Saint George

Saint George (born about 280; executed 303) was probably a Roman soldier martyred under Diocletian. "But no historical particulars of his life have survived" (Attwater 1965). From the twelfth century, stories circulated of 'George and the Dragon', which is a very similar story to that of Perseus and Andromeda: a hero rescues a beautiful and well-born virgin from a monster.

Saint George is the patron saint of England. His flag is the red cross on a white ground often sported at football matches and similar occasions. St George's Day is the 23rd April - it is not much celebrated in England, certainly not as much as St Andrew is in Scotland, St David in Wales, or St Patrick in Ireland.

A minting of the mediaeval coin the noble which had a figure of St George killing the dragon was known as the George-noble, or simply as 'a george'. For more, see Noble (coin).