Edward Seymour became the 1st Duke of Somerset at the time of his sister Jane's marriage to King Henry VIII. Centuries earlier Wido de St. Maur accompanied William the Conqueror to Britain and fought alongside him at Hastings. These two prominent family names became accidently linked together with the resurrection of the dormant Dukedom.
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The Seymour 'Wings' device is said to be based on the arms of Osmond de Centeville, a knight who guarded Richard the Fearless, the Duke of Normandy, during C10. The St. Maur arms existed in Normandy some years before 1066.
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Many aspects of Medieval British and French History are linked to the St. Maur and Seymour families feudal and baronial history. Aymeric St. Maur, Grand Master of the Knights Of St. John of Jerusalem in Britain persuaded King John to sign the Magna Carta meanwhile the Seymours married into the wealthy Beauchamp family securing their social stature.
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