Insignia of Office of the Kingdom of France

The Heraldry of France
Marcus Karlsson
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Insignia of Office of the Kingdom of France

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 15 May 2016, 13:12

During the Kingdom of France there existed a rather elaborate system of Insignia of Office to be displayed with the Holders' Coat of Arms. Most hade military connection as the Batons Azure strewn with Golden Fleur de Lyses of the Marchal of France or the Anchors in Saltire the cross beam Azure and strewn with Golden Fleur-De-Lys of the Admiral of France. But many also had contection to Court Functions, like the Grand Ecyuer de France which supervised the Royal Stables and indeed all Horse Breding in the Kingdom. He also supervised the Transport of the Royal Court and the Founds for Religious Purposes of the Royal Court and the Coronations. He displayed on either side of the Shield a Sheated Sword surrounded by a Belt.

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Louis Charles Duke of Lorraine and Count of Brionne as Grand Ecyuer de France.

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Insignia of the Chacellor of France, here Guillaume de Lamoignon de Blancmesnil.

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Re: Insignia of Office of the Kingdom of France

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 15 May 2016, 13:17

As for the Marshals of France the was special insignia for the Doyen of the Marshals (the Eldest) this combinded the Arm issuant from a cloud and holding a Sword from the insignia of a Conetable of France (who also had a similar one on the other side) with a similar arms on the sinister side holding a Marshal's Baton.

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Marcus Karlsson
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Re: Insignia of Office of the Kingdom of France

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 15 May 2016, 13:22

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Insignia of a Admiral of France here a Royal Duke.

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Insignia of a Grand Master of Artillery, another member of the Bourbon Family.

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Insignia of a Colonel-General of Infantry, the insignia was on each side of the Shield three Colours White, Red and Blue.

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Re: Insignia of Office of the Kingdom of France

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 15 May 2016, 13:27

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Colonel-General of the Dragons, Blue Guidons strewn with Golden Fleur-de-Lys.

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Colonel-General of the Swiss and Grisons, six White Colours.

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The Colonel-General of Cavalry, six Blue Standards strewn with golden Fleur-de-Lys. The Commissary-General of Cavalry placed two Standards in saltire behind his Shield.

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Chris Green
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Re: Insignia of Office of the Kingdom of France

Postby Chris Green » 15 May 2016, 14:19

I would guess that these insignia are from the time of King Louis XIV. I wonder if he instituted them or if they have an earlier origin.
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Marcus Karlsson
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Re: Insignia of Office of the Kingdom of France

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 16 May 2016, 18:29

It seems that these varied, some of these positions didn't exist during the whole duration of the Kingdom. The title of Conetable (Constable), which had command of all other military dignitaries did disappear in 1627. Then the military came directly under the King. In contrast the first Colonel-General of Dragons Antonin Nompar de Caumont, Duke of Lauzun ect was appointed in 1668.

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Martin Goldstraw
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Re: Insignia of Office of the Kingdom of France

Postby Martin Goldstraw » 17 May 2016, 08:44

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Chris Green
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Re: Insignia of Office of the Kingdom of France

Postby Chris Green » 17 May 2016, 09:17

Martin: What a fantastic book! One copy is apparently available at Amazon (£75.71). Also a copy of: "Armorial illustré des Connétables et des Maréchaux de France : Du XI° siècle à nos jours" also a copy at Amazon (£68.06).
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Martin Goldstraw
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Re: Insignia of Office of the Kingdom of France

Postby Martin Goldstraw » 17 May 2016, 09:38

Armorial illustré des Grands Officiers
de la Maison des Rois de France
Préface de François-Alexandre de la Roche Foucauld, Duc de Liancourt
Créée au XVIe siècle par Henri III, la Maison du Roi devait mettre un terme au
laisser-aller qui s’était installé dans l’entourage royal. Louis XIV acheva l’œuvre
commencée par son prédécesseur et fit de la cour de France la mieux
ordonnée et la plus policée d’Europe.
Divisée entre maisons civile et militaire, elle se compose de 28 dignités qui
regroupent les hommes les plus proches du pouvoir royal ; Grand Maître de
France, Premier Aumônier, Capitaine-Lieutenant des Grenadiers à cheval ou
Colonel des Gardes-Suisses, etc.
Un livre de 544 pages au format 19 x 24 cm, sous couverture pelliculée mat brillant,
intérieur en 4 couleurs sur papier satiné, comportant les 392 représentations originales
de l’ensemble des blasons des Grands Officiers liés aux 28 charges de la Maison du Roi.



Armorial illustré des Connétables
et des Maréchaux de France
Préface du Comte Henri de Castries
Connétable et Maréchal sont les plus grandes dignités militaires de France.
Ce livre regroupe l’intégralité des 371 blasons des personnes liées à ces prestigieuses
dignités depuis leur création et jusqu’à l’extinction de la connétablie
avec François de Bonne, duc de Lesdiguières (1543-1626), et au dernier Maré-
chal de France, Marie-Pierre Kœnig (1898-1970) nommé à titre posthume en
1984. Grâce à cet ouvrage sans précédent, ce sont de glorieux militaires, héros
de guerre, aux noms souvent prestigieux et parfois oubliés, que vous pourrez,
à travers l’évocation de leurs armoiries, retrouver ou découvrir.
Un livre de 472 pages au format 19 x 24 cm, sous couverture pelliculée mat brillant,
intérieur en 4 couleurs sur papier satiné, comportant les 371 représentations originales
de l’ensemble des blasons des Connétables et Maréchaux de France.
Martin Goldstraw
Cheshire Heraldry
http://cheshire-heraldry.org.uk

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Martin Goldstraw
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Re: Insignia of Office of the Kingdom of France

Postby Martin Goldstraw » 17 May 2016, 09:56

At the back of the book there are eight pages with illustrations of blank shields with the ornaments of office and rank totalling 53 illustrations.

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Martin Goldstraw
Cheshire Heraldry
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