dragon

Saints Associated with Richard III (3): St George

Apr 23, 2025

anniversaries, armour, dragons, history, medieval characters, religion, Richard III

dragon, Richard III, saints, St. George

Saint George was one of the saints depicted on the Middleham Jewel, which probably belonged to either his wife, Anne Neville, his sister-in-law, Isabel Neville, or his mother-in-law, Anne Beauchamp (or possibly all three at different times). Saint George became the patron saint of England during the 13th century. Before that, Saint Edmund the Martyr…
A Royal guide to … Wales

Apr 25, 2024

anniversaries, battles, buildings, culture, genealogy, heraldry, television reviews

“Tudors”, aberfan, Arthur “Tudor”, Balmoral, banners, Battle of Bosworth, birth dates, Caernarfon Castle, Channel Four, Charles “III”, coronets, dragon, Edmund “Tudor”, Edward II, Edward VI, Edward VIII, Gwynedd, Harold II, harps, Henry VII, Henry VIII, investitures, John Ashdown-Hill, Master James of St. George, Normans, regalia, Rhuddlan Castle, statues, Victoria, Wales

This excellent documentary was featured on Channel Four during March. It told of Wales’ existence as a Kingdom before the Normans arrived and sought to reinforce their borders and the last Principality was suppressed about a year before the future Edward II was born at his father’s greatest military outpost at Caernarfon. It discussed the…
Was there a monstrous serpent and treasure hoard near Ludlow…or not?

Mar 29, 2020

genealogy

Bromfield Priory, dragon, Earl of Arundel, Earls of Surrey, Edward II, Isabella de Valois, John de Warenne, Ludlow, Piers Gaveston, Roger Mortimer, serpents, Thomas of Walsingham, Welsh Marches

We all know Thomas of Walsingham. Well, not personally, of course, although sometimes it seems like it. He was a very busy fellow, and did not always record simple ‘history’, but included some strange stories as well. In the year 1344, he recorded a ‘remarkable tale’ about John de Warenne, Earl of Surrey, 7th…
Stained-glass magnificence, courtesy of five Kings of England….

Dec 6, 2018

anniversaries, art, battles, buildings, heraldry

All Souls’ College Oxford, Battle of Bosworth, Calais, devices, dragon, Edward IV, Eton, hawthorn bush, Henry VI, Henry VII, Henry VIII, King’s College Chapel Cambridge, Morpeth Castle, Owen Lord Ogle, portcullis, Richard III, Rose, St. Andrew’s Bothal, stained glass, Thomas Wolsey

This article provides an interesting interpretation of magnificent windows that are to be found in various churches, including King’s College, Cambridge. Henry VI, Edward IV, Richard III, Henry VII and Henry VIII had a royal hand in these masterpieces. Henry VII, of course, went overboard with all his heraldic symbols, and at King’s College…
EDWARD IV-THE OTHER RED DRAGON?

Apr 11, 2018

anniversaries, genealogy, heraldry, sources

Arthurian legend, dragon, Edward IV, Free Library of Philadelphia, Gwladys Dhu, Lancastrians, Llewellyn Fawr, Ralph Mortimer, scroll, symbolism, Wales, Wigmore Castle, Yorkists

While doing some research, I came upon a beautiful 15th century scroll of Edward IV on the website of the Philadelphia Free Library, showing the King’s full line of descent with stunning imagery and symbolism. What was particularly interesting was that Edward also used, as did Henry Tudor, the image of the Red Dragon in…
An Appropriate Design!

Jan 6, 2015

art

armour, Battle of Bosworth, Bosworth, dragon, Henry Tudor, humour, knight, Richard III

In November I took part in the National Novel Writing Month challenge to write 50,000 words over the month of November and I succeeded! As a reward those who ‘win’ get a link where they can buy the year’s winners’ T-shirt, so I bought it. This is the design this year – I think it…
Henry Tudor to a T…?

Jun 20, 2014

heraldry

dragon, Henry Tudor, Tudor Pattern Book, VII, white rose

When I saw this dragon in the Tudor Pattern Book, I immediately thought of Henry Tudor. The dragon was green, so now he’s red, and has a white rose between his teeth. Seems like Henry to me.