Yankee Royalist: Symbols of the Monarchy, Part II: Coats of Arms

This is the second of a series of articles on royal symbols. The first article on the royal standards used by the Queen can be accessed here.

Canada's Royal Coat of Arms as seen affixed to a government building.

When one thinks of the most prevalent of royal symbols, among them would probably be the coats of arms used by the Queen and other members of the royal family. It is easy to pass them off as something out of a Disney movie, for they appear as being the cute and colorful symbols of a whimsical fairy-tale involving kings, queens, princes, and princesses – complete with lions, dragons, and unicorns.

In the course of the history of the monarchy however, coats of arms are much more than that, for they have played a significant role in shaping the history of Britain and its people. In times past, they were the equivalent of “name, rank, and serial number” on the battlefields of war and conflict. Later, they became emblematic of the British nobility, other members of the establishment, British companies, British towns and cities, the people of Britain, the British nation, and the monarchy itself. As such, they have become much like modern-day logos, with the purpose of conveying a certain brand.

With the monarchy’s political power reduced substantially over the years, it becomes easy to view the royal coat of arms as show-pieces for displaying the royal brand and the pomp and pageantry it entails. Nonetheless, the coats of arms used in the United Kingdom and in the other realms of the Commonwealth are real and tangible representations of the nations in which the monarchy retains its rank and status. Looking at them can tell a person a lot about the country, its heritage and history, its people and the things for which they are known, and how far it has come as a nation.

Coat of Arms used in the United Kingdom

Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom has developed over the centuries, taking its roots from the arms of the once independent countries of England (with Wales), Scotland, and Ireland (now Northern Ireland). The current arms are therefore a reflection of the unity of the United Kingdom and the ideals of forging different groups of British people into a single British nation.

     On the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom, the shield contains the arms of England (three gold lions passant gardant against a red field) in the first and fourth quarters, the arms of Scotland (a red lion rampant against a buff field) in the second quarter, and the arms of Ireland (a gold harp against a blue field) in the third quarter.

     Surrounding the shield is a blue garter, representing the Order of the Garter (which is the oldest and highest order of chivalry in England and United Kingdom), which contains the motto of the Order: Honi soit qui mal y pense (French for “shame upon him who thinks evil of it”).

     Surmounting the shield is a gold forward-facing helmet wearing St. Edward’s Crown, which has gold and ermine mantling emanating from it. On the crest is a lion, which also wears St. Edward’s Crown. Along the bottom is a grassy mount with a white ribbon featuring – in gold lettering – the motto of English and British monarchs: Dieu et mon droit (French for “God and my right shall me defend”).

     Sprouting from a common stem behind the motto are the floral emblems of the United Kingdom: the Scottish thistle, Irish shamrock, and English Tudor rose. The two supporters of the arms are a gold English lion wearing St. Edward’s Crown on the left and a silver Scottish unicorn on the right.

Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom for use in Scotland.

     The UK Arms used in Scotland prominently feature elements pertaining to Scotland.

     On the Scottish Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom, the shield contains the arms of Scotland (a red lion rampant against a buff field) in the first and fourth quarters, the arms of England (three gold lions passant gardant against a red field) in the second quarter, and the arms of Ireland (a gold harp against a blue field) in the third quarter.

     Surrounding the shield is the collar of the Order of the Thistle (which is the oldest and highest order of chivalry in Scotland and second-oldest and second-highest order of chivalry in the United Kingdom). Surmounting the shield is a gold forward-facing helmet wearing the Crown of Scotland, which has gold and ermine mantling emanating from it.

     On the crest is a red lion sejant, which also wears the Crown of Scotland, and holds a sword in its right hand and a scepter in its left hand. Above the red lion is the motto of Scottish and British monarchs: In Defens (Scots for, and contraction of, "In My Defense God Me Defend"). Along the bottom is a grassy mount with a blue ribbon featuring – in gold lettering – the motto of the Order of the Thistle: Nemo me impune lacessit (Latin for “No one attacks me with impunity”). Sprouting from the mount and behind the motto are thistles, Scotland’s floral emblem.

     The two supporters of the arms are a gold English lion wearing St. Edward’s Crown and carrying St. George’s Flag (the flag of England) on the right and a silver Scottish unicorn wearing the Crown of Scotland and carrying St. Andrew’s Flag (the flag of Scotland) on the left.

