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Prince George's County, Maryland (U.S.)

image by Pascal Gross, 23 December 1998

Description

See also:

Berwyn Heights
Bladensburg
Bowie
Brentwood
Capitol Heights
Cheverly
College Park
Colmar Manor
Cottage City
District Heights
Fairmount Heights
Glenarden
Greenbelt
Hyattsville
Landover Hills
Laurel
Morningside
New Carrollton
North Brentwood
Seat Pleasant
P.G. Co. Historical Society website - 300 years of history
State of Maryland
County and Municipal Flags of Maryland
United States of America

Description of the Flag

The simple, yet distinctive Prince George's County flag is a fascinating blend of history and heraldry dating back to the 11th century. Soon after the county's founding, it was granted colors for horses and foot soldiers and a flag consisting of St. George's Cross on a white field. The red cross of St. George has a long standing tradition of its own as the symbol of Christian martyrdom since its first use during the great Crusades.

The county seal in the flag's upper left quadrant did not official become a part of the flag until 1963. At that time, a special committee suggested that the seal be added to "more definitely establish the colors as uniquely those of Prince George's County." The seal was designed in 1696 by Charles Beckwith of Patuxent. The coat of arms in four quarters symbolizes Queen Anne, France and England in the first and fourth grand quarters; Scotland in the second grand quarter; and Ireland in the third. The banner below depicts the county motto, "Semper Eadem," which means "Ever the Same."
Source: http://www.co.pg.md.us/About/facts_history.asp?nivel=subfoldmenu(0,1)
Phillip L. Nelson, 29 June 1998

Prince George's County (801,515 inhabitants in 2000; 129,000 ha; seat, Upper Marlboro), located close to Washington, D.C., was named for Prince George of Denmark (1653-1708), the husband of Anne (1665-1714), Queen of Great Britain (1702-1714). Created by the Council of Maryland in 1695 from portions of Charles and Calvert Counties, Prince George's County was detached a portion in 1748 to form Frederick County, subsequently divided into Allegany, Garrett, Montgomery, and Washington Counties.

The county seal, which is placed in the canton of the flag, is described on the website of the National Association of Counties as follows:
"Prince George’s County was created from Calvert County and Charles County in 1695. The county was named for Prince George of Denmark, husband of the heir to the throne of England, Princess Anne. Charles Beckwith of Patuxent designed the Prince George’s County seal in 1696.

The crest on the seal is England’s Imperial Crown, better known as St. Edward’s Crown. The crown’s design includes a base with four crosses pattee (cross having arms with curving edges, narrow at the inner center, and very broad at the outer end), alternating with four fleurs-de-lis, above which are two arches surmounted by a cross. In the center is a velvet cap with an ermine border.
In the seal’s first and fourth grand quarters, the 16th century Tudor royal banner quarters the coat of arms of France (three gold fleurs-de-lis on a blue field), and England (three gold heraldic stylized lions facing left and out to the observer).
In the second grand quarter, Scotland is represented (a beast standing on one foot facing left, with three limbs clawing the air, within a double border of fleurs-de-lis alternately pointing in and out).
In the third grand quarter, Ireland is represented (a harp on a blue field).
The banner below the grand quarters depicts the county motto, "Semper Eadem," meaning "Ever the Same."

Originally, the seal depicted Prince George’s without the apostrophe and using the old English style "u", in "county," represented as "v." The seal was officially altered in 1971 to read "Prince George’s County, Maryland.""
http://www.countynews.org/CountyNewsTemplate.cfm?template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=18308
Ivan Sache, 4 May 2008