INTRODUCTION

To the uninitiated, heraldry can be an intimidating subject. Its vast literature,
and unfamiliar lexicon, can appear to be insurmountable obstacles to the
novice. This brief introduction to
heraldry is intended for those with little or no knowledge of the subject, who,
it is assumed, will form the majority of users of the armorial database. The language of heraldic description,
known as blazon, has been simplified as much as possible, and some of the
arcane names for heraldic devices have been replaced by more familiar
equivalents. In other instances the
traditional heraldic term has been preserved, especially where an armorial
device is a canting allusion to the name of an owner (i.e. a pun on a
name). It is hoped that this simplified approach to heraldry will be excused by those who
are well versed in armory.

It
should also be emphasized that the material presented here is no way intended
to be a comprehensive guide to heraldry, but relates only to those elements
that are encountered in the armorial catalogue.


Heraldic achievement

Shown here is the full heraldic
achievement of the sixteenth-century stamp of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester (1532-1588),
which includes most of the elements that may be found in armorial stamps:
shield, arms, crest, mantling, supporters, motto, helmet, coronet, and order of
knighthood.


It is important to bear in mind that in heraldry arms are described from
the point of view of a person standing behind the shield. To the onlooker,
therefore, right and left, or dexter and sinister, as they are referred
to in heraldic language, appear reversed.











THE SHIELD


The most important element of the heraldic achievement
is the shield, for it carries the armorial charges that identify the owner.



Shape of the shield

Shields come in a large variety of shapes and sizes, reflecting
prevailing tastes and fashions. By
the sixteenth century heraldic shields, having long shed their military
function, had become purely decorative adjuncts. Yet because many different styles of
shield may co-exist at a given time, it is difficult to ascribe a shield to a
particular period based on its shape alone. Moreover, there is a tendency in
heraldry to repeat styles from earlier periods. The so-called ‘heater’ shield, with its
curved sides and flat top resembling the base of a
flat iron, was widely used in the earliest period of heraldry, and enjoyed a
resurgence in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. In the sixteenth century when there was
a vogue for elaborate heraldic display, a squarer
shaped shield with a slightly curved base evolved, in order to accommodate the
large number of acquired or assumed subdivisions. In the seventeenth century the sides of
the shield became ornate, with scalloped and scrolled edges, resembling carved
wood. Another popular form of the
period was the circular or elliptical cartouche. The eighteenth century sees
the arrival of the tablet shield, with its square appearance, and its characteristic
‘ears’. The tablet shield continues
into the nineteenth century, until it is superseded in popularity by the spade
shield, a variant of the heater shield but with concave indentions along the
top edge. Another popular shield of the nineteenth century, especially during
the period of Gothic revival, was the seal stamp, with the shield tilted at an
angle within a circular frame.

If a shield is replaced
by a lozenge, an unmarried woman or widow is denoted. A wife is entitled
to use her husband’s arms in the normal fashion while he is still alive, but
once he is dead, they should, under the rules of heraldry, be displayed on a
lozenge.



Parts of the shield

The uppermost and lowermost parts of the shield are referred to as >chief and base. Various points on the shield have specific names:

alt="Text Box: A =
Chief
B =
Base
C =
Dexter side
D =
Sinister side
E =
Dexter chief
F =
Sinister chief
G =
Middle chief
H =
Dexter base
I
=
Sinister base
J
=
Middle base
K =
Honour point
L =
Fess point
M = Nombril point
" />

Field

The background of the shield is known as the field.
Normally it consists of a single tincture, but sometimes may be
parted or varied in some way.



Tinctures

The
tinctures fall into three categories: colours,
the metals, and the >furs.

Colours

In
the early period of armorial bindings, colours were largely ignored, and the
only way they could be represented was by paint applied after the stamp had
been impressed on the leather binding. This was rarely done, and only a few
examples have survived. [1] In the seventeenth century several
systems of hatching were devised to represent the tinctures in uncoloured
illustrations, especially in armorial bookplates, which by now had become
widespread. The system created by the Italian Jesuit, Silvester Petra Sancta
(1590-1647),[2]
eventually became the method universally accepted, and is still in use by
engravers today. By the 1650s the system was well known in England[3] , and from the second half of the seventeenth century was
occasionally employed in the execution of armorial binding stamps. The
practice, however, was inconsistent and far from universal [see
É]



The
five principal colours of heraldry are gules (red), represented in the
Petra Sancta system by vertical lines; azure (blue), which is hatched
with horizontal lines; vert (green), shown as diagonal lines from dexter
chief; sable (black), horizontal and vertical intersecting lines; and
much less frequently, purpure (purple), diagonal lines from sinister
chief. The three remaining colours
in the system – sanguine (blood red), murrey (mulberry), and tenné
(tawny) - are rarely encountered.







Metals

Two
metals are used in heraldry, namely or (gold), and argent (silver). Or is represented by a
series of small dots; argent is shown as a plain field. When reproduced in
colour, they are depicted as yellow and white respectively



Furs

The
two furs used in heraldry are ermine and vair. Ermine is represented
by characteristic black ermine tails against a white field. There are several variationts of ermine:
they are ermines (white tails on a black background); erminois (black tails on a gold field); and pean, (gold tails on a black
background).









Vair represents the fur of the blue-grey squirrel, which has a white
underbelly. When several furs were
sewn together they produced a handsome design of blue-grey and white,
configured in five alternating rows; this is how vair is almost always
depicted. A variation of this is
when the rows are lined up in such a way so that the azures of one line are
adjacent to the azures on the next line, producing a pattern known as counter-vair.







The so-called ‘rule of
tincture’ forbids certain combinations of tinctures. While there are frequent
violations of the rule, in general metals may not be placed on metals, nor
colours placed on colours. The rule does not apply to the furs.

Lines of partition

The field may be divided by one or more lines to form
geometrical segments, each segment being of a different tincture. These lines of partition are named
according to the appropriate geometrical heraldic charge to which they
correspond.[4] For example, a vertical line down the
centre of the shield, dividing it into two equal parts, is known as party
per pale, or simply per pale [the shorter formula is employed in the database]. Similarly, one that divides the shield
horizontally is described as per fess.





>

Other variations of the field

Another
method of varying the field is to powder the space with repeated small charges
distributed evenly to form patterns. Such patterns are known as semy (or
semé). There are many possible semy fields, some of which have specific names,
the most common of which are crusilly (made up of small cross
crosslets); bezanty (consisting of roundels); fretty (an overall
fret design); gyronny (a field composed of a
number of gyrons). A semy of fleurs-de-lys is known as semy-de-lys.

A
field consisting of alternating squares forming a checkered pattern is
described as checky, while one of alternating squares set diagonally is
called lozengy. One with alternating lozenges set diagonally is described
as barry bendy.





Another
variation of the semy fields consists of drops, called gouttes, which
have specific names according to the colour of the drops:







Tinctures,
lines of partition, and other variations are used not only to describe the
field of the shield, but are also applied to the charges placed on the field.






Marshalling of arms

Many shields consist solely of the paternal arms of
the bearer. In other instances they are obliged to accommodate more than one
set of arms. The arrangement of different arms to form a single heraldic
composition is known as >marshalling of arms. Depending on certain
factors, the principle methods of marshalling are by dimidiation; impalement;
an escutcheon of pretence; >two shields side by side; or quartering.

>Dimidiation

The earliest method of combining arms was known as
dimidiation. The shield is dimidiated when it is divided palewise by a line;
the dexter side bore the dexter half of the husband’s arms, while the sinister
side displayed the sinister half of the wife arms.[5] It was
rarely used, and eventually gave way to impalement.


