The
Court of the Lord Lyon, also known as the
Lyon Court, is a standing
courtA court is a body, often a governmental institution, with the authority to adjudicate legal disputes and dispense civil, criminal, or administrative justice in accordance with rules of law....
of law which regulates
heraldryHeraldry is the profession, study, or art of devising, granting, and blazoning arms and ruling on questions of rank or protocol, as exercised by an officer of arms. Heraldry comes from Anglo-Norman herald, from the Germanic compound *harja-waldaz, "army commander"...
in
ScotlandScotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. Like the
College of ArmsThe College of Arms, or Heralds' College, is an office regulating heraldry and granting new armorial bearings for England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
in
EnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the North Sea to the east, with the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
it maintains the register of grants of
armsA coat of arms, more properly called an armorial achievement, armorial bearings or often just arms for short, in European tradition, is a design belonging to a particular person and used by them in a wide variety of ways. Historically, they were used by knights to identify them apart from enemy...
, known as the
Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in ScotlandThe Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland was established by Act of the Scottish Parliament in 1672. The register is held at the Court of the Lord Lyon and contains every grant of arms since that date. Bearings that are not matriculated in the Register may not be used in Scotland...
, as well as records of genealogies.
The Lyon Court is a public body, and the fees for grants of arms are paid to
HM TreasuryHM Treasury, in full Her Majesty's Treasury, informally The Treasury, is the United Kingdom government department responsible for developing and executing the British government's public finance policy and economic policy.- History :...
. It is headed by the
Lord Lyon King of ArmsThe Lord Lyon King of Arms, the head of Lyon Court, is the most junior of the Great Officers of State in Scotland and is the Scottish official with responsibility for regulating heraldry in that country, issuing new grants of arms, and serving as the judge of the Court of the Lord Lyon, the oldest...
, who must be legally qualified, as he has criminal jurisdiction in heraldic matters, and the court is fully integrated into the Scottish legal system, including having a dedicated prosecutor, known in Scotland as a
Procurator FiscalA procurator fiscal is a public prosecutor in Scotland. They investigate all sudden and suspicious deaths in Scotland , conduct Fatal Accident Inquiries and handle criminal complaints against the police...
. This contrasts with England, where the
College of ArmsThe College of Arms, or Heralds' College, is an office regulating heraldry and granting new armorial bearings for England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
is a private body, and the
Court of ChivalryHer Majesty's High Court of Chivalry of England and Wales is a civil court in England. It has had jurisdiction in cases of the misuse of heraldic arms since the fourteenth century....
, which is a civil court, has met only once in 230 years, in 1954 .
Organisation
The head of the Lyon Court is
Lord Lyon King of ArmsThe Lord Lyon King of Arms, the head of Lyon Court, is the most junior of the Great Officers of State in Scotland and is the Scottish official with responsibility for regulating heraldry in that country, issuing new grants of arms, and serving as the judge of the Court of the Lord Lyon, the oldest...
. Only two of the office bearers work full time, the Lord Lyon King of Arms and the
Lyon Clerk and Keeper of the RecordsLyon Clerk and Keeper of the Records is an heraldic office in Scotland. The holder of this office is appointed by the Crown, and like the Lord Lyon King of Arms receives an annual salary. Lyon Clerk's duties are to conduct and assist with the preliminary business of application for a grant of...
, a post currently held by Elizabeth Roads,
Carrick PursuivantCarrick Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary is a current Scottish pursuivant of arms in ordinary. The title is derived from the Earl of Carrick, one of the titles borne by Robert the Bruce before his succession to the crown...
. The holders of these two positions are paid a salary as public officials. Up to six officers of arms in ordinary,
heraldA herald, or, more correctly, a herald of arms, is an officer of arms, ranking between pursuivant and king of arms. The title is often applied erroneously to all officers of arms....
s and
pursuivantA Pursuivant, or more correctly a pursuivant of arms, is a junior officer of arms. Most pursuivants are attached to official heraldic authorities, such as the College of Arms in London or the Court of the Lord Lyon in Edinburgh. In the mediaeval era, many great nobles employed their own officers of...
s, assist these two officers, mostly in matters of state ceremonial.title not in use at present
From time to time, others can be appointed temporarily or as a recognition of their work. These are styled Herald or Pursuivant
Extraordinary. In this way the previous Lord Lyon,
Sir Malcolm Innes of EdingightSir Malcolm Rognvald Innes of Edingight, KCVO, WS, FSA Scot. was Lord Lyon King of Arms of Scotland from 1981 until 2001.The third son of Sir Thomas Innes of Learney and Lady Lucy Buchan, third daughter of the 18th Earl of Caithness, he was educated at Edinburgh Academy and at the University of...
