{{Short description|Scottish official with responsibility for regulating heraldry}} {{Redirect|Lord Lyon|the thoroughbred racehorse|Lord Lyon (horse)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}} {{Infobox heraldry |image = Coat of Arms of the Lord Lyon King of Arms.svg |image_size = 220px |caption = The [[Coat of arms|arms of office]] of Lord Lyon King of Arms |tradition = Gallo-British |jurisdiction = Scotland |authority = Court of the Lord Lyon |officername = Joseph Morrow (Lord Lyon){{!}}Joseph Morrow |officertitle = Lord Lyon King of Arms }} {{CourtsScotland}}
'''The Right Honourable the Lord Lyon King of Arms''', the head of [[Lyon Court]], is the most junior of the [[Great Officers of State (United Kingdom)#Scotland|Great Officers of State]] in Scotland and is the [[Scotland|Scottish]] official with responsibility for regulating [[heraldry]] in that country, issuing new grants of arms, and serving as the judge of the [[Court of the Lord Lyon]], the oldest heraldic court in the world that is still in daily operation.
The historic title of the post was the ''High [[Seanchaí|Sennachie]]'', and he was given the title of '''Lord Lyon''' from the lion in the [[Royal coat of arms of Scotland|coat of arms of Scotland]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Moncrieffe|first1=Ian|last2=Pottinger|first2=Don|title=Simple Heraldry Cheerfully Illustrated|publisher=Thomas Nelson and Sons|pages=48}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Eiland |first=Murray |date=2018 |title=Gathering the Clans in California |url=https://www.academia.edu/35831716 |journal=The Armiger's News |volume=40 |issue=1 |pages=1–6 |via=academia.edu}}</ref>
The post was in the early nineteenth century held by an important nobleman, the [[Thomas Hay-Drummond, 11th Earl of Kinnoull|Earl of Kinnoull]], whose functions were in practice carried out by the Lyon-Depute. The practice of appointing Lyon-Deputes, however, ceased in 1866.
== Responsibilities == {{More citations needed|section|date=July 2023}} The Lord Lyon is responsible for overseeing state ceremonial in Scotland, for the granting of new [[Coat of Arms|arms]] to persons or organisations, and for confirming proven pedigrees and claims to existing arms as well as recognising clan chiefs after due diligence. The Lyon Register (officially the ''Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland''), on which the Lord Lyon records all Scotland's coats of arms, dates from 1672.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Moncrieffe|first1=Ian|last2=Pottinger|first2=Don|title=Simple Heraldry Cheerfully Illustrated|publisher=Thomas Nelson and Sons|page=63}}</ref> The Lord Lyon formerly also registered and recorded [[clan tartan]]s, only upon request from the [[Scottish clan chief|clan chief]], but this function has been taken over by the [[Scottish Register of Tartans]].
As Lyon Court is a government department, fees paid for granting coats of arms are paid to the Treasury. The misuse of arms is a criminal offence in Scotland, and treated as tax evasion. Prosecutions are brought before Lyon Court, Lord Lyon being the sole judge. Appeals from the Lyon Court can be made to the [[Court of Session]] in Edinburgh.
There is no appeal if the Lord Lyon refuses to grant a coat of arms, as this is not a judicial function, but an exercise of his ministerial function, although an appeal by way of judicial review may succeed if it can be shown that the Lord Lyon acted unreasonably.
== Equivalents == {{More citations needed|section|date=July 2023}} [[File:Crown of Lord Lyon King of Arms 2016.JPG|thumb|right|Lord Lyon King of Arms' crown]] The Lord Lyon has several English equivalents: * Being responsible for Scottish state ceremonies he parallels the [[Earl Marshal]] in England. * The Lord Lyon is the heraldic authority for Scotland, much as the English [[King of Arms|Kings of Arms]] are responsible for granting arms in England. England has three "Kings of Arms", or high heraldic officers (Lord Lyon is Scotland's only one): [[Garter Principal King of Arms|Garter Principal]], [[Clarenceux King of Arms|Clarenceux]] (responsible for southern England), and [[Norroy and Ulster King of Arms|Norroy and Ulster]] (responsible for northern England and Northern Ireland). Unlike the English [[King of Arms|Kings of Arms]], who cannot grant arms without a warrant from the (English) Earl Marshal, Lyon does not need permission, but grants by his own power. * Whilst in England the [[Court of Chivalry]] (which last met in 1954) is a [[civil law (common law)|civil court]], in Scotland the Lyon Court meets often and has criminal jurisdiction. Lord Lyon is empowered to have assumed coats of arms, and whatever they are affixed to, destroyed. As an example, when [[Old Town Hall, Leith|Leith Town Hall]], now used as a police station, was renovated during the 1990s, several of the coats of arms decorating the Council Chamber were found to be attributed to the wrong person. The police were given special permission to retain the display, on condition that the tourist guides pointed out the historical anomalies.