>Impalement

When a shield consists of two complete but different
coats of arms set side by side, separated by a vertical line, the practice is
known as impalement. The wife’s arms are placed on the sinister side
while those of her husband occupy the dexter portion [6]





Because
impalement is used to denote a union in which the wife is not an heiress, her
arms are not transferable to her children who inherit only the paternal arms.
If the wife dies the husband usually ceases to display his wife’s arms, though
if he remarries he may, if he desires, display both wives’ arms.[7]

If a man belongs to any order of knighthood, his own
arms cannot be impaled with those of his wife within the garter, collar or
ribbon of the particular order.
Instead they must be displayed on two shields..[8]

Holders
of certain offices, such as high ecclesiastical ranks, may impale their family
arms, placed on the sinister side, with the arms of the office, on the dexter
side.[9] By their very nature impaled arms of this kind are also non-hereditary.



>Escutcheon of pretence

If
the wife is an heiress in her own right, her arms are displayed on a small
shield, known as an ‘ >escutcheon of pretence’, placed in
the centre of her husband’s arms at the fess point.[10] To qualify as an heiress, her father must be dead. If she has brothers, all of
them must have died without male issue.





>Two shields
side by side

When two prominent families, such as members of two royal
households are joined in marital union, it is common to display two shields
side by side, with the husband’s arms in dexter position, the arms of the
spouse, or the impaled arms of both spouses, in sinister.[11]

>Quartering

The
most common method of marshalling arms is by quartering. Here the shield is divided into ‘quarters’– a slightly misleading term as it can signify more
than four segments. The shield bearing the Dudley arms has sixteen quarters.
The first quarter, in the position of dexter chief, is the most significant, as
it displays the paternal arms of Dudley. The remaining quarters signify the
accumulated marriages of male ancestors to heraldic heiresses. In the sixteenth and seventeenth
centuries, an age when a great deal of prestige was attached to family
pedigrees, quarterings were sometimes overstated and extended to many
subdivisions of the shield.[12]

In quartered arms each quarter is designated a
number row by row, beginning with the dexter chief, and progressing from dexter
to sinister, and from chief to base.
Thus if the shield has four quarters, the second quarter is in sinister
chief. The third is in dexter base, and the fourth in sinister base.





If quartering represents two families the fourth
quarter repeats the first, and the third repeats the second. If the arms of
three families are displayed, the first and fourth quarters represent the
paternal arms







Quartered arms are permanent and are inherited by
the children of the union. On the mother’s death, therefore, they are entitled to quarter
their paternal arms, with those of their mother’s



Sometimes one or several of the quarters are
themselves quartered. They are referred to as ‘grand quarters’, and if
there is more than one, they are designated by roman numerals.











Heraldic
charges



In
very rare instances a shield may carry no charges at all, and consist of a
simple partition of the field into two tinctures.[13] But in the vast majority of cases the
field contains a wide range of possible adornments, from a simple single
charge, to an elaborate heraldic display.



The
heraldic charges that are placed on the field of the shield are traditionally divided
into three categories: the so-called ‘ordinaries’, ‘sub-ordinaries’, and common
charges. The division is not particularly useful, and writers on heraldry hold
differing opinions on what constitutes an ordinary and a sub-ordinary.





Ordinaries

Most
authorities agree that the common geometrical shapes that occupy a shield, and
around which other heraldic elements of the shield are arranged, are classed as
the ordinaries, or ‘honourable ordinaries’ as they are sometimes referred to.
They are: the fess, the >bend, the pale, the chevron, the >chief, the cross, the saltire, and
their diminutives. Some heraldic authorities include the >pile, and the pall among the ordinaries.
The proportions of the ordinaries in relation to the dimensions of the
shield are prescribed as being one-third or one-fifth, but in most cases they
are dictated by artistic or aesthetic considerations, such as the shape of the
shield, and the placement of accompanying charges around the ordinary.

Fess


In its basic form the fess is a broad
horizontal band across the centre of the shield. The diminutive of the fess is
the bar, which may occur singly, or
in groups of odd numbers (i.e. 3, 5, 7, 9). Thus a field of three bars will have
seven stripes. Fields that consist of an even number of divisions are described
as barry,
with the total number of stripes stipulated. Thus a field divided into eight
stripes is described as barry > of eight, and not as four bars.








The
bar itself has a diminutive known as a barrulet,
almost always found in pairs, and known as a bar gemelle. When a barrulet is placed each side of a fess, or
other geometrical shape, it is described as cotised.[14]

Bend

A
bend is a broad diagonal band from dexter chief to sinister base, or in the
case of the less common bend sinister,
from sinister chief to dexter base. The diminutive of the bend is known as the >bendlet, which like the bar, occurs
only in odd numbers, as distinct from bendy which consists of an even number of stripes.







Pale

The
pale is a broad vertical band down the centre of the shield. In its diminutive
form it is known as a pallet. Paly consists of an even number of vertical stripes.

Chevron



The chevron has the shape of an inverted V, its members touching the
sides of the shield.



A
diminutive chevron is sometimes called a chevronel , and usually occurs in pairs or in threes, and
may be interlaced. Where two chevrons occur in the database, they are described
as ‘two
chevrons’

Chief

A broad band occupying the top part of a
shield is known as a chief. It can only occur singly, and has no diminutive.





Cross























Of
all heraldic charges, the cross has the largest number of variations. It has been estimated that four hundred
different forms of the cross have been used in heraldry, though only a small
number are in regular use. The
large number of crosses may be due to the close association between heraldry
and Christianity dating from the times of the Crusades.



Both
the Greek (or St George’s cross), with limbs of equal length, and the Latin
cross, with extended lower limb, are commonly found, but the limbs of a large
number of crosses terminate with an ornamental shape. They include the >cross botonny, the cross flory, the cross moline, the cross
patoncy, the cross patty (or >cross formy), the cross potent,
the cross recercely, and the >cross urdy.



If
the downward limb of certain types of cross, such as the cross crosslet, and
the cross botonny, ends in a point, it is described as ‘fitchy’.

Saltire



The diagonal cross known as a >saltire (also known as the cross of
Saint Andrew), is considered an independent charge,
quite distinct from the cross.





Pile

The
pile is a triangular form issuing from the top edge of the shield and
converging towards the base point. It has no diminutive, but may occur in
multiples of two or three.









>Pall

The
pall has the shape of a letter ‘Y’, the limbs extending to the edges of the
shield. When the limbs are couped, the charge becomes a shakefork. The pall
should not be confused with the pallium, or archiepiscopal staff, a common charge whose shape it closely
resembles






The
ordinaries may stand alone on a shield, but in many instances they are combined
with secondary charges. Ordinaries may occasionally be combined with other
ordinaries,[15] especially the cross. They may also combine with certain subordinaries
(described below).





Subordinaries

To
the class of subordinaries belong the bordure, orle, tressure, quarter, >canton, escutcheon, gyron, >flaunches, label, lozenge, >fret, billet, roundel, >annulet, and crescent.

Bordure



The
bordure is a border adjacent to the edges of the shield. It may be plain, or varied in a number
of ways. It can also be charged with other heraldic devices.





Orle



Another kind of border is the orle, which is basically a voided
escutcheon. It usually appears in the form of a narrow band that runs
parallel, but not adjacent, to the outline of the shield. An arrangement of small charges, usually
eight, around a central charge is also referred to as an orle, for example,

an > orle of martlets, or eight martlets in orle >







Tressure







The tressure is essentially a diminutive
of the orle, and is usually encountered in pairs. A common version of the
double tressure is decorated along its edges by fleurs-de-lys, arranged in such
a way as to show head and tail alternately. This is the double tressure flory counter-flory, found
in the arms of Scotland, and of many Scottish noble families.[16]


Quarter



A quarter, as its name implies,
occupies one quarter of the field of the shield, namely the dexter chief. Its
diminutive version is the canton, which is regarded as a separate charge.

