Why Was The Fleur de Lys On The Royal Arms of England
Not all that long ago, kings of England declared they had a claim to the French throne.
It all started in 1328 when Charles IV of France died without a male heir.
A claim for the succession was made by England on behalf of his sister’s son, his fifteen year old nephew, his closest male relative.
Instead, France chose his distant cousin to succeed him as Philip VI.
Edward’s claim might have ended right there had not Philip VI deprived him of his legal right to Aquitaine.
In 1337 Philip VI took Guyenne, one of the largest, richest provinces of France, a personal possession of Edward III which was handed down to all kings of England by Eleanor of Aquitaine in 1204.
In 1340, a furious Edward, no longer a Prince, now the king of England, publicly challenged Philip for the French throne.
He formally assumed the title King of France and united the French Royal Arms with those of England.
From that day on, English kings declared themselves kings of France, hence the French fleur-de-lis on the royal arms.
Edward, looking for a fight with Philip, one he was determined to win, ‘challenges the one who calls himself King of France’.
His argument was that as the late king’s only direct male descendant, he was the rightful king of France.
However, a conveniently resuscitated ancient Salic Law dictated that not only could the French Crown not go to a woman it could not go to her descendants either.
Edward’s mother, Isabella, the king’s sister, was a French royal princess, a king’s daughter, who married Edward’s father, Edward II, king of England. She and his uncle Charles were the children of Philip IV of France. Isabella was close to her brother who, ironically claimed the title King of Navarre from his mother. Salic Law was not used in Navarre.
The fact that Edward was furious about Salic Law did not validate his claim. He could not impose English law on France, not unless he took it by force, something he was determined to do.
Edward and his descendants waged war for over one hundred years to enforce his claim.
Edward adopted the French motto Honi soit qui mal y pense - Shame be to him who thinks ill of it – meaning anyone who did not agree he had a right to the French Crown.
The seeds of England’s animosity against France were planted in 1066 when William The Norman invaded. The English equated Normandy with France which did not then exist as an entity.
The seeds of France’s animosity against England were its ownership of huge tracts of lands in France which began with William who owned Normandy. When he became king of England he united Normandy with England. From 1066 on, the king of England was de facto also duke of Normandy. His great-grandson, Henry II, inherited Normandy from William, Anjou from his father and Aquitaine by right of his wife Eleanor. He owned and ruled more of France than the king of France.
In 1204, Philip II took Normandy for the French Crown. He wore the fleur-de-lys, on the battle field. England’s ruling class was, naturally, incandescent with rage at the loss of their lands in France.
William had replaced the English ruling class with the Norman ruling class. Their descendants, proud of their French heritage, blamed their king, King John, for losing Normandy. They decided to depose him.
They invited Philip II’ s son Prince Louis to England and proclaimed him King Louis I at St Paul's Cathedral. At the ceremony, King Louis wore his father’s insignia, the fleur de lys.
In 1294 Philip IV took Gascony from Edward I. Another nail in the coffin.
In 1337, when Philip VI took Aquitaine from Edward III, it was the last straw. Edward's anger triggered The Hundred Years War which brought France to its knees. It took as many again to right itself.
There is an argument that it was partly self-inflicted. After all, what was wrong with an English king? England had four French kings, William of Normandy; Stephen of Blois, not the rightful heir, that was Matilda, daughter of Henry I. Stephen was chosen by England in preference to her; Matilda’s son, Henry II, son of the Count of Anjou and Louis, son of Philip II was chosen by England in preference to their own king, John.
Besides, all the Plantagenet kings and queens were of French origin.
After the French Revolution of course, there was no king of France, even in France.
In 1797 France demanded England drop the title King of France.
In 1801 Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland) united with Ireland. The king’s title was changed to George the Third, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. The fleurs-de-lis, on the coat of arms of all English claimants to King of France since Edward III was removed.
Post by Pamela (BA History of Art), Artwork and Photography by Mark.
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