The Lord Lyon is also one of the few individuals in Scotland officially permitted to fly the "Lion Rampant", the [[Royal Banner of Scotland]].<ref>[http://www.lyon-court.com/lordlyon/ll_baseTemplate.jsp?pContentID=237] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927064518/http://www.lyon-court.com/lordlyon/ll_baseTemplate.jsp?pContentID=237|date=27 September 2016}} The Court of the Lord Lyon website</ref>
== Etymology == The name of office — ''Lord Lyon'' — is attributed in reference to the heraldic lion of the [[Kingdom of Scotland]] worn on the Lord Lyon's [[tabard]], and has its oldest appearance in written English or Scots in 1381, with one earlier 1377 reference existing in Latin, from the [[Exchequer Rolls of Scotland]].<ref>Oxford University Press. (n.d.). Lord Lyon, n. In Oxford English dictionary. Retrieved March 20, 2026, from <nowiki>https://doi.org/10.1093/OED/4690115835</nowiki></ref>
==Symbols of office== A new [[Livery collar|collar of state]] was made in 1998 – a chain with 40 gold links, replacing the item that went missing after the [[Battle of Culloden]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12254858.A_Yankee_sorts_the_Court_of_Lord_Lyon/ |title=A Yankee sorts the Court of Lord Lyon | first1=Chris |last1=Holme |first2=Raymond |last2=Duncan |work=[[The Herald (Glasgow)|The Herald]] |location=Glasgow |date=19 October 1998 |access-date=25 February 2018}}</ref> In 2003 a new crown was made for the Lord Lyon, modelled on the Scottish royal crown among the [[Honours of Scotland]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/lord-lyon-gets-his-crown-back-1-1291530 |title=Lord Lyon gets his crown back |work=The Scotsman |date=13 July 2003 |access-date=25 February 2018}}</ref> This crown has removable arches (like one of the [[Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother]]'s crowns) which are removed at coronations to avoid any hint of [[lèse majesté]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.internationalheraldry.com/officers.htm|title=Offers of Arms: Kings, Heralds and Pursuivants}}</ref>
In Scotland, [[Walter Scott|Sir Walter Scott]] notes that the inauguration of the Lord Lyon closely mirrored the royal coronation itself, with the sole distinction being that wine, [[Anointing|rather than oil]], was poured over the candidate's head.<ref>Anthony R. Wagner, ''Heralds of England: A history of the office and College of Arms'' (London, 1967), p. 43</ref> The appointment of [[David Lyndsay|Sir David Lindsay]] illustrates just how highly the office was regarded: [[James VI and I|King James VI]] crowned him using Scotland's ancient crown — predating the adoption of the closed crown by Scottish monarchs — and even permitted him to wear it at the royal table. This was an extraordinary privilege, particularly given James VI's well-known reverence for the concept of royal prerogative and sovereignty. Such an honor makes sense only when the Lord Lyon is understood not merely as a royal official, but as a living embodiment of the king's own authority.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-03-01 |title=The inauguration of Lyon King of Arms |url=https://www.theheraldrysociety.com/articles/the-inauguration-of-lyon-king-of-arms/ |access-date=2026-03-21 |website=The Heraldry Society |language=en-GB}}</ref>
==Holders of the office== ===Lord Lyon Kings of Arms=== [[File:David Lindsay Lord Lyon.jpg|thumb|right|upright|[[David Lyndsay|Sir David Lindsay of the Mount]] was Lord Lyon from 1542 to 1554. A poet and diplomat during [[Renaissance in Scotland|Renaissance Scotland]].]] [[File:James Balfour, 1st Baronet of Denmilne and Kinnaird.jpg|thumb|right|upright|[[Sir James Balfour, 1st Baronet of Denmilne and Kinnaird]], was Lord Lyon from 1630 to 1654. Noted scholar, annalist and antiquary. In 1654 he was deprived of his office by [[Oliver Cromwell]].]] [[File:Seal of the Lord Lyon King of Arms.svg|thumb|right|upright|The [[Seal (emblem)|seal]] of the Lord Lyon King of Arms, created in 1673, depicting the arms of the Lord Lyon.]] [[File:AlexanderBrodie.jpg|thumb|right|upright|[[Alexander Brodie (1697–1754)|Alexander Brodie, 19th of that Ilk]], was Lord Lyon from 1727 to 1754. Despite receiving the Lyon office as a political reward, he nevertheless undertook his duties seriously.]] [[File:11thEarlOfKinnoull.jpg|thumb|right|upright|[[Thomas Hay-Drummond, 11th Earl of Kinnoull]], was Lord Lyon from 1804 to 1866. Treated the office as a sinecure and left his duties to the Lyon Depute.]] [[File:Sir James Balfour Paul Sturdee.jpg|thumb|right|upright|[[James Balfour Paul|Sir James Balfour Paul]] was Lord Lyon from 1890 to 1926. Lawyer and scholar, he wrote many books concerning Scotland's heritage.]] [[File:Sir Francis Grant, Lord Lyon King of Arms, H.R.H.jpg|thumb|right|upright|[[Francis Grant (officer of arms)|Sir Francis Grant]] was Lord Lyon from 1929 to 1945. Grant (left), and the [[George VI of the United Kingdom|Duke of York]] (centre) proceeding to [[St Giles' Cathedral]] in 1933.]] [[File:Thomas Innes of Learney.jpg|thumb|right|upright|[[Thomas Innes of Learney|Sir Thomas Innes of Learney]] was Lord Lyon from 1945 to 1969, wearing the tabard of the [[Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom|Royal arms of the United Kingdom]] (with the [[Royal Arms of Scotland|Scottish royal arms]] taking precedence) and holding the staff of the Lyon's office.]] [[File:Lord Lyon 22 September 2015.jpg|thumb|right|upright|[[Joseph Morrow (Lord Lyon)|Dr. Joseph John Morrow]] has been Lord Lyon since 2014, wearing his wig and [[Court dress#Scotland|judicial robes]] as Lord Lyon.]]
