The Rose in Heraldry

The rose is one of the oldest and most widespread heraldic symbols. It appears on the coats of arms of royal dynasties, cities, noble families, and even states. Why a rose, not a lily or an ear of grain? Because the rose combined beauty and danger, innocence and passion, religious meaning and political intrigue. In this article, we will consider how the "queen of flowers" came to be on knightly shields and what its colors and shape mean.

The Rose in European Heraldry: From the Crusades to the Present Day

The first heraldic roses appeared in the 12th century. It is believed that they were brought back by knights returning from the Crusades, where they became acquainted with Arab culture. Initially, the rose was the symbol of the Virgin Mary, so it was depicted on the coats of arms of religious military orders (such as the Templars). Gradually, the rose moved to secular heraldry. By the 14th century, it had firmly established itself as a sign of nobility, love, and purity of intention. In the 15th century, an event occurred that made the rose almost the main heraldic figure in England — the War of the Rose.

The Red and White Roses: Symbols of Feuding Clans

The red rose was the emblem of the Lancastrians, the white — the Yorks. This conflict, lasting thirty years, decided the fate of the English throne. After Henry Tudor's (Lancaster) victory, he married a princess from the Yorks, uniting the roses into one — the Tudor Rose (red with a white heart or vice versa). Since then, the Tudor Rose has been the symbol of monarchy, adorning the coat of arms of the United Kingdom to this day, albeit in a reduced form (as the emblem of England, along with the thistle of Scotland and the shamrock of Ireland). Interestingly, this rose usually has five petals, which corresponds to the five knightly virtues.

Colors of Roses in Heraldry and Their Meaning

The red rose — bravery, respect, passion, sometimes — blood shed for faith. The white rose — purity, innocence, virginity, often used in the coats of arms of religious figures. The yellow (golden) rose — wealth, the sun, jealousy (rarely). The black rose (very rare) — mourning, sadness, secret knowledge. The pink rose (rarely, more often in late heraldry) — tenderness, youth. If the rose is depicted with thorns (usually they are not indicated, but sometimes emphasized), this is a sign of caution, a warning. "A rose without thorns" is the symbol of innocence (the Virgin Mary).

Image Shape: Stylization and Symbolism

In classic heraldry, the rose is almost always stylized — viewed from above, with five petals (sometimes with a larger number). Often in the center there is a "fruit" (a hawthorn) or a heart. Leaves and stems are usually absent to not complicate the design. But there are roses on stems, with leaves (so-called "growing roses"). Often roses are arranged not individually, but in the form of garlands, wreaths, "roses" (circular compositions). In Russian heraldry, the rose could be depicted with petals divided by teeth ("heraldic rose").

Famous Coats of Arms with a Rose

The coat of arms of Lithuania is "Pogonya," but there is also a rose on the small coat of arms? No, but the city of Vilnius has a rose on its coat of arms (as a symbol of Catholic sanctity). The coat of arms of the English city of York is a white rose. The coat of arms of Lancaster is a red rose. The coat of arms of Florence is a red rose, but is it more of a lily? No, Florence has an iris, a rose in other Italian cities (such as Lucca). The coat of arms of the Ottoman Empire did not include a rose, but roses appeared in Turkish heraldry after the Tanzimat. In Russia, the rose appears in the coats of arms of the Sheremetev counts (as a symbol of love and loyalty), as well as in the coats of arms of many cities: Rostov Veliky (a rose in the paws of a lion), Orenburg (grapes and a rose?), not quite. The most famous Russian coat of arms with a rose is the coat of arms of the Tula Oblast (a rose on the flag as a sign of the skill of armsmakers?).

The Rose in Modern Heraldry

Today, the rose is not as popular as in the Middle Ages, but it is still used. For example, the coat of arms of the Komi Republic has a silver rose? No, there is an owl there. The rose often appears in municipal coats of arms (Canton Vaud in Switzerland). In 2026, a rose was added to the coat of arms of one of the London boroughs in honor of Queen Elizabeth II (a white daisy? no, a rose). Military emblems (British army) also use the Tudor Rose. The rose remains a symbol not only of monarchy but also of civil society (for example, the Labour Party uses a red rose, but this is not heraldry).

How to Read a Coat of Arms with a Rose

If you see a rose on the shield, pay attention to: color (red — love, white — purity, yellow — wealth). The number of petals: 5, 6, 8 — numbers may have their own meaning (5 — Christ, 8 — rebirth). The presence of a crowned rose — a sign of royal mercy. A rose with thorns — a warning of difficulties. A rose as part of a more complex composition: surrounded by lions, lilies, stars.

The image of the rose in heraldry is not just decoration. It is a message, encrypted in colors and metals. And as long as there are coats of arms, the rose will bloom on them — reminding us of beauty, fragility, and strength.

Permanent link to this publication: