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The Bear and Ragged Staff is a heraldic emblem or badge associated with the Earldom of Warwick.
The ''Ragged Staff'' is believed to refer to Morvidus, an early legendary Earl of Warwick who is said to have slain a giant "with a young
The Bear and Ragged Staff is a heraldic emblem or badge associated with the Earldom of Warwick.
The ''Ragged Staff'' is believed to refer to Morvidus, an early legendary Earl of Warwick who is said to have slain a giant "with a young ash tree
''Fraxinus'' (), commonly called ash, is a genus of plants in the olive and lilac family, Oleaceae, and comprises 45–65 species of usually medium-to-large trees, most of which are deciduous trees, although some subtropical species are evergr ...
torn up by the roots."
The emblem of a bear
Bears are carnivoran mammals of the family (biology), family Ursidae (). They are classified as caniforms, or doglike carnivorans. Although only eight species of bears are extant, they are widespread, appearing in a wide variety of habitats ...
(Latin ''ursus'') is believed to refer to Urse d'Abetot ( 1040 – 1108), 1st feudal baron
A feudal baron is a vassal holding a heritable fief called a ''barony'', comprising a specific portion of land, granted by an overlord in return for allegiance and service. Following the end of European feudalism, feudal baronies have largely be ...
of Salwarpe in Worcestershire
Worcestershire ( , ; written abbreviation: Worcs) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the West Midlands (region), West Midlands of England. It is bordered by Shropshire, Staffordshire, and the West Midlands (county), West ...
, a Norman who followed King William the Conqueror
William the Conqueror (Bates ''William the Conqueror'' p. 33– 9 September 1087), sometimes called William the Bastard, was the first Norman king of England (as William I), reigning from 1066 until his death. A descendant of Rollo, he was D ...
to England, and served as Sheriff of Worcestershire. His heir was his son-in-law Walter de Beauchamp (died 1130/3), whose descendant was William de Beauchamp, 9th Earl of Warwick (c.1238–1298), the eldest son of William de Beauchamp of Elmley by his wife Isabel de Mauduit, sister and heiress of William Mauduit, 8th Earl of Warwick.
Turnbull (1995) however suggests that the bear emblem came from another early legendary Earl of Warwick named ''Arthal'', which he suggests signifies "a bear".
Similarly the proto-heraldic emblem of Sir Reginald FitzUrse
Sir Reginald Fitzurse (1145–1173) was one of the four knights who murdered Thomas Becket in 1170. His name is derived from ''Fitz'', the Anglo-Norman French term meaning "son of" and ''urse'' meaning a bear, likely the ''nom de guerre'' of an an ...
(1145–1173), one of the four knight
A knight is a person granted an honorary title of a knighthood by a head of state (including the pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the church, or the country, especially in a military capacity.
The concept of a knighthood ...
s who murdered Thomas Becket
Thomas Becket (), also known as Saint Thomas of Canterbury, Thomas of London and later Thomas à Becket (21 December 1119 or 1120 – 29 December 1170), served as Lord Chancellor from 1155 to 1162, and then as Archbishop of Canterbury fr ...
in 1170, was a bear.
The emblem was also adopted by Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester
Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester (24 June 1532 – 4 September 1588) was an English statesman and the favourite of Elizabeth I from her accession until his death. He was a suitor for the queen's hand for many years.
Dudley's youth was ove ...
(1532–1588) of Kenilworth Castle
Kenilworth Castle is a castle in the town of Kenilworth in Warwickshire, England, managed by English Heritage; much of it is in ruins. The castle was founded after the Norman Conquest of 1066; with development through to the Tudor period. It ...
in Warwickshire, younger brother of Ambrose Dudley, 3rd Earl of Warwick, descended from Richard Beauchamp, 13th Earl of Warwick (1382–1439) and especially fascinated by his Beauchamp descent. His monument in the Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick, displays the Bear and Ragged Staff emblem.
The emblem is today used on the flag
A flag is a piece of textile, fabric (most often rectangular) with distinctive colours and design. It is used as a symbol, a signalling device, or for decoration. The term ''flag'' is also used to refer to the graphic design employed, and fla ...
of the historic county of Warwickshire
Warwickshire (; abbreviated Warks) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the West Midlands (region), West Midlands of England. It is bordered by Staffordshire and Leicestershire to the north, Northamptonshire to the east, Ox ...
.
References
{{Commons category, Bear and ragged staff (Earls of Warwick badge)