Royal standards of England

This article is about English heraldic flags used in battles and pageantry. For the Royal Banner of England (depicting three lions), see Coat of arms of England. For the current flag of the British monarch often referred to as a "royal standard", see Royal Standard of the United Kingdom.

King Richard Coeur-de-lion v. King Philip II of France.

The royal standards of England were narrow, tapering swallow-tailed heraldic flags, of considerable length, used mainly for mustering troops in battle, in pageants and at funerals, by the monarchs of England. In high favour during the Tudor period, the Royal English Standard was a flag that was of a separate design and purpose to the Royal Banner. It featured St George's Cross at its head, followed by a number of heraldic devices, a supporter, badges or crests, with a motto—but it did not bear a coat of arms. The Royal Standard changed its composition frequently from reign to reign, but retained the motto Dieu et mon droit, meaning God and my right; which was divided into two bands: Dieu et mon and Droyt.[1]

The standard was equivalent to the modern headquarters flag and played a significant role in the medieval army. Beneath it was pitched the tent of the leader; behind it his retainers would follow; around it they would gather after a charge to regroup; under it they would make their last stand in battle. During the Tudor period the standing army came into being and the standard ceased to be use as an instrument of war. Only to be borne by those who were entitled to fly them.[2]

  1. ^ Boutell's Heraldry: Frederic Warne & Co Ltd. 1973. (p252). ISBN 0-7232-1708-4.
  2. ^ Franklyn, Julian (1970). An Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Heraldry. Pergamon Press; 1st edition. pp. 313. ISBN 0080132979.