Lancaster Herald of Arms in Ordinary is an
English officer of arms
An officer of arms is a person appointed by a sovereign or state with authority to perform one or more of the following functions:
* to control and initiate armorial matters;
* to arrange and participate in ceremonies of state;
* to conserve a ...
at the
College of Arms
The College of Arms, or Heralds' College, is a royal corporation consisting of professional officers of arms, with jurisdiction over England, Wales, Northern Ireland and some Commonwealth realms. The heralds are appointed by the British Sovere ...
in
London
London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...
. The title of Lancaster Herald first occurs in 1347 at
Calais, and to begin with this officer was a servant to the noble house of
Lancaster. As a retainer of
John of Gaunt (1377–1399) Lancaster was advanced to the rank of
King of Arms, and was later promoted to the royal household of
Henry IV (Gaunt's son), and made king of the northern province. This arrangement continued until 1464, when Lancaster reverted to the rank of
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 ...
. Since the reign of
King Henry VII (1485–1509) Lancaster has been a herald in ordinary. The
badge of office is a red rose of Lancaster, royally crowned.
The office is currently vacant since the promotion of
Robert Noel
Robert John Baptist Noel (born 15 October 1962) is an Officer of Arms (Herald) at the College of Arms in London. Formerly the Bluemantle Pursuivant, he has been the Norroy and Ulster King of Arms since April 2021.
Early life
The younger son ...
to Norroy and Ulster King of Arms in 2021.
Holders of the office
See also
*
Heraldry
*
Officer of Arms
An officer of arms is a person appointed by a sovereign or state with authority to perform one or more of the following functions:
* to control and initiate armorial matters;
* to arrange and participate in ceremonies of state;
* to conserve a ...
References
;Notes
;Citations
;Bibliography
* ''The College of Arms, Queen Victoria Street : being the sixteenth and final monograph of the London Survey Committee'', Walter H. Godfrey, assisted by Sir
Anthony Wagner, with a complete list of the officers of arms, prepared by H. Stanford London, (London, 1963)
* ''A History of the College of Arms &c'',
Mark Noble, (London, 1804)
External links
The College of Arms
{{College of Arms
Offices of the College of Arms
1347 establishments in Europe