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Earl Marshal
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| Earl Marshal of England | |
|---|---|
 Arms of the Dukes of Norfolk as Earl Marshal. | |
_2022.jpg) | |
| Style | His Grace The Most Noble |
| Type | Great Officer of State |
| Formation | 1672 (current office granted by Letters Patent) |
| First holder | The 6th Duke of Norfolk (1672 creation) |
| Succession | Hereditary |
| Deputy | Deputy Earl Marshal Knight Marshal (until 1846) |
Earl Marshal (alternatively marschal or marischal) is a hereditary royal officeholder and chivalric title under the sovereign of the United Kingdom used in England (then, following the Act of Union 1800, in the United Kingdom). He is the eighth of the great officers of State in the United Kingdom, ranking beneath the Lord High Constable of England and above the Lord High Admiral. The dukes of Norfolk have held the office since 1672.
The current earl marshal is Edward Fitzalan-Howard, 18th Duke of Norfolk, who inherited the position in June 2002. There were formerly an Earl Marshal of Ireland and an Earl Marischal of Scotland.
Duties
[edit]The earl marshal was originally responsible, along with the constable, for the monarch's horses and stables including connected military operations. As a result of the decline of chivalry and sociocultural change, the position of earl marshal has evolved and among his responsibilities today is the organisation of major ceremonial state occasions such as coronations in Westminster Abbey, state funerals, and prescribing the order of ceremonial for state openings of Parliament. By virtue of office, the earl marshal is the leading officer of arms in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and certain Commonwealth realms and thus oversees the College of Arms. Likewise, he is the sole judge of the High Court of Chivalry.[1][2][3]
History
[edit]The office of royal marshal existed in much of Europe, involving managing horses and protecting the monarch. In England, the office became hereditary under John FitzGilbert the Marshal (served c.1130–1165) after The Anarchy, and rose in prominence under his second son, William Marshal, later Earl of Pembroke. He served under several kings, acted as regent, and organised funerals and the regency during Henry III's childhood. After passing through his daughter's husband to the Earls of Norfolk, the post evolved into "Earl Marshal" and the title remained unchanged, even after the earldom of Norfolk became a dukedom.
In the Middle Ages, the Earl Marshal and the Lord High Constable were the officers of the king's horses and stables. When chivalry declined in importance, the constable's post declined and the Earl Marshal became the head of the College of Arms, the body concerned with all matters of genealogy and heraldry. In conjunction with the Lord High Constable, he had held a court, known as the Court of Chivalry, for the administration of justice in accordance with the law of arms, which was concerned with many subjects relating to military matters, such as ransom, booty and soldiers' wages, and including the misuse of armorial bearings.
In 1672, the office of Marshal of England and the title of Earl Marshal of England were made hereditary in the Howard family.[4][5][6] In a declaration made on 16 June 1673 by Arthur Annesley, 1st Earl of Anglesey, the Lord Privy Seal, in reference to a dispute over the exercise of authority over the Officers of Arms the powers of the Earl Marshal were stated as being "to have power to order, judge, and determine all matters touching arms, ensigns of nobility, honour, and chivalry; to make laws, ordinances and statutes for the good government of the Officers of Arms; to nominate Officers to fill vacancies in the College of Arms; [and] to punish and correct Officers of Arms for misbehaviour in the execution of their places".[7] Additionally it was declared that no patents of arms or any ensigns of nobility should be granted, and no augmentation, alteration, or addition should be made to arms, without the consent of the Earl Marshal.
The Earl Marshal is considered the eighth of the Great Officers of State, with the Lord High Constable above him and only the Lord High Admiral beneath him. Nowadays, the Earl Marshal's role has mainly to do with the organisation of major state ceremonies such as coronations and state funerals. Annually, the Earl Marshal helps organise the State Opening of Parliament. The Earl Marshal also remains to have charge over the College of Arms and no coat of arms may be granted without his warrant. As a symbol of his office, he carries a baton of gold with black finish at either end.
In the general order of precedence, the Earl Marshal is currently the highest hereditary position in the United Kingdom outside the Royal Family. Although other state and ecclesiastical officers rank above in precedence, they are not hereditary. The exception is the office of Lord Great Chamberlain, which is notionally higher than Earl Marshal and also hereditary. The holding of the Earl Marshalship secures the Duke of Norfolk's traditional position as the "first peer" of the land, above all other dukes.
