|
HERALDIC DISPLAY Heraldic Badges Affiliation,
Affection, Propaganda and Ownership! |
Lady Sabine du Bourbonnais |
A badge is a distinctive device or emblem assumed as a mark of
recognition by an individual or family and often worn as a symbol of loyalty
and allegiance. Badges used in this way are a particularly British heraldic
tradition that became fashionable in the late 14th century, at the
court of Edward III (1327-1377). “In the later Middle Ages it became customary
for the devices or badges of kings and the nobility to be worn by their
retainers and household servants as visible affirmations of allegiance.”
(Spencer, pg 278) Edward III was particularly dedicated to
chivalric tradition and with this renewed devotion to chivalric ideals, came a resurgence in the interest of heraldic display within the
nobility.
Heraldry at this time had become increasingly complex - largely due to excessive
quarterings and the use of crests and supporting animals becoming popular. Badges became a simpler and more direct means
of identification. They never replaced
an individual’s heraldry, but were used in addition to it. Badges were usually used alone, separate and
distinct from the shield design of the achievement of arms. The emblems used could be a single charge
taken from the arms of the owner, or an entirely different object chosen at the
will of the bearer. As such, it was
rather personal item and within a single household, many different badges would
be present for the various family members.
Being far less formal than a coat of arms, it should be mentioned that
badges did not have the same official registration system that existed to
record and protect coats of arms.
Francis I Salamander (1515-74) Richard II broom cod 15th C Percy silver crescent early 15th
C. Talbot Livery Badge 15th C
Badges as Ownership Labels
By the 14th century, the habit of identifying ownership on possessions with heraldry was well established. Badges also were used in this manner to decorate the possessions of their owners. Badges can be found represented as identifiers on the livery of soldiers and servants which denoted affiliation and loyalty for their lord. Buildings and churches were also often decorated with heraldic badges in a very obvious display of charity, patronage and largesse. Equestrian trappings, iconistic paintings, domestic household items, jewellery, and furniture were also to be found bearing the symbols of heraldic badges indicating ownership and status.
|
Henry VII Salt cellars bearing Tudor rose badges |
Heraldic Pendants - Richard
of Cornwall; de Brouen; Earls of Pembroke probably used on equestrian
trappings |
Badges in Politics
Finds from sites in
During times of conflict, whole sections of the populace, might take to
wearing the badges of certain factions for their own protection. For example, in 1411
Burgundian St Andrews Cross
Badges/Heraldry
with Name Cants
Badges often took the form of a rebus - an emblem or device that forms
a witticism by creating a form of visual pun on a surname. Sometimes this even traversed cultures, with
the puns not necessarily being evident in the English language. As in the examples of the
English families of Quatermain (French meaning four
hands) and Martel (French meaning hammer). This tradition
probably derived from the canting or allusive heraldry of the thirteenth
century. Such as the
trumpets of the Trumpingtons etc.
A particularly famous canting badge is that belonging to the
Talbotts. A talbot
was a breed of dog, now believed to be extinct.
The Talbott family, Earls of Shrewsbury used a representation of these
dogs as their family badge. Which appears in the form of a lead badge in the shape of a dog,
with the word ‘talbot’ written across the collar. These livery badges were worn by their
retainers and supporters to show their connection with this noble family.
(Cherry pg34)
|
Quartermain |
Martel |
Trumpington |
Badges in
literature
Political poems of the
period sees the occasional reference to people
by their badges. These literary
references acknowledge the immediate and inherent recognition that existed
between badges and their owners. One
such example of a reference to a badge in literature is this particular mention
of John Talbot. John Talbot, Earl of
Shrewsbury, was held a prisoner in
And
he is bownden that oure dor shulde kepe
That
is Talbott our goode dogge
(And
the guard of our door is chained up / that is Talbott our goode dogge’.)
Other references can be found amongst Shakespeares historical works,
where the white and red rose of York and Lancaster are used to reference the
two warring political factions in Henry VI -
|
“The Choosing of the Roses” (Painting Henry Payne) |
Henry VI Part III; Act One Scene Two How sweet a thing it is to
wear a crown; Henry VI Part III - Act One; Scene Five Woe above woe! grief more than common grief! |
Badge
Design
Badges
usually consisted of a single heraldic charge, or a group of objects arranged
in a conjoined manner (each object touches another). The chosen heraldic charge need not have any
connections to the individual’s actual heraldic coat of arms. The overall design would be able to be cast
as a single piece of metal jewelry. Personal badges generally did not have a
defined background color - and are therefore fieldless. Fieldless badges can then be displayed on any
background colour, or with no background at all. Personal badges look quite different from the
personal Device, which always has a defined background in an escutcheon
(shield) shape, and which usually consists of a number of separate objects.
