1 April 2016
Heraldry
The practice of heraldry has shown remarkable staying power. From ancient battle origins, it has evolved into a whole language of colours and symbols that are still used today to represent countries, families, and organisations.
Symbols for battle
Whilst a rallying banner and knowing friend from foe had always been important in warfare, symbols of identification in battle became even more important in the 12th century due to the increasingly anonymous appearance of soldiers in full armour and helmets. At the same time, the medieval feudal system meant that noble families had to distinguish their areas of power and use seals to sign legal documents. It was against this background that heraldry soon became established as an effective means through which to symbolise status, lineage, and identity throughout medieval society from the aristocracy to the Church.
Plants and heraldry
Plants have been key heraldic badges, both on and off shields. The War of the Roses shows the plant as a family symbol being used to identify the key players in a power struggle, and show both their right to the crown (the rose of the House of Plantagenet) and their differences (white for the York branch, red for Lancaster). When Henry VII of Lancaster took power, he married Elizabeth of York to strengthen both his and his children’s claim to the throne. This was symbolised by the red and white Tudor rose.
The Scottish thistle
The Scottish clans would wear a symbolic flower, but had a different flower available as an alternative emblem for when their original choice was out of season. The thistle that became part of the Scottish coat of arms in the 16th century is rare in Scotland, but had featured in a legend of a Nordic soldier alerting soldiers to an ambush by crying out in pain when stepping on one in what was thought to be the 13th century.
Fleur-de-lys
The Fleur-de-lys appeared on the first French coat of arms in the 12th century, and was soon incorporated into the Royal coat of arms of England and Scotland to symbolise a claim of ownership of France which was only dropped in 1801. Despite being one of the most recognised of the plant symbols in heraldry, there is some doubt over what it actually is. Although many sources assume it to be a stylised iris of the Mediterranean region (the three petals symbolising faith, wisdom and valour), there are theories that it is a spearhead or even a stylized toad!
Three lions or leopards?
The complexities of heraldry have meant that the heraldic lions on the British Royal coat of arms are often described as leopards. This is because instead of being depicted as the traditional ‘lion rampant’ (in profile, standing erect with forepaws raised), they are passant guardant (walking, head turned to full face)- a symbol described simply as léopard in Old French heraldic usage.
Royal seal of approval
Although they do appear on some shields, animals in heraldry are more prominent as supporters at the side of it- a practice thought to have been developed by engravers to fill in the blank space when a battle shield became a round seal. Supporters were often changed at whim, and the lion and the Scottish unicorn were only fixed on the Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom in 1603- over 400 years after the shield design was first used as a seal.
In popular culture too, both Harry Potter and Game of Thrones make use of the associations of heraldic symbols, particularly of animals with lions being prominent in both.
- Melissa Candy -
Library Graduate Trainee
Further reading
All the titles below are available to view at Kew's library.
Ibbett, Vera (1977). Flowers in Heraldry. Alcuin Society.
London, Hugh Stanford (1954). The Queen's beasts. Newman Neame.
Simpson, Norman Douglas (1879?). Flower lore. McCaw, Stevenson & Orr.
Kenk, Vida Carmen (n.d.). The Importance of Plants in Heraldry. Publisher unknown.
Tyas, Robert (1851). Flowers and heraldry. Houlston & Stoneman.
Phillips, Henry (1825). Floral emblems. Saunders and Otley.