The House of Lords Act 1999 removed the automatic right of hereditary peers to sit in the House of Lords, but the Act provided that the persons holding the office of Earl Marshal and, if a peer, the Lord Great Chamberlain continue for the time being to have seats so as to carry out their ceremonial functions in the House of Lords.
Lords Marshal of England, 1135–1386
[edit]
- Gilbert Giffard ?–1129 (?)
- John Fitz-Gilbert “the Marshal” 1130–1165 (?)
- John Marshal 1165–1194
- William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke 1194–1219
- William Marshal, 2nd Earl of Pembroke 1219–1231
- Richard Marshal, 3rd Earl of Pembroke 1231–1234
- Gilbert Marshal, 4th Earl of Pembroke 1234–1241
- Walter Marshal, 5th Earl of Pembroke 1242–1245
- Anselm Marshal, 6th Earl of Pembroke 1245
- Roger Bigod, 4th Earl of Norfolk 1245–1269
- Roger Bigod, 5th Earl of Norfolk 1269–1306
- Robert de Clifford 1307–1308
- Nicholas Seagrave 1308–1316
- Thomas of Brotherton, 1st Earl of Norfolk 1316–1338
- William Montagu, 1st Earl of Salisbury 1338–1344
- Margaret, Duchess of Norfolk 1338–1377
- Henry Percy, Lord Percy 1377
- John FitzAlan, 1st Baron Arundel, Lord Maltravers 1377–1383 (died 1379)
- Thomas Mowbray, 1st Earl of Nottingham 1385–1386
Earls Marshal of England, 1386–present
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Deputy Earls Marshal of England
[edit]The position of Earl Marshal had a Deputy called the Knight Marshal from the reign of Henry VIII until the office was abolished in 1846.[11]
Deputy Earls Marshal have been named at various times, discharging the responsibilities of the office during the minority or infirmity of the Earl Marshal. Prior to an Act of Parliament in 1824, Protestant deputies were required when the Earl Marshal was a Roman Catholic, which occurred frequently due to the Catholicism of the Norfolks.
| Name | Tenure | Deputy to | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charles Howard, 1st Earl of Carlisle | 1673–? | ||
| Charles Howard, 3rd Earl of Carlisle | 1701–1706 | ||
| Henry Howard, 6th Earl of Suffolk and 1st Earl of Bindon | 1706–1718 | ||
| Henry Bowes-Howard, 4th Earl of Berkshire | 1718–1725 | ||
| Talbot Yelverton, 1st Earl of Sussex | 1725–1731 | ||
| Francis Howard, 1st Earl of Effingham | 1731–1743 | ||
| Thomas Howard, 2nd Earl of Effingham | 1743–1763 | ||
| Henry Howard, 12th Earl of Suffolk and 5th Earl of Berkshire | 1763–1765 | ||
| Richard Lumley-Saunderson, 4th Earl of Scarbrough | 1765–1777 | ||
| Thomas Howard, 3rd Earl of Effingham | 1777–1782 | ||
| Charles Howard, Earl of Surrey | 1782–1786 | ||
| Lord Henry Howard-Molyneux-Howard | 1816–1824 | 12th Duke of Norfolk | |
| Lord Edward Fitzalan-Howard | 1861–1868 | 15th Duke of Norfolk | |
| Edmund FitzAlan-Howard, 1st Viscount FitzAlan of Derwent | 1917–1929 | 16th Duke of Norfolk | |
| Edward Howard, Earl of Arundel and Surrey | 2000–2002 | 17th Duke of Norfolk |
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit] | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (January 2015) |
- ^ "The history of the Royal heralds and the College of Arms". The College of Arms website. Retrieved 16 April 2009.
- ^ "Role of the Earl Marshal". Arundel Castle. Retrieved 11 September 2025.
- ^ The Coronation Roll Project. "Earl Marshal". HM Government. Retrieved 11 September 2025.
- ^ Sliford 1782, p. 36
- ^ "The Monarchy Today > the Royal Household > Official Royal posts > Earl Marshal". Archived from the original on 17 January 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
- ^ Companion to British History
- ^ Squibb, G.D. (1959). The High Court of Chivalry: A Study of the Civil Law in England. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. pp. 79–80.
