I am a subscriber to The Great Round World, and read it with great interest every week. In No. 13 of The Great Round World, you published a picture of the iron statue of King Arthur by Fischer. Last summer we stopped for a short time in Innsbruck, and I saw the said statue in the Cathedral of that city.
There was one thing which puzzled me considerably and I know that you will be willing to explain it. Why was the fleur-de-lis placed on the shield supplied to the statue? I can't see what possible connection Arthur could have had with France, for I always thought that the fleur-de-lis was not borne by any British sovereign until after the hundred years' war was begun. Since King Arthur is supposed to have lived in the fifth or sixth century it seems strange to me that he should have been supplied with a shield bearing a device of a so much later period. Since I know nothing of heraldry, I have been much puzzled by this, and would be very grateful for an explanation. I should like to mention three books which I enjoyed so much when I read them that I am sure they would be appreciated by many. They are Miss Yonge's "Dove in the Eagle's Nest," and a "Chaplet of Pearls," and the "Caged Lion."
Wishing The Great Round World continued success,
I remain your devoted reader,
Katherine P.
New York City, May 26, 1897.
My Dear Katherine:
In reference to your question about the fleur-de-lis on King Arthur's shield.
It can have no heraldic meaning whatever, because armorial bearings were not in use in England until long after the Norman Conquest.
The kings and the great barons chose certain devices for their seals; but the same device was not used by the members of a family, nor was it handed from father to son, until armorial bearings came into use.
The use of the fleur-de-lis is not of French origin.
It was used as an ornament on the sceptres, seals, and robes, not only of the French kings, but of Greek, Roman, German, Spanish, and English kings, and was a symbol employed by many noble families in various parts of Europe.