Difference between revisions of "Banners"

Revision as of 22:35, 31 January 2015

This article's completion rating is 2 out of 5. Article structure and content is subject to change as data is still being collected.

This article's completion rating is 2 out of 5. Article structure and content is subject to change as data is still being collected.

Banners, standards, flags, gonfanon (gonfalon, guntfano) and pennons (pennants) were commonly adopted by the warriors of the 9th – 12th centuries. This article attempts to briefly outline what the authors currently know about the subject. The style of banner stays surprisingly consistent from the 9th to the 12th centuries and across Western Europe. For this reason we’ve decided to look at all the evidence together rather than, as we usually do, break the evidence into English, Carolingian, etc.

From Art

Pennons

These are triangular flags or streamers.

• 

  1000-1025AD English
  BL Harley 603

• 

  1025-1050AD English
  BL Harley 603

• 

  1050-1075AD English
  BL Harley 603

• 

  c.1073AD English
  BL Cotton Caligula A XV f123r

• 

  1125-1150AD English
  BL Harley 603

Banners

These are rectangular flags ending in ‘swallowtails’.

Before 1066AD

• Banner Leiden I Maccabees f.15v.jpg

  850-950AD Carolingian
  Leiden I Maccabees f.15v

• Banner Leiden I Maccabees f.22r.jpg

  850-950AD Carolingian
  Leiden I Maccabees f.22r

• Banner Aachen Liuthar Gospels a.jpg

  990AD Ottonian
  Aachen Liuthar Gospels

• Banner Aachen Liuthar Gospels b.jpg

  990AD Ottonian
  Aachen Liuthar Gospels

• 

  1025-10505AD English
  BL Vatican lat.12 f.37v

• 

  1025-10505AD English
  Paris Lat. 8824 f.1v

• Banner BL Cotton Tiberius C VI f.8v.jpg

  1050AD English
  BL Cotton Tiberius C VI f.8v

• Banner BL Cotton Tiberius C VI f.9r.jpg

  1050AD English
  BL Cotton Tiberius C VI f.9r

The Bayeux Tapestry

After 1066AD

• Banner Dijon MS14 f.13v a.jpg

  1109-1111AD French
  Dijon MS14 f.13v

• Banner Dijon MS14 f.13v b.jpg

  1109-1111AD French
  Dijon MS14 f.13v

• 

  1101-1133 French
  Dijon MS173 f133v 'Moralia in Job'

• 

  1100-1135AD English
  Great Seal of Henry I

From Literature

Bede – Ecclesiastical History of the English People, 731AD

"His [King Edwin] dignity was so great throughout his dominions, that not only were his banners borne before him in battle, but even in time of peace, when he rode about his cities, townships, or provinces, with his thegns, the standard-bearer was always wont to go before him. Also, when he walked anywhere along the streets, that sort of banner which the Romans call Tufa, and the English, Thuuf, was in like manner borne before him." [SELLAR 1907]

• Osthryth, queen of the Mercians

"...that there might be a perpetual memorial of the royal character of this holy man [King Oswald], they hung up over the monument his banner of gold and purple." [SELLAR 1907]

Capitulary of Charles the Bald, 843-877AD

“Let our envoys (missi nostril) see that the troops of every bishop, abbot, and abbess, march forth properly equipped, and with their Gonfalonier (cum Guntfannonario).” [HEWITT 1885: p.166]

Beowulf, c.1000AD

"High o'er his head they hoist the standard,

a gold-wove banner; let billows take him,

gave him to ocean." [GUMMERE 1910]

"To Beowulf gave the bairn of Healfdene

a gold-wove banner, guerdon of triumph,

broidered battle-flag" [GUMMERE 1910]

"His glance too fell on a gold-wove banner

high o'er the hoard, of handiwork noblest,

brilliantly broidered; so bright its gleam," [GUMMERE 1910]

The Song of Roland, 1040-115AD

• Verse 4

"And Geoffrey of Anjou, the bearer of the King's gonfalon" [BACON 1914]

• Verse 33

"Through Cerdagne, and through the valleys and the mountains they marched on,

Until of the French army they saw the gonfalon.

