United Kingdom Dragon Myths

 

HERALDIC DRAGONS vary greatly, especially in the shape of their ears, but the wings are always those of a bat; the tongue and tail can be barbed; they breathe fire and are a symbol of power, wisdom and one who has overcome an adversary or fortress.

A dragon was the standard of a Roman cohort which was a tenth of a legion. After the Romans left Britain the dragon was adopted by both the Britons and the Saxons. The Saxons had the white dragon as a royal standard. In early Britain it depicted supreme power. The Roman standards had a metal head (possibly real gold) with a windsock type of body made of silk. The mouth contained a whistling device that would sound when vigorously waved. Supposedly used by King Arthur, he blazed a dragon on his helmet, a golden dragon was the principal war standard of the Saxons of Wessex, and was carried by them at the battle of Burford in 752.

In eleventh century battles, the king would position himself between his personal standard, which was the rallying point and the dragon standard which was carried by a standard bearer chosen for his strength and prowess. After the battle of Hastings the dragon standard was adopted by the Normans. There is no record of its use in Scotland after the battle of the Standard in 1138,where it was borne as the Scottish royal standard.

A dragon standard was taken on the Third Crusade by Richard I in 1191. A dragon was borne by the English army at the battle of Lewes in 1216 and later Henry III had a dragon standard made to be placed in the rebuilt Abbey at Westminster. A dragon standard was used by Edward I, by Edward III at the battle of Crecy 1346, Henry V at the battle of Agincourt 1415, and at the battle of Bosworth in 1485, after which it was carried in state to St. Paul's Cathedral. Dragon Tygre and Dragon-Wolf are composite creatures and support the arms of the City of London.

The Tudor Red Dragon indicates Welsh origins. Henry VII placed the red dragon of Cadwallader, on the royal arms of England with the Tudor colours of white and green in the background. Henry claimed Welsh descent, but this dragon was later removed by James I. Until this time the dragon was probably golden. English royal arms were supported by a lion and a dragon, but the Stuarts replaced the dragon with the Scottish Unicorn in 1603. The dragon reappeared briefly under Cromwell as a supporter of the arms of the Commonwealth.

In 1807 the Red Dragon became the King's Badge for Wales. In battle, the Red Dragon of Cadwallader represented Wales and the White Dragon represented the Saxons, this is mentioned in the tale of Lludd and Llevelys. Y Ddraig Goch (The Red Dragon of Cadwallader) is the official emblem of Wales and appears on the Welsh national flag, which has been officially recognized since the 1950's. The flag's white-over-green field is in the livery colours of the Tudors, the Welsh dynasty that once sat on the English throne. 'Upon a mount vert, a dragon passant, wings expanded and endorsed gules - the Red Dragon Dreadful' Derived from the Great Red Serpent that once represented the old Welsh god Dewi. This Celtic dragon represents sovereignty, power or a chief, such as Pendragon, the Celtic word meaning 'chief'.

ST. GEORGE The life of Saint George is shrouded in legend, it is difficult to untangle fact from fiction. The problem lies in the Acta Sancti Georgii (Acts of Saint George) written at a very early date and outlawed by Pope Gelasius in AD 496. The dragon which St. George overcomes is symbolic of paganism, but this symbolism overlays other more subtle imagery.

From Greek writings of Metaphrastes and quotes by Saint Andrew of Crete we can surmise that St. George was born in Cappadocia, Turkey in the 200's, and died in 303. He was born of noble, Christian parents and upon his father's death he accompanied his mother to Palestine, her country of origin, where she had land and George was to run the estate.

During the reign of the Emperor Dioclesian (245-313), he held the rank of tribune in the Roman army. When Dioclesian began persecuting Christians, George resigned his post and protested the dreadful Christian purges personally to the Emperor. It is uncertain whether he also tore down the Emperor's decrees as they were posted in Nicomedia. George was imprisoned and tortured, but did not recant his faith. He was dragged through the streets and beheaded. The Emperor's wife, Alexandria was so impressed at George's courage that she became a Christian and so too was put to death. He was martyred at Lydda in Palestine which is now know as Lod, Israel.

