The Sinister: The Lion of King George VI
The sinister supporter is a crowned lion, symbolising England.
The lion seems to have shown up on individual English royals’ coats of arms back in the 12th century, and it was certainly used by continental royals and semi-royals before William the Conqueror got himself across the Channel. Later, it was simply incorporated into English royal coats of arms, which were in turn incorporated into British/United Kingdom arms.
Lions were animals well known to European and British royals and aristocrats, having been imported from Asia and North Africa under the Roman Empire for various reasons and valued in menageries for centuries. Fearsome, sleek, and elegant, they made perfect heraldic beasts.
A lion (or lions) have been used in heraldry by many countries going back several centuries, not only England.
They represented bravery, strength and valour, just the right thing for macho knights to use in their personal coats of arms.
The lion in these two photographs are in Ottawa, Canada, on Sparks St.
