Medieval badge - Crowned Lion
England, 15th century
Brass cast. Dimensions: 55 × 43 mm
This badge depicts a crowned lion, a common symbol of loyalty to king and state in medieval England. The lion, often crowned, figured in state heraldry, on coins, royal seals and as a sign of loyalty to the monarch's followers.
In the Middle Ages, badges fulfilled not only a religious but also a secular and political function. Pilgrim badges served as a proof of a visit to a holy place - each important pilgrimage destination had its own type of badge, by which it was possible to know where the pilgrim had been. They also had the function of a protective amulet and a spiritual monument.
In addition, however, there were also secular badges that were given out by nobles, rulers or cities to their followers, servants or soldiers as a sign of loyalty, affiliation or reward. A crowned lion could be just such a symbol - a reminder of loyalty to the crown or a commemoration of a significant event such as a festival, coronation or military campaign.
This type of badge could therefore carry both political significance and be a social or representative emblem of its wearer.
- Made in Ukraine by Armour and Castings
Related products
