Rothesay Herald of Arms in Ordinary is a current Scottish

Scotland

Scotland 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...

 herald of arms

Officer of arms

An officer of arms is a person appointed by a sovereign or state with authority to perform one or more of the following functions:*to control and initiate armorial matters*to arrange and participate in ceremonies of state...

 in Ordinary of the Court of the Lord Lyon

Court of the Lord Lyon

The Court of the Lord Lyon, also known as the Lyon Court, is a standing court of law which regulates heraldry in Scotland. Like the College of Arms in England it maintains the register of grants of arms, known as the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland, as well as records of...

.

The office was created after 1398 when the dukedom

Duke of Rothesay

Duke of Rothesay was a title of the heir apparent to the throne of the Kingdom of Scotland before 1707, of the Kingdom of Great Britain from 1707 to 1801, and now of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland....

 of Rothesay

Rothesay, Argyll and Bute

The town of Rothesay is the principal town on the Isle of Bute, in the council area of Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It can be reached by ferry from Wemyss Bay which offers an onward rail link to Glasgow. At the centre of the town is Rothesay Castle, a ruined castle which dates back to the 13th...

 was conferred on David, eldest son of King Robert III

Robert III of Scotland

Robert III was King of Scots from 1390 to his death. His given name was John Stewart, and he was known primarily as the Earl of Carrick before ascending the throne at age 53...

, on 28 April 1398. This was the first ducal creation ever granted in Scotland.

The badge of office

Heraldic badge

A heraldic badge is an emblem or personal device worn as a badge to indicate allegiance to or the property of an individual or family. Medieval forms are usually called a livery badge, and also a cognizance...

 is Two fleurs-de-lys Gules surmounted of a three point label chequy Azure and Argent and ensigned of the Crown of Scotland Proper.

The office is currently held by Sir Crispin Agnew of Lochnaw

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....

, Bt.

Baronet

A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...

, QC

Queen's Counsel

Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...

. He was appointed to this post on the 1 August 1986.

Office bearers

• 1898 - 1929: Sir Francis James Grant
  Francis Grant (officer of arms)
  Sir Francis James Grant KCVO, LLD, WS was a Scottish officer of arms who eventually rose to the office of Lord Lyon King of Arms. Grant served in the Court of the Lord Lyon as Carrick Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary beginning on 17 May 1886...
  
  
• 1939 - 1981: Harold Andrew Balvaird Lawson
• 1986 - Present: Crispin Agnew of Lochnaw
  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....
  
  

See also

• Officer of Arms
  Officer of arms
  An officer of arms is a person appointed by a sovereign or state with authority to perform one or more of the following functions:*to control and initiate armorial matters*to arrange and participate in ceremonies of state...
  
  
• Herald
  Herald
  A 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....
  
  
• Court of the Lord Lyon
  Court of the Lord Lyon
  The Court of the Lord Lyon, also known as the Lyon Court, is a standing court of law which regulates heraldry in Scotland. Like the College of Arms in England it maintains the register of grants of arms, known as the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland, as well as records of...
  
  
• Heraldry Society of Scotland
  Heraldry Society of Scotland
  The Heraldry Society of Scotland was founded in 1977 with the objective of promoting the study of heraldry and encouraging its correct use in Scotland and overseas....
  
  

External links

• The Court of the Lord Lyon