Isle of Man Flag

Flag Symbolism

The three legs symbol seems to have been adopted in the Thirteenth Century as the armorial bearings of the native kings of the Isle of Man, whose dominion also included the Hebrides - the Western Isles of Scotland.

After 1266, when the native dynasty ended and control of the Island passed briefly to the Crown of Scotland and then permanently to the English Crown, the emblem was retained, and among the earliest surviving representations are those of the Manx Sword of State, thought to have been made in the year 1300 AD. The Three Legs also appeared on the Manx coinage of the seventeenth-nineteenth centuries, and are still in everyday use in the Manx Flag.

Why the Three Legs were adopted as the royal arms of the Manx kingdom is unknown. It was originally a symbol of the Sun, the seat of Power and Life. In ancient times the emblem was particularly connected with the island of Sicily (probably because of its triangular outline) but the Sicilian "Legs" were always naked and generally displayed Medusa's head at the central point.

A rather similar device was popular amongst the Celts and Norsemen in NW Europe, and in view of this it has been suggested that the Manx Three Legs were a heraldic modification of a native badge or emblem. Support for this theory may be seen in the appearance of the 'triskele', or simplified "Three Legs" emblem, on coins of the tenth century Norse King, Anlaf Cuaran, whose dominion included Dublin and the Isle of Man; and it is probable that the later Manx Kings were a branch of the same dynasty.

Isle of Man National Anthem

Listen to National Anthem Y
Anthem History Words by: William Henry Gill (English) John J. Kneen (Manx)
Anthem Lyrics English land of our birth,

O gem of God's earth,

O Island so strong and so fair;

Built firm as Barrool,

Thy Throne of Home Rule

Makes us free as thy sweet mountain air.

When Orry, the Dane,

In Mannin did reign,

'Twas said he had come from above;

For wisdom from Heav'n

To him had been giv'n

To rule us with justice and love.

Our fathers have told

How Saints came of old,

Proclaiming the Gospel of Peace;

That sinful desires,

Like false Baal fires,

Must die ere our troubles can cease.

Ye sons of the soil,

In hardship and toil,

That plough both the land and the sea,

Take heart while you can

And think of the Man

Who toiled by the Lake Galilee.

When fierce tempests smote

That frail little boat,

They ceased at His gentle command;

Despite all our fear,

The Saviour In near

To safeguard our dear Fatherland.

Let storm-winds rejoice,

And lift up their voice,

No danger our homes can befall;

Our green hills and rocks

Encircle our flocks,

And keep out the sea like a wall.

Our Island, thus blest,

No foe can molest;

Our grain and our fish stall increase;

From battle and sword

Protecteth the Lord,

And crowneth our nation with peace

Then let us rejoice

With heart, soul and voice,

And in The Lord's promise confide;

That each single hour

We trust in His power,

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