Canton

The canton, a
smaller version of the quarter, takes up one third of the chief, invariably the
dexter portion. The canton is
usually employed to denote an augmentation to the arms. It has no diminutive, but when it is
divided in half diagonally the lower half is termed a base esquire, which is > usually found in pairs.









Escutcheon



The escutcheon or ineschutcheon (the terms seem nowadays to be
interchangeable) is a small shield, usually charged, and placed in the centre
of the field. It may be used as a
simple device, but often has a special function, notably as an ‘ >escutcheon
of pretence’, which is used to denote the arms of a married heiress.
The escutcheon may also be used as an augmentation
of honour, an addition or modification to the arms, awarded by the monarch
in recognition of a meritorious deed in the king’s or country’s service.[17]



>Gyron

The
lower half of a quarter dissected diagonally is called a gyron. Never appearing
in isolation, the gyron most frequently appears in divisions of eight or
twelve, when they are described as >gyronny of eight, or >gyronny
of twelve. [see above].





Flaunches

Always appearing in pairs, >flaunches consist of a concave arc of a
circle on each side of the shield. The diminutive of the flaunch is called a
voider, but it is rarely encountered.



> Label



The oddly named label consists of a narrow
horizontal band from which hang three (or sometimes more) vertical short
pieces, or ‘points’ , which are either straight or in
the shape of dovetails. Once
commonly used as a charge, it is now almost exclusively used as the mark of
cadency for a first son or heir [see marks
of cadency below]

Lozenge

The lozenge is a diamond shaped charge, closely resembling the smaller elongated version
known as the fusil. For the sake of
simplicity only the term ‘lozenge’ is used in the database to describe both
charges.



Mascle



A voided lozenge is called a >mascle

>Fret

Another variation of a
voided lozenge is the fret which is composed of
a mascle interlaced with a saltire.
The fret is sometimes referred to as a ‘Harington knot’.[18]



>Billet

The billet is an erect rectangular
figure, which may occur alone, but usually appears in multiples.



Roundels



>Roundel is used as a generic term to describe any solid circular shape. Roundels also
have specific names according to their colour or metal. Thus a roundel or is called a bezant;
a roundel argent is known as a plate; gules as a torteau; azure
as a hurt; sable as a pellet or ogress; and vert as pomeis.

or
(bezant) argent (plate) azure (hurt) gules (torteau) sable (ogress) vert (pomeis)


One
further type of roundel is the fountain which is depicted as barry wavy azure (representing
flowing water) and argent.


>Mullet

The
star-shaped mullet (or molet) is in
fact not a star, but a spur rowel, although in Scottish heraldry it is referred
to as a ‘star’. When a mullet has a hole in its centre, it is described as ‘ >pierced’. The mullet normally has five points, but
is sometimes found with six.







Annulet

The annulet is a plain ring, not to be
confused with a gemmed ring, which is also a heraldic charge. Annulets may
appear singly, or in multiples, often interlaced.

>Crescent

A
very common charge is the crescent,
which is mostly displayed with its points (‘horns’) uppermost. When the horns are pointing to the
dexter it is called an increscent; when to the sinister, a decrescent.








Varied
lines

In
their simplest forms most of the charges described above are geometric shapes, formed
with straight or curved lines of demarcation. They may, however, be altered or
embellished by varying the lines that define them.

Crosses
may be varied by other ornamental treatments, producing the fimbriated or >lined cross, the voided cross, and the quarter
pierced cross.








>Other variations

Another
type of variation is achieved by alternating tinctures. Certain geometrical
charges such as a fess, a bend, a bordure, when displayed with a single row of
alternating checkers, are described as compony (or ‘gobony’). A double row is called counter-compony. Three or more rows of checks are
described as checky.

When
the field and the charge it contains are divided by lines of partition such as
per pale, or per fess, where the colour scheme is altered in two directions,
they are described as counterchanged. For example, per pale gules and argent a
chevron counterchanged signifies that the part of the chevron that lies
on the argent side is coloured gules, and the part that lies in the gules side
is coloured argent.

Common charges

Common
charges may be just about any object from the material or imaginary world,
including human figures, fauna, flora, mythical creatures, everyday household
items, various kinds of implements, weaponry, and
celestial bodies. They are usually represented in a symbolic form.

A
particular charge may be chosen, as it expresses some kind of association with
the armiger’s family history, or suggests a canting allusion to the family
name.


>Human figures >

Humans,
usually adult males, are depicted in a variety of guises. It may be the whole
figure, nearly always shown facing the onlooker, or more frequently, parts of
the body, notably the demi-figure, the head, arm, heart, and occasionally the
leg are all found as charges.


Human head

Although
the possibilities for depicting the human head are virtually limitless, certain
types of head have become standard charges. Particular common are the heads of savages, moors (or blackamoors), and saracens (perhaps dating from the
times of the Crusades). Saracens
are bearded, wreathed about the temples and habited. Savages are also bearded, wreathed
around the temples and loins, but otherwise they are naked, and carry
clubs. Moors are black and wear a
wreath of twisted cloth around the forehead.

Other
figures, both male and female, are drawn from classical mythology and the
Bible. To the latter category belong the Holy
family, the Virgin Mary, and >Moses. Saints often feature in civic arms as the patron saints of
particular towns. Mythological figures include the >centaur (or sagittarius), the >triton, and Apollo, and the female goddesses Athena and Minerva.

Human arm

As
various forms of the human arm occur so frequently in heraldry, its description
requires a more detailed treatment than usual. The first point is to distinguish between
dexter and sinister arm. The second
point to note is whether the whole arm from just below the shoulder is
displayed, or from above the elbow to the hand, when it is described as a >cubit
arm. The attributes of the
arm should also be noted. It may be naked, clothed (‘vested’ or ‘ >habited’), or ‘armoured’ (or ‘ >vambraced’). Perhaps because of the
military origins of heraldry, the arm in armour is the most common variety.
Finally the attitude of the arm is described: if the arm is flexed at the elbow
it is referred to as ‘ >embowed’. Cubit arms are usually erect, but
occasionally are shown fesswise, oriented towards the dexter side. In most cases the hand is shown clasping
an object.

Human hand

The
hand is usually shown with the palm facing the onlooker. This aspect is known
as ‘appaumy’. Occasionally the hand is found with the
thumb, index and second finger extended, the others bent on to the palm; this
gesture is described as ‘ >raised in benediction’.





The hand appaumy displayed on an
escutcheon or canton is the badge of a baronet.

Fauna

Animals provide a major source of
heraldic charges, and are often associated with the name of the bearer of arms
(canting arms).[19] It is almost always the male of the species that is depicted, i.e . boar, bull, lion, stag, >fox, wolf. They may be
depicted entire, or dissected at the waist to form demi figures, or at the head
or limb.

When the whole animal is depicted, it
is usually shown in profile, facing dexter. In blazon its posture, or >attitude,
is described, along with its >attributes. For most animals the
various attitudes are described in much the same terms. The exception is the
stag for which special descriptive terms are used.


>Lion

The
most familiar animal charge in heraldry is the mighty lion, king of the beasts,
and symbol of strength and power.
The lion appears in many guises, but most commonly as a lion rampant.





The
lion is rampant when he is
standing on his back sinister foot, the dexter raised, the spine angled, and
the front paws raised, the dexter higher than the sinister, the tail erect, and
the tongue protruding.


If
standing on three feet, with the dexter front paw raised,
he is described as passant. If he has all four feet on the ground, he is said to
be statant. If shown standing with his hind legs
together, his front paws stretched out in front, in a pose that suggests he is about to spring, he is >salient. If sitting on his haunches, front paws
on the ground, he is >sejant. If sitting with his front paws raised he is sejant erect. If lying
down on all fours with the head and tail raised, he is couchant. If in a similar
posture but with the head lowered as though in slumber, and the tail lying
alongside his body, he is >dormant.

