BANNER

(Swed. baner; Fr. banniere.) A flag or standard under which men are united or bound for some common purpose. This word, found in all the modem languages of Western Europe, is of very doubtful origin; it is a word of which our ancient English authors were exceedingly fond, and to which they invariably attach the same meaning. (Chaucer, the Knight's Talc, v. 978.; Sir Thomas Move's Works, 207.; Drayton, Battle of Agin court; Yalden to Sir H. Mack worth, .) Among the ancient Germans, the honour of bearing a banner was conferred by the emperor on that individual who could bring ten va als into the field. In later times, petty princes a umed this privilege; and in the year 1424 Pope Eugene IV. created Count Sforza banneret (bannerherrn) of the Roman empire. In the free towns on the Continent, the banner was always carried by the chief magistrate ex officio, in cases of solemnities or of grand proce ions. In England, a knight banneret was created by the ceremony of cutting off the four corners of his standard and making it square. Some antiquarians trace the origin of this custom to Conan, the lieutenant of Maximus, who governed Britain in the year 383 (Gwillim, Analosia Honornjn'i; while others maintain it took its rise from the Black Prince on the field of Cre y. A wonderful similarity seems to exist between the duties and privileges of the old knights bannerets of England and those of the primipili (the standard bearers) among the Romans. ( Tac. Histor. iii. 22.) Several banners are famous in history; such as the Danish banner, taken from the Danes by Alfred the Great ^ and the oriflamme of the French, which, after pa ing through various hands, became eventually the great standard of France. (Lanzelot, Me moires de VAcademie des Inscriptions. ) Banner. The ordnance flag, fixed on the forepart of the drum-major's kettle-drum carriage, formerly used by the royal artillery. At present, when such a riag is carried it is affixed to the carriage of the right-hand gun of the park — generally a twelve-pounder. In the horse equipage the banner of the drums and trumpets must be of the colour of the facings of the regiment: it bears the royal cypher and crown, and the rank of the regiment. [s. 142]