Ross Herald of Arms Extraordinary is a
Scottish herald of arms
A herald, or a herald of arms, is an officer of arms, ranking between pursuivant and king of arms. The title is commonly applied more broadly to all officers of arms.
Heralds were originally messengers sent by monarchs or noblemen
...
Extraordinary of the
Court of the Lord Lyon
The Court of the Lord Lyon (the Lyon Court) is a standing court of law, based in New Register House in Edinburgh, which regulates heraldry in Scotland. The Lyon Court maintains the register of grants of arms, known as the Public Register of All A ...
. The office is however held in Extraordinary after the retirement of the last holder in Ordinary.
The title of the office is derived from the
Earldom of Ross
The Earl or Mormaer of Ross was the ruler of the province of Ross in northern Scotland.
Origins and transfers
In the early Middle Ages, Ross was part of the vast earldom of Moray. It seems to have been made a separate earldom in the mid 12 ...
. The title was first used in 1475.
The Ross Herald in 1687, Henry Fraser was a heraldic painter who apprenticed under George Porteous. He was responsible for genealogical research and the designing and painting of coats of arms. There is mention of him in the Gordon papers of 24 December 1716 "Account due to Henry Fraser, Ross Herald, for paintings done for funeral of George, 1st duke of Gordon: lozenge arms, mort heads, branches for the coffin, a helmet and ducal crown, etc., and other work in the Citadel of Leith." He was also mentioned by Alexander Nisbet in his book ''A System of Heraldry, Speculative & Practical'' written in 1712 but not published until 1722 in
Edinburgh
Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...
. "James Workman's ''Illuminated Book of Arms'', who was Herald in the reign of James VI, which book I frequently refer to... which book I had from the ingenious Mr. Henry Fraser, Ross Herald...." Mr. Fraser died 15 January 1724 and is buried b. 17 North Corner Naismith Tomb in Greyfriars Churchyard. The office was held until his death.
The
badge of office
A badge is a device or accessory, often containing the insignia of an organization, which is presented or displayed to indicate some feat of service, a special accomplishment, a symbol of authority granted by taking an oath (e.g., police and fi ...
is ''Two lions rampant Argent armed and langued Azure supporting a baton paleways Sable, the tips Or ensigned of the Crown of Scotland Proper.''
The office is currently vacant.
Holders of the office
See also
*
Officer of Arms
An officer of arms is a person appointed by a sovereign or Sovereign state, state with authority to perform one or more of the following functions:
* to control and initiate coat of arms, armorial matters;
* to arrange and participate in ceremo ...
*
Herald
A herald, or a herald of arms, is an officer of arms, ranking between pursuivant and king of arms. The title is commonly applied more broadly to all officers of arms.
Heralds were originally messengers sent by monarchs or noblemen to ...
*
Court of the Lord Lyon
The Court of the Lord Lyon (the Lyon Court) is a standing court of law, based in New Register House in Edinburgh, which regulates heraldry in Scotland. The Lyon Court maintains the register of grants of arms, known as the Public Register of All A ...
*
Heraldry Society of Scotland
The Heraldry Society of Scotland was founded in 1977 with the aim of improving the study of heraldry.
The Society's arms feature a Saint Andrew's Cross with silver thistles and a red shield. Their crest is a herald wearing a tabard of the arms, an ...
References
External links
The Court of the Lord Lyon
{{Court of the Lord Lyon
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Court of the Lord Lyon
Offices of arms