It is said that his tomb was discovered in the First Crusade. As an early Christian martyr he became an ideal of martial valor and selflessness during the Middle Ages. St. George is frequently depicted as a youth wearing knight's armour with a scarlet cross....

Legends surrounding St. George's encounter with a dragon are varied and evolved after his death. The dragon legend may be a Christian version of the legend of Perseus, who was said to have rescued Andromeda from a sea monster near Lydda.

The St. George legend quickly became famous and by the 6th century had been translated into six languages.

The cult of St. George originated in the 4th century. The church of Saint George In Velabro - (The Veil of Gold) - Rome, was built at about that time. Saint Clothilde, in Gaul dedicated a church to him; in Venice, he is the second patron after Saint Mark. In 1222 the Council of Oxford appointed 23rd April as his Feast Day. He became the English Patron Saint in 14th Century and he became associated with the Order of the Garter. Over 160 churches in England are dedicated to St. George.

He is also the patron saint of Moscow in Russia, and of Aragon. Until the 18th century, St. George was patron of Portugal (in 12th century when they broke from Spain , they chose a new patron: their acquaintance with the English in the Crusades confirmed George as the natural successor - he remains still "in charge" of the army). St. George is also the Patron Saint of the Scouting Movement.

Saint George was adopted as Saint of Battles because he was a soldier and was said to have appeared before the Christian army prior the Battle of Antioch. He also appeared to English King Richard I (the Lionheart) during his Crusade against the Saracens, serving as encouragement to the troops.

" I see you Stand like greyhounds in the slips,Straining upon the Start. The game's afoot: Follow your spirit; and, upon this charge Cry "God for Harry! England and Saint George!": Shakespeare, Henry V (1599) act 3, sc. 1, l. 31

One of the earliest known versions of the legend is found in Jacob de Voragine's Legenda Aurea (1265-66; Golden Legend). A pagan town in Libya was being terrorized by a dragon. Sheep were offered to it to placate it, but when it still remained unsatisfied, they started sacrificing the citizenry. Finally the local princess was to be sacrificed, Saint George rescued the Libyan king's daughter from the dragon and then slayed the monster in return for a promise by the king's subjects to be baptized. The townsfolk converted to Christianity.

The Dragon symbolized Satan and the Princes represented the Christian Church. Saint George rescued the pagans from evil by vanquishing it and saved the Church from being devoured by the insatiable forces of darkness.

The legend, originated in the Greek Church which venerated him as a brave soldier saint and protector in battle. The western Christians, joining with the Byzantine Christians in the Crusades, elaborated, but misinterpreted the Greek traditions and devised their own version. The story we know today of Saint George and the dragon dates from the troubadours of the 14th century.

There was a city that didn't have any source of water. To get water, people had to go outside the city walls to a nearby oasis which was guarded by a fierce dragon. From its nostrils came clouds of smoke and flame that brought death to those who breathed it. The dragon wouldn't let anyone have water unless he was given a youth or maiden to devour. People from the city tried to kill the dragon, but nobody survived his breath. The city's youth were devoured by the dragon, until only the King's daughter was left. The citizens begged the king to give her up, and he finally sent his only daughter to be eaten by the beast. Just as she was about to be eaten, St. George charged the dragon on his white horse, he killed it with a lance in the heart. The King was so happy, that he gave St. George half of his kingdom and his daughter's hand in marriage.

In another version, following several battles against the Saracens of Syria, St. George traveled into Libya where a dragon was known to live near the town of Sylene. The dragon required a sacrificial virgin every single day. The red cross knight, St. George, youngest and bravest of the seven champions of Christendom arrived on the day that the kings daughter, Princess Sabra, was to be sacrificed. St. George, accompanied the princess to the dragon's desert lair, he wounded the dragon, with his magic sword Ascalon. Princess Sabra wrapped her sash about the dragon's head and attached it to her girdle. She lead the living dragon back to the town's central square where all the inhabitants exacted their vengeance upon it then St. George slew it with a single blow. Won over to the Christian faith by this deed of its champion, the people were baptized.

