KING-AT-ARMS, or KING-or-Anus. The title of the principal heraldic officer of any coun try. There are four kings-at-arms in England, of whom three, Varter, Clareneieux, and Norroy, form the College of Heraldry. The fourth is Bath king-at-arms.
Garter principal king-at-arms was instituted by Henry V. (A.n. 141i) for the service of the order of the Garter. His duties include the regu lations of the arms of peers and of the knights of the Bath. In the capacity of king-at-arms of the Order of the Garter. lie has apartments with in the Castle of Windsor, and a mantle of blue satin, with the arms of Saint George on the left shoulder, besides a badge and sceptre. His offi cial costume, as principal king-at-arms of Eng land, is a surcoat of velvet, richly embroidered with the arms of the sovereign, a crown, and a collar of SS. Clareneieux and Norroy are prin cipal kings-at-arms with jurisdiction to the south and north of the Trent respectively. They ar range and register, alone or conjointly with Gar ter, the arms of all below the rank of the peerage. Kings-at-arms were formerly entitled to wear crowns on all occasions when the sovereign wore his now 'hey assume them only at the ceremony of a coronation. The installation of kings-at-arms anciently took place with great state, and always on a Sunday or a festival day, the ceremony being performed by the King. the Earl Marshal,
or some other person duly appointed by royal warrant. Bath king-at-arms, though not a mem ber of the college, takes precedence of Clarencieux and Norroy. II is office was created in 1725. for the service of the Order of the Bath. On Janu ary 14, 1726, he was constituted Gloucester king at-arms.
The chief heraldic officer for Scotland is called Lyon king-at-arms (q.v.), who since the Union has ranked next to Garter. llis title is derived from the lion rampant in the Scottish royal insignia, and he holds his office immediately from the sovereign. and not, as the English king-at arms. from the Earl Marshal. Before the revolu tion lie was crowned by the sovereign or his com missioner on receiving his office.
There is one king-at-arms in Ireland, named Ulster. The royal ordinance relative to the Order of Saint Patrick. issued May 17, 1S33. declares that in all ceremonials and assemblies Ulster king-at-arms shall have place immediately after the Lyon. Consult Burke, Eneyclomrdia of Heraldry.