The Power of Symbolism: The Tudor Rose -From War to Unity
Celebrating Henry VII's Visionary Symbolism with the story behind the rose's inception and legacy
A thousand apologies for being gone so long. A big life changing opportunity has presented itself - that is my only excuse. I’ll tell you what it is at the end.
Now on to the post that has taken up HUGE amounts of space in my brain:
I have come to the conclusion that.…
The Tudor rose was probably an invention.
An ingeniously curated invention that has captured our hearts and tells the remarkable story of triumph over tragedy and hope over hardship.
A story that has endured for 539 years.
Henry VII crafted the Tudor rose to represent his lineage and future dynasty. However, it does much more than that; it expresses a narrative that cuts across time. Prior to his reign most, if not all, monarchs and nobility used heraldic badges, each with its own story. Yet, none rival the compelling saga told by the Tudor Rose; an exquisite fusion of the White Rose of York and the Red Rose of Lancaster. Born from the union of two warring families, this symbol, a smaller white rose embraced by a larger red rose, unfolds a legacy so intoxicating, it's almost like a fairytale.
A legacy beyond words.
One question that has plagued this ingenious device is whether the red rose badge was actually used by the Lancastrians prior to Henry VII. My question, after researching for weeks, is who cares?
Why are we looking so hard to find proof? Why can't the answer just be that he used his incredible intelligence to grab an opportunity and do what he did best: brilliantly market himself and promote his dynasty.
Why do we scrutinize and diminish Henry VII's impact so much?
Henry Tudor had foresight in spades. Many of his creations are so ingrained in English culture I wonder if people even realize he was the architect behind them. In part one of this “Power of Symbolism” series I covered Henry Tudor's creation of the iconic gold Sovereign, England's first pound coin. A coin so coveted and valuable that it is still considered "one of the most sought after coins in the world". You can read my article here
Join me for part two as I explore the legacy of the incomparable Tudor rose.
Let's dig in to:
The elusive history of the Lancastrians' use of the red rose prior to the Tudor reign
How King Edward IV adopted the York white rose for his heraldry
My personal theory of Henry's Welsh heritage influencing the red rose
Henry VII's struggle for curbing the nobility's power in post-wars of the roses England
The Tudor rose's enduring legacy
The elusive history of the Lancastrians red rose
The truth is there is no substantial contemporary evidence that the previous Lancastrian Kings used the "red rose" as a heraldic badge prior to the Tudor reign. Thanks to the late great John Ashdown-Hill, and his well researched article cited below, we can find details of roses decorating the morse of the mantle on Lancastrian King Henry IV's effigy (an ornate "clasp" holding his "cloak"). However, the roses found there were not necessarily representative of a heraldic emblem, red or otherwise, used in Henry IV's lifetime.
Traveling farther back in time Ashdown - Hill found an interesting record stating that red roses were used to top Edmund Crouchback, 1st Earl of Lancaster's, tomb at his funeral in 1296. Nonetheless, Crouchback is not of the Lancastrians that relate to Henry Tudor. As Ashdown - Hill noted "that right would have passed to the children of John of Gaunt's first wife, Blanche of Lancaster (heiress of the line of Edmund Crouchback), whereas the Beauforts were descended from John of Gaunt’s third wife, Katherine Swynford".
We know the rose emblem likely originates from Edmund's mother, Henry III's Queen, Eleanor of Provence. Her son, King Edward I, also loved roses and sometimes used a gold one as a badge. From there it was picked up and put down throughout the centuries as desired. Nothing, however, proves without a shadow of a doubt that a red rose was specifically used by Henry Tudor's descendants with John of Gaunt as the progenitor.
Back to my point though, why does it matter? Is the interest of tracking down a minuscule shred of evidence that it was used really important to the outcome of what the symbol meant or its legacy? The Tudor Rose has not only stood the test of time but towered over almost all English royal symbols in regard to historical significance and modern relevance. Can we please do what I set out to do with this newsletter and just give Henry Tudor the credit he deserves?
King Edward IV's York White Rose in heraldry
As far as the white rose of York, historical records from King Edward IV's reign confirm its display and use, often accompanied by the sun in splendor. It can be seen in the magnificent Edward IV pedigree roll which you can check out here . I am personally grateful to the Richard III society and their efforts in making this accessible to all history lovers.
Edward also used the white rose in his distribution of badges to various castles as well as on his royal seal. You can read a fantastic article from Ricardianloons I cited below.
From my personal perspective the most interesting place I’ve researched to see the York rose in action is on Edward IV's gorgeous "Rose Noble'' coins. As our friend Ashdown- Hill has stated; a coin cannot depict color- but it was certainly known that Edward IV’s rose was white. I have really been enjoying learning about English coinage during this time. I reference my shiny new Spink “Coins of England 2024” catalogue every day. If you've been following me, you know I think numismatics has a very important and undervalued place as a primary source for researching our favorite monarchs - and I am going to squeeze in wherever I can ;-)
Below is an example of Edward IV's creation of the "Ryal" or "Rose Noble" coin minted between 1464-1470. This completely new and stunning gold coin came in at a whopping 10 shillings. It features the York rose on both the front and back. On the front (obverse) the rose is proudly displayed on the hull of the ship carrying Edward's likeness (I think the “E” on the flag is really cool too). On the reverse, not shown, the rose is in the center of the coin inside a sunburst.
