Flag of Scotland in the context of "Scottish nationalism"

A saltire, also called Saint Andrew's Cross or the crux decussata, is a heraldic symbol in the form of a diagonal cross. The word comes from the Middle French sautoir, Medieval Latin saltatoria ("stirrup").

From its use as field sign, the saltire came to be used in a number of flags, in the 16th century for Scotland and Burgundy, in the 18th century also as the ensign of the Russian Navy, and for Ireland. Notable 19th-century usage includes some of the flags of the Confederate States of America. It is also used in the flag of Jamaica and on seals, and as a heraldic charge in coats of arms.

Scottish national identity, including Scottish nationalism, are terms referring to the sense of national identity as embodied in the shared and characteristic culture, languages, and traditions of the Scottish people. It includes the ethnic, cultural, or economic influences found in Scotland.

Although the various languages of Gaelic, Scots, and Scottish English are distinctive, people associate them all together as Scottish with a shared identity, as well as a regional or local identity. Parts of Scotland, like Glasgow, the Outer Hebrides, Orkney, Shetland, the northeast of Scotland, and the Scottish Borders, retain a strong sense of regional identity, alongside the Scottish national identity.

The Union Jack or Union Flag is the national flag of the United Kingdom.

The flag consists of the red cross of Saint George (the patron saint of England), edged in white, superimposed on the red saltire of Saint Patrick (the patron saint of Ireland), also edged in white, superimposed on the saltire of Saint Andrew (the patron saint of Scotland). Wales is not represented in the flag by Wales's patron saint, Saint David, because the flag was designed while Wales was part of the Kingdom of England.

The flag of Great Britain, often referred to as the King's Colour, Union Flag, Union Jack, and British flag (retroactively prefixed as being the "first" such flag, in order to distinguish it from the modern flag of the United Kingdom), was used at sea from 1606 then more generally from 1707 until 1801 as the flag of the Kingdom of Great Britain, and is the precursor to the modern Union Jack.

Set down in 1606 by Royal decree of James VI and I, the flag's form combined the flag of the Kingdom of England and flag of the Kingdom of Scotland and was specifically intended for maritime use by vessels of both kingdoms, which since 1603 had shared a single monarch in a personal union following the Union of the Crowns. In 1634, Charles I proclaimed that the flag's use be restricted to vessels of the Navy Royal and Royal Scots Navy, stating that it "be reserved as an ornament proper for Our own Ships and Ships in our immediate Service and Pay, and none other".