Flag of Montgomeryshire
| Flag of Montgomeryshire | |
| |
| Proportion | 3:5 |
|---|---|
| Adopted | Not yet adopted |
| Flag of Montgomeryshire | |
| |
| Name | "Lion of Powys" |
|---|---|
| Proportion | 3:5 |
| Adopted | Not yet adopted |
| Designed by | Traditional |
The Montgomeryshire flag refers to two rival proposed flags of the county of Montgomery. Neither has yet been registered with the Flag Institute.[1]
The Two Designs
The design on the left (a red lion on gold) is the traditional banner of arms of the ancient and historic kingdom of Powys. After 1160 Powys split in to two parts with the larger southerly portion (known either as Powys-Weynwynwyn or Upper Powys) continuing to use the unaltered banner of Powys until it was transformed into the Earldom of Powis in 1283 whose ruling families sat at Powis Castle in Welshpool and continued to use the design in their own personal arms. In 1543 this earldom was transformed into a county based on the English model, with the county town at Montgomery. Montgomeryshire therefore has almost exactly the same boundaries as the erstwhile kingdom of Powys-Wenwynwyn. The banner was known as the Lion of Powys and had been used for many centuries to represent the area and the areas rulers. In 1951, Montgomeryshire County Council was granted a coat of arms that included, prominently, the red lion on gold and the motto; POWYS PARADWYS CYMRU' - Powys paradise of Wales.
The design on the right (three silver horse heads on black) is a banner of the personal arms of a locally celebrated seventh-century king of Powys named Brochwel Ysgithrog, famed for his resistance to the invading Saxons. In the mediæval period a coat of arms was retrospectively created for him bearing three white horse heads on a black field. The arms borne by the local council in the twentieth century included a black and white border as a reference to Brochwel's arms.
Outside links
References
- ↑ Association of British Counties. "County flag proposals". http://www.abcounties.co.uk/counties/county-flags/county-flag-proposals?showall=1. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
| Proposals for county flags in the United Kingdom |
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Brecknockshire • Cardiganshire • Montgomeryshire • Radnorshire |