The Evolution of the Royal Arms
Sunday November 03, 2024
The Royal Coat of Arms in England has a storied history dating back to the medieval era. Originally developed to project the authority and identity of the monarchy, the coat of arms became a distinct, powerful symbol over time, representing both the sovereignty of the English crown and its territorial ambitions. Heraldry itself–designed as a visual system to differentiate noble lineages–became a key language for showcasing the values and aspirations of the English monarchy.
Richard I, famously known as Richard the Lionheart, introduced one of the most enduring symbols in English heraldry: the three lions passant guardant on a red field. Heraldically described as:
Gules, three lions passant guardant in pale Or
this emblem became a powerful representation of courage, royal authority, and English sovereignty. Richard adopted the three-lion design during his reign from 1189 to 1199, likely building upon earlier English heraldic traditions where single or paired lions appeared. By uniting the three lions into a single coat of arms, Richard established a bold, cohesive image of the English crown.
The three lions symbolized Richard’s strength and resilience as a leader, an image that resonated strongly during his role in the Third Crusade. His portrayal as a warrior-king was essential to his legacy, both at home and across Europe.
The origins of the three lions likely draw from Anglo-Norman heraldic traditions, evolving from the symbols used by Richard’s father, Henry II, and grandfather, Geoffrey of Anjou. Both predecessors had employed lions in their seals and personal heraldry, but Richard’s choice to adopt three may have emphasized the unity and continuity of the Plantagenet line. Over time, “England’s lions” became inseparable from the monarchy’s authority across Europe, underscoring Richard’s role as a crusading king and formidable ruler.
The design has persisted through the centuries, symbolizing not only the monarch but also the English nation itself. Later dynasties built upon this heraldic foundation, preserving the three lions passant as a core element of the royal arms. Today, Richard’s legacy as a founding figure in English royal heraldry endures through this powerful icon, a visual link from the medieval period to the present day.
The addition of French symbolism to the English royal arms began with Edward III’s assertion of a hereditary claim to the French throne in 1340. Edward, as the grandson of Philip IV of France through his mother, sought to strengthen his political leverage and consolidate his authority by incorporating elements of French heraldry. To formalize his claim, he introduced quartering, blending England’s three lions with the French fleurs-de-lis to create arms described as:
Quarterly Or and Azure, semée of fleurs-de-lis Or (for France) alongside England’s three lions
This design not only reinforced his claim to both the English and French crowns but also projected an image of dual authority, both on the battlefield and within courtly settings–especially poignant during the Hundred Years’ War that defined his reign.
The use of quartering marked an innovative period for English heraldic design, symbolizing a sophisticated blend of heraldry and political ambition. The fleurs-de-lis came to represent the Plantagenet claim to French lands, with Edward III’s arms serving as a clear declaration of intent to govern both realms. This symbolic choice functioned as a form of visual propaganda, asserting England’s right to French territories and bolstering Edward’s reputation as a continental monarch.
Through the fleurs-de-lis, Edward signaled his determination to defend his claim with military strength and alliances, crafting an emblem that rallied his English subjects and supporters across the Channel. The quartered arms with France remained in use well beyond Edward III’s lifetime, embedding a lasting symbol of the Plantagenet dynasty’s claim to French lands.
One notable variation in the royal arms reflecting this influence came under Richard II. Seeking to convey a mystical union with the revered King Edward the Confessor, Richard adopted a unique design that impaled the attributed arms of Edward the Confessor with the royal arms of England. This impalement visually signified a bond between the sanctity of Edward’s legacy and Richard’s own authority, reinforcing his legitimacy through a divine association. By combining his own heraldic lions with Edward’s symbolic cross and martlets, Richard’s arms illustrated an ideal of sacred kingship—a ruler spiritually linked to one of England’s most sainted monarchs.
