Royal Arms of England

Royal Arms of England
Name	Royal Arms of England
Caption	The historical arms of England: Gules, three lions passant guardant in pale or
Armiger	Monarchs of England
Adopted	Late 12th century
Crest	Upon the helm, the royal crown proper thereon a lion statant guardant or
Supporters	Varied historically
Motto	Dieu et mon droit
Orders	Order of the Garter

Royal Arms of England. The Royal Arms of England is the heraldic emblem historically associated with the Kingdom of England and its monarchs. Featuring a design of three golden lions on a red field, it is one of the most recognizable coats of arms in European heraldry. The arms were formally adopted in the late 12th century during the reign of Richard the Lionheart and became a potent symbol of English royal authority. They have been incorporated into the more complex Royal Arms of the United Kingdom and continue to be used in various official and historical contexts.

History and development

The origins of the arms are traced to the reign of Henry II, with the first documented use of a single lion emblem on a seal. His son, Richard I, is traditionally credited with establishing the enduring design of three lions passant guardant, a configuration possibly influenced by his marriage to Berengaria of Navarre and his claim to the Duchy of Aquitaine. The arms were solidified as the definitive symbol of the English crown during the High Middle Ages, appearing on royal seals, banners at battles like Crécy and Agincourt, and in the architecture of buildings like Westminster Abbey. Following the Union of the Crowns under James VI and I, the arms of England were quartered with those of Scotland and Ireland, a practice continued after the Acts of Union 1707 and the formation of the Kingdom of Great Britain.

Blazon and heraldic description

The formal heraldic blazon is: *Gules, three lions passant guardant in pale or, armed and langued azure*. This describes a red shield (*Gules*) upon which three gold (*Or*) lions walk (*passant*) facing the observer (*guardant*), arranged one above the other (*in pale*). Their claws and tongues are blue (*armed and langued azure*). The arms are often depicted with an external ornamentation including a royal helm, atop which sits the St Edward's Crown and a lion statant guardant. The whole is frequently surrounded by the Order of the Garter and accompanied by the motto *Dieu et mon droit* on a scroll beneath the shield.

Usage and display

Historically, the arms were displayed on all possessions and proclamations of the English monarchy, from coinage and official documents to the uniforms of the Yeomen of the Guard. They were flown as the Royal Standard in England and used as the badge of the national football team. Today, the arms in their historical form are used to represent England within the United Kingdom, notably by sporting bodies like the England and Wales Cricket Board and in the Church of England. They appear in the first and fourth quarters of the current Royal Arms of the United Kingdom and on the uniforms of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms.

Variations and quarterings

Numerous historical variations exist, including differenced arms used by Princes of Wales and other royal dukes. Following the Wars of the Roses, the arms were temporarily quartered with the *fleur-de-lis* of France, representing the English claim to the French throne, a practice abandoned after the Treaty of Amiens. Since the Acts of Union 1800, the arms of England have been permanently quartered with those of Scotland and Ireland (later Northern Ireland) in the royal arms of the British monarchy. The banner of the arms, defaced with specific labels, has been used by monarchs from Edward III to Elizabeth II.

Symbolism and meaning

The three lions have become an iconic symbol of England itself, embodying themes of courage, nobility, and royal authority. Their adoption by Richard the Lionheart linked the symbol inextricably with the ideals of chivalry and Crusader kingship. The red field (*gules*) is often associated with military fortitude and martyrdom, while the gold lions (*or*) signify wisdom and generosity. Collectively, the arms projected the power and legitimacy of the Plantagenet dynasty and their successors. The motto *Dieu et mon droit*, adopted by Henry V, asserts the monarch's divine right to rule.

Legal status and protection

The historical Royal Arms of England, as a component of the current Royal Arms, are protected under common law and various statutes, including the Trade Marks Act 1994, as they are considered property of the Crown. Unauthorized use for commercial or misleading purposes can be prosecuted under the laws of criminal law as a form of fraud or misrepresentation. The College of Arms, under the authority of the Earl Marshal, regulates and grants new arms in England and has jurisdiction over the technical use and depiction of historical royal heraldry. Their use on official buildings, such as the Palace of Westminster, is governed by protocol and tradition.

Category:Coats of arms of England Category:English heraldry Category:National symbols of England