Coat of Arms of Canada

An illustration of the Royal Coat of Arms of Canada.

The Royal Coat of Arms of Canada were designed by a committee and adopted by King George V in 1921, and were modified by Cathy Bursey-Sabourin into their current version, which was approved by the Queen in 1994.

On this coat of arms, the shield contains the three gold lions of England in the first quarter, the red lion of Scotland in the second quarter, the gold harp of Ireland in the third quarter, and the three gold fleurs-de-lis of France in the fourth quarter. The fifth section at the base of the shield bears three red maple leaves that are representative of Canada itself.

     Surrounding the shield is a red ribbon, containing the motto of the Order of Canada: Desiderantes Meliorem Patriam (Latin for “They Desire a Better Country”). Surmounting the shield is a gold forward-facing helmet which has red and white mantling (stylized to appear as maple leaves) emanating from it.

     On the crest is a lion standing on a wreath of red and gold silk, wearing the Crown of St. Edward and holding a red maple leaf, which represents the independent sovereignty of Canada from the United Kingdom. Above the crowned lion is a larger St. Edward’s Crown, symbolizing the constitutional monarchy in Canada.

     Along the bottom is a blue ribbon featuring – in gold lettering – the motto of Canada: A Mari Usque ad Mare (Latin for “From Sea to Sea”). Sprouting from a common stem are the Scottish thistle, Irish shamrock, English Tudor rose, and Welsh leek in reference to Canada’s founding nations from Britain.

     The two supporters of the arms are an gold English lion carrying the Union Flag on the left and a silver Scottish unicorn carrying the three gold fleurs-de-lis of France on the right.

Coat of Arms of Australia

Commonwealth Coat of Arms

The Royal Coat of Arms of the Commonwealth of Australia was first adopted by King Edward VII in 1908, and was redesigned into its current version in 1912 under King George V.

     On this coat of arms, the shield consists of six parts bearing the heraldic badges of the six original states of Australia.

     The upper left badge represents New South Wales, which bears the Cross of St. George on a white field with a gold lion in the center of the cross and a gold star in each of its arms. In the upper middle section is the badge of Victoria, which contains the white five stars of the Southern Cross surmounted by an Imperial Crown against a blue field. The upper right badge represents Queensland, consisting of a blue Maltese cross on a white field with an Imperial Crown inside of it.

     In the lower left section is the badge representing South Australia, which contains a Piping Shrike – an emblematic bird probably based on the Australian Magpie – on a gold field. The lower middle section bears the badge of Western Australia, which includes a black swan against a gold field. In the lower right section is the badge representing Tasmania, which bears a red lion on a white field. Completing the shield is an ermine border representing the unity of the Australian federation.

In the crest atop the shield is a seven-pointed star resting on a blue and gold wreath, which represents the six original states, as well as the combined territories and any future states, and as such is known as the Commonwealth or Federation Star. A wreath of Golden Wattle – the national floral emblem – makes up the background of the arms, and along the bottom is the name of the nation itself. Supporting the shield are a Red Kangaroo on the left and an emu on the right.

Coat of Arms of New Zealand

Royal Coat of Arms of New Zealand.

The Royal Coat of Arms of New Zealand was designed by James McDonald, and was first adopted by King George V in 1911. Elizabeth II, as Queen of New Zealand, approved the current version in 1956.

     With this coat of arms, the shield is divided into four quarters and a central white stripe. In the first quadrant are four red stars against a blue field that are representative of the Southern Cross; the second quadrant contains a golden fleece (which is actually a muskox – one of several animals from which wool, and therefore fleece, can be made) on a red field, which represents the wool industry; the third quadrant bears a golden wheat sheaf upon a red field, which is representative of agriculture; the fourth quadrant consists of two crossed gold hammers against a blue field, which represents mining and other heavy industries.

     The central white stripe that contains three ships symbolizes New Zealand’s heritage as a trading and immigrant nation. Atop of the shield is the Crown of St. Edward, which as the crown used at the time her coronation, represents the Queen’s authority in New Zealand. Along the bottom are two fern branches and a white ribbon that bears the name of the country.

     The two supporters of the shield are Zealandia (the female personification of New Zealand said to be a daughter of Britannia) holding the New Zealander flag on the left and a Maori Warrior holding a Taiaha – a fighting weapon – on the right.

