Saint George is the Catholic saint traditionally depicted slaying a dragon and recognized as the patron saint of England.
George was a Christian martyr who is traditionally said to have been killed during the persecution of Christians under the Roman emperor Diocletian, probably in the early fourth century. Historical details about his life are limited, and much of his popular biography developed later.
The dragon story appears in medieval versions of the legend, especially the influential account associated with Jacobus de Voragine’s Golden Legend. In the tale, George rescues a princess and defeats a dragon threatening a community. The story is generally understood as a symbolic triumph of Christian faith over evil, rather than a verified historical event.
Saint George’s red cross on a white field became closely associated with England during the Middle Ages. He is also honored as a patron in Georgia, Portugal, and several military and chivalric traditions.