"1350 by royal letters patent, though the current title dates from 1522. The position was adopted by other members of the Commonwealth when they adopted the British Westminster system. The title is derived from the staff of office, an ebony staff topped with a golden lion, which is the main symbol of the office's authority. A ceremonial rod or staff is a common type of symbol indicating the authority of the office-holder. Depictions of ancient authority figures in many cultures include such a rod (alternatively called a sceptre). Another early example was the fasces (literally a bound bundle of rods)"
"Sceptre A sceptre (British English) or scepter (American English; see spelling differences) is a symbolic ornamental staff or wand held in the hand by a ruling monarch as an item of royal or imperial insignia. Figuratively, it means royal or imperial authority or sovereignty. The ""Was"" and other types of staves were signs of authority in Ancient Egypt. For this reason they are often described as ""sceptres"", even if they are full-length staffs. One of the earliest royal sceptres was discovered in the 2nd Dynasty tomb of Khasekhemwy in Abydos. Kings were also known to carry a staff, and Pharaoh"
"Staff of office A staff of office is a staff, the carrying of which often denotes an official's position, a social rank or a degree of social prestige. Apart from the ecclesiastical and ceremonial usages mentioned below, there are less formal usages. A gold- or silver-topped cane can express social standing (or dandyism). Teachers or prefects in schools traditionally carried less elaborate canes which marked their right (and potential threat) to administer canings, and military officers carry a residual threat of physical punishment in their swagger sticks. Orchestral conductors have in their batons symbols of authority as well as tools"
"Ceremonial mace A ceremonial mace is a highly ornamented staff of metal or wood, carried before a sovereign or other high official in civic ceremonies by a mace-bearer, intended to represent the official's authority. The mace, as used today, derives from the original mace used as a weapon. Processions often feature maces, as on parliamentary or formal academic occasions. Ceremonial maces originated in the Ancient Near East, where they were used as symbols of rank and authority across the region during the late Stone Age, Bronze Age, and early Iron Age. Among the oldest known ceremonial maceheads are the Ancient"
"designated in times of emergency or in distant borderlands where central government had little influence. This entailed a symbolic conferral of power, which was embodied in the Staff of Authority (""Jiezhang"" 節杖). Roughly 2 m (6 ft) in height and decorated with ribbons, the Staff of Authority was often granted to an official with a specific errand, such as acting on behalf of the emperor as ambassador to a foreign country, appointing civilians to office, or immediately promoting a deserving military officer on the field of battle. Moreover, it granted its bearer the authority to sentence criminals and political rebels"
"which was inherited. ""Imperium"" was originally a military concept, the power of the ""imperator"" (general in the army) to command. The word derives from the Latin verb, ""imperare"" (to command). The title ""imperator"" was applied to the emperor, who was the commander of the armed forces. In fact, the Latin word, ""imperator"", gives us the English word ""emperor"". ""Imperium"" was indicated in two prominent ways. A ""curule"" magistrate or promagistrate carried an ivory baton surmounted by an eagle as his personal symbol of office (compare the field marshal's baton). Any such magistrate was also escorted by ""lictors"" bearing the ""fasces"""
"Crosier A crosier (also known as a crozier, paterissa, pastoral staff, or bishop's staff) is a stylized staff carried by high-ranking Roman Catholic, Eastern Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Anglican, and some Lutheran, United Methodist and Pentecostal prelates. Other typical insignia of many of these prelates are the mitre, the pectoral cross, and the episcopal ring. A crosier staff is a part of the tradition of Jewish Christianity. The origin of the crozier as a staff of authority is uncertain, but there were many secular and religious precedents in the ancient world. One example is the lituus, the traditional staff"
"or inauguration. During the High Middle Ages, the popes once again began using a staff known as a ""ferula"" as insignia to signify temporal power and governance, which included ""the power to mete out punishment and impose penances"". The actual form of the staffs from this period is not well known, but were likely staffs topped with a knob with single-barred cross on top. The staff was not a liturgical item, and its use was limited to a few extraordinary ceremonial occasions, such as the opening of the Holy Door and the consecration of churches, during which the pope ""took"
