Attributed arms: Difference between revisions
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Once [[heraldry]] became established, there was a natural desire to give it the firmest foundations possible. This was most easily achieved by back-dating the practice into antiquity. In addition, there was a natural desire to elevate forebears and the famous, and so |
Once [[heraldry]] became established, there was a natural desire to give it the firmest foundations possible. This was most easily achieved by back-dating the practice into antiquity. In addition, there was a natural desire to elevate forebears and the famous, and so [[herald]]s began to '''attribute arms''' to earlier worthies. |
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[[King Arthur]] and his [[knight]]s were an obvious subject, particularly once they became established as paragons and role-models for the [[chivalry]]; in a similar vein the earlier |
[[King Arthur]] and his [[knight]]s were an obvious subject, particularly once they became established as paragons and role-models for the [[chivalry]]; in a similar vein the earlier [[king]]s of [[England]] came in for retrospective [[arms]]-bearing. |
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Beyond this arms were also ascribed for the worthies of history ([[Alexander the Great|Alexander]], [[Julius Caesar|Caesar]], [[Charlemagne]]), and then for the worthies of [[Scripture]], including Joseph of Arimathea, [[Jesus]] and his mother [[Virgin Mary|Mary]], and even (for complicated reasons) Satan himself. |
Beyond this arms were also ascribed for the worthies of history ([[Alexander the Great|Alexander]], [[Julius Caesar|Caesar]], [[Charlemagne]]), and then for the worthies of [[Scripture]], including Joseph of Arimathea, [[Jesus]] and his mother [[Virgin Mary|Mary]], and even (for complicated reasons) Satan himself. |
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Revision as of 10:08, 15 February 2006
Once heraldry became established, there was a natural desire to give it the firmest foundations possible. This was most easily achieved by back-dating the practice into antiquity. In addition, there was a natural desire to elevate forebears and the famous, and so heralds began to attribute arms to earlier worthies.
King Arthur and his knights were an obvious subject, particularly once they became established as paragons and role-models for the chivalry; in a similar vein the earlier kings of England came in for retrospective arms-bearing.
Beyond this arms were also ascribed for the worthies of history (Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne), and then for the worthies of Scripture, including Joseph of Arimathea, Jesus and his mother Mary, and even (for complicated reasons) Satan himself.