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" ! style="width:5%" |Arms ! style="width:30%" |Name ! style="width:10%" |Dates of office ! style="width:50%" |Notes ! style="width:5%" |Ref<ref name="officeholders">{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/heraldryinscotla02stev |title=Heraldry in Scotland : including a recension of 'The law and practice of heraldry in Scotland' by the late George Seton |last1=Stevenson |first1=J. H. (John Horne) |last2=Seton |first2=George |date=1914 |publisher=Glasgow, J. Maclehose |pages=[https://archive.org/details/heraldryinscotla02stev/page/n288 445]–446}}</ref> |- | ! Unknown | pre 1399<br />(1377) | There is an oft-repeated statement that [[Robert the Bruce]] created a Lyon King of Arms in 1318, but this is open to considerable doubt. The story seems to have been originated in the fifteenth century by a sub-prior of [[Arbroath Abbey]], one William de Pittenweem. However, the Exchequer and other Records do not support the assertion and it is not until 1377 that the office of ''"Lyoun Herauld"'' is known to have existed. | <ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.theheraldrysociety.com/articles/sir-james-balfour-of-denmylne-and-kinnaird-and-his-coronation-as-lyon-king-of-arms-of-scotland-1630/ |title=The Heraldry Society |last=Campbell-Kease |first=John |date=2018-03-01 |publisher=Coat of Arms no 179 |language=en-GB}}</ref> |- | ! Henry Greve | circa 1399 | The office of Lord Lyon predates the year 1399, but with Henry Greve recorded as the first holder during the reign of [[Robert III of Scotland|Robert III]]. Greve was recorded in an English Issue Rolls as "King of Scottish Heralds", and that he was at the [[Tower of London]] in 1399, either at or immediately after the coronation of [[Henry IV of England|Henry IV]]. The Lyon appears in several embassies about this period both to England and France. | <ref name="Fox-Davies">{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/completeguidetoh00foxduoft |title=A complete guide to heraldry |last=Fox-Davies |first=Arthur Charles |date=1909 |publisher=London; Edinburgh : T.C. & E.C. Jack |pages=[https://archive.org/details/completeguidetoh00foxduoft/page/40 40]}}</ref> |- | ! ... Douglas | 1400–1421 | From 1391 onwards there is frequent mention of one Douglas, ''"Herald of the King"'', and in 1421 he is styled ''"Lyon Herald."'' | <ref name="Fox-Davies"/> |- ! [[File:Arms of Alexander Nairne of Sandford.svg|100px]] ! Alexander Nairne of Sandford |1437–1450 | The founder of the House of Sandford, Lyon King of Arms, and [[Comptroller of Scotland]] of [[James II of Scotland|James II]]. |<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/monumentsmonumen02rogeiala |title=Monuments and monumental inscriptions in Scotland |last1=Rogers |first1=Charles |last2=Grampian Club |date=1871–72 |publisher=London : Pub. for the Grampian Club [by] C. Griffin |location=London |pages=[https://archive.org/details/monumentsmonumen02rogeiala/page/414 414]}}</ref> |- | [[File:Arms of Duncan Dundas of Newliston.svg|100px]] ! [[Duncan Dundas of Newliston]] |1450–1471 | The second son of James Dundas of that Ilk, Dundas was much noted in his time and was frequently employed in embassies to [[Kingdom of England|England]]. He is said to have discharged his duty in those negotiations "with integrity and honour". He acquired the [[Scottish feudal barony|feudal barony]] of [[Newliston]], and founded a branch of the Dundas family there, the Dundases of Newliston. |<ref>{{Cite journal |url=https://archive.org/details/genealogicalhera03burk |title=A genealogical and heraldic history of the commoners of Great Britain and Ireland, enjoying territorial possessions or high official rank; but univested with heritable honours |journal=Notes and Queries |last=Burke |first=John |date=1835 |volume=s4-VI |issue=148 |pages=377–378 |doi=10.1093/nq/s4-vi.148.377-g }}</ref> |- | ! The Laird of Woodhead |1471–1481 | |<ref name="Grant">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G_TEPAAACAAJ |title=Court of the Lord Lyon: List of His Majesty's Officers of Arms and Other Officials with Genealogical Notes, 1318–1945 |last=Grant |first=Sir Francis James |date=1945 |publisher=Society |language=en}}</ref> |- | ! Unknown |1481–1489 | The name of this herald was not expressly mentioned, but he was sent on an errand as the king's "sympell servant" to [[Cumbernauld]] on the complaint of Lady Fleming in 1484. His seal was attached to a document and bears a crescent between three mullets, which may indicate that his name was Arbuthnot or Murray. | <ref name="Paul">{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/heraldryinrelati00paulrich |title=Heraldry in relation to Scottish history and art; being the Rhind lectures on archaeology for 1898 |last=Paul |first=James Balfour |date=1900 |publisher=Edinburgh, D. Douglas |pages=[https://archive.org/details/heraldryinrelati00paulrich/page/81 81]–88}}</ref> |- | ! Sir Andrew Murray of Truim |1489–1496 |Formerly [[Albany Herald|Albany]] or [[Islay Herald]] |<ref name="Grant"/> |- | [[File:Arms of Henry Thomson of Keillour.svg|100px]] ! Henry Thomson of Keillour |1496–1512 | Thomson took several diplomatic missions as Lyon. Such as one in 1505, when he was sent to Denmark on behalf of King [[James IV of Scotland|James IV]]. Thomson was described by his king as "an experienced councillor" and "a man of much diplomatic skill" had been requested by King [[John, King of Denmark|John]] as a mediator (the two kings were cousins), and to inform him that Scotland was unable to send ships to aid him in the [[Dano-Swedish War (1501–1512)|Dano-Swedish War]]. Formerly Islay Herald. |<ref name="Scotland diplomacy">{{Cite web |url=http://xml.ucc.ie/chronicon/scottishdiplomats/DENMARK.pdf |title=Scotland in Renaissance Diplomacy 1473–1603, Scotland to Denmark |last=Morgan |first=Hiram |date=2008 |website=University College Cork |publisher=Bloomsbury Academic |access-date=2018-11-05}}</ref> |- | [[File:Arms of Sir William Cumming of Inverallochy.svg|100px]] ! Sir William Cumming of Inverallochy |1512–1519 | Cumming took an important ultimatum from James IV to [[Henry VIII of England|Henry VIII]] arriving at his camp in [[Thérouanne]], France, on 11 August 1513. Henry's angry exchange with Cumming was recorded. Henry's rejection of the terms led to a declaration of war between the two countries, as a result he was not present at the [[Battle of Flodden|defeat at Flodden]]. He was however present at the coronation of the infant [[James V of Scotland|James V]] on 21 September 1513. In 1514 Cumming was involved in a fracas with [[John Drummond, 1st Lord Drummond|Lord Drummond]], when he was appointed to deliver a charge citing the [[Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus|Earl of Angus]], to appear before the Council regarding his marriage with [[Margaret Tudor]], the widow of James IV. During the course of this mission Cumming was struck by Lord Drummond (the earl's grandfather) and due to the sanctity of the King of Arms' office, Lord Drummond was confined to [[Blackness Castle]] and had all his estates forfeited. After suffering several months of imprisonment, Lord Drummond was later released and had