Another
attitude, not usually associated with the lion, is courant, where the animal
has both front legs and back legs extended outwards, as though running at
speed.


The
position of the head is also significant. Unless otherwise stated, the head is assumed
to be facing dexter. If the head is
turned to face the viewer, the animal is described as gardant (sometimes spelt >guardant). If the head is completely
turned looking over its shoulder, it is >regardant.






When
two rampant animals face each other, they are said to be combatant.

The
normal position of the lion’s tail is flexed along the
animal’s spine, and then back again in the opposite direction, like a
long letter ‘s’. If the tail is lowered and placed between the animal’s legs,
it is described as coward. If
straightened out horizontally, it is >extended. If curled into a knot it
is nowed. If the lion is shown to possess two
tails, it is double-quequed.


>Lion’s head

When
appearing alone, animals’ heads appear in two principal forms. If the head has
been severed by a straight cut, it is described as couped. If the head has
been torn off, leaving a jagged edge on the neck, it is erased. A similar
distinction is made with regard to the legs (also known as gambs).

The
neck is sometimes encircled by a collar, to which a chain or lead is usually
attached. Here the lion’s head is described as ‘collared and lined’. If the neck is
surrounded by an object other than a collar, the most common being a
coronet (almost invariable a ducal coronet), or a bar gemelle, it is described
as gorged.
For instance

a > lion’s head erased gorged with a bar gemelle

>Leopard

After
the lion, the second most popular heraldic feline is the leopard, usually
depicted statant. The leopard’s
head is also a frequent charge, as is the leopard’s face, which is always
displayed affronty. One version of
the leopard’s face has a fleur-de-lys springing from its mouth; this is
described as ‘jessant-de-lys’.







>Cat-a-mountain

This
creature is based on the wild cat, and not its domestic relative
which it closely resembles.



Two
further members of the feline family in the heraldic menagerie, the >tiger and the panther, bear no resemblance to their natural namesakes, and will
be dealt with below.


>Deer

Various
species of the deer family, such as bucks,
hinds, harts, elk, reindeer, antelopes, and stags, form an important group in heraldry. The stag is by far the most common
charge, and with the buck and hart is shown with a full head of antlers. The
buck has broad flat antlers, while the stag’s antlers are branched and pointed.
However, this distinction is seldom made in heraldic art. The hind has no antlers. The reindeer, elk, and natural antelope
(as distinguished from the heraldic antelope, discussed below) are drawn true
to nature, and are described as ‘ >proper’.

There
are special terms to describe the attitudes and parts. When a stag is standing on all fours
with his head turned towards the observer, he is at gaze. When running at full tilt, he is >courant or ‘at speed’. When walking, he is >trippant.
A stag in a couchant position, i.e. lying down, is described as >lodged. The terms used to describe a stag’s head
are the same as for the lion and other beasts. But if the stag’s head is
affronty, with no neck showing, it is called caboshed, - a term that is also applied to domestic
animals like cattle, sheep or goats.

The
stag’s antlers, or ‘attires’, may also
be displayed alone.





>Dogs

Apart
from the wild wolf and the fox, there are two breeds of domestic dog that
predominate in heraldry: the talbot and the greyhound. The talbot is
described as a medieval hunting dog with a muscular body and long drooping
ears. The greyhound closely
resembles its natural counterpart, and is usually shown running at full speed.
Other breeds of dog feature in heraldry but rarely. In the database there is a
solitary example of a spaniel.





>Horses

Given
the military and agricultural roles played by the domestic horse throughout history, it became a fairly common heraldic
charge. The horse’s (or ‘nag’s’) head also occurs frequently, and is usually
bridled. Another equine, the >mule, makes a rare appearance in the
database. More common are the
fabulous creatures of the pegasus, the unicorn,
and the composite sea horse, all of
which are dealt with below.


>Sheep and goats

The ram is the principal representative
of the sheep family, depicted with spiral horns. His head is sometimes shown
caboshed. The lamb also occurs
frequently, most familiarly as the Paschal
lamb, which is passant, with a halo above its head, its dexter fore leg
wrapped around a staff which extends over the animal’s shoulder in bend
sinister, and which terminates in a cross. Just beneath the cross flies a swallow-tail pennon charged with the cross of St.
George. The lamb is also often
shown as a fleece, suspended from a
belt with a ring around its middle, its head and limbs drooping.






Goats
are depicted with long ogee horns and beards.













List of animal charges used in the
database


clear=all >


Antelope

Bear

Beaver

Boar

Buck

Bull

Camel

Cat-a-mountain

Cow

Elephant

Fox

Giraffe

Goat

Hedgehog

Hind

Horse

Lamb

Lion

Leopard

Marten

Monkey

Mule

Otter

Porcupine

Rabbit

Ram

Reindeer

Rhinoceros

Squirrel

Stag

Wolf
clear=all >

Birds

A large number of species of birds
are encountered in the heraldic aviary, by far the most prevalent being the >eagle.


>Eagle

As
the lion is king of the beasts, so the eagle has dominion of the air, and
occupies an appropriately exalted place in heraldry. It is found in a variety
of attitudes, most of which relate to the position of its wings.



The
most common attitude is the eagle displayed.
In this classically conventional pose the breast is affronty, the head turned
to the dexter, tongue protruding, the wings fully opened and raised, the claws
extended, and tail pointing downwards.
Occasionally the wings are >inverted, that is, pointing
downwards. If the eagle’s
wings are not opened but folded by its side, it is said to be >close. If the eagle is about to
take flight, the wings raised and folded back (‘addorsed’), the eagle
is rising. An eagle, or
any other bird in flight, is described as volant.


The double-headed eagle, symbol of imperial power in Continental heraldry,
is occasionally found in British heraldry.

Parts
of the eagle, such as the demi-eagle,
the eagle’s head and >eagle’s leg are also common charges.



Other
birds of prey that appear commonly are the falcon and hawk. If
either has a bell attached to its legs by small straps called ‘ >jesses’,
it is described as ‘belled and jessed’.
The falcon may also be hooded.





The
erased leg of the falcon can be difficult to distinguish from that of the
eagle, but the attachment of a bell will always denote a falcon.







The kestrel and sparrow hawk also make a rare appearance. Owls are occasionally found, and
are always shown affronty.

An
essential accessory in training hawks is the hawk’s lure, which consists
of two wings pointing downwards joined by a line and ring. It occurs a number of times in the
database.

After
the eagle the most popular bird in heraldry, is in fact not a real bird at all. The
footless martlet, which has tufts of feathers in place of feet, is based
on the swallow, which in popular belief spent its entire life on the wing. Oddly, the martlet is rarely depicted
other than with wings close, despite its legendary reputation for permanent
flight.


Long-legged
varieties of bird include the stork, crane, and heron, which are
sometimes difficult to distinguish.
The crane is usually depicted ‘ >in its vigilance’, that is, with a
pebble held in its raised dexter foot, the purpose of which is to keep him
awake during vigil. Should he fall
asleep, he would drop the stone and wake up[20].
The heron is often depicted holding an eel in its bill [21]

The ostrich is most often seen with an iron object in its mouth, usually a
horseshoe or a key.[22]




The peacock is shown affronty with its head turned to the dexter and its
tail feathers displayed – a posture described as ‘in its pride’.




The pelican is a common heraldic charge, but differs from the natural bird
by virtue of its straight bill. The pelican is always seen standing on her
nest, wings elevated, and wounding her breast (‘vulning herself’)[23] in order to feed her young with her blood. More usually, the nest is full of
chicks their beaks open, gazing up at her in expectation. In this attitude she
is blazoned ‘a pelican in her piety’[24].