Where aU the twelve companions with the French rear-guard

King Marsile will not tarry till he have joined the fray" [BACON 1914]

• Verse 39

"They held Valentian lances, and shield on shoulder wore.

White and blue and vermilion were the gonfalons they bore." [BACON 1914]

• Verse 59

"Then an embroidered banner he gave unto Grandoign

To lead his men against the Franks that battle they might join.

And therewithal was given to Grandoign the whole command." [BACON 1914]

• Verse 125

"And onwards Geoffrey of Anjou bore the great Oriflame —

Because it was Saint Peter's, it bore the Roman name." [BACON 1914]

Note: Oriflame was the name of Charlemagne's banner

• Verse 137

"Right through the Prince's body his golden banner bore.

He smote him dead seven hundred of his servitors before." [BACON 1914]

• Verse 142

"Ogier the Dane and Charlemagne well the great strokes laid on,

And Neimes and Geoffrey of Anjou that bore the gonfalon.

Ogier the Dane in all things a hero good was he.

He spurred the steed beneath him, and let him gallop free.

On him who bore the Dragon he let drive a buffet dread.

Down to the earth before him he hurled Lord Amboire dead.

And the banner of King Baligant in that hour came to ground.

And Baligant beheld it fall, and the ensign of Mahound

Without a man to guard it. In his heart he saw it plain

How wickedness was on his side and the right with Charlemagne" [BACON 1914]

William of Poitiers, The Deeds of William, Duke of Normandy and King of England (Gesta Willelmi ducis Normannorum et regis Anglorum) c.1071AD

William of Malmesbury, Chronicle of the Kings of England (Gesta Regum Anglorum) c.1125AD

“The king himself on foot, stood with his brother, near the standard; in order that, while all shared equal danger, none might think of retreating. This standard William sent, after the victory, to the pope; it was sumptuously embroidered, with gold and precious stones, in the form of a man fighting.” [GILES 1847:p.276]

Master Wace, The Chronicle of the Norman Conquest (Roman de Rou), c.1174

• Line 11,450

“When Harold had made all ready, and given his orders, he came into the midst of the English, and dismounted by the side of the standard, Leofwin and Gurth, his brothers, were with him; and around him he had barons enough, as he stood by his gonfanon, which was in truth a noble one, sparkling with gold and precious stones. After the victory William sent it to the apostle, to prove and commemorate his great conquest and glory.” [TAYLOR 1837]

“L’apostoile li otreia, un gonfanon li enveia, un gonfanon et un anel, mult precios e riche e bel; si come it dit, desoz la pierre, aveit un des cheveuls Saint Pierre”[MICHEL 1836: p.147] Charlemagne: An Anglo-Norman Poem of the Twelfth Century edited by Francisque Michel 1836

Snorri Sturluson, Heimskringla (The Chronicle of the Kings of Norway), c.1225AD

• Saga of King Harald Grafeld and of Earl Hakon Son of Sigurd

"The sharp bow-shooter on the sea

Spread wide his fleet, for well loved he

The battle storm: well loved the earl

His battle-banner to unfurl,

O'er the well-trampled battle-field

He raised the red-moon of his shield;

And often dared King Eirik's son

To try the fray with the Earl Hakon." [LAING 1844]

• Harald Harfager's Saga

The forecastle men were picked men, for they had the king's banner." [LAING 1844]

• Saga of Harald Hardrade: Part I

• OF ULF AND HALDOR.

"When Harald came to the castle gate his standard-bearer fell, and Harald said to Haldor, "Do thou take up the banner now." Haldor took up the banner, and said foolishly, "Who will carry the banner before thee, if thou followest it so timidly as thou hast done for a while?" But these were words more of anger than of truth; for Harald was one of the boldest of men under arms." [LAING 1844]

• BATTLE AT A FOURTH CASTLE.

"The coffin was borne high in the air, and over it was a tent of costly linen and before it were carried many banners." [LAING 1844]

• TREATY BETWEEN HARALD AND SVEIN BROKEN.

"A little after this it happened that Harald and Svein one evening were sitting at table drinking and talking together, and Svein asked Harald what valuable piece of all his property he esteemed the most.

