If losing your own standard was shameful, does that mean there was glory to be gained by capturing your enemy’s standard? Maybe along with more material rewards?

goodqueenaly:

warsofasoiaf:

racefortheironthrone:

Hell to the yes. 

This was a truly important thing on the historical battlefield. Having the standard fall was very risky, both for losing communication and losing morale. Bringing back the enemy standard and turning it over to the general was a way to get rewards and recognition galore, as it signified bravery and talent enough to bring the standard back when it made you such a target. In the battle of Lepanto in 1571, the Ottoman sultan Selim II held the captured flag of the Knights of Malta flagship in high regard despite the decisive defeat suffered in that battle.

Basically, capture the flag didn’t come from nowhere after all.

-SLAL

If I recall correctly, Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk – one of Henry VIII’s closest and nearly lifelong friends, and eventually his brother-in-law – was able to become so close to the young Henry because his father, Sir William Brandon, had been Henry Tudor’s standard-bearer at Bosworth and had been slain by Richard III himself. The new Henry VII repaid this loyalty by giving the young Charles court appointments, becoming a page in Prince Arthur’s household and eventually an Esquire of the Body to Henry VII.

Yep. And specifically slain putting himself in between Henry VII and Richard III to allow Henry to get some distance and prevent Richard from winning at Bosworth by killing the oopposing king.