the charges removed. Formerly [[Marchmont Herald]]. |<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CC8z0GT2nM4C&q=%2522Sir%2520William%2520Cumming%2520of%2520Inverallochy%2522&pg=PT97 |title=Young Henry: The Rise of Henry VIII |last=Hutchinson |first=Robert |date=2011-04-07 |publisher=Orion |isbn=9780297859536 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CEOwCQAAQBAJ&q=%2522Sir%2520William%2520Cumming%2520of%2520Inverallochy%2522&pg=PA52 |title=Sixteenth-Century Scotland: Essays in Honour of Michael Lynch |last=Thomas |first=Andrea |date=2008-06-25 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=9789047433736 |pages=52 |language=en}}</ref> |- | [[File:Arms of Thomas Pettigrew of Magdalensyde.svg|100px]] ! Thomas Pettigrew of Magdalensyde |1519–1542 | Much is not known about Pettigrew except that during much of his tenure he was deemed unfit to discharge his duties and his functions were actually performed by Sir David Lindsay of the Mount, who succeeded to the full title on Pettigrew's death in 1542. Formerly [[Angus Herald]]. | <ref name="Andrea Thomas">{{Cite web |url=https://www.era.lib.ed.ac.uk/bitstream/1842/9673/1/Thomas1997.pdf |title= Renaissance Culture at the Court of James V, 1528–1542 |last=Thomas |first=Andrea |date=1997 |website=www.era.lib.ed.ac.uk |access-date=2018-11-06}}</ref><ref name="Stevenson">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=orAFCgAAQBAJ&q=Thomas%2520pettigrew&pg=PA64 |title=Les 'autres' rois: Études sur la royauté comme notion hiérarchique dans la société au bas Moyen Âge et au début de l'époque moderne: The Scottish King of Arms: Lyon's place in the hierarchy of the late-medieval Scottish elite |last=Stevenson |first=Katie |date=2013-10-24 |publisher=Walter de Gruyter |isbn=9783486989304 |pages=64–79 |language=fr}}</ref><ref>Beveridge, James, M.A., & Russell, James, editors, ''Protocol book of Thomas Johnsoun 1528-1578'', Scottish Record Society, Edinburgh, 1920: https://archive.org/details/scottishrecordso39scotuoft/page/n29/mode/2up?view=theater</ref> |- | [[File:Arms of Sir David Lindsay of the Mount.svg|100px]] ! [[David Lyndsay|Sir David Lindsay of the Mount]] |1542–1554 | Appointed Lyon King of Arms, with an annual grant out of the lands of Luthrie in Fife, as his fee. The brilliant Lindsay thus became doubly the head of the heralds and [[poet laureate]] of the Scottish court. In the former capacity he took part in several embassies of the reign, while in the latter he expressed with the greatest freedom his views on the reformation of church and state, and became the poet of the [[Scottish Reformation]]. In June 1531 Lindsay went on his first embassy as Lyon king to the court of the Emperor [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles V]]. The embassy, which was appointed by the parliament in the preceding April, obtained a renewal of the alliance between Scotland and the Netherlands for a second term of 100 years. 'The Register of Arms of the Scottish Nobility and Gentry’ was completed under his direction as Lord Lyon in 1542. However the manuscript remained unpublished until 1821 when it was printed from the [[Advocates Library]]. Formerly [[Snawdoun Herald]]. |<ref>{{cite DNB|wstitle= Lindsay, David (1490-1555) |volume= 33 |last= Mackay |first= Aeneas James George |author-link= Aeneas James George Mackay |pages= 289-295 |year= |short=1}}</ref> |- | [[File:Arms of Sir Robert Forman of Luthrie.svg|100px]] ! Sir Robert Forman of Luthrie |1555–1567 | Forman was made a pursuivant in 1540, and created [[Ross Herald]] in November of the same year. In 1561 he received the appointment of Lyon from [[Mary of Guise|Queen Mary]], in which it is stated he had filled the office with great ability during her "umquhill deirest moderis tyme." He received his salary from the lands of Rathillet, as most of his predecessors had theirs from [[Collessie]]. He reigned till 1567, when he probably retired, as he did not die for some years later. He compiled the voluminous 'Register of Lord Lyon', which consisted of several armorial registers bounded together. | <ref name="Paul"/><ref name="Stevenson"/> |- | [[File:Arms of Sir William Stewart of Luthrie.svg|100px]] ! [[William Stewart of Luthrie|Sir William Stewart of Luthrie]] |20 February 1567 | Stewart was formerly Ross Herald, and his commission as Lyon under the [[Privy Seal of Scotland|Privy Seal]] was dated on 20 February 1568. He was stripped of his office (after being in it for less than six months) and then convicted for attempting the murder of the regent, the [[James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray|Earl of Moray]]. Sir James Balfour writes that he was "transported from [[Edinburgh Castle]] to [[Dumbarton Castle|Dumbrittane]] and ther committed to closse prissone, for conspyring to take the Regent's lyffe by [[Maleficium (sorcery)|sorcery]] and [[necromancy]], for which he was put to death." He was in fact [[Death by burning|burned at the stake]] in [[St Andrews]] on the 16 August 1569. The charge against Stewart, though nominally witchcraft, was no doubt politically motivated, due to his opposition to Moray and loyalty to Queen Mary of Guise. | <ref name="Paul"/><ref name="Stevenson"/><ref>Jade Scott, ''Captive Queen: The Decrypted History of Mary, Queen of Scots'' (London: Michael O'Mara Books, 2024), p. 125.</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7JBG85_ayZIC&q=%2522Sir%2520Robert%2520Forman%2520of%2520Luthrie%2522&pg=PA74 |title=Scots Heraldry: A Practical Handbook on the Historical Principles and Modern Application of the Art and Science |last=Learney |first=Sir Thomas Innes of |date=1971 |publisher=Genealogical Publishing Com |isbn=9780806304786 |pages=74 |language=en}}</ref> |- | [[File:Arms of Sir David Lindsay of the Mount (Secundus).svg|100px]] ! Sir David Lindsay of Rathillet |13 September 1568 – 1591 | Younger half-brother of Sir David Lindsay of the Mount. In 1545 he was [[Dingwall Pursuivant]] and created Rothesay Herald in 1557. He became Lyon in 1568, and was crowned with great solemnity in presence of the regent and many nobles. Dying in 1591, he was succeeded by his nephew another Sir David Lindsay of the Mount. | <ref name="Paul"/><ref name="John Lindsay">Lindsay, John (1938) The Lindsays of the Mount, ''Publications of the Clan Lindsay Society'', Vol V, No. 17, The Clan Lindsay Society, Edinburgh, pp. 9–82.