Red Rose of Lancaster facts for kids
The Red Rose of Lancaster is a famous symbol. It was first used as a special badge by the royal House of Lancaster way back in the 1300s. Today, it stands for the county of Lancashire in England.
This red rose is thought to be a specific type of rose called Rosa gallica officinalis.
The White rose of York was another important symbol. It was used by Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York, who was the younger brother of John of Gaunt. His family later fought against the House of Lancaster for control of the English throne. These fights lasted for many years and are now known as the Wars of the Roses. The name "Wars of the Roses" came much later, in the 1800s, because of these two rose symbols.
After these wars ended, the red rose became a symbol of the English Monarchy. King Henry VII of England brought the wars to an end. He married Elizabeth of York, and together they created the Tudor Rose. This new rose combined the red rose of Lancaster and the white rose of York. It became the symbol of the Tudor dynasty.
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The Rose Flower Itself
The Red Rose of Lancaster is also known by other names, like the Apothecary's Rose. It's thought to be one of the very first roses ever grown by people.
This rose grew naturally in parts of Central Asia. Ancient people like the Persians and Egyptians discovered it. Later, the Romans brought it to France, which they called Gaul. That's how it got the name Rosa gallica.
People in the past used this rose for many things. For example, Charlemagne's court used it to make perfume. The rose was also important for its medical uses. It was part of many medical remedies to help people feel better.
A Symbol in Medieval Times
The Red Rose of Lancaster actually came from a gold rose badge used by Edward I of England. Other members of his family used different versions of this royal badge. For instance, the Earl of Lancaster, who was the king's brother, used a red rose.
Many people think the Red Rose of Lancaster was the main symbol for the House of Lancaster during the Wars of the Roses. However, there isn't much proof that they actually wore this rose as their badge during the battles.
Historians believe that the red rose became popular later. Henry VII of England likely promoted it. He did this to match the existing white rose symbol of the York family. In those days, symbols were very powerful.
Henry VII also used this idea to create the famous Tudor Rose. This new symbol mixed the red rose of Lancaster with the White Rose of York. It was a clever way to show that peace and unity had returned. It also celebrated his marriage to Elizabeth of York in 1486. The Tudor Rose is still used today as the plant symbol for England.
Modern Uses of the Red Rose
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Even though the red rose isn't part of the official symbols for the Duchy of Lancaster, it became a strong symbol for the county of Lancashire. Because of this, many local governments in Lancashire have included red roses in their coats of arms. After 1974, some areas that used to be part of Lancashire, like parts of Greater Manchester and Merseyside, also added red roses to their symbols. The red rose is even on the crest of the coat of arms of the London Borough of Enfield.
The traditional Lancashire flag used to be a red rose on a white background. But this flag was never officially registered. When people tried to register it, they found that a town in Scotland, Montrose, already had that design. So, Lancashire's official flag is now a red rose on a yellow background.
Today, the Red Rose is still used a lot. You can see it on the emblem of Lancashire County Cricket Club. The Trafford Centre, a big shopping mall, has red roses in its design, especially on its glass windows. Lancashire GAA also has a red rose on its emblem.
Many football clubs use the red rose too. Manchester City Football Club had the red rose on its badge from 1972 to 1997 and brought it back in 2015. This shows Manchester's history as part of Lancashire. Other clubs like Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers, and Barrow also feature the red rose on their badges.
Edge Hill University in Ormskirk uses the Red Rose on a yellow background on its crest. It also has a Liver bird, which shows its location in Lancashire and its beginnings in Liverpool.
The shield of Lancashire County Council's coat of arms has three red roses. These are on gold shapes on a red background. This coat of arms has been official since 1903.
Military Use of the Rose
Since the 1800s, the red rose has been part of the badges for some British Army units. These units recruited soldiers from Lancashire. During the First World War, the 55th (West Lancashire) Division wore the rose. Their motto was "They win or die, who wear the Rose of Lancaster." When the division was formed again in 1920, they kept the rose as their symbol. The cap badge of the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, created in 2006, also features the rose.
The Saskatoon Light Infantry of the Canadian Army also uses the red rose. It's on their cap badge and uniform buttons. This is because they have a special connection with the York and Lancaster Regiment of the British Army.
International Use of the Rose
The Canadian city of Montreal has a Lancastrian rose on its flag. It's in the top right corner and represents the city's historical English community.
The U.S. City of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, is known as "Red Rose City." It uses the Lancastrian rose as its official seal and on its flag.
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See also
- Royal Badges of England
- Wars of the Roses
- White Rose of York
- Tudor rose