- ^ Anne Mowbray Countess Marshal: Although Anne, Countess of Norfolk, Baroness Mowbray and Segrave is presumed to be the Countess Marshal, at the age of 7 on her marriage to the Duke of York, between 1476 and 1483 Sir Thomas Grey KT is said by Camden to have held the office of Earl Marshal. This hereditary claim to this office, probably descended from Sir Thomas Grey Kt (1359–1400), husband of Joan de Mowbray (1361–1410), daughter of John de Mowbray, 4th Baron Mowbray and Elizabeth de Segrave, 5th Baroness Segrave. Joan de Mowbray's son was also called Sir Thomas GREY (1384–1415) was the Sheriff of Northumberland and born at Alnwick Castle, seat of Henry Percy, 1st Earl of Northumberland. Thomas married Alice daughter of Ralph Neville, 1st Earl of Westmoreland. Another Sir John Grey KG (1386–1439) married Lady Margaret MOWBRAY (b.1388 or 1402–1459) eldest daughter of Thomas de Mowbray, 1st Duke of Norfolk (1366–1399) [Earl Marshal] and Lady Elizabeth FitzAlan (1366–1425). REF Complete Peerage. Volume V, L-M (1893) page 262
- ^ a b Venning, Timothy (2005). Compendium of British Office Holders. Palgrave Macmillan. p. 480. ISBN 978-1-4039-2045-4.
- ^ Sliford 1782, p. 37
- ^ Money Barnes, Major R. The Soldiers of London Seeley, Service & Co 1963, p.288
References
[edit]- Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). . Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
- Sliford, William (1782). The Court Register and Statesman's Remembrancer
- Round, J.H. (1899) The Commune of London, and other Studies. Westminster: Constable.
- Debretts.com
- Tudorplace.com[unreliable source]
- The dormant and extinct baronage of England - Banks - PP356ff
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Earl Marshal
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Origins and Development
Establishment and Early Role
The office of Marshal in England emerged in the royal household following the Norman Conquest, deriving from the Frankish marescalci or masters of the horse, initially tasked with managing the king's stables, horses, and farriers.[10] This role expanded to include oversight of military logistics, such as provisioning the royal hall and maintaining order among the king's troops during campaigns and assemblies.[11] By the early 12th century, under King Henry I (r. 1100–1135), the position became hereditary, first held by Gilbert (also known as Gilbert Giffard), who served as marshal of the royal court and managed estates tied to the office, such as holdings in Wiltshire.[12][13] Gilbert's son, John fitz Gilbert (d. 1165), inherited the office and upheld it through the turbulent reign of King Stephen (r. 1135–1154) and into Henry II's rule, demonstrating its growing military significance by fortifying royal positions and supporting the crown in civil strife.[14][15] The Marshal's early duties emphasized practical command over cavalry elements and camp discipline, subordinating to the Constable in broader military hierarchy, while laying groundwork for later ceremonial and heraldic oversight. This foundational role evolved as the family, through John's son William Marshal (1147–1219), leveraged the office for political influence, though the title "Earl Marshal" formalized later.[16]Lords Marshal Era (1135–1386)
The Lords Marshal era began in 1135 amid the Anarchy of King Stephen's reign, when the office—hereditary in the Marshal family since the early 12th century—gained prominence in managing royal military logistics and household order. Initially focused on supervising the king's horses, stables, and farriers, the Marshal's duties expanded to include mustering troops, enforcing discipline in the royal army, and leading the vanguard under a white banner during campaigns, subordinate to the Lord High Constable.[16] The family traced its role to Gilbert Giffard, Master Marshal under Henry I (r. 1100–1135), whose responsibilities encompassed caring for the royal equine resources essential for warfare and travel.[14] John FitzGilbert, Gilbert's son, inherited the marshalship around 1129 and held it until his death in 1165, navigating the civil war by initially supporting Empress Matilda before aligning with Stephen, leveraging the position for land acquisitions in Wiltshire and Hampshire.[14] His son, William Marshal (c. 1147–1219), transformed the office through unparalleled service across five reigns: as a tournament champion under Henry II, royal envoy under Richard I, guardian of young Henry III, and regent from 1216 to 1219, where he reissued Magna Carta in 1217 and secured victory at the Battle of Lincoln in 1217 against French invaders.[17] [18] William's tenure emphasized chivalric enforcement, including oversight of ransoms and military contracts, while his five sons—Gilbert (d. 1241), Walter (d. 1245), William (d. 1245), Anselm (d. 1245), and Hugh (d. 1246)—succeeded as Earls of Pembroke and Lords Marshal, maintaining the office amid the Second Barons' War until the senior line's male extinction around 1247.