</ref> |- | [[File:Arms of Sir David Lindsay of the Mount.svg|100px]] ! Sir David Lindsay of the Mount (Secundus) |25 December 1591 – 1620 | The second David Lindsay was a son of the first's half-brother, Alexander Lindsay. He was crowned on 2 May 1592, with [[James VI and I|James VI]] himself placing the ancient crown of Scotland on his head. He wore this also, as he told Sir [[William Segar]] Garter King of Arms, on the same day at dinner with the king. According to the Book of Caerlaverock he was raised to the dignity of a [[Lord of Parliament]] at the time of the [[Union of the Crowns|accession of James to the throne of England]]. He was a good herald, and a volume of his collections dated 1586, is in the Advocates Library. He resigned in favour of his son-in-law the next holder in 1620, and died two years afterwards. | <ref name="Paul"/><ref name="John Lindsay"/> |- | [[File:Arms of Lindsay, Earl of Crawford.svg|100px]] !Sir Jerome Lindsay of Annatland |8 November 1620 – 1630 | Lindsay of Dunino and Annatland had married his predecessor's daughter, and succeeded through her to the estate of the Mount. He was the last of the Lindsay dynasty in the office of Lyon. Of his official acts there is little record. His commission was dated 8 November 1620, and he reigned for ten years, when he resigned office at the age of sixty-eight. | <ref name="Paul"/> |- | [[File:Arms of Sir James Balfour of Denmilne and Kinnaird, 1st Baronet.svg|100px]] ! [[Sir James Balfour of Denmilne and Kinnaird, 1st Baronet]] |20 April 1630 – 1654 | Balfour received his commission as a young man in 1630, without having gone through any of the lower heraldic offices, and was crowned at [[Holyrood Palace|Holyrood]] by the [[George Hay, 1st Earl of Kinnoull|Viscount Dupplin]], the [[Lord Chancellor of Scotland|Lord Chancellor]]. He was well suited for the role and cultivated friendships with fellow heralds such as Sir William Segar, who described him as "ane expert and graduate herauld in blazing of cotts and armories, in inventing of crests and supporters, in searching of genealogies and discents, in marshalling of funeralls, triumphs, and inaugurations, etc., and in all ceremonies whatsoever pertaining to honour or amies." In 1633 he was created a Baronet by [[Charles I of England|Charles I]]. Sir James Balfour Paul said of him: "it is sufficient to say that few more accomplished men ever held the office of Lyon." He reigned as Lyon during turbulent times and he was deprived of his kingly office by [[Oliver Cromwell]]. | <ref name="Paul"/> |- | [[File:Arms of Campbell of Lawers.svg|100px]] ! Sir James Campbell of Lawers |13 May 1658 – 1660 | Oliver Cromwell, while he abolished the monarchy, did not extend the same fate to the crown heraldic, for he appointed two Lyons in his day. The first of these was Sir James Campbell of Lawers, who was commissioned to be "Lyon our Herald King of Arms," at Westminster on 13 May 1658. He was very soon followed by Gilbert Stewart, of whom we know nothing, save that he was deprived of office at [[Restoration (England)|the Restoration]]. | <ref name="Paul"/> |- | [[File:Arms of Sir Alexander Durham of Largo.svg|100px]] ! Sir Alexander Durham of Largo |28 August 1660 – 1663 | Received his appointment on account of his services to the Royalist party in Scotland. His reign was not a long one, as he died in 1663. | <ref name="Paul"/> |- | [[File:Arms of Sir Charles Erskine of Cambo, Baronet.svg|100px]] ! Sir Charles Erskine of Cambo, Baronet |4 January 1663 – 1677 | Appointed by [[Charles II of England|Charles II]] in 1663. He succeeded in getting his son conjoined with him as a kind of "assistant and successor" on 27 June 1677. Sir Charles established the official [[Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland|Public Register of All Arms and Bearings]]. The fate of the old registers not having been known, perhaps they were burnt, lost at sea or looted when many books were taken by Cromwell or his armies to London. Despite repeated representations of the Scottish Parliament none were found. Sir Charles died in 1677. | <ref name="Paul"/> |- | [[File:Arms of Sir Charles Erskine of Cambo, Baronet.svg|100px]] ! [[Alexander Erskine of Cambo|Sir Alexander Erskine of Cambo, 2nd Baronet]] |1677–1726 | Due to the arrangement in 1677, Sir Charles was succeeded by his son Alexander. An efficient officer, in 1702 he got a patent under the Great Seal to give the Lyon office to himself and his son (also named Alexander), declaring the office to be hereditary in his family. However his son predeceased him. He took part in the [[Jacobite rising of 1715]], perhaps induced into it by his kinsman the [[John Erskine, Earl of Mar (1675–1732)|Earl of Mar]]. He died in 1735, but he may have been deprived of office long before that. | <ref name="Paul"/> |- | [[File:Arms of Alexander Brodie, 19th of that Ilk.svg|100px]] ! [[Alexander Brodie (1697–1754)|Alexander Brodie, 19th of that Ilk]] |6 July 1727 – 1754 | Elected a [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) for [[Elginshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Elginshire]] in 1720, the [[laird]] of [[Brodie Castle|Brodie]] was an enthusiastic supporter of the government of [[Robert Walpole]]. He was rewarded with the Lyon office with a salary of £300 per year ({{Inflation|UK|300|1727|fmt=eq|cursign=£|r=-3}}{{Inflation-fn|UK|df=y}}). Brodie fulfilled the office with diligence. He was reputed to have enforced the laws of arms without fear or favour, and removed bogus arms even from senior peers. Despite being an informer for the Hanoverian regime, he was magnanimous to staff in the Lyon office who had supported the [[Jacobitism|Jacobites]]. He intervened to protect them from punishment, ensured that their salaries were reinstated, and won a pardon from a death sentence for one of his clerks. | <ref name="odnb-alexander-brodie-1697-1754">{{Cite ODNB | title = Brodie, Alexander, of Brodie (1697–1754) | id = 64093 | edition = online | publisher = Oxford University Press | first = Andrew M. | last = Lang | year = 2009 | orig-year = 2004}}</ref><ref name="histparl-james-brodie-1695-1720">{{cite web | first = J. M. | last = Simpson | title = BRODIE, James (1695–1720), of Brodie, Elgin | url = http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1715-1754/member/brodie-alexander-1697-1754 | work = The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1715–1754 | editor = R. Sedgwick | publisher = Boydell and Brewer | access-date = 30 April 2015 | year = 1970}}</ref> |- | [[File:Arms of John Hooke-Campbell of Bangeston.svg|100px]] ! John Hooke-Campbell of Bangeston |3 April 1754 – 1795 | A [[Clan Campbell of Cawdor|Campbell of Cawdor]], and a nephew of [[John Campbell, 1st Baron Cawdor|Lord Cawdor]]. He probably inherited his Welsh estates through his mother's family and recorded arms in the Lyon Register with the name Campbell Hooke. He was seldom in Edinburgh, especially in the later part of his tenure of office. He met a sudden death in 1795. | <ref name="Emslie-Smith">{{Cite web |url=https://www.rcpe.ac.uk/sites/default/files/library_papers/emslie_smith_1993.pdf |title=An Eighteenth Century Scots Heraldic Negotiation |last=Emslie-Smith |first=Dr Donald |date=2005 |website=www.rcpe.ac.uk |access-date=2018-11-07}}</ref> |- | [[File:Arms of Robert Boswell of St. Boswells.svg|100px]] ! Robert Boswell of St. Boswells |1795–1796 | From 1770 the [[Lyon Clerk and Keeper of the Records|Lyon Clerk]] and Lyon Depute was Robert Boswell, who was a cousin of [[James Boswell]], [[Samuel Johnson]]’s biographer. As Lyon Depute, Robert Boswell signed the [[grant of arms]] to the [[University of Edinburgh]] in 1789. After the death of John Hooke Campbell, Boswell was Lyon ad interim until the appointment of Lord Kinnoull. | <ref name="Emslie-Smith"/> |- | [[File:Arms of Hay-Drummond, Earl of Kinnoull.svg|100px]] ! [[Robert Hay-Drummond, 10th Earl of Kinnoull|Robert Aureol Hay-Drummond, 10th Earl of Kinnoull]] |26 May 1796 – 1804 | Born in 1751, his father was [[Robert Hay Drummond]], the [[Archbishop of York]]. In 1739, his father took on the Drummond name and arms as heir of entail of his great-grandfather [[William Drummond, 1st Viscount Strathallan|Viscount Strathallan]]. Robert Hay-Drummond succeeded to the title of [[Earl of Kinnoull]] on 27 December 1787 on the death of his uncle, [[Thomas Hay, 9th Earl of Kinnoull|Thomas Hay]]. In 1796 he was sworn into the Privy Council and made Lord Lyon. He died in 1804. During his tenure the Lyon office became a sinecure and the heraldic tasks of the office were performed by a Lyon Depute. | <ref name="peerage">{{cite book|author=James Balfour Paul|author-link=James Balfour Paul|title=The Scots Peerage|date=1908|publisher=D. Douglas |page =232|ref=Paul}}</ref> |- | [[File:Arms of Hay-Drummond, Earl of Kinnoull.svg|100px]] ! [[Thomas Hay-Drummond, 11th Earl of Kinnoull|Thomas Robert Hay-Drummond, 11th Earl of Kinnoull]] |12 April 1804 – 1866 || Born in [[Bath, Somerset]], to the 10th Earl and his second wife, Sarah Harley, daughter of [[Thomas Harley (politician, born 1730)|Thomas Harley]], [[Lord Mayor of London]]. He succeeded his father as Lord Lyon in 1804 although, like his father before him, he took no interest in heraldic work. He served as colonel of the Perthshire Militia from 1809 to 1855, and from 1830 to 1866 he was [[Lord Lieutenant of Perthshire]]. He died in [[Torquay]] in 1866. | <ref name="peerage"/><ref>{{cite DNB|wstitle= Harley, Thomas |volume= 24 |last= Welch |first= Charles |author-link= |pages= 406-407 |year= |short=1}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Kearsley's Complete..., 2: Together with an Extinct Peerage of the Three Kingdoms List of All Their Family Names, Titles of Elder Sons & and Translation of Their Mottos|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nJnevpSi8VEC&pg=PA355|access-date=9 August 2013|year=1804|publisher=G. Kearsley|page=355}}</ref> |- | [[File:Arms of George Burnett.svg|100px]] ! [[George Burnett (officer of arms)|George Burnett]] |26 July 1866 – 1890 | Born in 1822, he was the second son of John Burnett, [[House of Burnett|5th Laird of Kemnay]]. Burnett was admitted a member of the [[Faculty of Advocates|Scottish Bar]] in 1845. In 1863 he was appointed Lyon Depute; in this position he was practically the head of the heraldic executive in Scotland. Three years later he succeeded Lord Kinnoull as Lord Lyon, an office to which he was pre-eminently qualified. For nearly a quarter of a century he administered the office wisely and well, and made it once more an efficient and reliable heraldic court. | <ref>{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/familyofburnetto00burnuoft |title=The family of Burnett of Leys, with collateral branches : from the mss. of the late George Burnett |last=Burnett |first=George |date=1901 |publisher=Aberdeen Printed for the University}}</ref> |- | [[File:Arms of Sir James Balfour Paul.svg|100px]] ! [[James Balfour Paul|Sir James Balfour Paul]] |12 March 1890 – 1926 | Born in 1846. He was educated at [[Royal High School, Edinburgh|Royal High School]] and the University of Edinburgh. He was admitted an advocate in 1870. Thereafter he was Registrar of [[Friendly Societies]] (1879–1890), Treasurer of the Faculty of Advocates (1883–1902), and appointed Lord Lyon in 1890. He was created a [[Knight Bachelor]] in the 1900. Shortly before his retirement in 1926, he was appointed a Knight Commander of the [[Royal Victorian Order]]. He was also admitted an Esquire and then a Commander of the [[Order of St. John of Jerusalem]], elected a Fellow of the [[Society of Antiquaries of Scotland]] and was also the Secretary of the [[Order of the Thistle]]. |<ref>{{cite web|title=Scottish Post Office Directories > Towns > Edinburgh > 1805–1834 – Post Office annual directory > 1832–1833 | url=http://digital.nls.uk/directories/browse/pageturner.cfm?id=83401383&mode=transcription|publisher=National Library of Scotland|access-date=29 September 2016}}</ref><ref name="times">{{cite news |title=Sir James Balfour Paul, Scottish Herald and Antiquary |work=[[The Times]] |page= 17 |date= 16 September 1931 }}</ref> |- | [[File:Arms of George Sitwell Campbell Swinton.svg|100px]] ! [[George Swinton|George Sitwell Campbell Swinton]] | 1927–1929 | Born in 1859. Swinton began his career in the army and was gazetted to the [[71st (Highland) Regiment of Foot]] in 1878. He was an [[aide-de-camp]] to the [[Viceroy of India]] from 1888 to 1894. As a [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] he served on various municipal offices. Swinton also served as [[March Pursuivant]]. He was Albany Herald from 1923 to 1926 and served as Lord Lyon and Secretary to the Order of the Thistle from 1927 to 1929. | <ref>{{cite news|url=http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Times/1926/News/New_Lyon_King_of_Arms|title=New