We may only have one side of the Tudor rose with a proven heritage but it does not diminish its historical significance. While the red rose badge may have been an innovation of the ultimate brand strategist, Henry Tudor, the white rose was not. Through her birthright Elizabeth of York, wife to Henry VII and daughter of Edward IV, served as the embodiment of the York white rose and ensured its royal legacy for future Tudor generations.
Theory of Henry's Welsh heritage influencing the red rose
Perhaps Henry's choice of red for his rose drew on his well known affinity for Arthurian legend. Henry was proud of his Welsh heritage and used it strategically. Could the color have been a nod to Geoffrey of Monmouth’s 12th-century saga Historia Regum Britanniae? In it young Merlin told the Celtic king, Vortigern, the castle he was trying to build kept falling because two serpents were sleeping below the foundation in an underground pool. The King then had the area dug up and incredibly the pool and serpents were found! Merlin explained that the serpents symbolized two dragons; a red dragon that represented native Britons / the Welsh and a white dragon that represented the future Anglo-Saxons. You can the full History of the Kings of Britain by Geoffrey of Monmouth here
The dragons became furious after being woken up. A deadly battle ensued. It finally ended with the red dragon (Britons / Welsh) beating the white dragon (Anglo-Saxons). If Henry was looking for a color to represent his rose it makes sense that he chose red. We know he proudly flew the Welsh red dragon on his standard at Bosworth featuring the Tudor livery colors of green and white.
What do you think? Do you have any thoughts on where the red rose may have come from?
Henry VII's Struggle for Curbing Noble Power in Post-Wars of the Roses England
Henry worked hard to prevent his nobles from rising up against him. He often faces criticism for this, but why? The situation is much more nuanced than him simply having a lust to handicap the nobility. In the aftermath of the Wars of the Roses, England was plagued by deep-seated divisions and simmering rivalries among the nobility.
Henry Bolingboke, the future Henry IV, Richard 3rd Duke of York and the 16th Earl of Warwick are notable examples of ambitious nobles whose actions fueled the conflicts that Henry VII sought to prevent.
With unbridled wealth, retainers, and motivation, the powerful nobility did have the capacity to challenge the throne—In fact, in Henry Tudor's case you didn't even need that much money, supporters, or a solid claim and you could still take the crown yourself!
Continuing from the 12th century the affluent nobility had retainers loyal to them. This group often wore the heraldic badges representing their leader. These symbols transcended the limitations of literacy, which hovered around 10%. Since the masses couldn't read they depended on the visual representation of heraldic emblems (or livery colors) to know who was who. This was especially important during the confusion of battle. These badges could be derived from their lord's coats of arms or be a separate symbol all together. Coats of arms represented ancestry, rank, and sometimes achievements but they could only be worn by the individual or the family they belong to. A heraldic badge, however, could be worn by members of a household or retainers who could then be called upon to fight under their leader. * I plan on writing a follow up article at some point focusing just on "heraldry" because it is as fascinating as it is confusing. Let me know if this sounds interesting to you in the comments.
Henry actively discouraged the display of individual heraldic devices by his nobility and created laws that restricted the amount of retainers they could have. He had the lords compile their names and present them to him. It then needed to be signed by both the king and the noble. Although Henry felt that retaining was vital to maintaining peace and having an army on hand for conflict was convenient, he needed to ensure the nobility were playing by his rules and only using them on the monarchy's behalf. If they did not heel or were caught abusing the law they were susceptible to massive fines. For some this would have been a crippling amount of money; tens of thousands of pounds "according to the rates laid down in the 1504 statute, of £5 per man per month" you can read a fascinating historical journal of a specific situation here.
With the creation of the Tudor Rose we see the shrewd political strategies of Henry VII. Part of this strategy was the control of heraldry, particularly within the ranks of his military forces. By emphasizing a unified symbol that transcended factional loyalties, Henry sought to foster a sense of national identity and loyalty to the monarchy. His reign marked a pivotal moment in English history, characterized by Henry's astute efforts to consolidate power and foster unity in a fractured realm.
The Tudor Rose's Enduring Legacy
During the Tudor reign, the Tudor Rose was ubiquitous, it appeared everywhere, from coinage and Parliament rolls to manuscripts, uniforms, and flags. It graced Elizabethan paintings and featured prominently in all ceremonial events. Even today, its presence is felt in the architectural marvels that still stand proudly:
Hampton Court
The Tower of London
The Henry VII Chapel at Westminster
The gates of Christ’s and St John’s Colleges
King’s College Chapel at Cambridge
Remarkably, the Tudor Rose is England's floral heraldic emblem and remains at the heart of the United Kingdom’s Coat of Arms almost 540 years after its inception!