[19] Following the partition of the Marshal estates among co-heiresses, the marshalship persisted through appointments and familial claims, with nobles like the Bigod Earls of Norfolk assuming related duties, such as organizing royal progresses and judicial functions in the nascent Court of Chivalry, which adjudicated matters of arms, honor, and misconduct within 12 miles of the court.[16] By Henry III's reign (1216–1272), the office incorporated naval oversight and exchequer summonses for military service, reflecting its evolution from logistical to quasi-judicial authority over chivalry and heraldry precursors.[16] The era culminated in 1385 when Richard II (r. 1377–1399) granted the office for life to Thomas Mowbray, Earl of Nottingham, formalizing it as Earl Marshal on 12 January 1386 with heritability in tail male, shifting from familial tenure to a titled great office of state.[16] This transition underscored the role's enduring military and ceremonial significance amid late medieval feudal changes.[16]Hereditary Phase and Key Families
Transition to Earldom (1386 Onward)
In 1385, following the reversion of the marshalship to the crown after the death of the previous holder, King Richard II granted the office anew to Thomas Mowbray, Earl of Nottingham, initially for life on 30 June, styling it as the Earl Marshal. On 12 January 1386, the grant was extended hereditarily in tail male, marking the office's formal transition from episodic appointments under the Lords Marshal era to a perpetual earldom tied to noble inheritance, with Mowbray's male heirs entitled to the dignity and responsibilities.[20] This hereditary conferral elevated the marshal's role beyond mere military logistics—such as oversight of stables and horse—into a great office of state, emphasizing ceremonial and chivalric precedence, though the precise duties evolved incrementally thereafter.[2] Mowbray, born around 1366 as the son of John, 4th Baron Mowbray, had been elevated to the earldom of Nottingham in 1383, positioning him among the realm's influential peers before receiving the marshalship.[21] His tenure as Earl Marshal involved active participation in royal campaigns, including against Scottish incursions, and reinforced the office's association with organizing knightly orders and tournaments, distinct from prior non-hereditary marshals who focused more on battlefield provisioning.[20] The 1386 tail male provision ensured continuity, diverging from earlier revocable grants and aligning the title with emerging norms of peerage permanence amid late medieval power consolidations. Upon Mowbray's exile and death in Venice on 22 September 1399, amid his involvement in the Lords Appellant and subsequent royal conflicts, the office passed to his son, Thomas Mowbray, born 17 September 1385, who succeeded as 4th Earl of Norfolk and Earl Marshal, though the family's ducal aspirations faced attainder in 1400. This succession validated the hereditary framework, as the crown upheld the 1386 entail despite political upheavals under Henry IV, preventing immediate forfeiture and setting precedents for future restorations, such as partial reversals in 1421. The Mowbray holding thus bridged the office into the 15th century, before further transfers to families like Berkeley in 1486 and ultimately the Howards, solidifying its earldom status amid intermittent attainders and royal grants.Howard Family Dominance and Attainders
The Howard family established dominance over the Earldom Marshal in 1483, when John Howard, a loyal supporter of Richard III, was elevated to the dukedom of Norfolk (third creation) on 28 June and granted the office of Earl Marshal, consolidating the hereditary claim derived from the earlier Mowbray line through female descent.[22] This appointment marked the transition of effective control to the Howards, who had risen through military service and royal favor, supplanting prior intermittent holders. John Howard held the office until his death at the Battle of Bosworth Field on 22 August 1485, after which Henry VII attainted him for treason, briefly forfeiting the dukedom and associated marshalcy to the crown.[22] John Howard's son, Thomas Howard, initially styled Earl of Surrey, shared in the 1485 attainder but received a pardon in 1489 and restoration to the Surrey title, with full dukedom honors confirmed in 1514; he was appointed Earl Marshal for life on 10 July 1510, resuming Howard oversight amid the Tudor consolidation of power.[23] Under Thomas, the second duke (d. 1524), the family wielded the office prominently, organizing ceremonies like Henry VIII's 1510 Field of Cloth of Gold preparations and commanding forces at the Battle of Flodden in 1513, where he captured James IV of Scotland.