Heraldic badge

• 1. Medieval Origins And Evolution

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  King Edward III reigned from 1327 to 1377 when badges with a distinctly heraldic character first appeared in England. These symbols emerged within the context of tournaments and courtly celebrations before evolving into political tools. Followers, retainers, dependants, and partisans of powerful personages wore well-known badges because they were recognized by others. A coat of arms belonged exclusively to an individual, but badges could be shared among many people. Badges sometimes imitated charges found in a bearer's coat of arms or referenced them directly. More often they commemorated remarkable exploits, illustrated family alliances, or indicated territorial rights. Some badges functioned as rebuses that created puns on the owner's name. It was not uncommon for a single personage to use more than one badge simultaneously. Two or more badges were also combined to form a single compound device.

• 2. Livery Badges And Social Control

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  A lavish livery badge like the Dunstable Swan Jewel dates to about 1400 AD and likely represents Henry V as Prince of Wales. Such jewels were worn only by the person whose device was represented, their family members, or important supporters. The jewel lacks gems such as ruby eyes seen on lion pendants worn by Sir John Donne and his wife. Richard II's own badge featured pearls on antler tips while angels' badges lacked these details. White harts from the Treasury Roll had pearls and sat on grass beds made of emeralds. One white hart badge possessed by Duke Philip the Good of Burgundy in 1435 contained twenty-two pearls, two spinels, two sapphires, a ruby, and a huge diamond. Cheaper forms of badge were distributed widely like modern political campaign buttons though wearing the wrong badge could lead to danger. King Richard III ordered thirteen thousand badges in fustian cloth with his emblem of a white boar for his son Edward's investiture. Other grades of boar badges survive in lead, silver, and gilded copper relief found at Middleham Castle in Yorkshire. In 1377 Sir John Swinton rode through London wearing Gaunt's badge on a livery collar before a mob attacked him. Parliament repeatedly tried to curb the use of livery badges during the Wars of the Roses. The Parliament of 1384 requested that all liveries called badges be abolished due to reckless extortion practices. A statute passed in 1399 allowed only the king to issue badges to those ranking as esquires and above.

• 3. Renaissance Personal Devices

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  The Renaissance transformed badges into intellectual personal devices combining images and mottos to express character. These impresas appeared on the reverse of portrait-medals fashionable in Italy using vocabulary from Neo-Platonism. By the sixteenth century emblems were adopted by intellectuals and merchants who possessed no heraldry of their own. Later emblem books contained large numbers of emblems allowing people to choose one they thought suited them. Jacobus Typotius published Symbola Divina et Humana in Prague in 1601 engraved by Aegidius Sadeler II. Allegorical badges called impresa became part of theatrical disguise programs for events like Elizabethan Accession Day tilts. The device differs from the emblem because it normally consists of two parts while most emblems have three or more. Claude Paradin collected many examples and published his Devises héroïques in 1551 and 1557. Louis XII used a porcupine with the motto Eminus et cominus over a doorway at Blois. François Ier employed a crowned salamander among flames with the motto Nutrisco et extinguo at Chambord. The sun of Louis XIV was equally famous and widely recognized across France.

• 4. Notable English Royal Badges

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  Edward III's reign saw the use of a Fleur-de-Lys, a Leopard, a Sword, a falcon, a Gryphon, and a Stock of a tree. Richard II utilized a White Hart lodged, a white falcon, a Sun in Splendor, and a Sun Clouded. Henry IV displayed a Monogram SS, a crowned eagle, an eagle displayed, a white swan, and a red rose. Henry V wore a fire-beacon, a white swan gorged and chained, and a chained antelope. Edward IV employed a white rose en Soleil, a white wolf, a white lion, and a black dragon. Richard III adopted the White Boar and the Sun in Splendor as his personal badges. Henry VII combined a Rose of York and Lancaster known as the Tudor Rose with a Portcullis and a Fleur-de-Lis. Elizabeth I chose a Tudor Rose with the motto Rosa sine Spina meaning a Rose without a Thorn. James I introduced a thistle and a thistle dimidiated with a Tudor rose bearing the motto Beati Pacifici. Anne used a Tudor rose-branch and a thistle growing from one branch. The House of Hanover ceased using personal badges upon accession in 1714 though historical badges remain part of royal symbolism.

• 5. Material Culture And Survival

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  Medieval badges could be made of base metal, cloth, or other materials worn on clothing. Grand forms like the Dunstable Swan Jewel were crafted in enamelled gold and survive today as rare artifacts. Livery collars were given to important persons often featuring the badge as a pendant. Badges were also embroidered or appliqued on standards, horse trappings, livery uniforms, and other belongings. Many medieval badges survive in English pub names today. The British Museum holds a swan badge in flat lead typical of cheap metal badges similar to pilgrim badges. Richard III's white boar badges found at Middleham Castle appear originally silver-gilt and gilded copper relief. These items likely belonged to household members when he was Duke of York. Cheap forms of badge were distributed freely while grander versions remained exclusive to high-ranking individuals. The physical construction ranged from simple cloth to jeweled gold depending on the wearer's status and wealth.

• 6. Modern Revival And Heraldry

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  Heraldic badges were revived in 1906 by the College of Arms under Alfred Scott-Gatty. They have since been included in new grants of arms alongside traditional coat of arms awards. Whether granted is at the option of the grantee who pays a higher fee if they choose one. As of January 2010 the extra fee stood at £1,000. When granted the badge is typically illustrated on letters patent containing the grant of arms. It also appears upon a heraldic standard flag though this is not automatically granted with the achievement. A standard can be requested if a badge is granted upon payment of a further fee. Elizabeth II assumed two badges for Wales in 1953 and 2008 in addition to all her other badges. British monarchs ceased using personal badges after 1714 though historical badges continue as part of royal symbolism. There is now a general badge of the House of Windsor used for various purposes today.