Dates as given by the sources linked · Published 31 October 2026
The books, in order
- active 796
Nennius
Literature Project Gutenberg’s edition of the History of the Britons lists its author Nennius as ‘active 796’. The English translation is by J. A. Giles. Nennius, History of the Britons, trans. J. A. Giles, Project Gutenberg ↗
- 12th century
Geoffrey of Monmouth
Literature Visit Wales notes that Geoffrey of Monmouth also told the story in his 12th-century History of the Kings of Britain, where the boy is believed to be Merlin. Visit Wales: The legend of the Welsh dragon ↗
- 1483
Caxton prints the Golden Legend
Literature The Golden Legend was compiled by Jacobus de Voragine, Archbishop of Genoa. William Caxton’s English version was first printed in 1483. Jacobus de Voragine, The Golden Legend, vol. 3, in William Caxton’s English (first printed 1483), Fordham University Medieval Sourcebook ↗
- 1888
Morris and Magnússon’s Volsungs
Literature The Story of the Volsungs used here is the 1888 translation by William Morris and Eiríkr Magnússon. The Story of the Volsungs, trans. William Morris and Eiríkr Magnússon (1888), Project Gutenberg ↗
Dates for early texts are the dates given by the sources linked. A translation date is not the date the story was first told.
Records, objects and places
- 6th century BCE
Chinese rain dragons
History Britannica says the long was originally a rain god. Rain rituals as early as the 6th century BCE used a dragon image moved by a procession of dancers. Britannica (Scholars): long (Chinese mythology) ↗
- about AD 303
The real George dies
History English Heritage says the real George was most likely a Greek-speaker who lived in the Roman Near East and died a martyr in about AD 303. English Heritage: 9 things you didn’t know about St George ↗
- mid-4th century
George’s earliest inscription
History The earliest evidence that he existed is a mid-4th-century inscription from Syria. English Heritage: 9 things you didn’t know about St George ↗
- early 8th century
St George’s Day in England
History George never visited England, but his feast day, 23 April, was celebrated in England from at least the early 8th century. English Heritage: 9 things you didn’t know about St George ↗
- 9th century
George and the dragon in pictures
History The dragon story post-dates the real George by several centuries. Pictures of George and the dragon survive from the 9th century, about 500 years after his death. English Heritage: 9 things you didn’t know about St George ↗
- late 10th century
Sigurd’s Cross, Kirk Andreas
History Sigurd’s Cross at Kirk Andreas (no. 121) is believed to date from the late tenth century. Isle of Man Guide: Sigurd’s Cross (no. 121), Kirk Andreas ↗
- about 1150
The Maughold slab
History The Maughold slab (no. 122) came from a wall in a Ramsey house and dates from about 1150. Isle of Man Guide: Sigurd Slab (no. 122), Kirk Maughold ↗
- 1170
The St Osyth dragon (as the story dates it)
Tradition At St Osyth in Essex, in 1170, a dragon ‘of marvellous bigness’ was said to set fire to houses simply by moving. William Henderson, Notes on the Folk-Lore of the Northern Counties of England and the Borders (1879), chapter 8, Wikisource ↗
- 1174
Linton granted to John Somerville
Tradition The Somerville family claimed the deed for John Somerville, who received Linton in 1174, saying William the Lion gave it as a reward. They bear a dragon in their crest. William Henderson, Notes on the Folk-Lore of the Northern Counties of England and the Borders (1879), chapter 8, Wikisource ↗
- 1200s
The dragon legend appears
History The Church of England says the legend of George slaying a dragon (or sea-monster) only appeared in the 1200s. Church of England: Celebrating St George, martyr and patron saint of England ↗
- 1272–1307
Edward I and the red cross
History English kings used George’s red cross on a white background as their banner from at least Edward I (reigned 1272–1307). Church of England: Celebrating St George, martyr and patron saint of England ↗
- 1348
The Order of the Garter