SAINT MARGARET AND THE DRAGON (From Caxton's translation of the Golden Legend of Jacobus de Voragine. Developed around 1480 CE in Antioch.)

St. Margaret was the daughter of the Chief Priest of the Pagans in Antioch. Her nurse was Christian and raised her in the faith. Her angered father exiled her to live as a shepherdess. The Roman Governor Olybrius saw her and fell in love. He was to marry her until he discovered that she was Christian. Margaret was tortured and imprisoned. She prayed that the fiend who had fought her would become visible. A dragon appeared and swallowed her whole. While in its stomach she made the sign of the cross which caused the dragon to burst and she came out of his body unharmed.

The Heraldic Dragons slain by St. George or St. Margaret, had bat wings, a sting in its tail and fiery breath. However, most British dragons, are worms similar to the Scandinavian wurm, wingless, generally long, with poisonous rather than a fiery breath and self-joining. Nearly all the Celtic dragons are worms. Worms and dragons have some traits in common. Both are scaly, haunt wells or pools, are avid for maidens particularly princesses, both are treasure-hoarders and are extremely hard to kill.

KNUCKER is a water dragon who lived in the mysterious Knucker Hole at Lyminster, Sussex, England. A stream leading out from the hole is fed by an underground stream so no water can be seen entering the hole. Knucker carried off animals and people until it was eventually killed, although there are several versions of the story.

In one version the King of Sussex offered his daughter in marriage to anyone who would kill the dragon. A wandering knight slew Knucker, married the princess, and then settled in Lyminster.

The second version says that a local farmer's boy, Jim Pulk, cooked a poisoned Sussex pie, which the dragon ate and then died. Knucker had his revenge in the end, because after Jim when off to celebrate he fell down dead. Probably he hadn't washed his hands after baking the poisoned pie.

The third version also has a man Jim Puttock who comes from Wick and outwits Knucker, in a similar way. The Mayor of Arundel offered a reward, but unlike Jim Pulk, Jim Puttock did not die at the end.

OLLIPEIST, an Irish dragon and water-dweller, fled when St. Patrick rid Ireland of snakes and imprisoned the dragons in their home, the water. As he fled, he cut a furrow in the ground forming the Shannon valley. This dragon is also called Peist.

MERLIN prophesied the red dragon of the British defeating the white dragon of the Saxons, this was fulfilled when the Welsh adopted the red dragon as their national symbol. Merlin Emrys released two dragons from under Vortigern's tower. They symbolized the vitality of the land which would remain chaotic unless tamed or wielded by a true ruler. In the legend of King Arthur, Merlin was able to transform into a dragon. It is known that some dragons had the ability to shape shift.

Y DDRAIG GOCH, the Welsh Dragon, or the red dragon derived from the Great Red Serpent once represented the Welsh God Dewi who later metamorphosed into Wales' mythical patron saint David. The red dragon appears on the national flag of Wales. The Mabinogion tale of Lludd and Llewelys tells of the struggle between this red dragon and the white dragon. During the Saxon invasions the white dragon (the Saxons) invades to battle the red. As the struggle ends, the two opposing dragons become drunk with mead. While in this drunken state the pair are placed in a large stone coffin and buried beneath Oxford. As long as they remain buried in the centre of Britain the island will be protected from invasion. This dual burial symbolizes the latent power held within the combined strength of the Anglo-Saxon people and is key to their reconciliation. The bloody relations have been calmed and the dragons wait to rise together in protection of the island.

Welsh Dragon lore played a large part in the folklore of the Middle Ages. Much of the lore seems connected with the origin of ancient sites of worship. Church paintings and carvings traditionally interpret dragon slayings as symbolizing battle between the forces of good and evil.

Welsh mythical dragons often guarded treasure secretly hidden in deep caverns. Even up to the end of the nineteenth century there were country folk who firmly believed in their existence.

In the Vale of Neath a dragon or winged serpent was thought to frequent the area near the waterfalls of the Pyrrdin, Mellte, and Hepste Rivers. It concealed itself in the rocky gorges around Pont Nedd Fechan making a nuisance of itself.

