Lions in Scotland??

[macwilkin]

Okay, cool...but how does a 12th Century dude in Scotland know what a lion is? Even if he went on a Crusade he wouldn't have been in lion country.

Its not like he ever saw one (??) maybe just heard about them and they were something neat for him?

One would think they'd use something local, like a salmon.

Richard the Salmonhearted....

We Macdonalds have salmon on our crest I think...or one of them.

But anyhow. How would William I have encountered a lion to get the idea to add to the crest back then?

Thanks

Ron

Lions are a common creature in heraldry, Ron -- one of the articles above mentioned that William's arms were most likely based on the arms of England.

http://bestiary.ca/beasts/beast78.htm

Hopefully this article will answer some of your questions.

T.