, serves as
Orkney Herald ExtraordinaryOrkney Herald of Arms Extraordinary is a current Scottish officer of arms extraordinary. The current holder of the office is former Lord Lyon King of Arms, Sir Malcolm Innes of Edingight....
. Administrative support to the Lyon Court is provided by the Lyon Clerk and Keeper of the Records. Prosecutions for violations of heraldry are carried out by a Procurator Fiscal attached to the Lyon Court.
In
ScotlandScotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
there are also four private pursuivants that are independent of Lyon Court. These officers are employed by Scottish
noblesThe Peerage of Scotland is the division of the British Peerage for those peers created in the Kingdom of Scotland before 1707. With that year's Act of Union, the Kingdom of Scotland and the Kingdom of England were combined into the Kingdom of Great Britain, and a new Peerage of Great Britain was...
and
chiefsfor a list of the Scottish Chiefs and their clan, see List of Scottish clans.The Scottish Gaelic word clann means children. In early times, and possibly even today, clan members believed themselves to descend from a common ancestor, the founder of the Scottish clan. From its perceived founder a...
and perform duties relating to genealogical, heraldic, and ceremonial matters of clan members.
For more information see Private Officer of ArmsA private officer of arms is one of those heralds and pursuivants appointed by great noble houses to handle all heraldic and genealogical questions.-History:...
.
As of June 2009
Officers of Arms in Scotland are:
| Position |
Name |
Lord Lyon King of ArmsThe Lord Lyon King of Arms, the head of Lyon Court, is the most junior of the Great Officers of State in Scotland and is the Scottish official with responsibility for regulating heraldry in that country, issuing new grants of arms, and serving as the judge of the Court of the Lord Lyon, the oldest...
|
David Sellar William David Hamilton Sellar is a Scottish solicitor and officer of arms. He graduated from the University of Oxford with a degree in history and the University of Edinburgh with a degree in law. He qualified as a solicitor in 1966. In 1968 he joined the Faculty of Law at the University of...
|
| Albany Herald of Arms in Ordinary Albany Herald of Arms in Ordinary is a current Scottish officer of arms in ordinary. The office was first mentioned in a diplomatic mission from Scotland to England in 1401. The office was probably instituted on the creation of Robert Stewart, son of King Robert II, as Duke of Albany, on 28 April...
|
John Alexander Spens |
| Ross Herald of Arms in Ordinary Ross Herald of Arms in Ordinary is a current Scottish officer of arms in ordinary. The title of the office is derived from the Earldom of Ross.The present Ross Herald is Charles John Burnett.-Office holders:* pre 1907- 1925: Andrew Ross...
|
Charles John Burnett |
| Rothesay Herald of Arms in Ordinary Rothesay Herald of Arms in Ordinary is a current Scottish herald of arms. The office was created after 1398 when the dukedom of Rothesay was conferred on David, eldest son of King Robert III, on 28 April 1398...
|
Sir Crispin Agnew of Lochnaw Major Sir Crispin Hamlyn Agnew of Lochnaw, 11th Baronet QC is an Advocate, officer of arms former explorer and Chief of the Name and Arms of Agnew....
|
| Marchmont Herald of Arms in Ordinary Marchmont Herald of Arms in Ordinary is a Scottish officer of arms at the Court of the Lord Lyon King of Arms. The office was first mentioned in 1438, and the title is derived from the royal castle of Marchmont or Roxburgh in the Borders...
|
title not in use at present |
| Snowdoun Herald of Arms in Ordinary Snowdoun Herald of Arms in Ordinary was a Scottish officer of arms prior to 1867. The office was first mentioned in 1448 and the title is derived from a part of Stirling Castle which bore the same name....
|
title not in use at present |
| Bute Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary Bute Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary is a current Scottish officer of arms in ordinary. The title of the office derives from the Isle of Bute.The most recent Bute Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary was W David H Sellar.-Office bearers:...
|
title not in use at present |
| Carrick Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary Carrick Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary is a current Scottish pursuivant of arms in ordinary. The title is derived from the Earl of Carrick, one of the titles borne by Robert the Bruce before his succession to the crown...
|
Elizabeth Ann Roads Elizabeth Ann Roads, MVO is Carrick Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary and Lyon Clerk and Keeper of the Records for the Court of the Lord Lyon.-Personal life and education:...
|
| Unicorn Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary Unicorn Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary is a current Scottish officer of arms. The title was created after 1381, and derived from the unicorn. One of these beasts is used as a supporter for the royal arms of Scotland, and as a royal badge...
|
Adam Bruce Adam Robert Bruce is Unicorn Pursuivant at the Court of the Lord Lyon. He was previously Finlaggan Pursuivant of Arms, a herald in service to the Clan Donald of Scotland....
|
| Dingwall Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary Dingwall Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary is the title of a Scottish officer of arms. The office is currently vacant, as the reduction in the number of pursuivants in the Court of the Lord Lyon from six to three in the late nineteenth century means only three titles are in use at any one time...
