[darkemporor]

I guess since I created the shield I should remark on the use of this emblem. Quite honestly, in the creation I did not intend to suggest any association with French history. It was a symbol of royalty in my head and found itself on the shield as a crest of honor, nothing more. My apologies to those it offends.

Some interesting facts about the symbol, I found after seeing this thread and doing a little research.

The English translation of "fleur-de-lis" is "flower of the lily." This symbol, depicting a stylized lily or lotus flower, has many meanings. Traditionally, it has been used to represent French royalty, and is said to signify perfection, light, and life. Legend has it that an angel presented a Merovingian king of the Franks with a golden lily as a symbol when waterlilies showed him how to safely cross a river and thus succeed in battle. (oh yey, a watery relevance!)

Its use for ornamental or symbolic purposes is common to all eras and all civilisations. It is found on Mesopotamian cylinders, Egyptian bas-reliefs, Mycenean potteries, Sassanid textiles, Gaulish coins, Mameluk coins, Indonesian clothes, Japanese emblems and Dogon totems. (No wonder it stuck in my head)

So it's not exclusively French. It has been used as an ornament or an emblem by almost all civilisations of the old and new worlds.



Wren