Following on from the thread relating to the noble descendants of Charles II, @RestorationHat has kindly let me write this one relating to their heraldic depictions #Restoration360Online 1/8 https://twitter.com/RestorationHat/status/1390628529579216898

The coats of arms of the modern dukes descended from Charles II and his different mistresses all display the various lineages of their families, including reference to the king himself #Restoration360Online 2/8

The term “coat of arms” originally referred to the heraldic banners worn by nobles over their armour to identify them in battle, but has since come to mean visual designs on shields used to represent individuals #Restoration360Online 3/8

While a coat of arms can be granted to anyone, they are most often associated with noble families, and can be used to show over time who has married who, and whether an individual is an elder or a younger child #Restoration360Online 4/8

Each the four modern dukedoms descended from Charles II – Buccleuch, Grafton, St Albans and Richmond - shows their descent from him by including his royal arms in their own coats of arms. But, they also include heraldic devices to indicate the illegitimacy of their ancestors 5/8

Three of them include a “baton sinister”, which is a strip that runs from top right to bottom left, and is commonly used to display that the holder of the arms is descended from an illegitimate union #Restoration360Online 6/8 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baton_sinister

The fourth, instead of a baton sinister, has the royal arms surrounded by a device called a “bordure compony”, which is a set of quadrilaterals of alternating tinctures, and is another way of displaying descent from someone who was illegitimate 7/8 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compon%C3%A9e

Heraldry is a fascinating way of studying the history of noble families, but can be complex if you’re unfamiliar with the terminology. Why not take a look at this helpful guide to get you started? #Restoration360Online 8/8 https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/guide-to-heraldry