Ermin mantles have been a symbol of royalty, grandeur and high social status for centuries. This outerwear made of snow-white ermine fur with black spots on the tails of small animals was an attribute of royalty, high clergy and nobility.
Ermines began to be associated with power and wealth in ancient times. In ancient Rome, the fur of rare and expensive animals was a sign of high social status. But ermines gained real popularity and symbolic power in the Middle Ages, especially in Europe.
Ermines were valued for their winter fur, which turned pure white, except for the tip of the tail, which remained black. This contrasting pattern attracted European nobility.
Beginning in the 12th century, ermines became associated with monarchy and ceremonial attire. European kings and queens began wearing ermine mantles for important state events and coronations. The whiteness of the fur symbolized the purity of the ruler's intentions and his ability to administer justice untainted by self-interest.
In some countries, the ermine became a symbol of the monarchy. For example, the coat of arms of the Dukes of Brittany was decorated with an image of an ermine, and the famous Latin phrase "Malo mori quam foedari" (I prefer death to dishonor) became the motto of royal and noble families, emphasizing the purity and incorruptibility associated with the animal.
During the Renaissance and Baroque, the ermine remained an important part of the monarch's ceremonial attire. Portraits of kings and queens painted during this time often depict the rulers in luxurious robes trimmed with ermine. One of the most famous examples is Leonardo da Vinci's painting "Lady with an Ermine", where the ermine itself became a symbol of purity and fidelity.
Ermin robes were not only used by kings, but also by high clergy such as bishops and cardinals. These figures wore fur robes on special occasions, which emphasized their high status in society.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, with the development of democratic institutions and the weakening of absolute monarchies, ermine lost its former popularity as a symbol of power. However, ermine robes continued to be used at coronations and important state ceremonies in countries such as Great Britain, where many monarchical traditions were preserved.
Today, ermine continues to be a symbol of luxury and prestige, but is less associated with the ruling elite. Fur is used in the creation of costumes for theater and cinema, as well as in fashion - as a reminder of the times when this rare and expensive material was an integral attribute of royal power.
Source:
chiemsee-schifffahrt.de
mediastorehouse.com.au
