Gelre Armorial

The Gelre Armorial (Dutch: Wapenboek Gelre) is a medieval armorial.

Gelre Armorial
MaterialPaint on vellum
Size264.5 centimetres (104.1 in) x 21 centimetres (8.3 in)
Created14th century
Present locationRoyal Library of Belgium

History

The armorial was compiled before 1396 by one Claes Heinenzoon (or Heynen, fl. 1345−1414) who was a herald in the service of the Duke of Guelders and also the creator of the Beyeren Armorial. The book displays some 1,800 coats-of-arms from all over Europe, in color, and is one of the most important sources for medieval heraldry.

The Gelre Armorial manuscript is nowadays preserved in the Royal Library of Belgium (signature code ms. 15652-5). A copy from around 1500, produced by Cornelis Enghebrechtsz, is preserved in the library of Hoge Raad van Adel. This version, however, only contains 1400 arms. From 1880 to 1905, Victor Bouton produced 60 copies with hand-coloured arms.

Earliest known colour depiction of the Danish Flag

The book also contains the oldest known depiction linking the Danish king to the red flag with white cross. On folio page 55v of the armorial, behind the sinister horn is a lance tip with a banner, displaying a white cross on red. The text left of the coat of arms says die coninc van denmarke ("the king of Denmark"). This is the earliest known coloured image of the Dannebrog (Danish flag).

Bibliography
  • Victor Bouton: Wapenboeck, ou Armorial de 1334 à 1372 : contenant les noms et armes des princes chrétiens ecclésiastiques et séculiers, suivis de leurs feudataires selon la constitution de l'Europe et particulièrement de l'empire d'Allemagne… / par Gelre, héraut d'armes, Paris 1897. (Digitalisat 1)(Digitalisat 2)
  • folio page 55v depicting the Dannebrog flag.
  • The folio pages 88v[1] and 89r[2] depicting the arms of noble families in the Duchy of Guelders.
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References
  1. folio 88v (from left top to right bottom): the arms of Guelders, Bergh, Mörs, Bronckhorst, Zuylen, Gennep, Baer, Batenburg, Borculo, Culemborg, Voorst, and Buren
  2. folio 89r (from left top to right bottom): the arms of Broeckhuysen, Waardenburg, Ulft, Eyl, Lawick, Homoet, Lackmonde, Groesbeek, Vossem, Ghent, Wickerode, Beynum, Myerlaer, Ubbergen, and Hoemen
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