Sunday, June 3, 2018

HERALDRY | June 10 – Heraldry Day, for Geoffrey of Anjou

Arms of Geoffrey Plantagenet
On June 10, 1128, Geoffrey Plantagenet was presented by his father-in-law, King Henry I of England in Rouen, France with a blue shield bearing six gold lions.
The occasion was of international significance. Geoffrey was French. He was knighted by King Henry I, the English father of his bride Matilda, who was daughter of Edith of Scotland and the widow of the Holy Roman Emperor Henry V.

Thus three royal lines were united with England – Scotland, France and the Holy Roman Empire.
This is the oldest record of an initiation of international royal arms, although coats of arms are recorded in the Bayeux tapestry after the invasion of William I of England, and royal arms are attributed posthumously to Edward the Confessor and even King Alfred.

Geoffrey of Anjou is therefore considered the first armigerous royal family. For this reason, June 10 is registered on the International Day Calendar (https://nationaldaycalendar.com/register-a-national-day/) by Kathy McClurg as International Heraldry Day. She is a member of the IAAH, the International Association of Amateur Heralds.  More here: http://amateurheralds.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1420.

No comments:

Post a Comment