Pennon The
pennon or
pennant is a small elongated flag, either pointed or swallow-tailed (when swallow-tailed it may be described as a
banderole). It was charged with the
heraldic badge or some other armorial ensign of the owner, and displayed on his own lance, as a personal ensign. The
pennoncelle was a modification of the pennon. In contemporary Scots usage, the pennon is 120 cm (four feet) in length. It tapers either to a point or to a rounded end as the owner chooses. It is assigned by the
Lord Lyon King of Arms to any armiger who wishes to apply for it.
Banner . The queen's casket is escorted by mourners bearing the banners of her ancestors' arms marshalled with the arms of their wives. The
banner of arms, also simply called
banner, is square or oblong and larger than the pennon, bearing the entire coat of arms of the owner, composed precisely as upon a shield but in a square or rectangular shape. The banners of members of
Orders of Chivalry are typically displayed in the Order's chapel. Banners of Knights of the
Order of the Thistle are hung in the 1911 chapel of the Order in
St Giles High Kirk in
Edinburgh.
Banners of Knights of the
Order of the Garter are displayed in
St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. From Victorian times Garter banners have been approximately . Banners became available to all English armigers as a result of a report by Garter to the Earl Marshal dated 29 January 1906. The report stated that the size of a banner for Esquires and Gentlemen should be considered in the future. Until that date, they were available to all noblemen and knights banneret. In 2011, Garter Woodcock said that the banner for an Esquire or Gentleman should be the same size as a Marquess's and those of a lower rank down to Knight, that is, .
Heraldic standard and
Bohun swan heraldic badges differenced with a
crescent gules for
cadency. The standard bears the
Cross of Saint George for England. Black and red (
sable and gules) were Sir Henry's livery colours. during the Middle Ages (until the 13th century). It is one of the oldest heraldic flags, and the documentation for the colours dates from . (who is, in this case, also the
chief of
Clan MacDonald of Sleat) The
heraldic standard appeared around the middle of the fourteenth century, and it was in general use by personages of high rank during the two following centuries. The standard appears to have been adopted for the special purpose of displaying
badges. "The badge was worn on his livery by a servant as retainer, and consequently the standard by which he mustered in camp was of the livery colours, and bore the badge, with both of which the retainer was familiar." and the flag of the
Port of London Authority (used by the chairman and the Vice Chairman). The
Oriflamme was the
battle standard of the
King of France during the
Middle Ages. In
Scotland, a standard requires a separate grant by the
Lord Lyon. Such a grant is made only if certain conditions are met. The length of the standard depends upon one's
noble rank.
Pinsel The Scottish
pinsel is triangular in shape, 60 cm (previously specified as 2 feet) high at the hoist and 135 cm (previously specified as 4.5 feet) in width tapering to a point. This is the flag denoting a person to whom a
Clan Chief has delegated authority for a particular occasion, such as a
clan gathering when the Chief is absent. This flag is allotted only to Chiefs or very special Chieftain-Barons for practical use, and only upon the specific authority of the Lord Lyon King of Arms. ==See also==