Earl Marshal
The Earl Marshal is one of the Great Officers of State, and the office has existed since 1386. Many of the holders of the office have been related to each other however it was not until 1672 that the office became fully hereditary. In that year Henry Howard was appointed to the position by King Charles II, in 1677 he also succeeded to the Dukedom of Norfolk as the 6th Duke, thus combining the two titles for his successors.
The office originates from that of Marshal, one of the English monarch's chief military officers. As such he became responsible for all matters concerning war and together with the Lord High Constable held the joint post as judges of the Court of Chivalry. After the decline of medieval chivalry, the role of Earl Marshal came to concern all matters of state and royal ceremonies. By the 16th century this supervision came to include the College of Arms and its heralds. Thus the Earl Marshal became the head and chief of the College of Arms; all important matters concerning its governance, including the appointment of new heralds, must meet with his approval.
| Head of the College of Arms | |||
| Arms | Titles and Offices | Name (Date of Succession) |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Earl Marshal and Hereditary Marshal of England |
(24 June 2002) |
Edward Fitzalan-Howard, the 18th Duke of Norfolk (born 2 December 1956) assumed the office of Earl Marshal at the death of his father Miles Stapleton-Fitzalan-Howard, 17th Duke of Norfolk in 2002. The heir-apparent to the office is the incumbent's oldest son Henry Fitzalan-Howard, Earl of Arundel (born 3 December 1987). | |
Read more about this topic: College Of Arms
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