Introduction
Though the vast majority of subregions beyond the constituent countries of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland are clearly identified as integrated within their respective constituent countries, just a few outlying regions may diverge from the general trend. Perhaps the most notable of these regions is Cornwall, located at the southwestern edge of England. Of all the historic counties and shires of the British Isles, even more locally than the constituent countries themselves, the Flag of Cornwall, Saint Piran’s Flag is often identified as one of the oldest flags representing a county. While the design has only been official in modern form since circa 1838, the Cornish flag inspiration may have been relatively stable since the twelfth century, if not earlier.
Saint Piran’s Design
Saint Piran, a fifth-century Cornish abbot, has largely been identified as having brought Christianity to the southwestern edge of the island of Great Britain. Within the modern County of Cornwall, the region continues to maintain a clearly distinctive character that cannot be explained by the general English population and situation. To the north and east of Cornwall, England as a constituent country has largely been associated with an increasing sense of national pride and identity, often dominating the entirety of the United Kingdom with a central core located nearest the City of London. Since Cornwall is quite distantly removed from London and Middlesex in general, the southwestern edge of England is identified as significantly diverging from the general English identity, with white on black rather than red on white on the English flag design. Ultimately, while Saint Piran’s Flag and Saint George’s Cross maintain similar designs, the vexillology is primary different in terms of colors.
Vexillology
Both England and Cornwall maintain flag designs with a cross spanning the entire width and height of the respective flags, each with standard flag dimensions. However, with England, the color of the cross is red, while the color of the Cornish cross is white. For the outer colors, the distinction is between white in England and black in Cornwall.
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