[24] His son, Thomas Howard, third duke (d. 1554), inherited the role, exercising it through the Henrician Reformation despite imprisonment from 1546 to 1553 on suspicion of treason; released and restored by Mary I in 1553, he officiated as Earl Marshal at her coronation on 1 October 1553, maintaining family continuity despite political vicissitudes.[25] The fourth duke, Thomas Howard (executed 1572), continued this tenure from 1554 until his attainder for high treason in the Ridolfi Plot, leading to execution on 2 June 1572 and forfeiture of titles, including marshalcy privileges, which disrupted Howard dominance for approximately five decades.[26] During this interval, the office passed to non-Howards, such as George Talbot, sixth Earl of Shrewsbury (1572–1590), followed by commissions and appointments to figures like Robert Devereux, second Earl of Essex (1597–1601), reflecting royal discretion in reallocating the role amid Howard recusancy and plots.[27] Restoration occurred piecemeal: in 1604, James I revived peerages lost by the attainted Philip Howard (thirteenth Earl of Arundel, d. 1595), enabling his son Thomas Howard, fourteenth Earl of Arundel, to petition successfully for Earl Marshal appointment around 1621–1622, leveraging family antiquarian prestige and service. Subsequent Howard branches solidified control, with the office devolving within the family despite the Norfolk dukedom's separate attainder until 1660; in 1672, Charles II confirmed hereditary succession in the Howards via Henry Howard (later sixth duke), ending prior vulnerabilities to forfeiture and ensuring unbroken tenure thereafter, even through Catholic disabilities and the Interregnum suspension of offices.[28] These attainders—principally 1485 and 1572—highlighted the office's ties to royal fidelity, yet the Howards' resilience through restorations underscored their entrenched position as England's premier non-royal peers.Duties and Powers
Ceremonial Organization
The Earl Marshal bears primary responsibility for orchestrating major state ceremonies in the United Kingdom, including coronations, state funerals of sovereigns, and the annual State Opening of Parliament.[28] This hereditary office coordinates logistics, participant marshalling, and ceremonial protocols on behalf of the Crown, drawing on traditions codified over centuries.[4] In coronations, the Earl Marshal chairs the Executive Committee of the Privy Council's Coronation Committee, managing planning from procession routes to abbey arrangements at Westminster Abbey.[29] [30] Edward Fitzalan-Howard, 18th Duke of Norfolk and incumbent Earl Marshal since 2002, oversaw the 6 May 2023 coronation of King Charles III, incorporating modern elements like peer participation while preserving core rituals.[28] Historically, this included temporary jurisdiction over abbey precincts, as exercised up to the 1821 coronation.[31] State funerals similarly fall under the Earl Marshal's purview, with the same Duke directing Queen Elizabeth II's 19 September 2022 proceedings, from Westminster Hall lying-in-state to Windsor committal.[28] Coordination involves the College of Arms for heraldic displays and orders of precedence.[32] For the State Opening of Parliament, the Earl Marshal prepares the printed Order of Ceremonial, ensuring orderly procession of the monarch, peers, and officials, a duty formalized by at least the 14th century.[33] This extends to accession proclamations and investitures, maintaining ceremonial continuity amid monarchical transitions.[34]Heraldry and College of Arms Oversight
The Earl Marshal exercises supreme oversight over the College of Arms, the royal corporation responsible for regulating heraldry in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and certain Commonwealth realms. This authority includes supervision of the thirteen officers of arms—comprising kings of arms, heralds, and pursuivants—who conduct genealogical research, grant coats of arms, and record heraldic achievements.[1] No patent of arms or alteration to existing arms may be issued without the Earl Marshal's warrant, ensuring centralized control over the creation and use of heraldic devices.[35] Historically, the Earl Marshal's heraldic powers developed from medieval responsibilities in chivalry and tournaments, where heralds initially organized events and later specialized in armory as coats of arms became hereditary identifiers. The College of Arms was formally incorporated by royal charter on 18 March 1484 under Richard III, transitioning heraldic functions from ad hoc royal servants to a structured body under the Earl Marshal's jurisdiction, particularly after the decline of military mustering duties.[1] This charter was reaffirmed in 1555 by Mary I and Philip II, establishing the College's enduring framework at Derby House (later rebuilt after the 1666 Great Fire).