Freedom of the City

The Freedom of the City (or Borough in some parts of the UK) is an honour bestowed by a municipality upon a valued member of the community, or upon a visiting celebrity or dignitary.Similar laws were passed by other European cities throughout the Medieval era, to protect public security and civic rights, even against their own king's troops.The Freedom of the City was an honour granted only to troops which had earned the trust of the local populace, either through some valiant action or simply by being a familiar presence.[1] Today, martial freedom of the city is an entirely ceremonial honour, usually bestowed upon a unit with historic ties to the area, as a token of appreciation for their long and dedicated service.Early freedom of the boroughs ceremonies had great importance in affirming that the recipient enjoyed privileges such as the right to trade and own property, and protection within the town.These two acts together curtailed the power of the freemen and extended the franchise to all "householders" (defined as local rate payers; in fact therefore property owners).The exact qualifications for borough freedom differ between each city or town, but generally fall into two categories, "patrimony" (inheritance) and "servitude" (apprenticeship).[7] Recipients of this honour have included athlete Mary Peters,[8] actor Kenneth Branagh, diplomat John Jordan, industrialist Andrew Carnegie, shipowner Thomas Henry Ismay and Prime Minister Winston Churchill.From 1835, the freedom "without the intervention of a Livery Company" has been bestowed by a general resolution of Common Council, by "redemption" (purchase), at one time for an onerous sum.The tradition is that the mayor steps down for this period and power is transferred to the prince carnival, who then returns the key at the end of Shrove Tuesday / Mardi Gras.In a local tradition, Calgary has opted to award esteemed visitors a symbolic cowboy hat instead of a key; this is usually followed by reciting one of two oaths (one formal, the other more silly) to become honorary Calgarians.
Award to Sir Robert Hadfield by the City of Sheffield , 1939 (Hadfield Room, University of Sheffield )
Gold New York City 'Freedom of the City Box' presented to Commodore Daniel Patterson , made by Jonathan Wilmarth, John L. Moffat, and Joseph Curtis, 1832
"Ferdinand Receives the Keys of the City from the Virgin of Ghent", print after a painting made by Antoon van den Heuvel for the Joyous Entry by the Cardinal-Infante Ferdinand into Ghent in 1635
Members of No. 28 Squadron RAAF marching through the centre of Canberra during the unit's Freedom of the City parade in August 2013
A recipient of Freedom of the City of London, Nigel Cumberland , after his ceremony
Lord Nelson's certificate given him after becoming a Freeman of the City of London showing that he has Freedom
Ari Norman 's Certificate of Freedom of the City of London
Sir Tim Berners-Lee receiving the freedom of the City of London in 2014
Mark Stephens with a sheep on London Bridge in 2009
A small number of sheep are herded across Southwark Bridge by the Lord Mayor and Yorkshire Shepherdess among others, London 2021.
Ship's company of HMCS Carleton exercising Freedom of the City of Ottawa
Then Bolivian President Jeanine Áñez receives the key to the city of Reyes .
Then Mayor of Rio de Janeiro Marcelo Crivella hands out key to the city to King Momo at the start of Carnival 2018 .
Then Russian President Dmitry Medvedev receives the Golden Key to the City of Madrid during a state visit.
Key to the City (disambiguation)The Freedom of the CityFreedom CitySir Robert HadfieldCity of SheffieldUniversity of SheffieldDaniel PattersonAntoon van den HeuvelJoyous EntryCardinal-Infante FerdinandserfdomNo. 28 Squadron RAAFCanberracoloursbayonetsancient RomepomeriumPromagistratesimperiumtriumphsassassination of Julius Caesarvassalsfeudalmodern boroughsNigel Cumberlandparliamentary reformparliamentary boroughsMunicipal Corporations Act 1835householdersOxfordNewcastle upon TyneLocal Government Act 1972Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009boroughsparishesdistrictChesterGreat GrimsbyCoventryDurhamNorthamptonMary PetersKenneth BranaghJohn JordanAndrew CarnegieThomas Henry IsmayPrime MinisterWinston ChurchillFreedom of the City of LondonAri NormanTim Berners-LeeCity of Londonlivery companiesCity of London Freemen's SchoolLondon BridgeMark StephensTower BridgeMillennium BridgeHigh Sheriff of KentCanterbury CathedralDavid LewisWellbeing of WomenStephen FryWorshipful Company of WoolmenPrince Andrew, Duke of YorkFreedom of the City of DublinDublinCollege GreenSt. Stephen's GreenHMCS CarletonOttawaCanadian ForcesThe Calgary HighlandersBattle of Kitcheners' WoodBolivian PresidentJeanine ÁñezMayor of Rio de JaneiroMarcelo CrivellaKing MomoCarnival 2018Russian PresidentDmitry MedvedevMadridList of Keys to the City in the United StatesList of Keys to the City in CanadaSeptuagesimaShrove TuesdayMardi GrasRio CarnivalGasparilla Pirate FestivalpirateJosé GasparTampa Convention CenterTorontoVancouverMontrealJohn ToryCalgarysymbolic cowboy hatHonorary citizenshipList of Freedom of the City recipients (military)legislation.gov.ukGuild of Freemen of the City of LondonWayback Machine