This article has been revised as a result of James Edward Moir MacArthur's appointment as Chief of Clan Arthur.

The ancient shield of the Chief of Clan Arthur bears three gold antique (or eastern) crowns, set on an azure background. In heraldic symbolism; a crown signifies a royal or seigniorial authority; the colour gold, generosity; and azure or blue represents loyalty and truth. The cross is a later addition to the shield, from the crusades, but the three antique gold crowns are proof of kingship in the ancestry of Clan Arthur - but which king and which kingdoms?

'King' Arthur's blazon is described in 13th Century manuscripts as having displayed three gold crowns set on a blue background, which was later modified to thirteen gold crowns, to represent the thirteen kingdoms of Northern Britain. This raises the question as to which kingdoms the three original crowns represented. Oor Arthur was, by birth, 'Prince' of the 'Kingdoms' of Dalriada, Strathclyde and Goddodin. It is only reasonable to assume that these are the three 'kingdoms' represented on his shield.

It is worth noting at this point, that Uther Pendragon, 'King' Arthur's mythical father, boasted that he was known as Gorlasser (Blue Enamel) because the bright blue enamel of his belt, dazzled his enemies. This is attested in the poem "Death Song of Uther Pendragon" attributed to the Welsh speaking bard, Taliesin.

Another medieval poem 'The Funeral Ode to the Wonderful Pendragon' states that the 'lamenting multitude of the host earnestly yearn for the joyful prize of blue enamel and wish for their Prince!'

Although the MacArthur shield is unique in Scottish heraldry (as far as I know) there are other locations in Europe where similar shields can be found. These further pieces of evidence open up fascinating links to the Clan Arthur story.

The Southern Irish province of Munster was an ancient kingdom once ruled by the MacCarthys who had their seat at the famous Blarney Castle. The Province of Munster's shield is also composed of three gold crowns set on an azure background. Perhaps it should be no surprise that the MacCarthys at Blarney Castle still recognise the MacArthur tartan as their own. The Dalriadic ancestry of Artur MacAeden from the High Kings of Ireland is irrefutable. ( The National Arms of Ireland ).

Sweden has two National Coats of Arms, the Lesser and the Greater, the Lesser Coat of Arms being the one most commonly used. The Lesser Coat of Arms features three gold crowns set, two over one, on a blue background, as does the Clan Arthur shield, although the Swedish crowns are of a notably different style. This device has been the emblem of Sweden, since at least as early as 1336AD.

One explanation offers the three crowns as representative of the Three Wise Men, but this appears to be another of the usual later attempts to provide a biblical source for a Celtic phenomena. The second explanation of the three crowns representing the Kingdoms of Sweden, Norway and Scania, seems more plausible and contains a familiar echo. The Norse connections to the Arthurian saga will be explored further in future articles.

SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Matthews, John The Death Song of Uther Pendragon from Taliesin - Shamanism & The Bardic Mysteries ISBN 1855381095	Castleden, Rodney The Funeral Ode to the Wonderful Pendragon from King Arthur - The Truth Behind the Legend ISBN 0415195756
Wade, Cecil W. The Symbolisms of Heraldry or A Treatise on the Meanings and Derivations of Armorial Bearings	The Swedish Institute Fact Sheets on Sweden (FS 107c Kc)