Parrot is the preferred name for what is often termed a popinjay.


The
corvine family is represented by the crow, the larger raven, and
by the little known relative, the Cornish chough which
is black with red legs and bill.








The cock is usually of the farmyard variety, complete with comb, and
jelloped with wattles. The wild version, the heathcock, also features in
the database.





The dove, symbol of peace, is traditionally depicted holding in its beak a
leaf of olive or laurel.




Three
species of the duck family, the mallard,
the shoveller, and the >sheldrake are represented in the
armorial. Other aquatic birds include the swan.

List of birds included in the
database


>bittern

l >apwing

>coot

>goldfinch >

>canary >

>moorcock >

>pheasant >

>swallow >

>Wings and feathers

Wings
often appear as charges, either singly, or as a pair. When the wings are joined
and pointing upwards, they are described as ‘two wings conjoined in lure’.




Ostrich
feathers occur frequently in heraldry, most famously as the badge
of the Prince of Wales, accompanied by the motto ‘Ich dien’. Most often found as crests, feathers are arranged in
groups of two, three or four, when they are called a plume of ostrich feathers. Five or more feathers are described
as a panache.

>Marine creatures

The
most common marine creature in heraldry is the dolphin, usually depicted
with its back arched or ‘embowed’. If the dolphin is swimming in a
horizontal position it is described as ‘naiant’.
If it is diving it is ‘urinant’,
and if swimming up towards the surface, it is ‘hauriant’. The same attributes also apply to fish, of which
several species, either whole or in parts, appear in the armorial catalogue.
Other marine mammals are the seal (head),
and otter.

Species
of fish that appear in the database

Besides the generic image of a fish
(labeled a ‘stockfish’), the following specific varieties appear at least once:



barbel

conger (head)

eel >

gurnard >

herring

luce >

roach >

salmon

turbot (demi-)

Shellfish
are relatively rare in heraldry, the conspicuous exception being the highly
decorative scallop, known under its French name of escallop. The outside
(convexity) of the shell is always displayed.

>Reptiles

From
the reptilian world come the snake, usually referred to as a >serpent, the toad, the tortoise, and
the salamander. Serpents sometimes appear either in the
form of a figure eight (‘ >nowed’) or with their own tail in
their mouths, an ancient symbol known as an Ouroboros. In
heraldry the salamander is unlike the salamander of nature, but is a fictitious
lizard, always surrounded by flames, reflecting the creature’s mythical
resistance to fire.

>Insects

Few
insects appear in heraldry, but the bee,
the fly, and the >beetle are all represented in the
armorial.








>Mythical creatures

Creatures
of myth and imagination play a prominent role in heraldry. Some of them, such
as the unicorn and winged pegasus, are
well known and require no further explanation.



One
of the most common mythical creatures is the griffin, a hybrid figure
with the hindquarters and tail of the lion, the wings, fore limbs and head of
the eagle, with the ears of the lion added. The griffin is displayed in a variety of
postures. When depicted in a rampant attitude with wings raised, it is said to
be sergeant – a term reserved exclusively for the griffin.

The phoenix is much like an eagle. It is always depicted as a demi-creature
rising from flames with wings elevated and displayed.

The dragon and the wyvern are close relatives, but whereas the dragon
possesses four legs, the wyvern has only two. The wyvern’s tail is usually
curled or ‘nowed’.

Lesser known creatures of imagination are the cockatrice and basilisk, fearsome monsters with the head of a crested cock, forked
tongue, dragon’s wings, and a serpent’s tail. The basilisk, the offspring of the
cockatrice, has a serpent’s head at the end of its tail.

The harpy has
the head and breasts of a woman, and the body of a vulture.





Another
mythical female figure is the mermaid, holding a mirror ( >‘glass’) and comb in her hands.





Some
heraldic animals bear little resemblance to their natural counterparts. The
heraldic tiger (or tyger), for example, has the body of a wolf, a thick
mane, a lion’s tail, and a pointed snout and large tusks protruding from its
powerful jaws.

The heraldic antelope has the head of the heraldic tiger, serrated horns, an
antelope’s body, but tufted down the spine, and a lion’s tail.

The heraldic panther is depicted rampant, its body covered with spots, and
breathing flames from its mouth (‘ >incensed’).




The allerion is an eagle without beak or legs, usually shown with wings
raised and inverted.









Another
chimerical creature from the heraldic imagination is the half-dog half-fish sea
dog. Other composite creatures
combining animal and fish are the sea horse, and the sea lion.
Like the sea dog, the upper body resembles a horse and lion respectively, but
with a series of dorsal fins, and webbed feet, joined to the lower half of the
body of a fish, with a nowed tail.











>Flora

>Flowers

The
primary flower of heraldry is the fleur-de-lys, a stylized version of
the lily, represented by three separate leaves held together in the middle by a
band. The conventional lily also serves as a heraldic charge.









The
heraldic rose, a variety of dog rose, has five petals, and is usually
barbed (i.e. with sepals) and seeded.
The Tudor rose represents the white rose of the House of York laid over
the red rose of the House of Lancaster, symbolizing the peace that ensued
following the War of the Roses.
Often used as a badge, the rose is quintessentially English. The Scottish equivalent to the English
rose is the thistle.









Non-generic
stylized flowers with three petals are named trefoils . Quatrefoils have four petals, and cinquefoils five. Only the trefoil is stalked. The cinquefoil is sometimes described as a >narcissus, a primrose, or a strawberry flower, or ‘fraise’[25],
all of which appear in the armorial in their own right, as do the >daisy, lily, marigold, >pansy, and sunflower.





>Flowers that feature in the database

narcissus

primrose >

fraise >

daisy >

lily

marigold

pansy

sunflower >













>Trees

Several
species of tree appear in arms and as crests, the most common being the >oak. Others include the >ash, and olive.







Trees
are often shown with their roots exposed, a state described as ‘ >eradicated’. When depicted with
their fruit or seed, they are ‘fructed’.







Bushes
in the database include holly and >laurel.








Parts
of the tree - the trunk, branch,
sprig, leaf, and fruit, too, are frequently used as charges. Six types of branches appear in the
armorial – beech, honeysuckle,
laurel, oak, olive, and palm;
and several kinds of leaves – birch,
holly, laurel, and oak.

Fruits
of various kinds are also common charges. The apple, orange, and >pear are as they appear in nature, and
are normally pendant. The pineapple (sometimes termed ‘ >ananas’, in order not to confuse it
with a pine cone),
is also true to nature. The pomegranate is shown slipped and leaved, with a strip of its skin torn away to reveal its
seeds.











Among
seeds the acorn is the most common
charge. It is always depicted in its cup, with a short stalk bearing two
leaves. Other seed bearers are the pine-
cone, and the clove.




The fern may appear alone or as a clump
when it is known as a fern-brake.








The
circular wreath may be composed of
various types of foliage, such as oak, laurel, and olive leaves, often with
stems crossed at the base, and tied with ribbon. A garland of roses is known as
a chaplet.

>The Military

The
military origin of heraldry is reflected in the widespread use of weapons,
which form a conspicuous part of the heraldic repertoire. Swords of various kinds – the >scimitar, falchion, cutlass - are all represented.




Arrows,
usually in multiples of three, five, and seven, are common, and are displayed
with their heads down, and arranged with one arrow palewise, the remainder in
saltire.