"was not his spear but the sceptre which bound a king to his people."" Among the early Greeks, the sceptre (, ""skeptron"", ""staff, stick, baton"") was a long staff, such as Agamemnon wielded (""Iliad"", i) or was used by respected elders (""Iliad"", xviii. 46; Herodotus 1. 196), and came to be used by judges, military leaders, priests, and others in authority. It is represented on painted vases as a long staff tipped with a metal ornament. When the sceptre is borne by Zeus or Hades, it is headed by a bird. It was this symbol of Zeus, the king of"
"Since Elizabethan times, the symbol of authority for a British Admiralty Court has been a silver oar, placed before the Judge when the Court is in session. In this respect the silver oar is the equivalent of a ceremonial mace, representing the authority of the Crown and the Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom. An antique silver oar is still placed before the bench when the High Court sits in London on matters relating to its Admiralty Court functions; in past times it was borne by the Marshal in procession, not only in court but on occasions of arrest"
"precious stones. The sword's blade measures long, while the hilt measures long. When placed in its scabbard, the sword is long and weighs . The sword is an ancient symbol of sovereignty and military power. The king's sword thus symbolises his role as a warrior with a duty to defend his kingdom. This harkens back to ancient times, when the king was not merely a titular, but the actual warrior-in-chief of his subjects. The Royal Staff (ธารพระกร) is made of cassia wood covered with gold gilt. The staff is long, and has a knob at one end and three prongs"
"Mantle (royal garment) A royal mantle, or more simply a mantle, is a garment normally worn by emperors, kings or queens as a symbol of authority. When worn at a coronation such mantles may be referred to as a coronation mantle. Many princes also wear such a mantle. Sometimes the mantles are worn only once, but in some instances they may be worn or used at other occasions such as during the opening of a session of the nation's legislature. Mantles also feature prominently in state portraiture and artwork featuring monarchs and princes. Between the mantles of an emperor and"
"Tudor Crown (heraldry) The Tudor Crown, also known as the King's Crown or Imperial Crown, is a widely used symbol in heraldry of the United Kingdom. Officially it was used from 1902 to 1953 representing not only the British monarch personally, but also ""the Crown"", meaning the sovereign source of governmental authority. As such, it appeared on numerous official emblems in the United Kingdom, British Empire and Commonwealth. While various crown symbols had been used for this purpose for many years previously, the specific Tudor Crown design was standardised at the request of Edward VII. It was never intended to"
"to conduct business. The ceremonial mace is a short, richly ornamented staff often made of silver, the upper part of which is furnished with a knob or other head-piece and decorated with a coat of arms. The ceremonial mace was commonly borne before eminent ecclesiastical corporations, magistrates, and academic bodies as a mark and symbol of jurisdiction. Maces are also used as a parade item, rather than a tool of war, notably in military bands. Specific movements of the mace from the drum major will signal specific orders to the band they lead. The mace can signal anything from a"
"(traditional symbols of imperium and authority); when outside the ""pomerium"", axes were added to the ""fasces"" to indicate an imperial magistrate's power to enact capital punishment outside Rome (the axes were removed within the ""pomerium""). The number of lictors in attendance upon a magistrate was an overt indication of the degree of ""imperium"". When in the field, a ""curule"" magistrate possessing an ""imperium"" greater or equal to that of a praetor wore a sash ritually knotted on the front of his cuirass. Further, any man executing ""imperium"" within his sphere of influence was entitled to the curule chair. As can"
"Swagger stick A swagger stick is a short stick or riding crop usually carried by a uniformed person as a symbol of authority. A swagger stick is shorter than a staff or cane, and is usually made from rattan. Its use derives from the vine staff carried by Roman centurions as an emblem of office. In the British Army before World War I, swagger sticks were carried by all other ranks when off duty, as part of their walking out uniform. The stick took the form of a short cane of polished wood, with an ornamented metal head of regimental"
"it as a gift. His court uniform consisted of a gold-brocaded hat (""skiadion""), a plain silk ""kabbadion"", and a ""skaranikon"" (domed hat) covered in golden and lemon-yellow silk and decorated with gold wire and images of the emperor in front and rear, respectively depicted enthroned and on horseback. The lowly rank and obscure charge of the position means that its holders are not often attested. However, the title was also given by the emperors as a mark of distinction to officials or military commanders. This gave the holders of the title a place in the court hierarchy, but was not"
