CH 5 (2/7) - Heraldic Dragons

Second part of the fifth chapter of historian Frederick William Hackwood's study of dragonlore.

FULL ILLUSTRATED TEXT
http://www.justgenealogy.plus.com/fwhdd05.htm

It is worthy of note that in the early history of this country the dragon as a warlike symbol or battle-flag, was used by both the Britons and the Angles. The dragon plays an important part in the legendary history of the ancient Britons. In the fables and pretended prophecies of Merlin, their great Prince of Enchanters, he is described as red in colour, and so differing from the Saxon dragon, which was white. King Arthur wore a dragon crest on his helmet. On the other hand, in the mythology of our Norse forefathers Thor son of Woden, the god of War, was numbered among the valiant dragon slayers.

In the early days of the Saxon Heptarchy the dragon was used, in varying tinctures, by several of the kingdoms : Mercia displayed a golden dragon, Dyved a green dragon, Sussex (Counts of the Shore) a black dragon ; and there were other variants besides. The red and white dragons of the prophecies of Merlin were apparently intended to represent or personify the British and the Saxon races.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Dragons
• History
• Merlin
• King
• Arthur
• British
• Norse
• Thor
• Angles
• Britons
• Flags
• prophesies
• Mercia
• colours
• colors