Under Henry IV, who reigned from 1399 to 1413, the royal arms underwent significant changes that reflected both political pragmatism and the evolving relationship with France. Henry IV, the first king from the House of Lancaster, sought to establish a distinct identity for his reign, distancing himself from the symbolic connections his predecessors had made to Edward the Confessor. To this end, he removed the attributed arms of Edward the Confessor, which had previously been impaled with the royal arms of England by Richard II, emphasizing instead his own Lancastrian authority and the legitimacy of his rule.
One of Henry IV’s most notable modifications to the royal arms was his decision to reduce the fleurs-de-lis–the emblematic symbol of the French crown—from a scattered field (or semée) to just three. This change mirrored the heraldic style of Charles V of France, who had adopted a similar reduction. By limiting the fleurs-de-lis, Henry not only aligned his arms with contemporary French heraldic design but also conveyed a sense of restraint and practicality in England’s claim to the French throne. This design, with three fleurs-de-lis and England’s three lions passant guardant, became a lasting symbol of the English monarchy and would be retained by subsequent rulers, underscoring Henry IV’s lasting impact on English heraldic tradition.
The Treaty of Troyes, signed in 1420, marked a pivotal moment for the English monarchy by recognizing Henry V as heir to the French throne upon the death of Charles VI of France. To solidify this claim, Henry retained the quartered arms of England and France, underscoring England’s status as a dual monarchy. Although Henry’s death in 1422 and subsequent losses in France under Henry VI diminished English control, the continued use of the French quarter served as a lasting symbol of England’s assertion of its rights over France.
Henry VI introduced another variation that further highlighted the French-English connection. As the first English king to be crowned in France, Henry adopted a design that emphasized the dual monarchy by impaling the arms of France and England. Uniquely, he placed the French arms in the dexter position of greater honor, underscoring his position as the ruler of both realms. This impalement visually presented Henry as a true dual monarch, symbolizing both English and French sovereignty in a single emblem. His arms served not only as a mark of his personal claim but also as a reflection of his ambition to unify England and France under one crown.
Though English control over French territories gradually waned, later English monarchs continued to include the fleurs-de-lis in their arms, preserving Edward’s assertion as a symbol of England’s historic right to France. This heraldic decision shaped the Plantagenet dynasty’s identity and influenced English royal heraldry for centuries, symbolizing both resilience and ambition. These variations within the royal arms reveal the evolving political symbolism employed by the monarchy, reflecting not only the authority of each ruler but also the ideals they wished to project through heraldry.
The persistence of French symbols in English heraldry became a hallmark of Plantagenet and early Tudor tradition, with the fleurs-de-lis embedded in the English arms even as the practical claim to French lands weakened.
In 1554, the marriage of Mary I of England and Philip of Spain brought about a distinctive change in the royal arms, symbolizing their joint reign. The arms of Philip were impaled with those of Mary, blending symbols of both English and Spanish sovereignty. Philip’s heraldic representation was complex, reflecting his rule over multiple territories:
Though Mary’s father, Henry VIII, had adopted the title of King of Ireland and this was conferred upon Philip as well, their joint arms did not include the Kingdom of Ireland. Additionally, as sovereigns of Milan, Mary and Philip included an escutcheon of the Duchy of Milan, depicting the Biscione—an azure serpent consuming a human on a silver field—quartered with the Imperial eagle. This unique arrangement underscored their shared authority while respecting Philip’s continental claims, particularly in Milan, where French territorial disputes shaped the armorial order.
Following Mary’s death in 1558, Elizabeth I ascended the throne and restored the English arms to their earlier configuration from Henry IV’s time. This restoration marked a return to a purely English representation, emphasizing Elizabeth’s consolidation of authority and independence from foreign influence. By distancing the monarchy from the symbols associated with her sister’s Spanish marriage, Elizabeth reinforced her own sovereign identity as the “Virgin Queen,” symbolizing a unified and distinctly English monarchy.
In 1603, James VI of Scotland inherited the English throne upon the death of Queen Elizabeth I, becoming James I of England. This succession established a personal union between England and Scotland, a significant moment in the history of the British Isles known as the Union of the Crowns. To symbolize this new union, James I introduced a revised royal coat of arms that quartered the royal arms of England with those of Scotland. Additionally, the royal arms of Ireland were incorporated to represent the Kingdom of Ireland, which had been proclaimed a separate kingdom in 1542.
