Q Who was St George? He seems to have been mixed up with a crusader who fought against the Muslims. - M Perry, Darlington

A Very little is actually known about St George, but he was certainly not an Englishman.

In fact his status as patron saint is not even unique to England since George is also a patron saint of Germany, Greece, Georgia, Lithuania, Portugal and Palestine, as well as the cities of Moscow, Istanbul and Genoa. He lived in either the third or the fourth century but no one can be certain.

The veneration and popularity of the cult of St George seems to have its roots in the Middle East, particularly in Palestine.

Generally, it is agreed that he was both soldier and a martyr and that he lived in the Middle East but even this statement should be treated with caution.

Some early eastern Christian sources dating from the fifth century have vague references to George holding a post in the Roman army. It is claimed that the Roman Emperor, Diocletian, beheaded George for protesting against Christian persecution and that the emperor's wife was also beheaded for sympathising with George.

George was widely venerated as saint around 900AD. At the Battle of Antioch in 1098 he is said to have appeared to an army of Crusaders and it was at this point that his name became closely associated with the medieval Crusades.

In the late Middle Ages, St George was identified with a certain George of Cappadocia (in what is now Turkey) who was an opponent of the teachings of St Atanusius in the third century.

Many of the legends associated with St George were extended and given new colour and George's association with the slaying of a dragon was given much credence.

St George was popularised in England during the time of the Crusades, and particularly by Richard I who placed his army under St George's protection.

He seems to have been adopted as England's patron saint by Edward III in 1348 when he established the Order of the Garter, but he was already highly revered in England by this stage. The previous patron saint of England had been St Edward the Confessor.

If you have a Burning Question, or can improve on any of the answers above, please write to Burning Questions, The Northern Echo, Priestgate, Darlington, DL1 1NF or e-mail David.Simpson@nne.co.uk