Another
common charge is the arrow head, which is known as a pheon. The bow
and arrow and the crossbow may
appear as single images, or in combination with the arms of the archer.[26]





For
the sake of simplicity, all types of axe, including the woodman’s axe, the
battleaxe, and poleaxe, have been subsumed by the single term of axe. The lance of the tournament is known as
a tilting spear, and the tip of the lance is called a coronal or
cronal - a crown shaped metal cap consisting of
three blunted metal prongs.

A billhook is a type of spear with a cutting
head, stabber, piercer, and gouger.

A
spearhead with drops of blood is said to be ‘ >imbrued’.







Among
the articles of military costume are the coat of mail, >gauntlet, and various types of helmets,
including the morion cap, a steel helmet with a brim at front and back,
and with a high ridged crown.

The Catherine wheel consisting of eight
spokes, each ending in a curved blade, was used as an instrument of execution,
and so named after St. Catherine’s martyrdom.

Various instruments of restraint, notably the >fetterlock and shackles are occasionally
found. A fetterlock, a manacle in
the form of a semi-circle hinged at one end, is often shown enclosing another
charge, such as a heart.[27] (Lockhart).

Shields of various shapes and forms also feature as heraldic as charges, as does the escarbuncle – the central ornamental boss of a shield, from which radiate eight
decorative spokes, each ending in a fleur-de-lys. Other weapons of the
field include the battering ram, depicted with the head of a horned ram,
and the caltrap – a four-pointed metal weapon strewn across the
battlefield to maim horses.

Other
weapons include various forms of artillery. Although the cannon and gun are very
similar, the former is always set upon its carriage. The mortar (or ‘culverin’) is a wide bore short barrel gun used to hurl
projectiles on to the roof of a castle or other structure. In heraldry a grenade is a fireball or bombshell, issuing flames of fire, and not
the modern weapon of the same name.

Other
miscellaneous weapons include the mace,
club, and dagger.

Fortified
structures continue the military theme. If the charge is a castle, the
number of towers is stipulated, and described thus, e.g. ‘a castle triple towered’. Towers standing independently are also frequent, often with a demi-creature emerging
from it.[28] In common use as a crest and a badge is
the portcullis, usually shown with
four horizontal and five vertical bars, with chains ending in a ring pendant
from each side.

Common household items

In contrast to the military theme, peaceful rural
life finds expression in such common household items as pegs, staples, cups, cushions, cartwheels, >pens, bells, and combs.

>Agriculture

Agrarian life is reflected in the fruits of
agricultural labour. The
wheatsheaf, known in heraldry as a >garb is a very common charge. The single ear
of wheat, and ear of rye are used much less frequently.

Agricultural implements include scythes, sickles, dungforks, and spades are also commonly found.





The manufacturing side of husbandry is represented
by windmill sails, and the water millstone, which is secured to
the shaft of the wheel by an iron plate pierced in the centre, its ends
bifurcated, known as a millrind (or ‘fer-de-moline’). As a charge the millrind is seen both
attached to the millstone and on its own.





Other country pursuits and trades are reflected in
the blacksmith’s anvil, the bee-keeper’s hives,
the dovecot of the dove-fancier, the vintner’s or brewer’s tun, the
woodman’s frame-saw, and the assayer’s balance.

>Architecture

From the realm of architecture come the >arch and the column.




>Clothing

Various articles of clothing are used as charges.
The oddly named maunch is a sleeve of a woman’s garment dating from the
eleventh century, with a long lappet hanging from the cuff. Belts,
buckles, and gloves are other
common charges.

>Musical instruments

The buglehorn, invariably stringed, the hunting
horn, and the Irish
harp, are among the > popular musical instruments found in
heraldry. The clarion (also
known as an ‘organ rest’, or ‘sufflue’) is a stylized instrument akin to the
panpipes, and consisting of a series of cylinders attached to a block to which
is fixed a handle

>Nautical objects

The nautical theme is well represented in heraldry.
Various kinds of boat, will be found in the database
under the general heading of ship, with
the exception of the ark which is given
its own name, and is treated separately.
Parts of the ship, such as the anchor, are common devices. The boatswain’s rudder, which is perhaps not
immediately recognized for what it is, also features, but rarely.







>Equestrian

The
various accessories associated with equestrian sports are very well
represented, and include the spur, >spur rowel, stirrup, saddle, >hame, horses
bits, and horseshoe.

The Church

Ecclesiastical
accoutrements include the altar, crozier, mitre. However, the altar is not the
conventional Christian altar, but a pagan column with a crest of fire rising
from its top. The pallium, or archbishop’s
staff, has already been discussed.
Another charge with religious symbolism is the key, particularly
when borne in pairs in saltire, representing the keys of St Peter.

>Natural phenomena

>Estoile is the heraldic name for a star. The charge is
conventionalized and consists of six wavy rays. As mentioned earlier, the star-shaped
mullet is not a star at all.





A rainbow is depicted as arched between two clouds




Both the sun and moon are
anthropomorphized. The sun is usually charged with a smiling visage affronty,
or an eye, the surrounding corona made up of alternating wavy and straight
rays. It is described as the ‘sun in
splendour’.

The moon most often appears in one of its phases,
but in order to distinguish it from the subordinary crescent, it is endowed
with a slightly sombre visage, shown in profile along the inner concave edge. A full moon is described as >‘in
its plenitude’. A sunburst shows the rays of the sun issuing from behind a cloud.

Geological motifs include
the mount, which is a grassy hillock, invariably used in crests as a base
on which usually stands an animal. Another
manifestation is a mountain inflamed, which is not a volcano, but
a hill from which shoot large flames.

Miscellaneous

Familiar miscellaneous
items used as charges include the cornucopoeia, urn, sphere, orb, and sceptre

Other less familiar
miscellaneous items, are the brazier, depicted as a square metal fire basket. The motif of fire
is also present in the torch, the >brand (a burning tree trunk or log),
and the beacon, an early warning system against the approach of the
enemy. It is depicted as a fire
basket on a pole with a ladder leant against it.

The fleam is a blood-letting instrument used
by barber-surgeons. The chessrook is a stylized chess piece , resembling a castle tower,
but with a forked top. Another
stylized charge is the water bouget, a vessel for carrying water,
consisting of two leather bladders, with a wooden yoke to enable transportation
on the shoulders. The wrestling collar,
as its name implies, is a special device used in the sport of wrestling.

Some of the more obscure terms in heraldry have
been discarded in favour of a more familiar vocabulary. Thus the familiar >parrot replaces the lesser
known popinjay. Hedgehog is
preferred to urchin, rabbit to
coney, and giraffe to the obsolete
camelopard. The lymphad, a type of
sailing ship, is subsumed under the generic category of ship.


In other instances the conventional heraldic term,
even though unfamiliar to most people, has been retained. Thus luce > is used to describe the pike (fish); a
barrel is termed a tun; a star
becomes an estoile; and a >garb is used in place of a wheatsheaf.


