The Welsh Flag: History and Meaning of The Red Dragon Flag

You may think it's a bit odd that I'm making a video in the Union Flag Series about the Welsh flag, given that it's the only part of the United Kingdom not represented on the country's flag. However Wales is great, and it's flag has some interesting history and symbolism so you're just going to have to deal with it. In this one I'll be look at the Welsh Dragon Flag, at the figures of Cadwalladr ap Cadwallon (and his dad), Owain Glyndŵr, Henry VII and many more.

Music Used:
Sneaky Snitch - Kevin MacLeod
Teller of the Tales - Kevin MacLeod
Up and Away - Holfix
Celtic Impulse - Kevin MacLeod
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

All images are from the Public Domain of Wikimedia Commons and Pixabay with the following exception:

Owain Glyndŵr's Flag - Hogyncymru:

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Flags Playlist:

A Guide to Dark Age Irish Politics:

A Guide to Dark Age British Politics:

Who Were the Anglo-Saxons?

Old English:

Anglo-Saxon Shields:

The UK, Great Britain and British Isles:

Patreon:

Twitter:

[lethallizard]

Being a Welshman, It’s highly appreciated that you make videos about our ancient and overlooked culture. Right now, you are the YouTube God of Welsh history!

[ARMY]

Awesome vid bro, this country is very shadowed in the world, glad someone's out there showing the Welsh are here

[lw.]

I know I'm incredibly late to the party, but as someone born and raised in Wales, who feels a very strong tie to the nation, and is incredibly proud of Wales' rich culture and history, I love how you have dedicated videos to us. I am someone who has a very real distaste for how Welsh people are underrepresented in terms of our history and culture and are often just looked at as a funny brand of English people. I love Wales, and the fact that my country which is so often ignored is getting proper attention. Diolch yn fawr iawn, Hillbert. Cymru am byth!

[IamMrLebanon]

One of the best flags in the world with a great history! Great video thank you for making it!

[adamhayden]

Being Cymry in Diaspora, learning about my ancestry is amazing. Thank you for providing this excellent video.

[TheBankai]

Owain Glyndŵr's banner known as Y Ddraig Aur or "The Golden Dragon". It was famously raised over Caernarfon during the Battle of Tuthill in 1401 against the English. The flag has ancient origins, Glyndŵr chose to fly the standard of a Golden dragon on a white background, the traditional standard that supposedly,  Uther Pendragon had flown when the first Celtic Britons had fought the Saxons to a standstill almost 1, 000 years before, which had been passed down to his son king Arthur.

[LunusksiathKallisto]

As someone of mostly Welsh heritage, I'm glad that this sheds more light on Welsh culture.

[vickielewallen]

It isn't boring to those of us who have history or geneaology from Wales, but can't be there. Thanks for all Welsh history and info!

[CrayolaCoffeeBean]

Absolutely loved visiting Wales. I highlyyyy recommend it!!

[williamcooke]

The story of the red and white dragons fighting in an underground cave first appears in the Mabinogion. But I believe Geoffrey of Monmouth originated the idea that they represented the Britons and the Saxons.

[neofd]

Awesome video, as a Welshman my self and a history lover I enjoyed it.

[Anesthesia]

Cadwallon killed Eanfrith, not Oswald. That one was down to Penda.

But an interesting video! Can you do a video on Owain Glyndwr?

[Ariel-Jemima]

This isn’t what I was taught in school 😂 I was told that Wales was a gloomy because the white dragon ruled. But then the red dragon shoved his claw into the white dragon’s throat (which is why the red dragon has his claws sticking out like that) and killed it. All happiness was restored to Wales. It rains all the time to remind us of our gloomy days.

[lethallizard]

The green and white of the Welsh flag is representative of the leek, which was used by the Welsh soldiers led by St. David to distinguish one another.

Yes bizarre, but there’s some more history for you.

[yoderr]

Thank for a video talking about Wales.

[Knowledgia]

You still don't want a collaboration? No? Ok ... :(

[ferguscullen]

Good video, Hilbert. The Ddraig Goch-White Dragon fight begins before Vortigern. In Llud's time, supposedly, their fighting caused a series of plagues. Llud's brother Llefelys was fetched from France to capture the dragons. They were buried in Dinas Emrys (Snowdonia) where they continued to fight; and that was where Vortigern tried to build his castle later on.

[anniemaymcneely]

having recently found out that my father is Welsh descended from meironydd, gwynedd, I love hearing these. ty

[welshkek]

“Ll” in Welsh is a pronounced like a bad gear change

[Paragon]

On one hand, adding a dragon to the Union Jack would make it more cool. On the other hand, the Welsh flag would be less special. I reckon they could add the gold cross from the St David flag and have it be in the middle of the St George cross.