He answered, it was his banner Land-waster.

Svein asked what was there remarkable about it, that he valued it so highly.

Harald replied, it was a common saying that he must gain the victory before whom that banner is borne, and it had turned out so ever since he had owned it.

Svein replies, "I will begin to believe there is such virtue in the banner when thou hast held three battles with thy relation Magnus, and hast gained them all."" [LAING 1844]

• THE FALL OF EINAR AND EINDRIDE.

"After Einar's murder the king was so much disliked for that deed that there was nothing that prevented the lendermen and bondes from attacking the king, and giving him battle, but the want of some leader to raise the banner in the bonde army." [LAING 1844]

• Saga of Harald Hardrade: Part II

• OF KING SVEIN'S ARMAMENT.

"And when King Svein's banner was cut down, and his ship cleared of its crew, all his forces took to flight, and some were killed." [LAING 1844]

• KING HARALD'S BATTLE WITH EARL HAKON

"Earl Hakon had the same banner which had belonged to King Magnus Olafson." [LAING 1844]

"When the war-cry was raised the earl let his banner advance; but when they came under the hill the king's army rushed down upon them, and killed some of the earl's people, and the rest fled. The Northmen did not pursue the fugitives long, for it was the fall of day; but they took Earl Hakon's banner and all the arms and clothes they could get hold of. King Harald had both the banners carried before him as they marched away. They spoke among themselves that the earl had probably fallen. As they were riding through the forest they could only ride singly, one following the other. Suddenly a man came full gallop across the path, struck his spear through him who was carrying the earl's banner, seized the banner-staff, and rode into the forest on the other side with the banner. When this was told the king he said, "Bring me my armour, for the earl is alive." Then the king rode to his ships in the night; and many said that the earl had now taken his revenge." [LAING 1844]

• THORD'S DREAM.

"He saw a great battle-array on the land; and he thought both sides began to fight, and had many banners flapping in the air." [LAING 1844]

• OF HARALD'S ORDER OF BATTLE.

"The king's banner was next the river, where the line was thickest. It was thinnest at the ditch, where also the weakest of the men were. When the earls advanced downwards along the ditch, the arm of the Northmen's line which was at the ditch gave way; and the Englishmen followed, thinking the Northmen would fly. The banner of Earl Morukare advanced then bravely." [LAING 1844]

• THE BATTLE AT THE HUMBER.

"He ordered the banner which was called the Land-ravager to be carried before him, and made so severe an assault that all had to give way before it;" [LAING 1844]

• EARL TOSTE'S COUNSEL.

"Then King Harald ordered his banner Land-ravager to be set up; and Frirek was the name of him who bore the banner." [LAING 1844]

• OF KING HARALD'S ARMY.

"The king himself and his retinue were within the circle; and there was the banner, and a body of chosen men. Earl Toste, with his retinue, was at another place, and had a different banner." [LAING 1844]

• FALL OF KING HARALD.

"King Harald Sigurdson was hit by an arrow in the windpipe, and that was his death-wound. He fell, and all who had advanced with him, except those who retired with the banner. There was afterwards the warmest conflict, and Earl Toste had taken charge of the king's banner." [LAING 1844]

• SKIRMISH OF ORRE.

"Eystein Orre came up at this moment from the ships with the men who followed him, and all were clad in armour. Then Eystein got King Harald's banner Land-ravager; and now was, for the third time, one of the sharpest of conflicts, in which many Englishmen fell, and they were near to taking flight." [LAING 1844]

Late Roman Draco Standards

Art

• 

  c.883-900AD Carolingian
  St. Gallen Cod.22 140

• 

  c.1076AD English
  Bayeux Tapestry

Literature

Archaeology
--
Discussion

"... be the end would have been different. But Harold was struck, and cut down by a Norman sword when William's knights burst through the Huscarles to trample down the Dragon standard and Harold's banner of the Fighting Man." [OAKESHOTT 1960:p.180]

References

<nocite> BACON1914 GILES1847 GUMMERE1910 HEWITT1885 OAKESHOTT1960 SELLAR1907 SWANTON2000 TAYLOR1837 </nocite> <biblio force=false>#Template:Bib</biblio>