St George and the Dragons: The Making of English Identity

by Michael Collins

Overview

St George’s Day has become a topic of debate as more and more organizations promote celebrations on 23 April and more people wave the flag of St George to proclaim their allegiance and identity. But who was St George? How did this Near Eastern martyr become England’s patron saint and an icon of English culture? And what is his relevance for today’s secular, multicultural England?

New research reveals that from the third century St George was revered as a healer, protector of women and the poor and patron of agriculture and metal-working more than a military dragon-slayer. Discover the origin of the cross of St George and the roles of Richard I, Edward III and Henry VIII in making St George the patron saint of England.

With a foreword by Professor Emeritus Dan Brown, this richly-illustrated celebration of English culture shows how St George can be reinterpreted for our times while remaining true to our English heritage. St George can be enlisted in the cause of ecology, the campaign against FGM, and the fight to end modern slavery and resettle refugees. English yet international, revered both by Christians and Muslims, St George is a multicultural figure who symbolizes universal values.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781781556498
Publisher:	Fonthill Media
Publication date:	04/19/2018
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	6.15(w) x 9.25(h) x (d)

About the Author

Michael Collins is an American historian who lives outside of Albany, New York. He co-authored the book Voices of the Bulge with his good friend and co-author Martin King and he is currently the historian for the 10th Armored Division Veterans Western Chapter. With help from the Western Chapter and Martin King, he fundraised and ran logistics for having a 10th Armored Division plaque dedicated next to a tank turret in Bastogne, Belgium in December, 2011 to commemorate the 10th Armored Division veterans who fought during the Battle of the Bulge. His primary interest is preserving the memory of World War II veterans through oral history and photographs.

He has lectured on the importance of oral history and the Battle of the Bulge at numerous venues including colleges, military bases, and museums. He traveled on an extensive book tour of the north eastern United States with fellow co-author Martin King which included stops at West Point Military Academy, Fort Dix, Valley Forge Military College, and the U.S. Navy Museum.

He has worked for various museums in the north eastern United States including the Destroyer Escort Historical Museum, the New York State Military Museum and Veteran’s Research Center, Irish American Heritage Museum and Connecticut’s Old State House. He currently works at Siena College in Loudonville, NY in the library’s audio-visual department.

Michael is interested in World War II history and 20th Century U.S. and European History. He received his Bachelor’s degree in history from Siena College and his Master’s degree in Public History from Central Connecticut State University.

Table of Contents

Foreword 7

Preface 9

Acknowledgements 13

List of Terms 17

1 Heritage and Identity: The Significance of St George in England 19

2 The Origin and Nature of the Traditions of St George 45

3 The Greek and Latin Traditions 51

4 St George and Scholarship: Critics and Confirmation of the Tradition 60

5 The Man and the Myth 68

6 A Nubian St George? 76

7 St George and the Dragon 80

8 St George Made Known in England 85

9 Myths About the Myth 100

10 The Cult of St George in England 103

11 The Banner of St George 113

12 St George and the Dragon: The Golden Legend 119

13 The Order of the Garter: The Knights of the Round Table 126

14 St George, Patron Saint of the Scouting Movement 136

15 St George in English Literature 138

16 St George in English Folklore, Pageants, and Plays 173

17 St George in Art and Music in England 185

18 St George as a Patriotic Symbol 201

19 The Cult of St George Today 210

20 Reflections on St George: The Just War 222

21 Revitalising St George's Day 228

Conclusion: A New Mobilising Narrative of St George 234

Appendix I Timeline of St George in English History 248

Appendix II St George in the Commonwealth, Europe, and America 249

Appendix III St George Societies and St George Organisations 252

Appendix IV Re-enactment Societies 253

Appendix V St George in Lydgate and Shakespeare 254

Appendix VI St George Saint and Mummers' Plays 257

Appendix VII The Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George 260

Appendix VIII St George in Modern Popular Culture 262

Appendix IX Online Research Resources 264

Appendix X Sources of Evidence for Recording Saints' Cults in England 271

Appendix XI British and English Studies 273

Appendix XII Websites of Devotion to St George 275

Appendix XIII Children's Books about St George 276

Bibliography 278

Scripture Index 282

Index 283