Beyeren Armorial

Beyeren Armorial
National Library of the Netherlands,signatureKB 79 K21
First page spread (foll. 1v–2r) of the Beyeren Armorial
Type	Armorial
Date	Between 1402 and 1405, the book was completed on 23 June 1405. Binding is from 1581
Place of origin	Holland, The Hague
Language(s)	Annotations in Dutch
Author(s)	Claes Heynenzoon
Material	Parchment and paper
Size	62 folia
Format	Circa 230 x 155 mm
Script	Littera cursiva
Contents	Five series: (fol. 1r-8v, 18r-28v): 337 coats of arms from participants in a tournament in Compiègne; February 1238 (fol. 28v-35v, 49r-52v): 191 coats of arms from participants in a tournament in Mons; 1310 (fol. 52v-57v, 36r-48v, 9r-13r): 404 coats of arms from participants in a raid against the Frisians in Kuinre; 1396 (fol. 13r-17v, 58r-60r): 122 coats of arms from participants in the siege of Gorinchem; 1402 (fol. 60r-62v): 14 series of The Three Best
Illumination(s)	1096 hand-colored coats of arms
Accession	Description of the Beyeren Armorialin the catalogue of the KB]
Other	Digitized version,website KB (in Dutch)

TheBeyeren Armorialis a manuscriptroll of armsof the early 15th century, containing 1096 hand-coloredcoats of arms,with annotations inMiddle Dutch.It is held by in theNational Library of the Netherlandsin The Hague (KB), shelf mark 79 K 21.

On the left folio it is stated that the book was completed on 23 June 1405:Explicit iste liber per manus beyeren quondam gelre armorum regis de ruris [anno domini milesimo quadringentesimo quinto in profesto sancti Johannis baptiste].Translation: Here endeth this book by the hand of Bavaria, formerly Guelders, Ruwieren King of Arms [in the year of our Lord one thousand four hundred and five on the day before Saint John the Baptist's Day]

History

The manuscript was compiled at the court of Holland and was completed on 23 June 1405 by Claes Heynenzoon (c.1345−1414). He was RuwierenKing of Arms,the chief herald of the Netherlands around 1400. He is also the creator of theGelre (Guelders) Armorial,for which he has also been referred to as the "Gelre Herald".

Contents

The manuscripts is divided into 5 series or chapters

• I (fol. 1r–8v, 18r–28v): 337 coats of arms from participants in a tournament inCompiègne,"February 1238" [mccxxxviii]: the indicated date is likely in error (as many of the coats of arms would be anachronistic), perhaps 1278 [mcclxxviii] is intended (the coat of arms of theking of Sicilyis that ofAnjou,forCharles I,r. 1266–1285); the Luxembourg lion for "Henry of Luxembourg" would then be in reference toHenry VI(1240–1288), father of emperor Henry VII.
• II (fol. 28v–35v, 49r–52v): 191 coats of arms from participants in a tournament inMons;1310
• III (fol. 52v–57v, 36r–48v, 9r–13r): 404 coats of arms from participants in a raid against the Frisians inKuinre;1396
• IV (fol. 13r–17v, 58r–60r): 122 coats of arms from participants in the siege ofGorinchem;1402
• V (fol. 60r–62v): 14 series ofThe Three Best,by given name ( "the three best Johns", "the three best Williams", etc. )

Fol. 64v has a doodle ofheart symbolspierced by arrows with the maximWacht u, dool ich( "you wake, I sleep" ).

References

• Beelaerts van Blokland, W.A. (1933)Beyeren quondam Gelre armorum rex de Ruyris. Eene historisch-heraldische studie,(The Hague)
• Anrooij, W. van (1990)Spiegel van ridderschap. Heraut Gelre en zijn ereredes.(Amsterdam, Prometheus)
• Verbij-Schillings, Jeanne (1995)Beeldvorming in Holland. Heraut Beyeren en de historiografie omstreeks 1400(Amsterdam, Prometheus)
• Verbij-Schillings, Jeanne (1999)Het Haagsche handschrift van heraut Beyeren.Hs. Den Haag, Koninklijke Bibliotheek, 131 G 37(Hilversum, Verloren)

External links

• Digitized version of the Beyeren Armorialon the website of the KB (consulted 6 September 2016)
• Description of the Beyeren Armorialon the World Digital Library (consulted 6 September 2016)