The Tudor Rose wasn't just a symbol of the union between Lancaster and York; it played a pivotal role in reinforcing the legitimacy, unity, and authority of the Tudor monarchy. As we uncover its enduring significance, we find the brilliance of Henry VII, a monarch whose visionary spirit and creative genius left an indelible mark on English culture and identity. It becomes abundantly clear that Henry's innovations, epitomized by the Tudor Rose, warrant greater acknowledgment for their profound influence on English history and culture, serving as a timeless emblem of national identity and heritage.
Thank you all for joining me on this journey and for your patience. Now on to the news: my husband and I have decided that I should take this newsletter and my subsequent Youtube channel linked here to the next level. I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to focus on this instead of moving forward in a new career after being home with our incredible kids for 8 years. I am working hard to learn all the intricacies of creating a channel (harder than it looks). It will have the same focus as this newsletter, Henry VII and other intriguing Tudor content, in fact the Sovereign Coin video is now live here if you want to see it instead of just read about it. I am having a lot of fun putting in the effort to make great quality, engaging videos.
I can't wait to start my next article in the "The Power of Symbolism" series where I'll explore another iconic symbol like the previous two—symbols we often overlook as Henry VII's ingenious creations, waiting to be rediscovered.
Until then,
Fair thee well
~Amy
Sources and Citations:
Nathan Amin “Henry VII and the Tudor Pretenders” 2022
Thomas Penn “Winter King Henry VII and the Dawn of Tudor England”
Spink, Coins of England & the United Kingdon Pre- decimal series Standard Catalogue of British Coins 2024
The historical development of heraldry https://www.britannica.com/topic/heraldry/The-historical-development-of-heraldry - first coat of arms richard i
Encyclopedia Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/topic/heraldry/Records-and-grants - heraldic symbols history richard I and college of arms7 Significant Sovereigns by the Royal Mint https://www.royalmint.com/stories/collect/7-Significant-Sovereigns/ - sought after gold coins
John Ashdown- Hill's fantastic article "The Red Rose of Lancaster?"
Blood of Cherries "The White Rose of Mortimer? Ricardianloons.wordpress.com January 7 (2020) https://ricardianloons.wordpress.com/author/bloodofcherries/
Dragon spirit: the legend of the Welsh ddraig goch Wales.com ://www.wales.com/about/why-there-dragon-welsh-flag#:~:text=The%20story%20begins%20with%20a%20battle&text=Upon%20digging%20the%20ground%2C%20Vortigern%27s,dragon%20ultimately%20won%20the%20fight.
Thank you to the continued effort and generosity of the Richard III society they are the reason we have access to the incredible Edward Iv Roll. https://r3.org/edwardiv-roll/ or access it below
Chronicle of the History of the World from Creation to Woden, with a Genealogy of Ms. Roll 1066 Genealogical Chronicle of the Kings of England to Edward IV, circa 1461 ://libwww.freelibrary.org/digital/item/mca2010001
The Oxford dictionary of phrase and fable //www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/oi/authority.20110810105623238#:~:text=The%20name%20comes%20from%20Latin,is%20made%20of%20Geoffrey%27s%20death
C N Trueman "Henry VII And Retaining" historylearningsite.co.uk. The History Learning Site, 16 Mar 2015. 7 Mar 2024.
Geoffrey of Monmouth “History of the Kings of Britain” translated byAaron Thompson, with revisions by J.A. Giles https://www.yorku.ca/inpar/geoffrey_thompson.pdf History of the Kings of Britain – York University
James Ross Lord Bergavenny’s illegal retaining revisited, 1501–22* Historical Research, Volume 94, Issue 266, November 2021, Pages 675–694,https://academic.oup.com/histres/article/94/266/675/6377832?login=false
ztevetevans at Under the influence! The Prophecy of Merlin: The Two Dragonshttps://ztevetevans.wordpress.com/2017/07/05/the-prophecy-of-merlin-the-two-dragons/
Image:http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Welsh_Dragon_(Y_Ddraig_Goch).svg Sodacan, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Image:http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Welsh_Dragon_(Y_Ddraig_Goch).svg Unknown Vector graphics by Tobias Jakobs, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Image: United kingdom coats of arms https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Royal_Coat_of_Arms_of_the_United_Kingdom_(Tudor_crown).svg Sodacan 20 July 2010 https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=130404261
Image: Rose of Lancaster https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Red_Rose_Badge_of_Lancaster.svg Sodacan, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Image: Rose Noble Coin of Edward IV http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rose_Noble,_Edward_IV,_from_1464_-_Bode-Museum_-_DSC02744.JPG - front of ryal Daderot, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Image: Noble Coin of Edward IV https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Medieval_coin,_Rose_noble_of_Edward_IV_(FindID_890209).jpg - both sides but with ruler. Oxfordshire County Council, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Very interesting, as usual!
I'm excited you'll get to focus on this full time ! 👏🏾
It's an excellent project.
I would love to learn more about the heraldry.