"Sometimes it is shown with a key, owing to the fact that Saints Peter and Paul are paired together. Other weapons occur more often in modern than in earlier heraldry. The mace also appears as a weapon, the war mace, in addition to its appearance as a symbol of authority, plain mace. The ""globus cruciger"", also variously called an ""orb"", a ""royal orb"", or a ""mound"" (from French ""monde"", Latin ""mundus"", the world) is a ball or globe surmounted by a cross, which is part of the regalia of an emperor or king, and is the emblem of sovereign authority"
"""the divine utensil."" The dragon was the symbol on the imperial flag and other imperial objects, including the throne or imperial utensil. The dragon was said to have the power to become visible or invisible—in short, the dragon was a factotum in the ""divinity business"" of the Chinese emperors. The dragon was the crest on royal monuments. The dragon was displayed on the Emperor's robes. The Grand Chair of State was called the ""Dragon Throne."" The term can be used to refer to a very specific Seat of State in the ""Hall of Supreme Harmony"" (also known as the ""Hall"
"at the other. The staff or sceptre is a symbol of regal authority in many cultures. The Royal Slippers (ฉลองพระบาท) take the form of an open-heeled slipper with the front curling upwards into a point. The exterior is decorated with diamonds and jewels, the insoles are lined with red velvet, and the soles are made of pure sheet gold. Wearing footwear was rare in ancient Southeast Asia and was probably reserved only for royalty. The importance of royal footwear can be traced back to the epic ""Ramayana"", when a pair of Rama's sandals was chosen by Bharata to govern the"
"Caduceus The caduceus (☤; ; Latin ""cādūceus"", from Greek ' ""herald's wand, or staff"") is the staff carried by Hermes in Greek mythology and consequently by Hermes Trismegistus in Greco-Egyptian mythology. The same staff was also borne by heralds in general, for example by Iris, the messenger of Hera. It is a short staff entwined by two serpents, sometimes surmounted by wings. In Roman iconography, it was often depicted being carried in the left hand of Mercury, the messenger of the gods, guide of the dead, and protector of merchants, shepherds, gamblers, liars, and thieves. Some accounts suggest that the"
"such as Black Rod, the Gentleman Usher of the White Rod and the Tipstaff. A thin white ""wand"" or staff is the traditional emblem of the Lord Chamberlain of England and then the UK. As the most senior official of the Royal Household, responsible for discipline, it could be used to touch rowdy courtiers as a physically gentle but intimidating way to calm situations. It is ceremonially broken at a monarch's funeral, when the Lord Chamberlain automatically loses office (unless then re-appointed). Some corporate bodies such as local councils and livery companies use maces. Staff of office A staff of"
"Rod's deputy, the Yeoman Usher). In addition to the above-mentioned officers there are other serjeants-at-arms who attend the sovereign on State occasions, a remnant of the body established by Richard I (though today their role is purely ceremonial). Usually, members of the Royal Household who serve as serjeants-at-arms have had the office bestowed on them as a mark of distinction for long and meritorious service. The mace serves as a symbol of royal and parliamentary authority. Ten maces are kept in the Jewel House at the Tower of London in addition to those kept by the House of Commons, the"
"Ofo in Igboland Ofo/Ofor refers to a particular type of staff (as well as the wood/bronze from which it is made from) carried by selected Igbo elder men - notably patrilineage priests, kings, Onyishi and some masqueraders typifying authority, right to command, legal administrative powers, leadership conferment or power bestowed by the gods. Ofo/Ofor are also symbolic objects. The Ofo/Ofor is the sacred symbol of truth, royal authority, justice, law and administrative power. It primarily bestows upon the holder/bearer (person or person in possession) the right to offer sacrifice - rituals, prayer, oath taking, pronouncing of judgement, deliberating policy/policies within"
"Some emblems, symbols, or paraphernalia possessed by rulers are a visual representation of imperial, royal or sovereign status. Some are shared with divinities, either to symbolize a god(ess)'s role as, say, king of the Pantheon (e.g. Brahman's sceptre) or to allow mortal royalty to resemble, identify with, or link to a divinity. The term crown jewels is commonly used for regalia items designed to lend luster to occasions such as coronations. They feature some combination of precious materials, artistic merit, and symbolic or historical value. Crown jewels may have been designated at the start of a dynasty, accumulated through many"