Coat of Arms of Jamaica

Royal Coat of Arms of Jamaica

The Royal Coat of Arms of Jamaica were originally granted under Royal Warrant in either 1661 or 1662 by King Charles II, and likely designed by William Sancroft, who is more notable for being the 79^th Archbishop of Canterbury. Since then, the arms went through several modifications, and current version was adopted by Elizabeth II as Queen of Jamaica in 1962.

     The Jamaican Coat of Arms consists of a shield with the Cross of St. George against a white field with pineapples placed on each of its arms and at the center. Surmounting the shield is a gold forward-facing helmet which has gold and white mantling emanating from it.

     On the crest is an alligator standing on black log, which in turn rests on a wreath of red and white silk. Along the bottom is a white ribbon bearing the Jamaican motto: Out of Many, One People, which is symbolic of the various ethnicities living on the island nation (and similar to one of the American motto's, E pluribus unum).

     The arms are supported by a native West Indian woman carrying a basket of fruit on the left and a native West Indian man carrying a bow on the right.

Coat of Arms of Barbados

Royal Coat of Arms of Barbados

The Royal Coat of Arms of Barbados was designed by Neville Connell and Hilda Ince, and was adopted by the Queen in 1966.

     Within the Barbadian arms is a shield consisting of a gold field, upon which is a bearded fig tree – a symbol of Barbados – in the center, and the national flower, the red Pride of Barbados, in the top corners on either side.

     On top of the shield is a silver helmet facing to the left with red and gold mantling emanating from it. The crest consists of a Barbadian fist holding two pieces of sugar cane that rests on a wreath of red and gold silk. The crossed sugar cane – in the form of the Cross of St. Andrew’s – represents the sugar industry and Barbadian independence on St. Andrew’s Day in 1966.

     Along the bottom is a scroll inscribed with the national motto: Pride and Industry. The supporters are a dolphin representing the fishing industry on the left, and a pelican representing Pelican Island on the right.

Coat of Arms of the Bahamas

Royal Coat of Arms of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.

The Royal Coat of Arms of the Bahamas was designed by Rev. Dr. Hervis L. Bain, Jr., MBE, and was adopted by Elizabeth II as Queen of the Bahamas in 1971.

On this coat of arms, the shield consists of Christopher Columbus’s Santa Maria sailing under a sun, in reference to the explorer’s landing in the Bahamas in 1492. Surmounting the shield is a gold forward-facing helmet with blue and orange mantling emanating from it. Upon the helmet rests a wreath of blue and orange silk, on top of which is the crest containing a conch shell and five palm leaves.

Along the bottom is a mixture of land and sea, as well as scroll inscribed with the Bahamian motto: Forward, Upward, Onward, Together. Supporting the shield are a marlin on the left (and in the water) and a flamingo on the left (and on land). Altogether, the arms speak to the geography and history of the islands, as well as the various forms of wildlife on land and sea.

Coat of Arms of Grenada

Arms of Grenada

The Royal Coat of Arms of Grenada was adopted in 1974 upon the independence of the island nation from the United Kingdom.

     In this coat of arms, the shield is divided into four quarters by a golden cross. In the first and fourth quarters is a gold British lion against a red field, symbolizing strength, courage, and resourcefulness. The second and third quarters feature a lily growing from a golden crescent moon on a green field, which pays homage to the painting of the Immaculate Conception and emphasizes the fact that Christopher Columbus named the island “Conception Island.” In the middle of the golden cross is Columbus’s flagship, the Santa Maria.

     Atop the shield is a golden forward-facing helmet with a red star that represents the hopes, aspirations, and ideals of the Grenadian people. The helmet is topped by a crest consisting of seven roses (representing the seven parishes of Grenada) surrounded by two strands of Bougainvillea, the national flower.

     Along the bottom and foreground of the arms are the stylized grassland mountains of the country and the Grand Etang Lake, along with a white ribbon with the Grenadian motto: Ever Conscious of God we Aspire, Build and Advance as One People.

     The supporters are an armadillo standing before a corn stalk on the left, and a Grenada Dove standing before a banana tree on the right.

Coat of Arms of Papua New Guinea

National Emblem of Papua New Guinea

The Royal Coat of Arms (or National Emblem) of Papua New Guinea was adopted in1975 upon its independence from Australia. Within this emblem is a brown Raggiana Bird-of-Paradise that rests upon a traditional spear and a kundu drum.

