Image: King of Norway

Description: The King of Norway, cut-out version of a drawing from a chromolithograph from Ancien Armorial Equestre de la Toison d'Or et de l'Europe au 15e siecle by Lorédan Larchey (1831–1902), published in Paris 1890. Text in French translated in English: Plate CI The King of Norway.(Fol. 55 of the manuscript.) LEGEND: The King of Norway (15th-century Gothic). In the bottom margin is written: "Roy deNoerweghe" (15th-century cursive). COSTUME: Helmet with a crest of a high gold hat turned up with ermine, flanked by two naturalistic iron battle-axes (the handle and blade being made from one piece), and topped by a peacock feather planted in a gold-crowned ball. In the Book of the Gelre Armorial, edited by Mr. Victor Bouton, we see that a century earlier the crest was a lion painted on a kind of high crest of five-pointed red stars, each topped by a peacock feather. The mantling is purple, while on our plate it is ermine.Tabard and horse cover (caparison) with the arms of Norway: Gules, a lion rampant or armed and langued azure, holding an argent battle-axe (the handle and blade being made from one piece). In other armorials, the lion is crowned, armed and langued or; the battle-axe is double-edged and gilded. In the 17th century, Vulson de la Colombière called this axe a Danish axe and gave it a wavy cutting edge in the shape of an accolade. Ermine lining. White horse. Taken in isolation, the effigy of the King of Norway would seem to predate 1389, when this kingdom was united with Denmark and Sweden under the scepter of Margaret of Waldemar. But we have already seen that our collection does not take into account political changes. Once recognized, each royalty remains accompanied by its heraldic attributes, which a new power may appropriate without ever altering them. Sovereigns may change, but their symbolic representation remains immutable.Also see the original illustration from Armorial de l'Europe et de la Toison d'or, an illuminated manuscript containing an armorial representing the members of the Order of the Golden Fleece between 1429 and 1461, currently held at the Bibliothèque de l'Arsenal.The Heraldry Society: Erik of Pomerania as Erik VII King of Norway
Title: King of Norway
Credit: Ancien Armorial Equestre de la Toison d'Or et de l'Europe au 15e siecle ("Ancient Equestrian Armorial of the Order of the Golden Fleece and Europe in the 15th century")
Author: Lorédan Larchey (1831–1902)
Usage Terms: Public domain
License: Public domain
Attribution Required?: No