2. ... and he wasn't a knight either

Although George is often depicted in popular culture as a knight in shining armour, the truth is less fanciful.

Whilst St George was depicted from the 11th century as a chilvaric knight or a warrior on horseback, it is more likely that he was an officer in the Roman army.

4. ... But he never visited England

Although St George never visited England, his reputation for virtue and holiness spread across Europe and his feast day – the 23rd April – was celebrated in England from the 9th century onwards.

He became popular with English kings. Edward I (1272-1307) had banners bearing the emblem of St George (a red cross on a white background) and Edward III (1327-77) had a strong interest in the saint and owned a relic of his blood.

The St George cross was not used to represent England until the reign of Henry VIII.

6. St George was a saint for 1,000 years before the 'holiday'

St George was canonised in AD 494 by Pope Gelasius, who claimed he was one of those 'whose names are justly revered among men but whose acts are known only to God'.

A feast day of St George has been celebrated in England for hundreds of years on 23 April, which was possibly the date of his martyrdom.

Following the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, St George's Day became one of the most important feast days in the English calendar.

8. People turned to St George for protection

During the Middle Ages, people believed that St George was one of the 'Fourteen Holy Helpers' – a group of saints who could help during epidemic diseases.

St George's protection was invoked against several nasty diseases, many fatal and with infectious causes, including the Plague and leprosy.

From around 1100, St George's help was also sought to protect the English army.

In Shakespeare's Henry V, the eponymous hero calls on the saint during his battle cry at the Battle of Harfleur in the famous 'Once more unto the breach, dear friends' speech, crying 'God for Harry! England, and St. George!'

Five hundred years later – during the First World War – a ghostly apparition of St George is said to have aided British troops during their retreat from Mons, and the naval commander of the Zeebrugge Raid cited the saint as inspiration.