The Heraldic System In Tudor England

Heraldic System is a set of binding and normative operating mechanisms related to the coat of arms.It is constructed to maintain the normal use of the coat of arms,and ensure the smooth implementation of the heraldic policy.The heraldic system came into being with the appearance and popularity of the heraldry in England,and its content also changed with the transformation of society.During the Tudor dynasty,a systematic and comprehensive system of heraldry had been established,which was closely associated with the royal power.Through the interpretation of the Tudor heraldic system,it provides a new angle of view for the study of Tudor monarchy,and has important research value.The first chapter describes the background of the establishment of the heraldic system of the Tudor dynasty.In the middle ages,the limited English kingship and the deficiency of the heraldic system itself led to the proliferation of coat of arms,and the heraldic system once collapsed.In modern times,the result of the war of the roses had a strong impact on the old feudal order in England.The harsh political measures of the Tudor king made the management of heraldry supported by the royal power.At the same time,the gentry gradually developed into a force that could not be ignored.How to make full use of this social force to strengthen the kingship and provide the military with sufficient financial resources has become a key issue for the Tudor royal family.The second chapter discusses the establishment and implementation of the heraldic system of the Tudor dynasty.The heraldry,college of arms and heraldic visitation constitute the main content of Tudor armorial system.The Tudor king established three-level heraldic system,delineating the jurisdiction of the heralds at all levels,and confirming their duties and privileges.The college of arms was legally established as the supreme governing body of heraldry in England,and the officers and duties of the institution were confirmed.Heralds were dispatched to investigate the use of the coat of arms.Through the above measures,the Tudor king finally realized the effective governance of heraldic affairs in the whole territory.The third chapter discusses the characteristics and influence of the heraldic system of Tudor dynasty.Different from the aristocrats in the Middle Ages,the king established absolute control over the heraldic affairs,and heraldic qualification was moved down to the gentry.Moreover,the king of Tudor restored the authority of royal heraldry through legislative activities and actively applied royal heraldry to social display.In a secular society with a low literacy rate,the royal heraldic pattern,as a symbol,was endowed with important political information and promoted the authority of the king in the continuous dissemination.By examining the heraldic system of the Tudor dynasty and comparing it with the medieval heraldic system,we can find the interesting relationship between heraldry and royal power.Although the collapse of the medieval heraldic system is the result of many factors,it is undeniable that the limited royal power is one of the important reasons for the confusion of medieval heraldic management.The reason why the heraldic system in the Tudor period was re-established and operated smoothly was the protection of a powerful royal power.However,the analysis of the relationship between heraldry and kingship should not stop there.Heraldry has become a political tool to strengthen the monarchy in the Tudor period.