Flags of The Dark Age Kingdoms
The concept of national flags is largely an invention of the Middle Ages, along with coats of arms, mottos and formalised war-cries, however, every unit within a dark age battle would have carried a banner of some description, and the banners of the important individuals from these countries became easily recognised symbols of the countries they represented. As it can often be difficult to get information on the flags and banners of this period, it can be expected that this page may take some time to complete.
Flags of the Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms
Northumbria
The Northernmost of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, Northumbria's flag is based upon a design which was first used on the tomb of St. Oswald during the 7th Century (although purple can be used instead of red), making it one of the oldest of these flags still in use (as it is still used as the flag of Northumberland).
Mercia
Although the dragon was popular throughout the Dark Ages, as the period progressed, the cross-shaped flag became more popular, although it seems the dragon standard was still in use at least until the Anglo-Saxon defeat at Hastings. In the modern day, the cross of Mercia is still flow in the traditional capitol of the kingdom, at Tamworth Castle.
The early Anglo-Saxon dragon
The Mercian cross
Wessex
The gold wyvern of Wessex appears to be another of the Saxon flags that survived well into the Middle Ages, and is still used today, largely due to the success of the kingdom of Wessex prior to the Norman Invasion.
Although the dragon was popular throughout the Dark Ages, as the period progressed, the cross-shaped flag became more popular, although it seems the dragon standard was still in use at least until the Anglo-Saxon defeat at Hastings. In the modern day, the cross of Mercia is still flow in the traditional capitol of the kingdom, at Tamworth Castle.
The early Anglo-Saxon dragon
The Mercian cross
Wessex
The gold wyvern of Wessex appears to be another of the Saxon flags that survived well into the Middle Ages, and is still used today, largely due to the success of the kingdom of Wessex prior to the Norman Invasion.
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