Royal Heraldry Quiz | Specialized History

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Heraldry is believed to have evolved during the 12th century. The earliest grant of arms on record was bestowed by this English king upon his son-in-law, Geoffrey of Anjou in 1127. Who was this king, a son of William the Conqueror, who is said to have died of "a surfeit of eels?"

Answer: Henry I

Geoffrey's arms were blazoned as "Azure, four lions rampant, or." This translates as four gold lions on a blue field. Geoffrey's arms can still be seen on the shield carried by his effigy on his tomb at St. Julien's Cathedral in Le Mans, France.

2. The ancient Royal Arms of England are blazoned as "Gules, three lions passant guardant in pale or armed and langued azure." Three gold lions with blue tongues and claws on a red field. Think about royal nicknames. During whose reign did England adopt these arms?

Answer: Richard I

Richard I is, of course, known as "Richard the Lionheart." Actually, there's some debate whether or not the lions were actually supposed to leopards. Richard adopted these arms in 1198.

3. The Royal Arms of France consist of three of these symbols in gold on a blue field. If you are a fan of the New Orleans Saints, it might give you a clue. I'll give you another: it's a flower, but which one?

Answer: Lily, or fleur-de-lis

The earliest Royal Arms of France were "Azure, sem�-de-lis or" or a blue shield with numerous gold fleur-de-lis. In 1376, the number of fleur-de-lis was reduced to three.

4. The Royal Arms of Scotland may even predate those of England and France. They date back to the reign of William I of Scotland (1165-1214). His nickname was "William the Lion." Which animal do you suppose figures prominently in the Royal Arms of Scotland?

Answer: Lion

The Royal Arms of Scotland are blazoned as "Or, a lion rampant Gules armed and langued Azure within a double tressure flory-counter-flory of the second." This can be translated as a red lion with a blue tongue and claws, inside a red double border adorned with fleur-de-lis on a gold shield.

The Royal Arms of Scotland have undergone minor changes throughout the centuries, but the present form (with blue tongue and claws) dates from the reign of James VI (James I of England).

5. The Royal Arms of Ireland are of a later date than the previous ones. They consist of a blue shield charged with a musical instrument, one that has long been associated with Ireland. Which one is it?

Answer: Harp

The Royal Arms of Ireland are "Azure, a harp or, stringed argent." That is, a gold harp with silver strings on a blue shield. Heraldry did not come into Ireland until the Normans invaded the country in 1169. The earliest reference to these arms dates to 1280, but it was not until the reign of Henry VIII, in 1541, that these arms became official.

6. Many countries in continental Europe used the eagle as the main charge on their Royal Arms. It is thought that the popularity of the eagle as a heraldic device dates back to what early civilization?

Answer: Roman empire

The eagle was a symbol of the Roman empire, and Roman legions carried standards topped with an eagle into battle. The Byzantine empire and the Holy Roman Empire also used an eagle as a symbol of imperial authority, so it was natural that many countries such as Prussia, Poland and Russia would incorporate the eagle into their arms.

7. Which of these countries has no official National Arms?

Answer: Wales

Because Wales was conquered by England at the beginning of the age of heraldry, it has no National Arms. It does have a Royal Badge, based on the arms of Llywelyn the Great, which was adopted in 2008.

8. This former country, located in modern France, but retaining its own language, had unusual Royals Arms that could be described in one word: "Ermine." It is often considered one of the six Celtic nations, and one of its major cities is Rennes. Which well known French region had these unusual Royal Arms until 1532?

Answer: Brittany

Brittany was first a kingdom, then a Duchy, and in 1532 it became a province of France. Many of its older people still speak the Breton language, which is similar to Welsh. Brittany's arms were adopted in 1316 by Duke John III. The Royal Arms of Brittany are unique because they consist of a plain ermine shield, with no charges.

This technically violates the rules of heraldry, which state that the escutcheon, or shield, must have at least one charge or be divided into two or more colors (tinctures).

Many of the arms one encounters which would not be allowed today are very old, and tolerated because of their "ancient usage." Arms that violate established rules are known as "armes � enqu�rir."

9. Purple (purpure) is a color not often encountered on Royal Arms, but one ancient Spanish kingdom used a purple lion on a silver shield. Can you figure out from the description I've given you which one it was?

Answer: Leon

The actual blazon of the Royal Arms of Leon is "Argent, a lion rampant purpure crowned Or, langued and armed gules." A purple lion wearing a gold crown, with a red tongue and claws, on a silver shield. Since Leon means lion in Spanish, the arms are quite appropriate. Arms that make a visual pun on a country's or a person's name are called "canting arms." The arms of Castile are also canting arms; they consist of a golden castle on a red shield.

10. So far we've mostly considered the design on the shield (or escutcheon, to use the more correct term) of various Royal Arms. If you see the arms displayed, however, they will often be surmounted by a helmet, bearing a crest; and below the arms, there may be a ribbon bearing a motto. Sometimes there will be figures on either side of the shield, too. What are these called?

Answer: Supporters

Supporters are usually animals or mythological creatures, but they can be human figures, trees, or other devices. The supporters of the modern British Royal Arms are a golden lion and a silver unicorn. In the case of the Australian National Arms they are a kangaroo and an emu. Arms, in general, were not restricted to the royalty or nobility.

But supporters are usually a sign of high rank, or special recognition, although there are a few exceptions. They usually come in pairs, but there are exceptions to this as well; some arms have a single supporter, and some have more than two.

Many corporations also use supporters.

Source: Author daver852

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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Royal Heraldry Trivia Quiz

Heraldry evolved so that men could be told apart by the designs on their shields during battle. This quiz will look at some of arms of the royal and noble houses of Europe.

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