History The Order of the Garter, founded by Edward III in 1348, still carries St George’s cross on its badge. English Heritage: 9 things you didn’t know about St George ↗
- 1349
The Chipping Norton serpent (as the story dates it)
Tradition Near Chipping Norton in Oxfordshire, in 1349, a serpent with two heads and bat-like wings was reported. William Henderson, Notes on the Folk-Lore of the Northern Counties of England and the Borders (1879), chapter 8, Wikisource ↗
- 1400
Glyndŵr’s golden dragon
History When Owain Glyndŵr rose against Henry IV in 1400, he fought under a white banner with a golden dragon. Visit Wales: The legend of the Welsh dragon ↗
- 1415
Agincourt
History After Henry V’s victory at Agincourt in 1415, St George’s Day became one of the most important feast days in the English calendar. English Heritage: 9 things you didn’t know about St George ↗
- 1485
Henry Tudor’s red dragon
History Henry Tudor put a red dragon on a white and green background, the Tudor colours, and presented it at St Paul’s Cathedral after his victory at Bosworth in 1485. Visit Wales: The legend of the Welsh dragon ↗
- 1606
Left out of the Union Flag
History The dragon was not included in the Union Flag of 1606. Visit Wales: The legend of the Welsh dragon ↗
- 1614
The Faygate account
Tradition An account written in 1614 reported a serpent ‘oft-times seen’ at Faygate, within a mile of Horsham, nine feet long. William Henderson, Notes on the Folk-Lore of the Northern Counties of England and the Borders (1879), chapter 8, Wikisource ↗
- 1807
Royal badge for Wales
History The red dragon came back as the royal badge for Wales in 1807, and Welsh patriotic societies often used it after that. Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales: National emblems (FAQ) ↗
- 1911
The Chinese dragon flag ends
History The Chinese dragon stands for yang, ‘the principle of heaven’, says Britannica. It was the emblem of the imperial family and was on the Chinese flag until the republic was founded in 1911. Britannica (Scholars): dragon ↗
- 1940
The George Cross
History The George Cross, created by King George VI in 1940, shows St George defeating the dragon. English Heritage: 9 things you didn’t know about St George ↗
- 1945
Dinas Emrys excavated
History Visit Wales reports that an excavation of Dinas Emrys in 1945 showed evidence of a lake and a fortress dating back to Vortigern’s time. Visit Wales: The legend of the Welsh dragon ↗
- 1953
The badge augmented
History In March 1953 the Queen approved that the Red Dragon Badge, a Royal Badge for Wales for over 150 years, should be ‘honourably augmented’ (given an addition). Hansard, House of Commons written answers, 23 February 1959: Welsh Flag ↗
- 1959
The flag of Wales
History On 23 February 1959 the Minister for Welsh Affairs, Henry Brooke, told the House of Commons that only the Red Dragon on a green and white flag would in future be flown on Government buildings in Wales. Hansard, House of Commons written answers, 23 February 1959: Welsh Flag ↗
Notice how often a dragon arrives long after the person it is attached to. The real George died in about AD 303; the dragon joined his story centuries later.
Follow the thread
Nennius, History of the Britons, trans. J. A. Giles, Project Gutenberg ↗
Visit Wales: The legend of the Welsh dragon ↗
The Story of the Volsungs, trans. William Morris and Eiríkr Magnússon (1888), Project Gutenberg ↗
Britannica (Scholars): long (Chinese mythology) ↗
English Heritage: 9 things you didn’t know about St George ↗
Isle of Man Guide: Sigurd’s Cross (no. 121), Kirk Andreas ↗
Isle of Man Guide: Sigurd Slab (no. 122), Kirk Maughold ↗
Church of England: Celebrating St George, martyr and patron saint of England ↗
Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales: National emblems (FAQ) ↗
Britannica (Scholars): dragon ↗
Hansard, House of Commons written answers, 23 February 1959: Welsh Flag ↗
Retellings are in our own words. Every sentence above carries a label (History, Literature or Tradition) and a link to the source it was checked against. A legend is not a historical record.
Source method & more reading ↗