Seals

Round seal, a lion sejant. Circular motto: «Signum Fernandi Regis Hispanorum».

Sello rodado, un león sentado. Divisa circular: «Signum Fernandi Regis Hispanorum».

Existing seal interpreted by me as follows: the shape of the seal is circular; the motto is written in sable on its outer ring; inside, a seated lion that begins to be rampant and will eventually become so; y the whole rendered in flat sable ink; y the result is an impression in azure ink.

For the outline of the lion I have followed the round seal of the king in his «Charter of Benavente» [Fernando II de León; 1167], in which I consider the lion to be seated; although it could also be interpreted as rampant, or as intending to be so, as it will ultimately appear in the arms of his son, King Alfonso IX of León.

For the delineation of the motto I have followed the round seal of the king in his «Charter of the Alfoz of Benavente» [Fernando II de León; 1181], in which the lion, unlike the previous one, is clearly in a passant posture.

In [Martín Fuertes, J. A.; 2002] four other round seals of King Fernando II of León can be consulted:

• from the year 1160 (A.C. de León, number 4168) with a lion passant,
• from the year 1165 (A.C. de León, number 1041) with another lion passant,
• from the year 1168 (A.C. de León, number 170) with a lion statant, also described as arrested or at rest, as mentioned in [Avilés, J.; 1725a; page 37] and [Avilés, J.; 1780a; page 42].
• from the year 1187 (A.C. de León, number 1067) with a lion passant and regardant, that is, with its head turned toward the sinister side of the round seal, a posture described, for example, in [Avilés, J.; 1725a; page 55] and [Avilés, J.; 1780a; page 61].

In attitudes of the lion of Ferdinand II the attitudes discussed in this article are illustrated.

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Blazon keywords: Without divisions, One, Lion, Sejant and Motto (identification).

Style keywords: Round, Plain tincture and Sealed.

Classification: Interpreted, Personal, Seal and Kingdom of León.

Bearer: Ferdinand II of Leon.

Born in 1137, King of León from 1157 to 1188, died in Benavente on January 22, 1188.

Round seal, a lion sejant. Circular motto: «Signum Fernandi Regis Hispanorum».

Sello rodado, un león sentado. Divisa circular: «Signum Fernandi Regis Hispanorum».

Existing seal interpreted by me as follows: the shape of the seal is circular; the legend is written within an outer black border; inside, a seated lion, not so much rampant and even less passant; the whole rendered in flat sable ink; and the result glazed with azure ink.

I use the term "legend" for its identifying purpose regarding King Fernando II of León; note that among the terms motto, legend, device, and war cry, all referring to texts in the blazon, different nuances and meanings can be found.

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Blazon keywords: Without divisions, One, Lion, Sejant and Motto (identification).

Style keywords: Round, Plain tincture and Sealed.

Classification: Interpreted, Personal, Seal and Kingdom of León.

Bearer: Ferdinand II of Leon.

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Credits: Carlos Vidriales commissioned this wax seal from my interpretation of his arms.

Category: Seal.

Root: Vidriales García y Bustamante, Carlos.

Registered by The International Register of Arms, 1^st of December of 2022, Registration number 0690, Volume 4.

In Spanish heraldry, there are three terms for supporters: «sostenes» for objects or plants, «tenantes» for human figures, and «soportes» for animal forms. The following applies to sostenes, tenantes, and soportes. Unlike other heraldic traditions such as English heraldry, in Spanish heraldry there are no rules for the use of supporters; their use is at the armiger's discretion, without specific restrictions. Supporters are not reserved only for nobility; their use is free for all.

In the words of [Cadenas y Vicent, V. de; 1975; page 173] «there is no rule that determines the use of tenantes, soportes, and sostenes».

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Categories: Armorial roll, Party per fess, Azure, One, Book, Open, Or, Leaved, Argent, Charged, Mullet, Gules, Tree, Erased, Between, Two, Apple, Diminished bordure, Embattled, Crest and mantling, Helm, Fimbriated, Wreath, Mantling, Dexter, Sinister, Crest, Pegasus, Rampant, Nascent, Flame, Supporter (animal), Lion, Langued, Quill, Claw, Parchment (scroll), Rolled, Seal, Letter, War cry and Motto.

External resource:

• Fernando Marán Bié at The Armorial Register.

Root: The Armorial Register.

Fernando II, King of León, «Carta Puebla de Benavente», Historical Archive of the City Council of Benavente, dated November 1167.

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It is a document in which King Fernando II of León grants privileges to Benavente with the aim of repopulating this town.

The original document is a parchment measuring 60 x 43 centimeters, adorned in the upper right corner, right according to the heraldic criterion, with a Chi Rho from which hang an alpha and an omega. In what could be considered the navel of the charter is a rolled seal of the king formed by a lion, which I consider closer to rampant than passant, surrounded by a circular motto that reads «Signum Fernandi Regis Hispanorum» ~ «Sign of Fernando, King of the Spains». Additionally, this rolled seal is accompanied by the names of members of the chancery and prelates of the Kingdom of León, to confirm the grants recorded in the «Carta Puebla de Benavente».

This charter, also called the «Fuero de Benavente», is a beautiful example of local law and, since its promulgation in 1167, served as a model for other towns. In the following years, similar charters to that of Benavente were adopted in other towns of León, Asturias, and Galicia, with the one in La Coruña being a notable example.

The objective of the provisions of this charter was to favor the repopulation and settlement of new settlers in the town of Benavente, and its successful operation in this aspect led to its application in other places.

The original document is kept in the Municipal Archive of Benavente, forming part of its collection of royal privileges of Benavente. There is also a «facsimile» edition, like the one that illustrates this bibliographic reference, published in 2002 by the Benavente City Council on the occasion of the Commemoration of the VIII Centenary of the Benavente Courts.

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Bibliographical reference of century XII.

Author: Fernando II de León.

Bibliographic reference mentioned in the following articles:

• Attitudes of the lion of Ferdinand II
• Ferdinand II of Leon
• Ferdinand II, imaginary coat of arms

External resources:

• Benavente remembers Fernando II of León.
• Churches in the parish of Renueva.
• Facsimile of the Carta Puebla de Benavente.
• Carta Puebla in PDF.

Internal resources: FernandoII.24.Facsimil.CartaPueblaBenavente.pdf in armorial, Fernando II of León, key 104..