Coat of Arms of Solomon Islands

Royal Coat of Arms of Solomon Islands.

The Royal Coat of Arms of Solomon Islands was adopted in 1978 upon its independence from the United Kingdom.

     On the shield, there consists a green saltire containing two spears against a gold field. On both sides of the saltire are two brown turtles, and at the center is a native shield with two bows and two arrows. The top of the shield contains a gold eagle with two gray Frigate birds against a blue field.

     Surmounting the shield is a silver helmet with blue and white and mantling emanating from it and above the helmet is a wreath of blue and white silk upon which rests a Solomon Islands war canoe below a radiant sun. Along the bottom is a stylized two-headed black Frigate bird with a gold ribbon inscribed with the national motto: To Lead is to Serve.

     Supporting the shield are a brown crocodile on the left, and a blue & white shark on the right.

Coat of Arms of Tuvalu

Royal Coat of Arms of Tuvalu.

The Royal Coat of Arms of Tuvalu was adopted in 1976, two years before its independence from the United Kingdom.

The shield contains the image of a Maneapa (island meeting hall) standing against a blue sky and standing on green grounds, beneath which are stylized blue and gold ocean waves.

Surrounding this image is a gold border upon which is an alternating pattern of eight mussels and eight banana leaves. At the bottom of the arms is a gold ribbon inscribed with the Tuvaluan national motto: Tuvalu mo te Atua (Tuvaluan for "Tuvalu for the Almighty").

Coat of Arms of Saint Lucia

Royal Coat of Arms of Saint Lucia

The Royal Coat of Arms of Saint Lucia were designed by Sydney Bagshaw and adopted in 1967 during a period of self-government before its independence from the United Kingdom.

     In this coat of arms, the shield is divided into four quarters by a bamboo cross with an African tribal chief’s stool in the center (representing the African descent of many Saint Lucian’s via the slave trade).

     The first and fourth quarters feature the Tudor rose (symbolizing British dominion over the island), whilst the second and third quarters contain the fleur-de-lis (representing periods of French dominion over the island). Atop the shield is a steel helmet with blue and buff mantling emanating from it, upon which is the crest consisting of a hand holding a torch and two sugar cane leaves crossed in the pattern of a saltire.

     At the bottom is a buff-colored scroll inscribed with the Saint Lucian national motto: The Land, The People, The Light. The supporters of the shield on both sides are the Saint Lucia Amazon (Amazona versicolor), the national bird of Saint Lucia.

Coat of Arms of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Royal Coat of Arms of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

     The Royal Coat of Arms of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines was adopted in 1979 upon the island nation’s independence from the United Kingdom.

     This coat of arms features two women in Roman dress situation around a golden altar. The one on the right holds the scales of justice and is kneeling before the altar, whilst the woman on the left is standing and holding an olive branch. Above them is a cotton plant, and below them is a white scroll bearing the motto, in Latin: Pax et Justitia ("Peace and Justice"), which are the names belonging to the women featured in the arms.

Coat of Arms of Belize

Royal Coat of Arms of Belize

The Royal Coat of Arms of Belize was adopted upon the country’s independence from the United Kingdom in 1981, though the design largely harkens back to when Belize was a colony of Britain.

     Within the arms, the shield is divided into three parts. The top left section features a paddle and squaring axe in saltire formation; the top right section consists of a saw and a beating axe; the bottom section contains a sailing ship, while surmounting the shield is a mahogany tree.

     Along the bottom is a grassy field from which the mahogany tree is grown, as well as a white scroll inscribed with the national motto in Latin: Sub Umra Floreo ("Under The Shade I Flourish"). Supporting the shield is a man on the left holding an axe, and a man on the right holding a paddle.

     Completing the coat of arms is a wreath of 25 leaves. Taken as a whole, the importance of mahogany and shipbuilding to Belize’s history is strongly reflected in its arms.

Coat of Arms of Saint Kitts and Nevis

Royal Coat of Arms of Saint Kitts and Nevis

The Royal Coat of Arms of Saint Kitts and Nevis was adopted in 1983 upon its independence from the United Kingdom, but the design dates back to 1967, when the country was part of a larger West Indies associated federation.

In this coat of arms, the top part of the shield features the golden head of a Carib (representing the early inhabitants), as well as a fleur-de-lis and Tudor rose (symbolizing the French and British heritage) against a blue field. The bottom part of the shield consists of two red Poinciana flowers, a red chevron, and a schooner in full sail on a pale blue field.