The new coat of arms featured:
This design visually represented James’s ambition to unify his kingdoms under one monarchy while acknowledging their distinct identities. The incorporation of symbols from England, Scotland, and Ireland was a deliberate move to promote the idea of a united Britain, even though a formal political union would not occur until the Acts of Union in 1707.
This version of the royal arms remained in use throughout the reigns of James I and his successors, including Charles I, Charles II, and James II. It was last used by Queen Anne, making it the final version of the royal arms of England before being subsumed into the royal arms of Great Britain following the union with Scotland.
The Glorious Revolution of 1688 led to the deposition of James II and the joint accession of his daughter Mary II and her husband William III of Orange. As co-monarchs, they faced the unique challenge of representing their combined sovereignty in heraldry.
In accordance with heraldic custom, their arms were impaled, meaning they were placed side by side within the same shield. William’s arms occupied the dexter half (the viewer’s left but the shield’s right), considered the position of greater honor. William’s personal arms were a combination of the royal arms and an inescutcheon (a small shield) representing the House of Nassau, his family lineage. His arms can be described as:
Mary II bore the royal arms undifferenced, reflecting her status as a reigning queen in her own right. This heraldic arrangement signified their joint rule while respecting each monarch’s individual heritage and authority.
After Mary II’s death in 1694, William III continued to reign alone. During this period, he used his own arms exclusively until his death in 1702.
Upon the death of William III, Anne, the younger sister of Mary II, ascended to the throne. The royal arms returned to the version used during James I’s reign, symbolizing continuity with the earlier Stuart monarchs. Anne was the last monarch of an independent Kingdom of England and the first monarch of Great Britain.
The Acts of Union 1707 were a significant milestone during Anne’s reign, uniting the kingdoms of England and Scotland into a single sovereign state known as the Kingdom of Great Britain. This political union necessitated a redesign of the royal arms to reflect the new reality.
The updated coat of arms featured:
This new configuration emphasized the unity between England and Scotland while maintaining historical claims and representations. The impalement of England and Scotland in the first and fourth quarters visually reinforced the equal status of the two kingdoms within the union.
Following Queen Anne’s death in 1714 without surviving heirs, the throne passed to George I, Elector of Hanover, under the provisions of the Act of Settlement 1701. This marked the beginning of the Hanoverian dynasty in Britain.
To represent his new status and heritage, George I made significant changes to the royal arms:
These additions acknowledged George I’s German titles and territories, reflecting the personal union between Great Britain and Hanover. The inclusion of the Imperial Crown highlighted his roles within the Holy Roman Empire.
This version of the royal arms remained in use, with minor modifications, throughout the reigns of the Hanoverian monarchs until 1801.
The Acts of Union 1800 merged the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, effective from January 1, 1801. This significant political change prompted another redesign of the royal arms.
Key changes included:
This new design symbolized a shift in focus toward the unity and identity of the United Kingdom itself, rather than historical claims in continental Europe. The royal arms now represented the constituent parts of the United Kingdom and the monarch’s personal territories.
The Acts of Union 1800 united the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland, forming the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. With this union, George III abandoned the historical claim to the French throne, a decision that led to the removal of the fleurs-de-lis from the royal arms. This revision symbolized a shift in Britain’s priorities toward unifying its own territories rather than emphasizing historical claims in continental Europe. As a result, the royal arms now prominently featured England, Scotland, Ireland, and Hanover. To represent his status as Elector of Hanover, George III included an inescutcheon surmounted by an electoral bonnet.
In 1816, Hanover was elevated to a kingdom, replacing the electoral bonnet on the inescutcheon with a crown to reflect George III’s new status as King of Hanover. This crowned inescutcheon remained in the royal arms until the death of William IV in 1837.
