You have seen it at Murrayfield and Hampden, draped over shoulders and waved above crowds: a fierce red lion rearing on a gold field, ringed by a red double border studded with little fleurs-de-lis. This is the Lion Rampant, the Royal Banner of Scotland — and while it flies at every Scotland match, it is not, strictly speaking, a flag for everyone. So what is the Lion Rampant, what does it mean, and how does it differ from the Saltire?
Quick Answer: What Is the Lion Rampant?
The Lion Rampant is the Royal Banner of Scotland: a red lion rearing on a gold background, surrounded by a red double border decorated with fleurs-de-lis (the "double tressure flory counter-flory"). Historically it is the personal banner of the King or Queen of Scots, and its use is technically reserved to the monarch and certain royal officers. In practice it has become a much-loved emblem of Scottish pride, flown widely at sporting events and celebrations.
What Does the Lion Rampant Represent?
The lion is the classic heraldic beast of courage, nobility and royalty, and the Lion Rampant carries all of that on behalf of the Scottish crown. "Rampant" is the heraldic term for an animal rearing up on its hind legs, ready for action — a posture of boldness and readiness. As the banner of the King of Scots, it came to stand for the sovereignty and fighting spirit of the nation itself. The lion is the most common charge in all heraldry, a subject we cover in Animals of Scottish Heraldry.
Where Does the Lion Rampant Come From?
The red lion has been associated with the Scottish crown since the medieval period, and is traditionally linked to King William I, who ruled in the twelfth century and is remembered by the epithet "the Lion." By the thirteenth century the rampant lion within its double tressure was firmly established as the royal arms of Scotland. It has represented the Scottish monarchy ever since, and after the crowns of Scotland and England were joined it was carried into the combined royal arms, where the Scottish lion and the unicorn still appear together — a story told in The Union of the Crowns 1603.
How Is the Lion Rampant Different From the Saltire?
This is the key distinction, and one many people get wrong.
- The Saltire — the white cross of Saint Andrew on blue — is the national flag of Scotland, flown freely by everyone.
- The Lion Rampant — the red lion on gold — is the Royal Banner, historically the personal standard of the monarch.
So the Saltire belongs to the nation, while the Lion Rampant belongs, in the strict sense, to the crown. Its use is technically restricted, though it is now flown so widely as a symbol of Scottish pride that this is rarely enforced.
Can Anyone Fly the Lion Rampant?
Strictly, the Lion Rampant is the property of the sovereign, and its formal use is reserved to the monarch and royal representatives. In everyday practice, however, it has long been embraced by Scots and the Scottish diaspora as an emblem of national pride, and you will see it at football and rugby matches, Highland games and celebrations the world over. If you want a flag that is unquestionably yours to fly, the Saltire is the national flag for all — but the Lion Rampant remains one of the most stirring images of Scotland there is. For more on who may use heraldic emblems, see Can Anyone Use a Family Crest?
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Lion Rampant represent?
It is the Royal Banner of Scotland, representing the courage, nobility and sovereignty of the Scottish crown. The red lion is the classic heraldic beast of royalty.
Is the Lion Rampant the flag of Scotland?
Not the national flag — that is the Saltire. The Lion Rampant is the Royal Banner, historically the personal standard of the monarch.
Can anyone fly the Lion Rampant?
Strictly its use is reserved to the monarch and royal officers, but it is widely flown as a symbol of Scottish pride at sporting events and celebrations.
Why is there a lion on Scotland's royal arms?
The red lion has symbolised the Scottish crown since the medieval period, traditionally linked to King William I, known as "the Lion."
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