From the 14th century onwards, the image of the swanappeared on insignia (clothing, jewellery, seals, wall decoration and tiles) throughout the Western world, particularly among the Lancasters. This revaluation of the swan, long ignored by medieval bestiary and heraldry, has several origins. One of them is the legend of the Knight of the Swan, which draws both on the ancient cultural heritage, which conveys a positive image of the swan, and on the founding myths of the great feudal families, notably those of the House of Boulogne. Gradually, the swan as an emblem or motto became a reference and a common heritage of medieval society for which it evoked the chivalrous, courtly and noble world. - [Abstract]

Language: French

ISSN: 0992-2059