Bluemantle Pursuivant

Bluemantle Pursuivant is an officer of arms in ordinary at the College of Arms in London, traditionally responsible for heraldic and genealogical duties under the authority of the Monarch of the United Kingdom, the Garter Principal King of Arms and the Kings of Arms. The office dates from the late medieval period and participates in ceremonial occasions such as coronations, State Opening of Parliament, and royal funerals like that of Queen Elizabeth II.

History

The office originated in the late 15th century during the reign of King Henry VII amid the consolidation of royal administration after the Wars of the Roses and the Battle of Bosworth Field, evolving alongside institutions such as the College of Arms, the Order of the Garter, and the Royal Household. Over time Bluemantle worked with contemporaries including the Garter Principal King of Arms, the Clarenceux King of Arms, and the Norroy and Ulster King of Arms in matters that paralleled activities at Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London, and the Court of Chivalry. The office intersected with events involving figures like Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk, Thomas Cromwell, and Sir William Dugdale and adapted through constitutional changes such as the Acts of Union 1707 and the Act of Union 1800 while witnessing state ceremonies tied to the Coronation of George IV and the Coronation of William IV.

Role and Duties

Bluemantle serves within the College of Arms to research pedigrees and coats of arms for clients including members of the Royal Family, peers in the House of Lords, and municipal entities such as the City of London. Duties encompass participation in ceremonial processions with officers like the Portcullis Pursuivant and the Rouge Croix Pursuivant, and collaboration with heralds such as the Windsor Herald and the Richmond Herald during events at venues like St Paul's Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, and Buckingham Palace. Administrative tasks involve registering grants of arms issued by authorities linked to the Monarch of the United Kingdom and advising institutions including the Ministry of Defence, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and civic bodies like the Greater London Authority. The role also liaises with antiquarian societies and scholars at institutions such as the Society of Antiquaries of London, the British Library, and the National Archives.

Insignia and Vestments

The badge and tabard associated with the office display heraldic motifs recorded in the registers of the College of Arms and are shown alongside the devices of peers like the Duke of Norfolk and the Earl Marshal. Vestments include the traditional tabard bearing royal arms as worn by colleagues such as the Garter King of Arms and historic officers at ceremonies in Westminster Hall, with accessories reflecting styles found in manuscripts held by the Bodleian Library, the Vatican Library, and collections at the Victoria and Albert Museum. The insignia's imagery resonates with chivalric orders such as the Order of the Bath and the Order of St Michael and St George and appears in state occasions alongside symbols used by institutions like the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

Notable Holders

Prominent past holders have included antiquaries and officers who interacted with figures like Samuel Pepys, Horace Walpole, and Sir Isaac Newton through archival work, and later holders engaged with legal and ceremonial matters involving the Judiciary of England and Wales, the Attorney General for England and Wales, and the Privy Council of the United Kingdom. Holders have contributed to publications and heraldic scholarship alongside academics at Oxford University, Cambridge University, and the University of Edinburgh, and have collaborated with curators at the British Museum and the National Portrait Gallery. Several holders participated in state ceremonies attended by prime ministers from Winston Churchill to Margaret Thatcher and in jubilees of monarchs such as Queen Victoria and King George V.

Appointment and Tenure

Appointments are made by the Monarch of the United Kingdom on the advice of the Earl Marshal and the College of Arms, following precedents involving royal commissions and patents similar to those used for appointments in institutions like the Order of the Garter and the Royal Household. Tenure is customarily held for life or until resignation, with succession practices paralleling those of other officers of arms such as Bluemantle's fellow officers and subject to oversight by bodies including the College of Arms and, in ceremonial matters, the Earl Marshal's office. Appointees typically possess backgrounds in heraldic scholarship, genealogy, or service within establishments like the College of Arms, the College of Heralds, or comparable European heraldic offices such as the Office of the Chief Herald of Ireland.

Category:Offices of arms