A British collectibles company is selling a banner carried in the enormous state funeral of the Duke of Wellington, one of the greatest ever British state occasions.
Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington, was born in Ireland in 1769, and his military education included a spell in France.
But there was no doubt whose allegiances he served in an extraordinarily successful military career.
Forever linked. Wellington had a long, distinguished, and varied military and political career, but it’s as the nemesis of Napoleon that he was most celebrated. Image courtesy of Paul Fraser Collectibles.
Its high point was the Battle of Waterloo, where a coalition of European armies (largely Dutch and German in modern terms) finally defeated Napoleon Bonaparte’s formidable French military.
When he died in 1852, the poet laureate, Alfred, Lord Tennyson dubbed him “the last great Englishman”.
Queen Victoria, who knew him as a politician rather than a soldier, insisted he have a huge state funeral and a burial at St Paul’s.
She recalled: “He was the GREATEST man this country ever produced, and the most devoted and loyal subject, and the staunchest supporter the Crown ever had.”
Paul Fraser, chairman of Paul Fraser Collectibles, who are selling a relic of that funeral says: “This is a display piece unlike anything else on the market today.”
The banner is finely detailed, befitting one of British history’s greatest state funerals. Image courtesy of Paul Fraser Collectibles.
It is a banner that was carried in the funeral procession, the military portion of which was 2 miles long and took four hours to pass a single point.
Around 1.5 million people gazed on this banner as they said goodbye to one of Britain’s greatest ever national heroes.
Mr Fraser adds: “As a collector’s piece this banner is absolutely unique. It is a thing of rare beauty.
Each intricately embroidered detail relates to Wellington’s life.
“Its central design features a Maltese Cross in sombre black silk – a symbol of protection, used for centuries as a military badge of honour.
“At its heart is Wellington’s Field Marshal baton surmounted by a coronet.
“Wellington was the first British General ever presented with such a baton, following his victory against Napoleon’s army in Spain in 1813.
“He was later given the title of Field Marshal by the armies of eight further nations, and each presented him with a baton.
The crowd at Wellington’s funeral, 1.5 million people, was equivalent to more than half of the population of London at the time.
“These batons were placed alongside his coffin as he lay in state, and were carried during his funeral procession.
“Above the cross is Wellington’s personal crest, featuring a lion emerging from a ducal coronet.
“This crest was added to his coat of arms when he became Duke in 1814, along with the motto ‘Virtutis Fortuna Comes’: Fortune favours the brave.”
Made of silk, and rather delicate, this banner is an extraordinary survival from the commemoration of an extraordinary man.
It is for sale now at the Paul Fraser Collectibles website.