A. Heraldry of Richard Neville Earl of Warwick |
B. Personal Badge - Chained bear and ragged staff. |
C. Heraldry of Lord Scrope of Bolton |
D.Personal Badge – a Raven |
Badges - Materials and Construction
Consistent with the wearers rank and status, badges were made of
various materials. Gold badges might
have been circulated for upper members of a household and to principal
retainers, whilst those of middle level status would be provided with badges
made of gold plated silver. Lower
household members could expect badges entirely of silver. John the Fearless, Duke of Burgundy in 1409
distributed badges to his household including: 80 gold badges set with gems for
senior officals; 200 plain gold badges for gentlemen and 300 silver badges for
servants. In some regions the distribution
of badges was an annual tradition at events such as New Years. This type of reoccurring, large scale distribution, came with often crippling costs.
Many of these secular livery badges were commissioned from the same
craftsmen that produced the pilgrim’s badges and tokens that were popular
souvenirs at religious shrines. The mass
production system employed appears to be the same as that used for the pilgrims souvenirs - using lost wax casting techniques.
Often those that could not afford to wear badges of metal would have
their badges made of cloth – in the form of relatively expensive embroidered
livery badges or the more simple system of cutting out the badge’s shape of
cloth to be sewn onto existing clothing.
In 1458, Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, returned to
The Barony of St Florian de la Riviere;
Louvain Household; La Parentiara Family and personal badge of Sabine du
Bourbonnais.
Badges
in the SCA
In
the SCA, individuals or groups may design their own personal badges or badges
for use by groups of people like households.
Badges may be registered with the
As
it is possible in the SCA for an individual to be associated with more than one
group or household, it is not unusual to see a Gentle sporting badges and insignia
displaying affiliations with their Barony, War Unit or Household, as well as
visual tokens of affection from family, consorts or friends on top of their own
heraldry! You may find that you have
been surrounded by heraldic badges without ever having noticed.
Lady Sabine du Bourbonnais
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Ashbee, C.R The Treatise of
Benvenuto Cellini on Gold smithing and Sculpture
Cherry, John Medieval Decorative
Art
Coss, Peter Heraldry,
Pageantry and Social Display
Boydell
Press 2002
Hawthorne, John G “Theophilus
– On Divers Arts”
The Foremost Medieval Treatise on Painting, Glassmaking
and Metalwork
Micheletti, Emma The Medici of
Becocci Editore 1999
Neubecker, O Heraldry – Sources,
Symbols and Meaning
Tiger
Books International 1997
Slater, Stephen The
Complete Book of Heraldry
Lorenz
Books 2002
Spencer, Brian Pilgrims
Souvenirs and Secular Badges
Medieval
Finds from Excavations in
The
Stationary Office –
SOME HISTORICAL BADGES AND THEIR OWNERS
|
|
1. Edward III Golden sun in
splendour 2. Richard II White heat, gold
chain and crown 3. Edward III White feather and
gold quill 4. de Vere Earls of Mullet of 5
points 5. Henry V White antelope,
gold crown and chain 6. Henry V A Beacon with red
flames 7. Henry V White swan, gold
crown and chain 8. FitzAlan – Earls of Arundel A Horse passant 9. Henry VII A Portcullis 10. John, Duke of Golden stump 11.Humphrey –
Duke of White duck, gold
crown and chains 12. Scales, An escallop 13 Neville- Earls
of Warrick Chained bear and
ragged staff 14. Mowbray – Dukes of A lion 15. Sir Ralph Hastings 16 A beacon on a
mound 17Talbot – Earls of
A Talbot 18. Lord Grey of Condor 19. Courtenay – Earls of A Boar 20.Richard- Duke
of A Fetlock 21. Earls of A Red Heart 22. Lord Scrope of A Black Raven 23.Sir John
Astley An Ermine
cinquefoil 24 de la Pole,
Dukes of Suffolk White bollard
with gold strap and ring |
Publishing/Conversion to HTML for the St. Florian De La Riviere Website performed by David Bussenschutt -13th October 2004, with Permission.
Original Source Document is available here in Microsoft Word Format