Hundred Years’ War


In the middle ages, heraldry was a potent and respected form of state propaganda and individual projection of power. A man (and it was almost invariably a man) could proclaim his status, his wealth, influence and pedigree in a seemingly simple blend of colours, shapes, beasts and designs. Heraldry was taken so seriously that it could signal a claim to a kingdom, the start of a […]

The shield that started the Hundred Years’ War


If you are reading this in Britain or Northern Ireland, you might be carrying the heraldic badge of the heir apparent to the throne of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth realms in your pocket, wallet or handbag; it is depicted on the back of the old two pence coin. But why is a trio of white feathers used to represent the Prince of Wales? The […]

The Prince of Wales’s feathers



French is one of the major sources of vocabulary in the English language. From the Norman invasion to nineteenth century European diplomacy, French words have percolated into English and have sometimes been swallowed whole with little or no attempt to Anglicize terms or phrases. One area of language is particularly heavily dependant on French loan words – the language of war. The impact of Norman dominance […]

The (French) language of war