The Rose in Heraldry The rose is one of the oldest and most widespread heraldic symbols. It appears on the coats of arms of royal dynasties, cities, noble families, and even states. Why a rose, not a lily or an ear of grain? Because the rose combines beauty and danger, innocence and passion, religious meaning and political intrigue. In this article, we will consider how the "queen of flowers" came to the knightly shields and what its colors and form mean. The Rose in European Heraldry: From the Crusades to the Present Day The first heraldic roses appeared in the 12th century. It is believed that they were brought back by knights returning from the Crusades, where they became acquainted with Arab culture. Initially, the rose was the symbol of the Virgin Mary, so it was depicted on the coats of arms of religious military orders (for example, the Templars). Gradually, the rose moved to secular heraldry. By the 14th century, it had firmly established itself as a sign of nobility, love, and purity of intention. And in the 15th century, an event occurred that made the rose almost the main heraldic figure in England — the War of the Red and White Rose. The Red and White Roses: Symbols of Rival Clans The Red Rose was the emblem of the Lancasters, the White — the Yorks. This conflict, lasting thirty years, decided the fate of the English throne. After Henry Tudor's (Lancaster) victory, he married a princess from the Yorks, uniting the roses into one — the Tudor Rose (red with a white heart or vice versa). Since then, the Tudor Rose has been the symbol of the monarchy, adorning the coat of arms of the United Kingdom to this day, albeit in a reduced form (as the emblem of England, along with the thistle of Scotland and the shamrock of Ireland). Interestingly, this rose usually has five petals, which corresponds to the five knightly virtues. Colors of Roses in Heraldry and Their Meaning The red rose — bravery, respect, passion, sometimes — blood shed for faith. The ... Read more