Victoria’s accession in 1837 marked a transformative moment for the royal arms due to the end of the personal union between the United Kingdom and Hanover. Because Salic law barred women from inheriting Hanover’s throne, Victoria’s ascension effectively separated the British and Hanoverian crowns. The inescutcheon bearing Hanoverian symbols was removed from the royal arms, resulting in a design focused solely on the United Kingdom’s territories:
This configuration became the standard for British arms, centering on England, Scotland, and Ireland, and was formally announced in The London Gazette on July 26, 1837. It represented a cohesive national emblem that would define the monarchy’s heraldic identity into the modern era. The Monarchy’s Focus on National Unity
Throughout Victoria’s reign, the British Empire expanded to unprecedented global influence, with territories and protectorates on every continent. Despite Britain’s imperial reach, the royal arms maintained a focus on the British Isles, avoiding colonial symbols and instead promoting a unified identity grounded in England, Scotland, and Ireland. This decision reinforced the monarchy’s role as a unifying force within Britain, while imperial symbols and insignia were used separately to convey authority across the empire.
With the end of the British Empire and the emergence of the Commonwealth of Nations in the mid-20th century, the royal arms evolved to reflect Britain’s modern, post-colonial role. Free from direct references to former colonies, the arms now symbolize unity within the Commonwealth and a commitment to shared history and values rather than imperial dominance. Later Considerations for the Royal Arms
After Queen Victoria, subsequent monarchs considered, but ultimately declined, further modifications to the royal arms. Upon his succession in 1901, Edward VII briefly considered adding the Arms of Saxony as an inescutcheon, reflecting his lineage, as well as a representation for Wales. However, officials advised against these changes. During this time, there were also calls for the inclusion of symbols to represent the broader British Empire, though these proposals were ultimately set aside. Notably, the Irish harp remained in the royal arms even after the Partition of Ireland in 1921, emphasizing the continuity of the historical symbols within the arms.
The royal arms have long functioned as symbols of unity and stability, reflecting the values or reconciliations that marked a monarch’s reign. One of the most notable examples of this symbolic function is the introduction of the Tudor Rose by Henry VII. Emerging from the aftermath of the Wars of the Roses–a dynastic struggle between the House of Lancaster and the House of York–the red-and-white Tudor Rose represented the merging of these rival factions. By combining the red rose of Lancaster with the white rose of York, Henry VII’s emblem signified a new era of peace and unity. This iconic image was more than decorative; it reminded the people of the monarchy’s role in healing divisions within England and re-establishing its legitimacy after years of internal strife.
Subsequent monarchs continued to use heraldic symbols to convey unity and continuity. For instance, Queen Victoria’s removal of Hanoverian symbols from the royal arms following her accession in 1837 signaled a shift from a European-focused lineage to a distinctly British identity. As Victoria’s reign saw the expansion of the British Empire, the royal arms became a symbol of Britain’s global reach and its enduring legacy, even as the design focused on unity within the British Isles.
The British royal arms have evolved significantly over the centuries, mirroring the complex journey of the monarchy itself. From the early Plantagenet lions to the iconic Tudor Rose, each element introduced over time tells a story of unity, ambition, and resilience. Heraldry served as a powerful tool for asserting authority and forging connections across England, Scotland, and Ireland, ultimately creating a visual identity that still resonates today.
The modern royal arms, stripped of colonial symbolism yet rich in historical significance, continue to symbolize the monarchy’s dual commitment to heritage and unity. They honor a legacy that has adapted with the times, serving as both a reminder of Britain’s past and a representation of its enduring strength. In a rapidly changing world, the royal arms stand as an emblem of continuity and a symbol of the monarchy’s role within Britain and the Commonwealth, reflecting both tradition and the ability to adapt to new eras.
The royal arms are more than just an emblem–they encapsulate centuries of English and British identity, evolving in tandem with the monarchy’s fortunes and ambitions.
Image of the Royal banners hanging outside the Chapel of the Order of the Thistle at St Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh, by Steve Linley. Images of coats of arms by Sodacan.
