The armorial dated keystone of the ‘sittings entrance to Tynwald on Prospect Hill in Douglas Isle of Man.
The neon-Baroque door-case of the ‘sittings entrance’ has an ‘arched broken pediment is supported by acanthus leaf scrolled brackets. The armorial keystone with the ship of state bears the date 1893 – an optimistic year too early as usual.” Source: Introduction to the Architecture of the Isle of Man’ by Patricia Tutt (ISBN:978-907945-10-6)
The arms depicting a ship with furled sail and the motto ‘Rex Manniae et Insukaren [Kingdom of Man and the Isles) Arms of Kings of Man before King of Scotland took possession of the Island.'
Hacon who lived in 974 A.D. was descendant of King Orry and filled the throne of Man. He owed vassalage to Norway, the Kings of Man at this period and acknowledged a certain dependence on the King of England. “When Edgar, King of England, was rowed in his state barge on the river Dee, Hacon was one of eight Prices who pulled the oars. Edgar himself acted as coxswain and held the rudder to testify to his superiority over the others.”
“Hacon stood so high in the esteem of King Edgar, on account of his great naval acquirements, that he pulled the second oar, taking rank next to Kenneth King of Scotland.”
“Hacon was employed by Edgar to patrol the seas round the English coast in search of pirates, and was regarded as the mightiest sea-king of his day. He held the chief command of the Allied and Manx fleets, and is stated to have sailed round the British Islands with 3,000 vessels."
“[Hacon]…may be regarded as the first British admiral, the precursor of that glorious list on which are enrolled the names of Drake, Shovel, Hood, Howe, Nelson, and so many others, whose deeds have ever been the proud boast of their countrymen."
“Hacon took for his armorial bearing a ship with sails, furled, and the motto, Rex Mannice et Insularem which continued to be the Mans Arms till the time of the Scottish conquest, when the more ancient device of the “Three Legs” was resumed, and has continued to this day.”
“So long as the Kings of Man could write ‘Rex Mannia; et Insularem’ after their name the arms of the ship with furled sail; but when the Scots, under their King Alexander, took possession of the Western Islands and also Man, the three legs were substituted." (
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"MacDonald Flag
(Isle of Man Parliament Flag)
The official flag of the Manx Parliament Tynwald. Normally flown on Manx National Day (Tynwald Day). The idea for the flag came from the ancient arms of the Lords of Mann, which depicted a ship with sails furled (This emblem had also been used on notes and coins.). In 1971, the flag was adopted by the Tynwald Arrangements Committee to represent the parliament and its Viking past." (
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