Cross
references

When the user is uncertain of the term under which
a particular heraldic charge is indexed, the following tables may help find the
appropriate term. The first table provides a link between a term that is not
used and the term that is


not
used used

arrow head >ˆ > >pheon

arundel >ˆ >swallow

barrel >ˆ > >tun

battleaxe ˆ >axe

bezant >ˆ >roundel

boat >ˆ > >ship

camelopard ˆ >giraffe

cat >ˆ > >cat-a-mountain

chalice > ˆ >cup

child >ˆ > >infant

coney >ˆ > >rabbit

drops > >ˆ > >gouttes

duck >ˆ >mallard;

> sheldrake

> shoveller duck

elk >ˆ >stag

> reindeer

> buck

fountain >ˆ >roundel

frame saw >ˆ >saw

fusil >ˆ >lozenge

golpe >ˆ >roundel

hart >ˆ >hind;

> stag

hurt >ˆ >roundel

inescutcheon >ˆ >escutcheon

lance >ˆ > >tilting spear

lancet > >ˆ > >fleam

lymphad >ˆ >ship

nag >ˆ >horse

oak >ˆ >tree (oak)

ogress >ˆ >roundel

organ rest >ˆ >clarion

pellet >ˆ >roundel

pig >ˆ >boar

pike (fish) >ˆ >lucy

pine marten >ˆ >marten

plate >ˆ >roundel

pomeis >ˆ >roundel

popinjay >ˆ >parrot

sagittarius >ˆ >centaur

scales >ˆ > >balance

sheep >ˆ >ram
>ˆ > lamb
>ˆ > fleece

snake ˆ >serpent

star >ˆ > >estoile

sufflue >ˆ >clarion

swine >ˆ > >boar

sword belt >ˆ > >belt

syke >ˆ >roundel

torteau >ˆ >roundel

urchin >ˆ >hedgehog

wheatsheaf >ˆ >garb

The second table
links similar charges (see also)


allerion > >?? >eagle

annulet >?? >ring

ark >?? >ship

arm >?? >hand

arrow >?? pheon

> >?? bow
and arrow

> >?? crossbow

> >?? centaur

banner >?? flag

> >?? pennon

basilisk > >?? cockatrice

beacon >?? brazier

>Bible >?? book

book >?? Bible

bow and
arrow >?? arrow

> >?? crossbow

bird >?? bittern

> >?? blackbird

> >?? canary

> >?? cock

> >?? Cornish
chough

> >?? crane

> >?? crow

> >?? dove

> >?? eagle

> >?? falcon

> >?? goldfinch

> >?? hawk

> >?? heathcock

> >?? heron

> >?? kestrel

> >?? lapwing

> >?? mallard

> >?? martlet

> >?? moorcock

> >?? ostrich

> >?? owl

> >?? parrot

> >?? peacock

> >?? pelican

> >?? pheasant

> >?? phoenix

> >?? raven

> >?? sheldrake

> >?? shoveller
duck

> >?? sparrow
hawk

> >?? stork

> >?? swallow

> >?? swan

brazier >?? beacon

buck >?? stag

buglehorn > >?? horn

> >?? hunting
horn

bull's head >?? cow's
head

cannon >?? mortar

> >?? gun

canton >?? quarter

cap >?? hat

> >?? morion
cap

> >?? helmet

> >?? chapeau

castle >?? tower

centaur >?? arrow

chaplet >?? wreath

child >?? infant

cockatrice > >?? basilisk

cow's head >?? bull's
head

crossbow > >?? arrow

> >?? bow
and arrow

cutlass >?? falcion

> >?? scimitar

> >?? sword

dog >?? greyhound

> >?? >talbot

> >?? spaniel

> >?? sea
dog

eagle >?? allerion

> >?? falcon

> >?? hawk

> >?? kestrel

> >?? sparrow
hawk

escutcheon > >?? shield

estoile >?? mullet

falchion > >?? cutlass

> >?? scimitar

> >?? sword

falcon >?? eagle

> >?? hawk

> >?? kestrel

feathers > >?? wing

fish >?? barbel

> >?? conger

> >?? dolphin

> >?? eel

> >?? gurnard

> >?? herring

> >?? >luce

> >?? roach

> >?? salmon

> >?? turbot

flag >?? banner

> >?? pennon

fleece >?? lamb

flower >?? daisy

> >?? fleur-de-lys

> >?? fraise

> >?? lily

> >?? marigold

> >?? narcissus

> >?? pansies

> >?? primrose

> >?? rose

> >?? sunflower

fox >?? marten

gauntlet > >?? glove

globe >?? sphere

glove >?? gauntlet

griffin >?? eagle

gun >?? cannon

> >?? mortar

hand >?? arm

hat >?? cap

> >?? morion
cap

> >?? helmet

> >?? chapeau

hawk >?? falcon

> >?? kestrel

> >?? sparrow
hawk

hedgehog > >?? porcupine

helmet >?? morion
cap

hind >?? stag

horn >?? buglehorn

> >?? hunting
horn

horse >?? mule

> >?? >pegasus

> >?? sea
horse

> >?? unicorn

hunting horn >?? buglehorn

kestrel >?? hawk

> >?? sparrow
hawk

lamb >?? ram

> >?? fleece

leopard >?? lion

lion >?? leopard

lozenge >?? mascle

marten >?? fox

mascle >?? lozenge

morion cap >?? cap

> >?? helmet

mortar >?? cannon

> >?? gun

mule >?? horse

mullet >?? estoile

pegasus >?? horse

pennon >?? flag

> >?? banner

pheon >?? arrow

porcupine > >?? hedgehog

quarter >?? canton

ram >?? lamb

reindeer > >?? stag

ring >?? annulet

roundel >?? fountain

rye, ear
of >?? wheat,
ear of

scimitar > >?? falchion

> >?? cutlass

> >?? sword

scythe >?? sickle

sea horse >?? horse

shield >?? escutcheon

ship >?? ark

sparrow hawk >?? hawk

> >?? kestrel

spear >?? tilting
spear

sphere >?? globe

stag >?? buck

> >?? reindeer

> >?? hind

tilting spear >?? spear

tower >?? castle

tree (oak) >?? sprig
(oak)

> >?? leaf
(oak)

unicorn >?? horse

wheat, ear
of >?? rye,
ear of

wing >?? feathers

wreath >?? chaplet

wyvern >?? dragon

Marks of cadency

In English heraldry the system of adding brisures,
or marks of cadency to distinguish
similar coats of arms belonging to members of the same family, and at the same
time to indicate the place in the order of succession of younger sons, was
introduced in the fifteenth century, and is still in use. The system is also known as >differencing. The eldest son (the heir apparent)
displays a label[29] on his father’s arms, while each of the younger
sons (cadets) bears a distinguishing charge: a crescent[30] for the second son, a mullet[31] for the third, a martlet,[32] for the fourth, an annulet[33] for the fifth; a fleur-de-lys[34] for the sixth, a rose[35] for the seventh, a cross moline for the eighth,
and a double quatrefoil for the ninth.
If, say, the fourth son dies during the lifetime of his father, the next
brother in line, formerly the fifth son, moves up into
fourth place, assuming the appropriate mark of cadency. For the daughters of
peers there is no equivalent system. The devices used to mark cadency are
smaller versions of the common charges on which they are modelled, and occupy a
relatively inconspicuous place on the shield, usually on the principal
charge. Marks of cadency come at
the end of the description of the arms in blazoning, followed by the words ‘ >for
difference’. The marks of
cadency themselves are not indexed.

In Scottish heraldry a different system is used,
based on bordures each with a distinguishing tincture, subdivision, or charge.

>Crests



The most important accessory to the
arms in the heraldic achievement is the crest. Originally an appendage to the helmet which identified the wearer in battle or in the tournament,
the crest subsequently evolved into an integral decorative element of
the heraldic achievement. The crest usually rests on two pieces of rolled silk
known as a torse or wreath, composed
of six alternating bands of metal and colour, almost always argent and gules. It is drawn edgewise either straight, or
with a slight curvature.

In blazon, the torse is not
mentioned, but if its place is taken by another object, typically a crown,
coronet, or chapeau, the substitute is specified.

out > of a ducal coronet a lion’s head erased





In the earliest period of armory,
crests were often assumed from some charge in the arms

Crests draw largely from the same
broad armorial repertoire as arms, and practically any subordinary or common
charge can feature as a crest. With the exception of the cross, ordinaries are
never used for crests.

>BADGES and DEVICES


Another kind of
heraldic insignia is the badge, which
exists quite independently from the shield. Badges are associated with a
particular family or individual. They often resemble crests, but lack the
distinctive torse on which the crest rests.