Trelech at Bettws in Dyfed was the home of a winged serpent, usually seen near a tumulus known as Crug Ederyn, reputed to be the grave of Ederyn, an early prince or chieftain of Wales. Excavation revealed a stone-lined grave sealed with rough slabs.

In South Glamorgan, Llancarfan was haunted by winged serpents and reptiles. Penllyne Castle woods concealed terrorizing winged serpents, described as beautiful, with crests sparkling in a rainbow of colours. They glided swiftly, to their hiding places, when disturbed, but soared over people's heads with wings spread like a peacock's tail when angry. It is said, farmers actually killed some of them because they were as bad as foxes for poultry.

Stories of winged serpents were told near Radnor Forest, Powys and several parts of North Wales, but they were exterminated by local farmers. Dragons and winged serpents were also reported around Lleyn and Penmaenmawr in Gwynedd, the ravines of the Berwyn Mountains, Cadair Idris, Cardigan (Dyfed), the Brecon Beacons, the marshes of Carmarthen and Worm's Head, Gower.

SAINT COLUMBA AND NESSIE, from Loch Ness in the Highlands of Scotland was first recorded by Adamnan in the Life of Saint Columba sometime in the late 7th Century.

In the year 565 CE, Saint Columba was travelling through the country of the Picts, near Loch Ness in the Highlands of Scotland. Upon reaching the shore of the River Ness, a group of people, Picts and Brethren both,were burying a man who had been bitten by a water-monster.

Columba ordered one of his men , Lugneus Mocumin, to swim across the river and return the boat from the other side so that he might cross. Plunging in to the water, the monster charged to the surface to devour poor Mocumin. Columba inscribed the Cross in the empty air with his holy hand calling upon the name of God, he commanded the savage beast: "Go no further! Do not touch the man! Go back at once!" The monster retreated to the depths of the Loch. Mocumin brought the boat back, unharmed and the heathen savages who were present were overcome by the greatness of the miracle and magnified the God of the Christians.

It is thought that Nessie is a mythic symbol for the Picts and the other non-Christians of the area and this story exists to glorify Saint Columba's ability to convert the Picts to Christianity.

SERPENT WHALE: is similar to the Legendary Loch Ness Monster, but without a neck, it is basically a whale or large dolphin with a dragon head. They are water-dwelling dragons that live in water, fresh or salt. Some scientists believe that sea serpents were actually gigantic squid, large masses of sea kelp, or even seafaring dinosaurs. The Basilosaurus had a very long body, and short neck, its mouth filled with long sharp teeth. If it came out of the water near a boat, it could very much be thought of as a sea serpent. "Nessie" the Loch Ness Monster in Scotland, is the most famous "sea serpent".

Ever since man has been sailing, sea serpents have been in history, "HERE BE DRAGONS" was marked on maps from early European history, indicating uncharted territory.

WYRM/WORM: is the Norse and Saxon word for dragon, so the Lambton Worm was a North Country dragon. Even in Somerset there was the dragon called 'The Gurt Vurm of Shervage Wood'. Occasionally one hears of a winged worm, or a legless one, but generally they are wingless and lizard-like in form. Originating in England, they laired in forests and wells, anywhere near water. Worms are sometimes referred to as the Guivre, a very ancient dragon. In all instances, the dragon exemplifies elemental power, especially of the earth.

THE LAMBTON WORM of Durham is England's most famous Worm. John Lambton, son of Lord Lambton in the fourteenth century was heir to Lambton Hall. He was fishing on the bridge over the River Wear, close to Lambton Castle and caught the small worm, but thought it too ugly to eat, so he took it off his hook and tossed it into the nearby well, which is still called 'Worm's Well'. Over the years the worm grew to enormous proportions, it left the well and ravaged the country-side. It was so long that it could curl itself around Worm Hill near Fatfield. The town dug a great trough outside the castle gates, which was filled daily with milk from nine cows, but that did not content the worm. Knights came to slay it, but when it was cut in two it joined itself together again as worms do, and crushed the knights to death.

When young Lambton came back from war, as a Knight of Rhodes and saw the results of his folly, he was horrified. Before going to battle, Sir John consulted a witch and was told he must slay the worm and that he must also vow to kill the first living creature he met on his return from battle with the worm. Failing to satisfy this condition, meant nine generations of Lords of Lambton would die away from their beds. On her advise he studded his armour with spikes.