Lyon King of Arms|date=14 September 1926|work=The Times|pages=17|access-date=2009-07-17}}</ref> |- | [[File:Arms of Sir Francis James Grant.svg|100px]] ! [[Francis Grant (officer of arms)|Sir Francis James Grant]] | 1929–1945 | Born in 1863, the son of John Grant, Marchmont Herald from 1884 to 1888, Grant served as [[Carrick Pursuivant]] beginning on 17 May 1886. This appointment lasted until his promotion to the office of Rothesay Herald and Lyon Clerk and Keeper of the Records on 8 September 1898. On 10 May 1929, he was appointed Lord Lyon. In 1935 he was made a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order. Grant retired from the office on 30 June 1945. | <ref>{{London Gazette|issue=33489|page=2762|date=26 April 1929}}</ref> |- | [[File:Arms of Sir Thomas Innes of Learney.svg|100px]] ! [[Thomas Innes of Learney|Sir Thomas Innes of Learney]] | 1945–1969 | Thomas Innes was born in 1893. Learney served as Carrick Pursuivant from 1926 to 1935 and as Albany Herald from 1935 to 1945. He was appointed Lord Lyon on 18 June 1945, until his retirement in 1969. On 10 June 1967 he was appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order. | <ref>{{London Gazette|issue=37137|page=3196|date=19 June 1945}}</ref> |- | [[File:Arms of Sir James Monteith Grant.svg|100px]] ! [[James Monteith Grant|Sir James Monteith Grant]] | 1969–1981 | Born in 1903. Educated at the [[Edinburgh Academy]] and the University of Edinburgh, where he studied law, he was appointed a [[Writer to the Signet]] in 1927. He served as Carrick Pursuivant from 1946 to 1957 and as Marchmont Herald 1957–1969. He was appointed Lord Lyon in 1969, until his retirement in 1981. In 1969 he was appointed a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order. |<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.heraldry.ca/content/bios/bio_grant.htm |title=Bio: Sir James Monteith Grant KCVO, FRHSC (Hon) |website=www.heraldry.ca |language=en |access-date=2018-11-09}}</ref> |- | [[File:Arms of Sir Malcolm Innes of Edingight.svg|100px]] ! [[Malcolm Innes of Edingight|Sir Malcolm Rognvald Innes of Edingight]] | 1981–2001 | Born in 1938, the son of Thomas Innes of Learney. He served as [[Falkland Pursuivant]] from 1957 to 1958, then as Carrick Pursuivant from 1958 to 1971 and as Marchmont Herald from 1971 to 1981. He was Lyon Clerk and Keeper of the Records from 1966 to 1981. He was appointed Lord Lyon in 1981, until his retirement in 2001. Following this he was appointed [[Orkney Herald]]. He is also a Fellow, former president, and co-founder of the [[Heraldry Society of Scotland]], as well as being Honorary President of the Scottish Genealogy Society. In 1990 he was appointed a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order. | <ref name="ush">{{cite news|last=Tomlinson|first=Richard|title=They also serve, who only ush|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/they-also-serve-who-only-ush-why-is-the-queen-followed-by-people-in-antique-clothes-richard-tomlinson-on-the-lords-ladies-women-masters-silver-sticks-and-white-staves-at-court-1564751.html|newspaper=Independent|date=20 December 1992}}</ref><ref name="Lyon retiring">{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12163385.Hunt_for_new_Lyon_King_as_Sir_Malcolm_lays_down_his_Arms/ |title=Hunt for new Lyon King as Sir Malcolm lays down his Arms |work=[[The Herald (Glasgow)|The Herald]] |date=2 September 2000 |access-date=3 March 2018}}</ref> |- | [[File:Arms of Robin Orr Blair.svg|100px]] ! [[Robin Blair|Robin Orr Blair]] | 2001–2008 | Born in 1940. Blair is a retired [[solicitor]], and was a partner with [[Dundas & Wilson]] CS and later with [[Turcan Connell]]. He was appointed Lord Lyon on 9 February 2001, the first to have been appointed in accordance with the [[European Union]]'s rules for appointments to the public service and the first senior member of the [[Royal Household]] in Scotland to have been appointed by the [[Scottish Executive]] rather than [[Whitehall]]. He was appointed after the position was publicly advertised. He retired in 2008. In the same year he retired he was appointed a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order. |<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=24961|page=304|date=13 February 2001 |city=Edinburgh }}</ref> |- | [[File:Arms of William David Hamilton Sellar.svg|100px]] ! [[David Sellar|William David Hamilton Sellar]] | 2008–2014 | Born in 1941. Sellar read history at [[University of Oxford|Oxford University]] graduating as [[Bachelor of Arts]] before gaining a law degree ([[LLB]]) from the University of Edinburgh. He qualified as a solicitor in 1966, and in 1968 joined the [[University of Edinburgh School of Law|Faculty of Law]] at the University of Edinburgh, where he was elected an Honorary Fellow in 1997. He was appointed Lord Lyon in 2008, until his retirement in 2014. In the same year he retired he was appointed a Member of the Royal Victorian Order. |<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.law.ed.ac.uk/news-events/news/memoriam-david-sellar-27-february-1941-26-january-2019|title=www.law.ed.ac.uk}}</ref><ref>{{London Gazette|issue=25116|page=2663|date=9 November 2001 |city=Edinburgh }}</ref> |- | [[File:Arms of Joseph John Morrow.svg|100px]] ! [[Joseph Morrow (Lord Lyon)|The Reverend Canon Dr. Joseph John Morrow]] | 2014–present | Morrow is a member of the Faculty of Advocates, with degrees in Theology and Law. He was appointed Lord Lyon on 17 January 2014, and sworn in before the [[Lord President of the Court of Session]] on 27 February 2014. |<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://news.gov.scot/news/new-lord-lyon-king-of-arms-appointed |title=New Lord Lyon King of Arms appointed |website=Scottish Government News |language=en |access-date=2018-11-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13141091.advocate-appointed-new-lord-lyon-king/ |title=Advocate appointed new Lord Lyon King |website=HeraldScotland |date=18 January 2014 |language=en |access-date=2018-11-05}}</ref> |}
