Lion

Three lions on the royal coat of arms.

Lions have appeared in English heraldry since at least the 12th century, when King Richard I — 'Richard the Lionheart' — used them on his coat of arms. The royal arms of England feature three lions passant, an image still used by the English national football team today.

Why this animal?

Heraldic lions represented courage, royalty, and military prowess in medieval Europe. England never had wild lions, but the symbol was adopted from Norman tradition and stuck for nearly a thousand years.

Things to know

·The 'lions' on the royal arms are technically called 'leopards' in old French heraldry — same animal, different pose.
·Lion sculptures guard Trafalgar Square — Edwin Landseer designed the four bronze lions at the base of Nelson's Column in 1867.
·Wild lions vanished from Europe over 2,000 years ago but persisted in the Caucasus until medieval times.
·Lions are the only social cats — prides can number up to 30 individuals.
·Lion roars can be heard up to 8 km away on a still night.

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