[1] Key statutes solidified this oversight: in 1568, the Earl Marshal promulgated "Orders to be observed and kept by the Officers of Arms," dividing the College into chapters and regulating their conduct.[35] Charles II's declaration on 16 June 1673 explicitly granted the Earl Marshal power "to order, judge, and determine all matters touching arms, ensigns of nobility, honour, and chivalry," with reaffirmation in 1673/4, vesting sole judgment in armorial disputes after the Lord High Constable's office lapsed.[35] The Earl Marshal nominates officers to vacancies, subject to royal approval, and possesses authority to enact laws, ordinances, and punishments for the governance of the heralds.[35] In practice, the Duke of Norfolk, as hereditary Earl Marshal, delegates day-to-day operations but retains final decision-making, including assessing the eminence required for armorial grants, typically involving notable personal or professional distinction.[36] This role upholds heraldic standards rooted in empirical verification of lineage and achievement, preventing unauthorized assumptions of arms that could undermine the system's integrity as a marker of nobility and merit.[1]Judicial Authority in Chivalry Matters
The Court of Chivalry serves as the primary judicial forum under the Earl Marshal's authority for resolving disputes related to coats of arms and transgressions of the law of arms, functioning as a civil court with jurisdiction over misuse of armorial bearings since the 14th century.[37] Originally established jointly with the Lord High Constable to administer justice according to the law of arms—encompassing military contracts, ransoms, soldiers' wages, and armorial matters—the court's scope narrowed after the Constable's office effectively lapsed following the 1521 execution of Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham, leaving the Earl Marshal as the sole hereditary judge.[35][38] Proceedings follow principles derived from Roman civil law, with appeals historically directed to the Court of King's Bench, and heralds providing evidentiary support in cases involving heraldic defamation or improper assumptions of nobility.[38] The court's jurisdiction extends to matters of honor, pedigree, and ensigns of nobility, including determinations of rightful armorial usage and peerage descent, as affirmed by royal declarations granting the Earl Marshal power to "order, judge, and determine all matters touching arms."[35] Notable medieval cases include Scrope v. Grosvenor in 1389, where the court adjudicated a dispute over the right to bear azure bend or, ultimately ruling in favor of Sir Richard Scrope based on heraldic evidence and witness testimonies; and Lovel v. Morley in 1390, concerning conflicting claims to quarterly arms.[38] In the 17th century, under Charles I, the court expanded temporarily to handle defamation and slander cases under the Earl Marshal's oversight, processing over 700 such matters between 1634 and 1640 before royalist disruptions curtailed its operations.[39] A 1673 royal warrant further solidified the Earl Marshal's supremacy over armorial patents, officers of arms, and related honors, countering challenges from figures like Sir Edward Walker.[35] In modern practice, the Earl Marshal may appoint a professional surrogate, such as a judge, to preside if unqualified in law, as occurred in the court's last sitting on December 21, 1954, in Manchester Corporation v. Manchester Palace of Varieties Ltd., where Lord Goddard, appointed by the 16th Duke of Norfolk, upheld jurisdiction over the defendant's unauthorized display of the city's arms on its theater facade and seal, awarding £300 in costs to the plaintiffs after affirming that such use constituted "bearing" arms without license.[40][41] Current proceedings require a petition to the Earl Marshal with a £100 bond, issuance of a fiat and citation, followed by a libel and answer, evidentiary commissions, and a hearing—though the court has remained dormant since 1954 due to infrequent litigation rather than any legal bar.[42] This authority underscores the Earl Marshal's role in preserving the integrity of heraldic traditions amid evolving societal norms, with no recorded cases post-1954 despite the mechanism's availability.[37]Notable Holders and Events
Medieval and Tudor Exemplars