Surmounting the shield is a silver helmet with dark blue and light blue mantling emanating from it, upon which is a tower with hands of African and European origin holding up a torch (which symbolizes the diversity and unity of the islands).

On either side of the shield are supporters in the form of the national bird – pelicans, along with a coconut palm tree and sugar cane plant. Along the bottom is a ribbon inscribed with the national motto: Country Above Self.

Coat of Arms of Antigua and Barbuda

Royal Coat of Arms of Antigua and Barbuda

The Royal Coat of Arms of Antigua and Barbuda was designed by Gordon Christopher and adopted for use in 1967.

     Within the arms is a shield featuring a stylized sugar mill, with a sun rising from a blue and white sea against a black background. The sun symbolizes a fresh start, whilst the black field represents the African origin of many of the island’s inhabitants.

     Atop the shield is a helmet with blue and white mantling emanating from it, which is surmounted by a crest consisting of noted island exports - pineapple and hibiscus. Along the bottom is a grassy ground surrounded by waves, as well as a scroll inscribed with the national motto: Each Endeavoring, All Achieving.

     Supporting the shield is a pair of deer which represent the wildlife that inhabit the islands, with the deer on the left holding a sugar cane and the deer on the right holding a yucca plant.

Heraldic Authorities

Responsibility for issuing heraldry in the United Kingdom and some of the other Commonwealth realms rests with three authorities: the College of Arms, the Court of the Lord Lyon, and the Canadian Heraldic Authority.

Arms of the College of Arms.

The College of Arms is the royal corporation responsible for acting on behalf of the monarch on issues of heraldry, granting arms, genealogical research, and recording of pedigree's in England, Northern Ireland, Wales, and Commonwealth realms such as Australia and New Zealand. It is part of the Royal Household of the United Kingdom and is also responsible for maintaining official registers of flags and national symbols, as well as providing guidance on how flags ought to be used on land. The College also helps to plan and organize ceremonial events such as state funerals, coronations, and the annual State Opening of Parliament, at which the Heralds of the College often accompany the monarch.

Arms of the Lord Lyon King of Arms.

   The Court of the Lord Lyon is the public body responsible for dealing with issues of heraldry and granting arms in Scotland. As with its counterpart in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, it is part of the Royal Household, and also engages in the record-keeping of genealogies and the maintenance of a heraldic register. The Officers of Arms under the Lord Lyon take part in ceremonies such as the dissolution of Parliament, the inauguration of governors of Edinburgh Castle, and the opening of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. They also accompany the monarch on royal and state functions in Scotland. In addition, the Lord Lyon is part of the Scottish legal system, as he has criminal jurisdiction in matters of heraldry, and has a dedicated official - the Procurator Fiscal - to handle such issues in Scottish courts.

     In Canada, the Canadian Heraldic Authority was established in 1988 by Elizabeth II as Queen of Canada. Before its creation, Canadians had to go to either the College of Arms or the Court of the Lord Lyon to obtain coats of arms and seek information on issues of heraldry. The CHA performs duties similar to the heraldic authorities in the United Kingdom, and has become known for incorporating elements unique to Canada and its First Nations.

   Indeed, throughout these coats of arms, history and heritage are often on display, as well as the characteristics and commodities for which the people and nation are known. They also describe, to a great extent, the values and aspirations of these nations, many of whom have only become independent within the last 50 years, and so their coats of arms reflect how they think of themselves, and the better future that they seek. So these arms that represent Queen and Country are not mere whimsical images out of a fairy-tale story book. They are real and powerful symbols of the monarchy and of the nations in which it holds authority and prominence, as well as the affections of the people it serves.

Photo Credit: Thomas Quine via Flickr cc, Sodacan via Wikimedia Commons cc, Sodacan via Wikimedia Commons cc, Jorge Campassio via Wikimedia Commons cc, Sodacan via Wikimedia Commons cc, Tom Lemmons via Wikimedia Commons cc, Prez001 via Wikimedia Commons cc, Denelson83 via Wikimedia Commons cc, Diafora via Wikimedia Commons cc, Onlydo via Wikimedia Commons cc, Sodacan via Wikimedia Commons cc, Sodacan via Wikimedia Commons cc

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Thursday, November 7, 2013

Symbols of the Monarchy, Part II: Coats of Arms

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