|
title not in use at present |
| Kintyre Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary Kintyre Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary is the title of a Scottish officer of arms. The office is currently vacant, as the reduction in the number of pursuivants in the Court of the Lord Lyon from six to three in the late 19th century means only three titles are in use at any one time.The current...
|
title not in use at present |
| Ormond Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary Ormond Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary is the title of a Scottish officer of arms. The office was vacant for a long time, as the reduction in the number of pursuivants in the Court of the Lord Lyon from six to three in the late 19th century means only three titles are in use at any one time...
|
Mark D. Dennis |
| Orkney Herald of Arms Extraordinary Orkney Herald of Arms Extraordinary is a current Scottish officer of arms extraordinary. The current holder of the office is former Lord Lyon King of Arms, Sir Malcolm Innes of Edingight....
|
Sir Malcolm Innes of Edingight Sir Malcolm Rognvald Innes of Edingight, KCVO, WS, FSA Scot. was Lord Lyon King of Arms of Scotland from 1981 until 2001.The third son of Sir Thomas Innes of Learney and Lady Lucy Buchan, third daughter of the 18th Earl of Caithness, he was educated at Edinburgh Academy and at the University of...
|
| Angus Herald of Arms Extraordinary |
Robin Orr Blair Robin Orr Blair, CVO, WS , former Lord Lyon King of Arms of Scotland, is a retired solicitor, and was a partner with Dundas & Wilson CS and later with Turcan Connell. From 1988 until his appointment as Lord Lyon, he held the post of Purse Bearer to the Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly...
|
| Islay Herald of Arms Extraordinary Islay Herald of Arms in Ordinary was a Scottish officer of arms prior to 1867. The office was first mentioned in 1493. Islay is an island off the west coast of Scotland and was the headquarters of the Lord of the Isles...
|
Alastair Lorne Campbell of Airds Alastair Lorne Campbell of Airds is a Scottish officer of arms and author. Campbell of Airds was appointed Unicorn Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary in 1987. In 2008 he was appointed Islay Herald Extraordinary....
|
| Linlithgow Pursuivant of Arms Extraordinary Linlithgow Pursuivant of Arms Extraordinary is a current Scottish officer of arms extraordinary. The last holder of the office was John Charles Grossmith George.-Office bearers:* 1958-1961 Don Pottinger* 1987-1992 Elizabeth Roads...
|
title not in use at present |
| Falkland Pursuivant of Arms Extraordinary Falkland Pursuivant of Arms Extraordinary is the name of a former Scottish officer of arms extraordinary at the Court of the Lord Lyon King of Arms...
|
title not in use at present |
| March Pursuivant of Arms Extraordinary March Pursuivant of Arms Extraordinary is a former Scottish officer of arms extraordinary. The office was first mentioned in 1515 and it is associated with the part of the Border area known as the marches. The office is currently vacant.-Office holders:...
|
title not in use at present |
| Procurator Fiscal to Lyon court A procurator fiscal is a public prosecutor in Scotland. They investigate all sudden and suspicious deaths in Scotland , conduct Fatal Accident Inquiries and handle criminal complaints against the police...
|
George Way of Plean George Way of Plean is the Procurator Fiscal of the Court of the Lord Lyon in Scotland. He has held that position since 12th February 2003. He is a graduate of the University of Edinburgh and senior partner with the law firm of Beveridge and Kellas SCC....
|
| Herald Painter |
Yvonne Holton |
See also
- Bureau of Heraldry (South Africa)
The Bureau of Heraldry is the South African heraldic authority, established in Pretoria on 1 June 1963. It is headed by a National Herald and its functions are to register arms, badges, flags and seals , to keep a public register, to issue registration certificates and, since 1980, to advise the...
- Canadian Heraldic Authority
The Canadian Heraldic Authority is part of the Canadian honours system under the Queen of Canada, whose authority is exercised by the Governor General. The Authority is responsible for the creation and granting of new coats of arms , flags and badges for Canadian citizens, permanent residents and...
- College of Arms
The College of Arms, or Heralds' College, is an office regulating heraldry and granting new armorial bearings for England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
(London)
- Flemish Heraldic Council
The Flemish Heraldic Council or Vlaamse Heraldische Raad advises the Flemish Government on all matters relating to heraldry. It currently operates as the fifth division of the Royal Commission of Monuments and Sites or Koninklijke Commissie voor Monumenten en Landschappen.The Council was...
- Office of the Chief Herald of Ireland
The Genealogical Office is an office of the Government of Ireland containing genealogical records. It includes the Office of the Chief Herald of Ireland , the authority in the Republic of Ireland for heraldry. The Chief Herald authorises the granting of arms to Irish bodies and Irish people,...
External links