Mythical Realm Banners

Mythical Realm banners come in a variety of colors and designs.

Mythical realms from fantasy settings often draw inspiration from Medieval Europe. As a result, several feudal elements from the Middle Ages typically transfer over into mythical settings. One such element is the banner. Mythical realm banners, like their historical counterparts, come in a variety of colors with a variety of symbols, and each holds special significance within its particular realm.

Medieval Inspiration

Mythical realms, these "pseudo-medieval" worlds, use romanticized elements of the Middle Ages. Folklore of the medieval period, including mythical creatures and magic, make the most appearances in fantasy settings. Creators of these realms often use feudal and monarchical elements, which include banners.

Realm Types

Pseudo-medieval realms, such as J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings," use banners in a parallel manner to the Middle Ages. Both Gondor and Rohan possess flags and banners to carry as their soldiers ride and as they go into battle. These banners allow others to know whether they are allies or enemies.

Other mythical realms that are not pseudo-medieval also make use of this medieval concept. J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter" series describes the use of several banners. Each house in Hogwarts has its own flag, and Hogwarts overall has a banner that combines the crests of each house.

Banner Types

Banners themselves come in a variety of shapes and sizes. A "banner," in the strictest sense, is a personal flag displaying the coat of arms belonging to its bearer, fixed to a bar, spear, or long trumpet. An "oriflamme" receives its name due to the red silk composing it and its "flaming" tongued end. A "pennon" has a range of shapes but a small size, usually with a swallow tail, whereas a "pennoncelle" is a single-pointed pennon often referred to as a streamer. A "guidon" looks like an englarged pennon with a triangular shape. A "standard" is simply a staff with a military flag, usually hanging outside the window or tower of a castle. A "gonfalon" is a decorative flag with a pointed tail, generally used for processions.

Colors

Banner creators use numerous color combinations.

Banner colors range from bright to dull. In medieval times, rules existed dictating which color combinations were acceptable. Metal colors like white, yellow, silver, and gold were not allowed, and tinctures like blue, red, green, and black could not be used together. Not all banner followed these rules in the Middle Ages, though, and banners of mythical realms certainly do not. The original banner of Rohan in "The Lord of the Rings" has white and green, while the banner in Peter Jackson's movie version has white, black, and gold. Likewise, Gondor's banner uses black and white. In "Harry Potter," the Hogwarts school flag combines the banners of each house, thereby combining red, green, yellow, and blue against a black background.

Decorations

A coat of arms is a highly important element for a banner.

Decorations, made of fabric paint, oil paint, appliqué, or embroidery, embellish each banner. Banners show a range of decorations, the most common being an individual's coat of arms. These coats of arms represent their realm through the use of animals and other appropriate symbols. Rohan's banners display a horse for the kingdom's horse lords. Gondor's banners display an icon of the white tree most notable in the kingdom. Each house in Hogwarts uses a banner with their house animal on it: Gryffindor uses a lion, Slytherin uses a snake, Ravenclaw uses an eagle, and Hufflepuff uses a badger.

References

• Serving History: Fantasy Realm Common Elements
• The Medieval Classroom: Medieval Banners
• Enchanted Castles: Heraldry Images

Resources

• The Blue Room: Medieval Demographics Made Easy
• Lady Gryphon's Mythical Realms