Origins
The Anglo-Saxon migration to Britain began in the 5th century AD. The most famed of the early migrants were Hengest and Horsa who arrived with their warriors in three ships. In the following years many warriors and settlers crossed the sea and settled lowland Britain from East to West. They came from the Engle (English), the Seax (Saxons) and the Jutes. From the Jutes came the people of Kent and the people of the Isle of Wight and the mainland opposite Wight. From the Saxons came the East Saxons (Essex) and the South Saxons (Sussex) and the West Saxons (Wessex). From Angeln came the East Engle (East Anglia), Middle Engle (English Midlands), Mercians (Mercia), and all the Northumbrians (North of the Humber), which included those now known as the Lowland Scots.

Unity
The Engles (English) were the dominant group and by the 9th century the settlers had merged into one English identity. The English gave their name to the land they lived in (Englalond) and the language they spoke (Englisc), which has evolved into modern English. It was those writing in Latin who called the English Angels and Anglo-Saxons.The settlers were closely related peoples – so similar in appearance and culture that they were able to merge into one English identity. Later they absorbed closely related Danish and other Scandinavian settlers.

The White Dragon
Both the English and the Welsh adopted the dragon as their battle flag. The dragon of the Britons can still be seen in the Red Dragon of the Welsh flag while for the English it was the White Dragon that was to prove most enduring. The Dragon was flown by Harold II, when he destroyed the Norse army at the Battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066 and it was the banner under which he and his warriors fought to the death, three weeks later defending their homeland.

Modern Times
In the following centuries the flag of St George was adopted as the flag of England, which it still is. However, in modern times, when our country is seeing much change and turmoil, the White Dragon flag is being revived as the flag of the English. It is a symbol of our identity, our common history and of the kinship of all the Anglo-Saxon people.