William Marshal (c. 1146 – 14 May 1219), hereditary Marshal of England, exemplified the office's early military and advisory dimensions through service to four monarchs: Henry II, Richard I, John, and Henry III.[43] Beginning as a tournament knight from 1167, he participated in over 500 contests and fought in key campaigns, including tutoring Henry the Young King from 1170 and leading the royalist victory at the Battle of Lincoln on 20 May 1217 against French invaders under Louis VIII, despite being over 70 years old.[44] As regent for the nine-year-old Henry III from 1216 until his death, Marshal negotiated the Treaty of Lambeth in 1217, securing peace by excommunicating rebel barons and affirming royal authority.[43] His oversight of royal stables evolved into broader chivalric responsibilities, laying groundwork for the formalized Earl Marshal role, though he held the title as Earl of Pembroke after marrying Isabel de Clare in 1189, granting vast estates.[44] In the late medieval period, the office transitioned to hereditary holders like the Bigod family, with Roger Bigod, 5th Earl of Norfolk (c. 1245 – 1306), inheriting the Marshalship through his mother and leveraging it to assert privileges, such as refusing Edward I's summons to fight in Scotland in 1297 on grounds of his ancient title's limitations to royal household duties.[45] This stance highlighted tensions between the Marshal's ceremonial independence and monarchical demands during Edward's wars.[46] The Tudor era saw the Howard family dominate the office, beginning with John Howard (c. 1430 – 22 August 1485), elevated to Duke of Norfolk and Earl Marshal by Richard III on 28 June 1483 as reward for Yorkist loyalty during the Wars of the Roses.[22] Knighted in 1461 and serving as Treasurer of the Royal Household from 1467 to 1474, Howard fought alongside Edward IV in France in 1475 and supported Richard at Bosworth Field, where he died commanding the vanguard on 22 August 1485.[22] His son, Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk (1443 – 21 May 1524), inherited the titles and served as Earl Marshal under Henry VII and Henry VIII, confirmed for life on 10 July 1510.[47] A key commander, he led English forces to victory at the Battle of Flodden on 9 September 1513, defeating the Scots and killing King James IV, bolstering Tudor border security.[47] Howard retained the Marshalship until his death, organizing royal ceremonies like Henry VIII's 1509 coronation while holding concurrent roles such as Lord Treasurer until 1522.[47]Modern Instances and Achievements
Edward Fitzalan-Howard, 18th Duke of Norfolk, has held the office of Earl Marshal since 2002, succeeding his father, Miles Fitzalan-Howard, 17th Duke.[28] In this capacity, he organized the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, held at Westminster Abbey on 19 September 2022, following her death on 8 September; preparations for this event had spanned over two decades, drawing on contingency plans refined through multiple rehearsals.[48][49][50] The ceremony involved coordinating a procession of over 2,000 attendees, including monarchs, presidents, and prime ministers, with precise heraldic and ceremonial elements managed under his oversight of the College of Arms.[48][4] The Duke's responsibilities extended to the coronation of King Charles III on 6 May 2023 at Westminster Abbey, where he directed the arrangement of regalia, peer processions, and heraldic displays for approximately 2,200 guests, adapting traditions to contemporary constraints such as reduced scale from prior coronations.[9][51] This event marked a significant logistical achievement, integrating modern security and broadcasting while preserving medieval precedents like the recognition of peers.[4] His role ensured the continuity of monarchical symbolism amid public scrutiny, with the ceremony broadcast to millions worldwide.[52] In addition to these high-profile state occasions, the 18th Duke maintains authority over the College of Arms, granting arms and adjudicating heraldic disputes, contributing to the preservation of British armorial traditions in legal and cultural contexts.[4] These instances underscore the office's enduring practical efficacy in executing complex national ceremonies, despite the hereditary nature drawing occasional debate on merit-based alternatives.[51]Significance and Debates
Role in Monarchical Continuity
The Earl Marshal plays a pivotal role in facilitating monarchical continuity through the orchestration of ceremonial events that mark the transition between sovereigns, including state funerals, accessions, and coronations, thereby upholding longstanding traditions that reinforce the legitimacy and stability of the British monarchy. This hereditary office, insulated from partisan politics due to its non-elective nature, ensures that protocols rooted in medieval custom are executed consistently across reigns, symbolizing an unbroken institutional chain despite dynastic shifts or political upheavals.[8][4][1] In practice, the Earl Marshal coordinates the Accession Council, which formally proclaims the new monarch immediately following a sovereign's death, as demonstrated by Edward Fitzalan-Howard, 18th Duke of Norfolk, who oversaw arrangements for King Charles III's accession on September 10, 2022. This process, governed by precedents dating to the 17th century, integrates heraldic elements under the Earl Marshal's oversight of the College of Arms, embedding symbolic continuity—such as the proclamation from a balcony at St James's Palace—into the fabric of succession. Similarly, state funerals, which the Earl Marshal has organized since at least the 15th century, provide a ritual closure to one reign while paving the way for the next; Fitzalan-Howard managed Queen Elizabeth II's funeral on September 19, 2022, adhering to plans refined over two decades, which included precise heraldic deployments and processional orders to affirm dynastic endurance.