Civic Heraldry: Caroline County, Virginia By: Mark Murawski February 1, 2022
Official seals have been specifically designed to represent governments at all levels. Their colors, typography, and design elements are usually chosen to represent the unique characteristics of the area, as well as its values and heritage. The use of official seals is a practice rooted old English law. Individuals and officials from the King on down used a distinctive seal to authenticate official documents. In 1307, Edward I of England ordered every religious house to have a common seal, declaring any grants which did not affix this common seal would be null and void. Governmental seals often became so important that an official keeper of the seal was appointed to safeguard it from loss or improper use. Today, the official seal is the way citizens identify with the authority of the government and a way the government identifies itself to its citizens. Caroline County, Virginia displays a seal as opposed to a proper coat of arms, like the counties preciously discussed in this series. The seal, just as with the coat of arms, displays design elements chosen to represent the unique characteristics of the county, as well as its values and heritage. The seal of Caroline County is circular and displays the name of the county within the border of the circle. In the middle, a unique shape, the shape of the county, functions as an escutcheon, or shield,
where the design elements are emblazoned. If this was a traditional coat of arms, it would be emblazoned as follows: On an escutcheon shaped after Caroline County’s boundaries- quarterly, first, azure, a bust of Queen Caroline proper and displaying the date “1727”; second, azure, an image of the county courthouse proper surrounded by trees; third, azure, a depiction of a sun setting over trees and the river; fourth, azure, a depiction of a farmer plowing a field using two oxen; overall a four-pointed star or and sable countercharged. The traditional rules of heraldry were not followed in this seal. Namely there was color on color, and there were no true divisions between the quarters. However, this was not a “coat of arms” therefore there was no necessity to follow heraldic rules.
Brief History of the County Caroline County, located in eastern Virginia, was created in 1728, a year after the coronation of George II. The county was named for his Queen-Consort, Caroline of Brandenburg-Ansbach. Caroline County is regarded as the birthplace of thoroughbred racing in North America. Arabian horses were imported from England to provide the basis for American breeding stock. In fact, the 1973 Triple Crown winner Secretariat was born there. In addition to its racing pedigree, Caroline County has contributed to the birth and expansion of the United States itself. Several patriots, including a signer of the Declaration of Independence, as well as the explorers William Clark and his body servant York, hail from Caroline County.
Secretariat
The seal of Caroline County depicts scenes which are reflective of the county itself. The scene in the third quarter represents the natural beauty and rural nature of the county by displaying the sun setting over trees and a creek. In the fourth quarter, the farmer plowing his field with two oxen represents the harvesting of tobacco, which Caroline County was well known for. The county
courthouse, built around 1830, is displayed prominently in the second quarter. The courthouse, designed by Thomas Jefferson, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The design is significant because Jefferson, concerned that America was not establishing a lasting architectural tradition, set out to create sturdy buildings based on classical principles. This courthouse, like many others in Virginia, has been re-created around the country.
Caroline of Brandenburg-Ansbach The namesake of the county herself is prominently displayed in the first quarter of the county seal. She is Caroline of Brandenburg-Ansbach, and she was the Queen-Consort of King George II of Great Britain. In June 1705, Prince George Augustus of Hanover (later King George II of Great Britain), was under pressure to marry and produce an heir to the Hanoverian succession. Luckily, his father did not want his son to enter a loveless contract marriage and insisted that young George meet ant potential wife before an arrangement would be made. Having heard of Caroline, the daughter of a German prince, he visited the Ansbach court to meet her. Caroline was an attractive and intelligent young woman and George is said to have taken to her immediately. He was so impressed by Caroline that he could not think of a better wife. They were married a short time later. In 1715, Caroline’s father-in law became George I of Great Britain. Since the new court lacked a queen, due to the fact George I imprisoned his wife in Germany, Caroline filled a more prominent role. Caroline was intelligent, well-read, curious, and poised to become Queen of Great Britain. She was instrumental in easing the difficult situation created by a bitter quarrel between the king and her husband.
Caroline, Queen-Consort of George II
Caroline, first as Princess of Wales, imported a German model of queenship, featuring the wife of the ruler as the center of cultural and intellectual life and court. She encouraged court to be a place for debate and the exchange of ideas. She frequently hosted gatherings of the brightest minds from science, medicine, philosophy, and literature. As Queen Consort, Caroline was pivotal in helping the King and the Prime Minister work together. George II understood his wife’s leadership qualities as well. Since he was still the Elector of Hannover, he frequently left Caroline in charge of Great Britain as Regent during his extended visits to Germany. In 1724, following the birth of Princess Louisa, the Queen developed a hernia. In 1737, surgery became necessary to correct complications of the hernia. The operation was successful, but gangrene ultimately set in. It is reported that as the Queen lay dying, she urged the king to marry again. The king flatly refused. Queen Caroline died on 1 December 1737. George II who slept in a cot by her bed during her final illness was reported to be devastated at her loss. So much so, he ordered that their coffins be built with removable sides so they could be re-united when he died. Caroline, alongside Prince Albert, and Mary of Modena is regarded one of the most influential British consorts in History. Today, cities, towns, counties, and other civic bodies often use heraldic arms to reinforce organizational identification or as symbols of their authority. Much of the area’s local history and pride in that history is expressed in the heraldic devices they adopt. The seal of Caroline County, Virginia does just that. Any onlooker can get a basic understanding of the history and culture of Caroline County simply by looking at the seal. In this case, much of the shared culture of both the United States and the United Kingdom are prominently on display.
References
Boutell, C. (1890). Heraldry, Ancient and Modern: Including Boutell's Heraldry (Pg. 393). United Kingdom: F. Warne. Caroline of Ansbach - Queen Consort of George II. (n.d.). English Monarchs. https://www.englishmonarchs.co.uk/hanover_10.html Crampton, C. (2021, June 16). Caroline of Ansbach: the Georgian queen who brought the Enlightenment to Britain. New Statesman. https://www.newstatesman.com/uncategorized/2014/05/caroline-ansbachgeorgian-queen-who-brought-enlightenment-britain-a Mason, J. B. Y. (2015, May 8). RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER PORT DEVELOPED AROUND TOBACCO AND RACEHORSES. Fredericksburg.Com. https://fredericksburg.com/local/rappahannock-river-portdeveloped-around-tobacco-and-racehorses/article_5d3f9d8e-f16f-55f9-ac37-3b77f2b2223c.html Risen, C. (2004, October 1). Digging for Jefferson's Lost Courthouse. Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/digging-for-jeffersons-lost-courthouse-180823127/ Wingfield, M. (1924). A History of Caroline County, Virginia: From Its Formation in 1727 to 1924. United States: Trevvet Christian. Wyatt, R. (2019, April 18). Caroline County, Virginia (U.S.). Flags of the World. https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/us-va-ca.html