.655 to 682.

Answer 5

At the time of the Norman invasion of England in 1066, the dragon symbol seems to have been used by both sides. The Bayeux tapestry shows king Harold close to a dragon standard as he falls and the dragon also appears on the pennant of one of duke William's messengers. (There is a drawing of this on our page about pedigrees and coats of arms in Wales.)

Despite its occasional use by other figures famous in Welsh history, the red dragon became the symbol of the Welsh nation through its adoption by the Tudor ancestors of king Henry VII. Edmund and Jasper Tudor had a dragon as crest and supporter to the arms granted them by Henry VI. When Henry Tudor faced king Richard III at the battle of Bosworth in 1485 his battle standards numbered three. One of these carried the arms of St. George of England, one the arms of the house of Beaufort and on one was a "Red ffyry dragon peyntid upon white and Grene Sarcenet". It is held that this dragon banner represented Henry Tudor's claim to be a true representative of the ancient kings of Britain and served as his tribute to the Welsh people who had made his victory possible.

Answer 6

too bad my ancestors get a bad rap... it is the Roman influence, I say. to answer your question: The draco was a standard used in the Roman Army, particularly associated with the mounted auxiliaries rather then the Legions. It came into use in the second century AD and was probably borrowed from on of Rome's neighbours, such as the Parthians, the Sarmatians, or the Dacians.

Answer 7

Because a nice red Dragon wiped his bum on the English flag.

Answer 8

Because St George slayed a dragon I think.

Answer 9

Because its a mythical creature that was disliked and despised by all.
(Oh and it couldn't speak a language that anyone understood or cared about)