King Charles I of England ordering his Standard to be erected on Nottingham Castle


This illustration has been copied from an original Copper Plate engraving published in 1773 King Charles I of England ordering his Standard to be erected on Nottingham Castle Throughout the long and bitter struggle between the King and Parliament the Castle was destined to play a very important part, for it was from the summit of the highest tower that Charles I. unfurled his standard of war on the evening of a stormy and tempestuous day in August, 1642. Starting from Clare Hall, the residence of the 2nd Earl of Clare in Gridlesmith Gate (now Pelham Street), the King, attended by a devoted band of nobles, including Sir Edmund Verney, the standard bearer, rode across the Market Place, through the Moot Hall gate, and up the narrow road (Friar Lane) leading to the Castle. The drawbridge was lowered to allow the cavalcade to enter by the same arched approach and gateway that serves as the entrance still. Their intention was practically to make a declaration of war by unfurling the great standard. Colors were presented to each regiment assembled, and orders given to fight against all the King’s enemies, the Earl of Lindsey being appointed King’s general. Since the introduction of standing armies, in the reign of Henry VIII., a standard of war was no longer necessary; but under the peculiar circumstances—a Sovereign declaring war upon his own subjects—the national banner of the time, displaying the crosses of George and Andrew, in the form of a Union Jack, was inappropriate, and so the King had recourse to the custom that had prevailed in feudal ages of unfurling a standard, around which his adherents might rally their forces.


Size: 3164px × 4764px
Photo credit: © 19th era / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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