[8][9][53] Coronations further exemplify this function, with the Earl Marshal directing logistical and ceremonial details to invest the new sovereign with regalia and anoint them in Westminster Abbey, a rite traceable to William the Conqueror's 1066 ceremony but standardized under the office's purview by the Tudor era. Historical instances underscore resilience: John Howard, 1st Duke of Norfolk, as Earl Marshal, arranged Edward IV's funeral in 1483 and bore the crown at Richard III's coronation later that year, navigating the Wars of the Roses' turbulence to preserve ritual form amid contested claims. The office's continuity since 1672 in the Howard family—despite attainders and religious disqualifications requiring deputies until Catholic Emancipation in 1829—has enabled it to bridge Protestant and Catholic monarchs, as seen in Bernard Fitzalan-Howard, 16th Duke, organizing George VI's 1937 coronation and Elizabeth II's in 1953.[4][54][28] This ceremonial stewardship contributes to monarchical continuity by depoliticizing transitions, relying on precedent over contemporary fiat; the Earl Marshal's authority derives from royal warrants and historical charters, not parliamentary vote, allowing execution of events that publicize and sacralize succession to the realm. Critics note potential anachronisms in hereditary oversight, yet empirical continuity—evident in the seamless handling of 20th- and 21st-century events—demonstrates causal efficacy in stabilizing perceptions of the crown's perpetuity amid modern scrutiny.[53][1][54]Criticisms of Hereditary Offices
Hereditary offices such as the Earl Marshal are criticized for entrenching unearned privilege in governance, where succession by birthright overrides merit-based selection, potentially leading to incompetence in roles requiring specialized expertise. Proponents of reform argue that inheritance lacks any empirical correlation with the administrative, organizational, or legal acumen needed for overseeing state ceremonies or heraldic judgments, as evidenced by genetic and social mobility studies showing regression to the mean across generations rather than sustained excellence.[55] [56] In the UK context, this principle has drawn scrutiny amid House of Lords reforms, with officials labeling the persistence of hereditary legislative seats as "outdated and indefensible" in a representative democracy.[57] The Earl Marshal's dual role—combining ceremonial oversight with a retained seat in the House of Lords until recent legislative changes—exemplifies these concerns, as the position's holder, the Duke of Norfolk, inherits authority over multimillion-pound state events without competitive qualification. Critics, including Labour figures, contend it is untenable for parliamentary influence to derive from parental lineage rather than electoral accountability or proven contribution, a view reinforced by the 1999 House of Lords Act's partial excision of hereditaries while exempting office-holders like the Earl Marshal, creating perceived inconsistencies.[58] [59] The 2024 House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill, advancing through Parliament in 2025, addresses this by stripping remaining hereditaries of voting rights, though the ceremonial office persists hereditarily, prompting arguments that even symbolic powers risk mishandling due to unvetted succession—such as potential lapses in events like coronations or funerals, where accountability falls on an unelected individual.[60] [61] Further critiques highlight systemic inefficiencies, including the office's oversight of the College of Arms, where heraldic decisions influence property rights and peerage claims without modern meritocratic checks, perpetuating an aristocratic echo chamber insulated from broader societal input. Hereditary by-elections for peer vacancies, limited to tiny electorates of fellow hereditaries, underscore the system's detachment from public will, fueling demands for abolition to align with democratic norms.[55] [62] Public surveys indicate strong support for such reforms, with over 60% favoring elected alternatives to unelected birth-based roles, reflecting a causal disconnect between hereditary tenure and effective governance in an era prioritizing evidence-based competence over tradition.[62]References
- https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1911_Encyclop%25C3%25A6dia_Britannica/Earl_Marshal