At sunset, on the great rock in the middle of River Wear he ran the worm through with his sword, but the worm coiled himself round Sir John. The spikes wounded and weakened the worm and Sir John hacked the worm to pieces. In previous battles the worm was able to rejoin its segments and continue fighting, but acting on the witch's advise Sir John threw each piece into the swift flowing river which carried them off. He slew the worm and staggered home, but unfortunately, his father, who had been waiting in suspense, ran to greet him. The next living creature he met was his father, of whom he could not kill. The Lambton family was cursed for the next nine generations, and doomed to die abroad, never at home in their beds.

THE DRAGON of LOSCHY HILL in Yorkshire was similarly, killed by Peter Loschy. This dragon had teeth like pitchfork prongs and a poisonous tongue. Peter's hound carried the pieces away during the battle. When the dog returned and licked Peter's face... both Peter and hound died from swallowed dragon's poison.

LINTON WORM, was a twelfth century worm or dragon that infested the small parish of Linton in Roxburghshire. A legless worm with poisonous breath, destroyed the cattle and men which it devoured. Somerville of Lariston, slew the worm by thrusting a peat dipped in burning pitch down the throat of the monster which neutralised the poisonous breath and burned out its entrails. Spiral ridges on Wormington Hill still bear witness to the worm's dying agonies.

THE DRAGON OF WANTLEY, terrorised the countryside, he had 44 iron teeth, a long sting in his tail, a strong rough hide and fearful wings. He breathed fire from his nostrils and ate trees, cattle, and once ate three young children at one meal.

A strange knight named More of More Hall, lived near the dragon's den, the people implored More Hall to free them from the monster, offering him all their remaining goods. The knight requested one black-haired maiden of sixteen, to anoint him for the battle at night, and array him in his armour in the morning.

This promised, he went to Sheffield, and had a suit of armour set all over with iron spikes. He hid in a well, where the dragon used to drink, and as it stooped to the water, the knight struck it with a great blow. The dragon was upon him, they fought for two days and a night without inflicting a wound upon each other. As the dragon flung himself at More, intent on tossing him high into the air, More succeeded in planting a kick in the middle of its back. This was the vital spot: the iron spike drove into the monster's flesh so far, that it spun round and round in agony, groaning and roaring fearfully, but in a few minutes all was over, it collapsed into a helpless heap, and died.

THE SERPENT OF HANDALE in Yorkshire had fiery breath and a venomous sting, it devoured maidens, until a man called Scaw killed it to rescue an earl's daughter.

In BRITTANY, each May Day, the Bretans' dragon was said to have uttered a terrible scream that could be heard underneath every hearth fire, demanding burial of a tub of mead as an offering to him. The origin of Samhain Eve has a dragon symbolising the Cailleach who holds the power of winter over Brigit's lamb, symbolic of spring.

CELTIC tribes and ancient conquerors of Britain considered the dragon a symbol of sovereignty. Celtic lore also contains salmon-dragons and Bride, the serpent-goddess.

ST. LEONARD'S FOREST, between Horsham and Pease Pottage in Sussex, was home to a dragon, St. Leonard slew the dragon in the 6th century. The hermit saint was wounded during the battle and where ever his blood was spilt Lilies of the valley grew wild. God rewarded the bravery and decreed that adders in the forest would not sting and that nightingales would not disturb his prayers by singing.

In 1614 three villagers, in St. Leonard's Forrest, sighted a nine foot long dragon serpent. It had red scales on its belly with black scales on its back and a ring of white on its neck. It was thin on both ends, but thick in the mid section. With large feet it could run as fast as a man, but looked like it was growing wings. It left tracks of an offensive smelling glutinous slime. It spit venom which killed two people and two dogs, but the dragon did not pray upon the villagers. It apparently survived on a diet of rabbits.

UFFINGTON HORSE near Uffington Castle in Berkshire resembles the dragon killed by St. George on the near by Dragon Hill. No grass grows on the summit where the dragon's blood was spilt.