"the Stela of Ashurnasirpal II and the Stela of Shamshi-Adad V, in which the Assyrian kings are shown performing rites or making religious gestures while holding a mace to symbolise their authority. Some officials of the medieval Eastern Roman Empire carried maces for either practical or ceremonial purposes. Notable among the latter is the ""protoallagator"", a military-judicial position that existed by about the 10th century A.D. and whose symbols of office were reported by the Palaiologan writer Pseudo-Kodinos in the 14th century to include a silver-gilt mace (""matzouka""). At this time the duties of the ""protoallagator"" included commanding the emperor's"
"Vine staff The vine staff, vine-staff, or centurion's staff () was a vinewood rod of about in length used in the ancient Roman Army and Navy. It was the mark and tool of the centurion: both as an implement in the direction of drill and maneuvers; and to beat wayward or laggard soldiers or sailors under his command. It was also borne by ""evocati"" who held an equivalent rank. The vine staff may have derived from the Etruscan ""lituus"" and was certainly in use by the Punic Wars. Following the enactment of the Porcian Laws in the early 2nd century"
"Vine staff The vine staff, vine-staff, or centurion's staff () was a vinewood rod of about in length used in the ancient Roman Army and Navy. It was the mark and tool of the centurion: both as an implement in the direction of drill and maneuvers; and to beat wayward or laggard soldiers or sailors under his command. It was also borne by ""evocati"" who held an equivalent rank. The vine staff may have derived from the Etruscan ""lituus"" and was certainly in use by the Punic Wars. Following the enactment of the Porcian Laws in the early 2nd century"
"a richly embroidered crown, called a mitre which symbolises the authority conferred upon a minister of the Church. Sometimes together with his pectoral cross, the bishop also wears a small, circular icon of the Saviour or the Mother of God, called the panagia (All-Holy, after the Mother of Christ), or engolpion, over his heart. This is to remind the bishop that he must carry Christ and his Holy Mother in his heart, and thus his heart must be pure. An episcopal staff called a crosier is carried by the bishop, as a shepherd's crook, to be reminiscent that he is"
"as slaves from childhood, to serve the Sultan). In the post-colonial period, the term has been used colloquially and derisively to describe the staff of a person, usually a politician or corporate executive officer, that acts to prevent direct communication with the person. The term has been used in fiction: Imperial Guard An Imperial guard or palace guard is a special group of troops (or a member thereof) of an empire, typically closely associated directly with the Emperor or Empress. Usually these troops embody a more elite status than other imperial forces, including the regular armed forces, and maintain special"
"Gonfalonier of the Church The Gonfalonier of the Church or Papal Gonfalonier (, ""standard-bearer""; ) was a military and political office of the Papal States. Originating from the use of the Papal banner during combat, the office later became largely ceremonial and political. At his nomination, the Gonfalonier was given two banners, one with the arms of the Church (""vexillum cum armis Ecclesiæ"") and another with the arms of the reigning pope (""cum armis suis""). The Gonfalonier was entitled to include ecclesiastical emblems (the Keys of St. Peter and the ombrellino) upon his own arms, usually only during his term"
"powerful had this right extended. Pompey and Caesar are both thought to have worn the triumphal toga and other triumphal dress at public functions. Later emperors were distinguished by wearing ""togae purpurae"", purple togas; hence the phrase ""to don the purple"" for the assumption of imperial dignity. The titles customarily associated with the imperial dignity are ""imperator"" (""commander""), which emphasizes the emperor's military supremacy and is the source of the English word ""emperor""; ""Caesar"", which was originally a name but came to be used for the designated heir (as ""Nobilissimus Caesar"", ""Most Noble Caesar"") and was retained upon accession. The"
"on the head, being sculpted or portrayed at the ""crowning ceremony"" ( - meaning the ceremonial of sitting on the Throne) with the Janissary headgear or with a special hat, of Turkish origin (; ) at other solemn occasions. In the 19th century representations the crown is laid on a pillow or table in the proximity of the ruler's image. Other signs of power are the mace and the sword. This symbols can be found on the coins, seals, coat of arms and standards of that time. The mace and the sword or shamshir where the main princiary symbols until"