===Lyon Deputes=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; width:80%" ! style="width:5%" |Arms ! style="width:30%" |Name ! style="width:10%" |Date of appointment<ref name="officeholders"/><ref name="Grant"/> ! style="width:40%" |Notes |- |[[File:Arms of Sir William Cumming of Inverallochy.svg|70px]] !Sir William Cumming of Inverallochy |1508 |Also Marchmont Herald |- |[[File:Arms of Sir David Lindsay of the Mount.svg|70px]] !Sir David Lindsay of the Mount |1528 |Also Snawdoun |- |[[File:Arms of Sir Robert Forman of Luthrie.svg|70px]] !Sir Robert Forman of Luthrie |1554 |Also Ross |- |[[File:Arms of Sir David Lindsay of the Mount.svg|70px]] !Sir David Lindsay of the Mount (Secundus) |1568 | |- |[[File:Arms of Lindsay of Loughry.svg|70px]] !Thomas Lindesay |1591 |Also Snawdoun |- |[[File:Arms of Thomas Drysdale.svg|70px]] !Thomas Drysdale |1627 |Also Islay |- |[[File:Arms of Oliphant of that Ilk.svg|70px]] !Laurence Oliphant |31 January 1631 |Advocate |- |[[File:Arms of Maule, Earl of Panmure.svg|70px]] !Harry Maule of Melgund |(1636) | |- |[[File:Arms of Sir James Balfour of Denmilne and Kinnaird, 1st Baronet.svg|70px]] !Sir David Balfour |20 March 1650 |Advocate, afterwards Knight and Lord of Session |- |[[File:Arms of Baird of Newbyth.svg|70px]] ![[John Baird, Lord Newbyth|Sir John Baird, Lord Newbyth]] |15 August 1663 |Advocate, afterwards Lord of Session |- |[[File:Arms of Thomson of Fairiehope.svg |70px]] !William Thomson of Fairliehope |4 January 1666 | |- |[[File:Arms of Skene of that Ilk.svg|70px]] !James Skene |10 November 1677 |''(Joint)''<br />Also [[Kintyre Pursuivant|Kintyre]] |- |[[File:Arms of Innes of Blairtoun.svg|70px]] !Robert Innes of Blairtoun |4 November 1677 |''(Joint, then sole from 10 November 1687)'' |- |[[File:Arms of Douglas of Earnslaw.svg|70px]] !James Douglas of Earnslaw |5 May 1689 | |- |[[File:Arms of Sir Charles Erskine of Cambo, Baronet.svg|70px]] !David Erskine |6 June 1724 |Also Rothesay. |- |[[File:Arms of Dundas of Newhalls.svg|70px]] !John Dundas of Newhalls |1 November 1728 | |- |[[File:Arms of Dundas of Fingask.svg|70px]] ![[Thomas Dundas (of Fingask and Carronhall)|Thomas Dundas of Fingask]] |18 June 1744 |Member of Parliament for Orkney and Shetland |- |[[File:Arms of Alexander Brodie, 19th of that Ilk.svg|70px]] !Thomas Brodie |30 August 1754 | |- |[[File:Arms of Robert Boswell of St. Boswells.svg|70px]] !Robert Boswell of St. Boswells |2 November 1770 |After the death of John Hooke Campbell in 1795, Boswell was Lyon ad interim until the appointment of Lord Kinnoull in 1796. |- | !James Home of Linhouse |8 August 1796 | |- | !David Clyne |21 February 1819 |''(Interim)'' |- | !George Tait |24 April 1819 |''(Interim)'' |- |[[File:Arms of Craigie of Dumbarnie.svg|70px]] !George Clerk Craigie of Dumbarnie |1 April 1823 |Advocate |- |[[File:Arms of Tytler of Woodhouselee.svg |70px]] !James Tytler of Woodhouselee |2 June 1827 |''(Joint, then sole from 1845)'' |- |[[File:Arms of George Burnett.svg|70px]] !George Burnett |9 November 1863 |Appointed Lord Lyon King of Arms in 1866 and served in that post until his death in 1890. |- ! colspan="5" align="center" | ''Office abolished in 1866.'' |- |}
==Coat of arms== {{Infobox COA wide |image = Coat of Arms of the Lord Lyon King of Arms.svg |image size = |badgeimage = Arms and Crown of the Lord Lyon King of Arms.svg{{!}}left |helm = Above the Shield is placed the proper Crown of the Lyon, being precisely after the model of the [[Crown of Scotland]] yet not set with stones but only enamel |escutcheon = Argent a lion sejant guardant Gules armed and Iangued Azure holding in his dexter paw a [[thistle]] Proper and in his sinister a shield of the second; on a chief Azure a [[Flag of Scotland|St. Andrew's cross]] of the first. |supporters = On a compartment below the Shield are set the proper Supporters of the Lord Lyon King of Arms. two lions rampant guardant Gules armed and langued Azure each crowned with the proper crown of the Lord Lyon King of Arms, their bodies semee of thistles crowned Or. |other_elements = Behind the Shield are disposed in saltire two representations of the Batons of the Lord Lyon King of Arms, videlicet: Azure, tipped Or, that on the dexter semee of thistles, roses, harps and fleurs de lys also Or (as Lord Lyon King of Arms), that on the sinister semee of thistles and St. Andrew’s Crosses of the Last (as [[King of Arms]] of the Most Ancient and Most Noble [[Order of the Thistle]]) |badge = Argent a lion sejant guardant Gules armed and Iangued Azure holding in his dexter paw a thistle Proper and in his sinister a shield of the second; on a chief Azure a St. Andrew's cross of the first. Around the Shield is placed the Lord Lyon’s Collar of Thistles linked with sprigs of rue interwoven Or and having from it pendent by a Scottish Imperial Crown Proper an oval medallion Or displaying the figure of [[Andrew the Apostle|Saint Andrew]] vested Vert surcoat Purpure bearing before him the cross of his martyrdom Argent. }}
==See also== {{Portal|Heraldry|Law|Scotland}} *[[King of Arms]] *[[Garter Principal King of Arms]] *[[Clarenceux King of Arms]] *[[Norroy and Ulster King of Arms]]
== References == {{Reflist}}
== Statutory acts == * [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/aosp/1592/29 Lyon King of Arms Act 1592] * [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/aosp/1669/95 Lyon King of Arms Act 1669] * [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/aosp/1672/47 Lyon King of Arms Act 1672] * [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Vict/30-31/17 Lyon King of Arms Act 1867] * [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1979/1540/contents/made The Superannuation (Lyon King of Arms and Lyon Clerk) Order 1979]
== External links == {{Commons category multi|Lord Lyon King of Arms|Coats of arms of the Lord Lyon King of Arms}} * {{official website|www.courtofthelordlyon.scot}} * [http://www.scotarmigers.net/whatis.htm Society of Scottish armigers] * [http://www.heraldry-scotland.co.uk/lyon-court.html The Heraldry Society of Scotland's pages on the Lord Lyon] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421153529/http://www.heraldry-scotland.co.uk/lyon-court.html |date=21 April 2021 }}
{{Court of the Lord Lyon}} {{Great Officers of State in the United Kingdom}}{{British nobility}}{{Scottish clans}} {{Authority control}}
[[Category:Ceremonial officers in the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Court of the Lord Lyon]] [[Category:Government of Scotland]] [[Category:Judiciary of Scotland]] [[Category:Lists of office-holders in Scotland]] [[Category:Offices of arms]] [[Category:Political office-holders in Scotland]] [[Category:Positions within the British Royal Household]] [[Category:Scottish heraldry]] [[Category:Society of Scotland]]