| The three lions which adorn the England football | | | | Previously, there had been only two golden lions |
| shirt have long presented a mystery as to their | | | | on the crest following the Norman Conquest of |
| origin. Historians believe the three lions came into | | | | 1066, and only one golden lion following the |
| existence around the turn of the twelfth century | | | | succession of King Henry II in 1158. |
| when Richard I "the Lionheart" came to the | | | | It is believed that the lions in Richards crest were |
| throne. | | | | based upon the original Normandy arms, the extra |
| When Richard I came to power his personal coat | | | | lion representing the Anglo-Norman alliance. Others |
| of arms was installed as the official Royal Coat of | | | | believe the artists simply copied the design from |
| Arms of England, remaining so for the next 140 | | | | Normandy, who featured two lions on its crest, |
| years. The 'three lions passant guardant in pale' | | | | the extra lion being added for pure decoration. |
| featured in gold on a royal red background. | | | | |