User:Stephen2nd/Royal Labels of England

LABEL three points argent     Fleur-de-lis or Cross gules Castile or       Ermine spot Torteau gules Lion purpure

Heraldic labels are used to differentiate the individual coats of arms of members of the royal family of the United Kingdom. In the Gallo-British heraldic tradition, cadency marks have been available to "difference" the arms of a son from those of his father, and the arms of brothers from each other, and traditionally this was often done when it was considered important for each man to have a distinctive individual coat of arms and/or to differentiate the arms of the head of a house from junior members of the family. This was especially important in the case of arms of sovereignty, since someone who displayed the undifferenced arms of a kingdom would be heraldically claiming the throne. Therefore in the English royal family, systematic cadency marks were used from the time of Henry III of England, typically a label or bordure alluding to the arms of the bearer's mother or wife. For the next three generations, the heir apparent differenced with a label azure, while other sons used a label or bordure of a different tincture, or bearing charges. After about 1340, when Edward III of England made a claim to the throne of France, a blue label did not contrast sufficiently with the blue field of the French quarter of the royal arms; accordingly the heir apparent used a label argent. Bordures of various tinctures continued to be used into the 15th century.

The label

Main article: Label (heraldry)

In the ordinary system of differences a label of three points (which has also been termed a label with three filess) is the distinction of the eldest son during the lifetime of his father. In the oldest rolls of arms the labels are all of five points; but labels of three points were at an early period used interchangeably. Labels are the principal cadency marks used in certain royal families. In the English and British royal family, all labels are argent (white). The sons and daughters of the sovereign all bear labels of three points argent; that of the Prince of Wales is plain, but all others are charged. Further descendants of princes bear labels of five points charged. All such differences should be borne on the arms, crest, and supporters.
The system of a special mark for difference for each member of the family goes back to the time of Henry III, whose successor, as a prince, placed such a mark on the shield of England. Since 1340 this label has almost always been white, and overlaid with small figures, or charges, such as red crosses of St George. This red cross represents England and its patron saint, and was first borne by Richard of Bordeaux (future king Richard II) before the death of his father the Black Prince in 1376. Other charges used include the gold fleur-de-lis representing France, the Ermine spot, and the Torteau.

Labels of Plantagenet Further information: House of Plantagenet Royal Recipient Label Arms Warrant  LABEL Precedence Kingdom Arms Father Mother Mother Mother's Arms Edward I of England 1239-1307 pre- 1272 heir apparent 1239–1272 Henry III of England 1207-1271 Eleanor of Provence 1223-1291 File:Image Edmund Crouchback 1st Earl of Lancaster 1245-1296 Henry III of England Eleanor of Provence Alphonso, Earl of Chester 1273-1284 heir apparant 1274-1284 Edward I of England (1) Eleanor of Castile 1241-1290 File:Image Thomas, 2nd Earl of Lancaster (d. 1322) Henry, 3rd Earl of Lancaster (d. 1345) Edmund Crouchback Blanche of Artois 1248-1302 File:Image Edward II of England 1284-1327 pre- 1307 heir apparent 1284–1307 Edward I of England (1) Eleanor of Castile File:Image Thomas of Brotherton 1st Earl of Norfolk 1300-1338 heir presumptive 1307–1312 Edward I of England (2) Maragaret of France 1297-1318 Edward III of England 1312-1377 pre- 1327 heir apparent 1312–1327 Edward II of England Isabella of France 1295-1358 Edward, the Black Prince 1330-1376 pre- 1343 heir apparent 1330–1376 Edward III of England Philippa of Hainault 1314-1369 File:Image Thomas de Mowbray Earl of Nottingham 1366-1399 Label 5 points three lions pre- 1389       1397-1399 John de Mowbray Elizabeth Segrave 13??-13?? File:Image Richard II of England 1367-1400 pre- 1376     heir presumptive 1371-1376 Edward, the Black Prince Joan of Kent 1328-1385 File:Image   Prince of Wales Label 5 points three Lions pre- 1395 heir apparent 1376–1377   1395-1399 Labels of Plantagenet 2 Further information: House of Lancaster Royal Recipient Label Arms Warrant  LABEL Precedence Kingdom Arms Father Mother Mother Mother's Arms Lionel, Duke of Clarence 1338-1368 1362 Edward III Philippa of Hainault 1314-1369 John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster 1340-1399 Edward III Philippa of Hainault Edmund, Duke of York 1341-1402 pre- 1385 Edward III Philippa of Hainault Henry IV of England 1366-1413 File:Image John of Gaunt Blanche of Lancaster 1345-1369 File:Image Henry IV of England Edward of Norwich, 2nd Duke of York 1373-1415 L1 L2 L3 Edmund of Langley Infanta Isabella of Castile 1355-1392 File:Image Henry V of England 1387-1422 heir apparent 1399–1413 Henry IV of England Mary de Bohun 1368-1394 File:Image File:Image Thomas, Duke of Clarence 1388-1421 pre- 1412 heir presumptive 1413–1421 Henry IV of England Mary de Bohun File:Image John, Duke of Bedford 1389-1435 heir presumptive 1421/22-1435 Henry IV of England Mary de Bohun Richard, 3rd Duke of York 1412-1460 Richard Conisburgh Anne de Mortimer 1390-1411 File:Image File:Image Edward IV of England 1442-1483 Richard, 3rd Duke of York Cecily Neville 1415-1495 File:Image File:Image Edmund 2nd Duke of York 1443-1460 File:Image pre- 1459 L1 L2 L3 Richard, 3rd Duke of York Cecily Neville George, Duke of Clarence 1449-1477 pre- 1461 L1 L2 L3 heir presumptive 1461–1466 Richard, 3rd Duke of York Cecily Neville Richard III of England 1452-1485 L1 L2 L3 Richard, 3rd Duke of York Cecily Neville Richard, Duke of York 1472-1483 pre- 1472 heir presumptive 1483–1483 Edward IV Elizabeth Woodville 1437-1492 See also Royal Labels of the United Kingdom Royal Labels Royal Supporters of England Royal Standards of England References