Portcullis Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary is a junior
officer of arms at the
College of Arms
The College of Arms, or Heralds' College, is a royal corporation consisting of professional Officer of Arms, officers of arms, with jurisdiction over England, Wales, Northern Ireland and some Commonwealth realms. The heralds are appointed by the ...
in
London
London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
. The office is named after the ''
Portcullis
A portcullis () is a heavy, vertically closing gate typically found in medieval fortifications. It consists of a latticed Grille (architecture), grille made of wood and/or metal, which slides down grooves inset within each jamb of the gateway.
...
chained Or''
badge
A badge is a device or accessory, often containing the insignia of an organization, which is presented or displayed to indicate some feat of service, a special accomplishment, a symbol of authority granted by taking an oath (e.g., police and fir ...
of the Beauforts, which was a favourite device of
Henry VII. King Henry's mother was
Lady Margaret Beaufort. The office was instituted around 1485, probably at the time of Henry's
coronation
A coronation ceremony marks the formal investiture of a monarch with regal power using a crown. In addition to the crowning, this ceremony may include the presentation of other items of regalia, and other rituals such as the taking of special v ...
. The badge of office is very similar to that of
Somerset Herald of Arms in Ordinary, the latter being ensigned with the Royal Crown. The earliest recorded Portcullis Pursuivant was James or Jacques Videt, who was the plaintiff in a
Common Pleas case in 1498 and again in 1500.
The office is currently vacant.
Holders of the office
See also
*
Pursuivant
*
Officer of Arms
*
College of Arms
The College of Arms, or Heralds' College, is a royal corporation consisting of professional Officer of Arms, officers of arms, with jurisdiction over England, Wales, Northern Ireland and some Commonwealth realms. The heralds are appointed by the ...
References
Citations
Bibliography
* ''The College of Arms, Queen Victoria Street : being the sixteenth and final monograph of the London Survey Committee'', Walter H. Godfrey, assisted by Sir
Anthony Wagner, with a complete list of the officers of arms, prepared by H. Stanford London, (London, 1963)
* ''A History of the College of Arms &c'',
Mark Noble, (London, 1804)
External links
The College of Arms
{{College of Arms
Offices of the College of Arms