Crowns and coronets

A large array of crowns and coronets is found in
heraldry, either as indicators of rank, or as integral parts of the crest. As marks of rank they are the exclusive
headwear of monarchs, princes and peers. A crown is distinguished from a
coronet by having bars or diadems arched over the top, and are worn solely by
the monarch and the heir apparent.
On coronets the arches are absent. Both crowns and coronets may be
depicted with or without a velvet cap, tassel, and ermine.


The royal
crown of Great Britain, as worn by the reigning monarch, comprises a circle
of gold, set with jewels, and bearing on its upper edge four crosses patty
alternating with four fleurs-de-lys. In heraldic depiction three crosses, and
two fleurs-de-lys are visible. From the top of the crosses extend four diadems
set with pearls which form a double arch, on top of which is an orb (or mount)
surmounted by a cross patty. The cap is made of purple velvet, and is lined
with ermine, which appears around the base of the crown.

The crown of the Prince of Wales (the heir apparent) differs from the monarch’s
crown by having only a single arch; the cap is made of crimson rather than
purple velvet.

Junior members of the royal family wear coronets of
various configurations. The base of
the coronet of the brothers, sisters,
and children of the monarch (other than the first son), and the >first-born son of the heir apparent resembles the monarch’s crown (i.e. crosses and fleurs-de-lys), but differs in
that the cap is topped by a golden tassel. The circlet is chased as though jewelled,
but not actually set with gemstones.

The coronet of the monarch’s nephews and grandchildren of the male line substitutes
the fleurs-de-lys with strawberry leaves.


The coronet of the sovereign’s grandchildren of the female line is similar to the previous, but
around its rim the cross patty is replaced by four fleurs-de-lys and four
strawberry leaves.


>

>

The peerage

The coronets
of the peerage, in descending order of seniority, begin with the coronet of a >duke, which has a circle of gold chased
and jewelled, with eight strawberry leaves around its rim, of which five are
shown wholly or partially in heraldic representation.

The coronet
of a marquess has four strawberry
leaves alternating with four pearls (or silver balls) set on low points; three
leaves, and two pearls are shown.
The rim of the coronet of a marquess, as well as the coronets of an
earl, a viscount, and a baron, is chased but has no jewels.

The coronet
of an earl has eight pearls on
lengthened points that reach to the same height as the cap, alternating with
eight strawberry leaves; five pearls and four leaves are shown.

The coronet
of a viscount has from sixteen to
twenty closely set pearls on its rim, of which seven, eight, nine, or eleven
are shown in heraldic depiction, the most common number today being seven.

Finally the
coronet of the lowest stratum of the peerage, a baron, bears six pearls on the rim, four of which are shown.







In addition
to the coronets of rank described above, there are coronets that are found as
charges in arms, or more usually, as part of a crest, and although clearly
modelled on the coronets of peers, they in fact have no actual relationship to
rank. By far the most common form of
crest coronet is the ducal coronet,
which is always placed at the base of the crest, replacing the >torse[36]. Out of
the coronet issues the main charge that makes up the crest. Other crest coronets that resemble
coronets of rank are occasionally found.

When a
coronet encircles the neck of an animal, whether in arms, crests, and
supporters, it is described as ‘ >gorged’

a bull’s head erased and ducally gorged



Other types
of crowns or coronets found in the armorial are the mural coronet, the eastern
crown, and the naval crown.

The
coronet of a King of Arms has
sixteen oak leaves around its rim of alternating size, nine of which are shown
in representation. Around the
circle are the words, taken from the 51^st Psalm: ‘ >Miserere mei Deus secundum magnam
misericordiam tuam’. The cap is of crimson
satin topped by a gold tassel.


The >mural coronet, which occurs frequently
in civic heraldry and occasionally in the arms of distinguished military men,
is made of gold and is divided by lines resembling masonry or brickwork, with
an embattled top.

The >eastern or ancient crown consists of a
circle of gold from which rise eight or ten pointed rays, of which five or six
are visible.

Less common
is the naval crown which has the
sterns and sails of ships displayed alternatively around the rim of the golden
and jewelled circle. It occurs most frequently in the heraldic achievements of
naval men.

When these
crest coronets are accompanied by another charge, the coronet is mentioned
first.

out of a mural coronet a boar’s head





Picture
false
\f 0


Other
heraldic headwear includes the chapeau, also known as a ‘cap of
maintenance’. It is made of red velvet and lined with ermine
which is turned up to form a brim, ending with two swallow tails at the
back. It is used in much the same
way as a crest coronet and is usually seen surmounted by a charge.




The electoral
bonnet is rarely found in British heraldry, but occurs in the royal arms of
the House of Hanover between 1801 and 1816, ensigning the Hanover escutcheon; it was replaced by the royal crown from 1816 to 1837, when the
Electorate became a kingdom.[37]




Hierarchs of the Church of Rome

The arms of a cardinal include his family’s arms, surmounted by a patriarchal cross, and a prelate’s
hat from which hang cords and fifteen tassels on each side.[38]


The arms of an archbishop are similar to a cardinal’s, but only ten tassels are displayed on each side.
In the arms of a bishop the patriarchal cross is replaced by a Latin cross, with
only six tassels on each side.[39]

Helmet

The helmet
appears above the shield, immediately below the torse and crest
which it supports. Although the shapes of helmets have changed many
times over the centuries, four basic types, based on the orientation of the
helmet, and whether the visor is raised or lowered, are used to indicate rank.



The monarch’s helmet is made of gold and
is set full-face or affronty. The face is protected by a grille of gold bars. The helmet
of a peer is silver, set in profile
facing dexter, with a grille of gold bars. Baronets and knights have steel helmets, set
affronty, with an open visor.
Finally esquires and >gentlemen have steel helmets facing
dexter with the visor closed.


Mantling


The mantling, or lambrequin, has its origins in the piece of cloth
pendant from the helmet, which is supposed to have protected the warrior’s head
and neck from the hot rays of the sun during battle. It gradually
developed from an expedient piece of headgear during the Crusades, to assume a
purely decorative role in heraldry. Several stylized forms of mantling
developed at various times. One
style resembles great billowy curling waves, supposedly representing the
slashing and hacking that a mantle would endure in battle, and frequently
terminating with tassles. In some
instances the mantling provides a decorative frame for the arms,[40] in other cases
it almost overwhelms them[41]. In a later style the scrolls are stiff,
as though carved from wood, while in another they are elaborately curled and
foliated. Although certain styles of mantling are discernible, it is difficult
to ascribe a particular style to a definite time period, as fashions changed,
and older styles were regularly revived.
Mantling is not described in the armorial database.


Mantling
should not to be confused with the mantle (also known as a ‘robe of estate’, or ‘robe of dignity’), worn by monarchs,
princes, and peers on ceremonial occasions, and which occurs occasionally as
part of the heraldic achievement. Resembling a large canopy kept open by
tassels, it forms the background on which the shield is placed. [42]

>Supporters



Supporters are the figures that appear to be
holding up the shield for view. In England only royalty, peers, knights of the
Garter, the Thistle, and St. Patrick, and certain corporate bodies are
permitted to display supporters.

They can be human or semi-human figures, animals,
or imaginary beasts. As a rule there are usually two supporters, sometimes
mirror images of the same creature, and sometimes two quite different figures.
On rare occasions the shield is held up by a single supporter.[43]




>Mottoes

Mottoes are usually aphorisms expressing a noble,
pious, sentiment or virtue. Equally they may also be a word play on the
armiger’s name. Mottoes may be in any language, but Latin and French are the
most popular. In England it was the
norm to inscribe the motto on a ribbon or banner positioned beneath the
shield. In Scotland two mottoes
were standard, one beneath the shield, the other above. The latter is believed
to be a war-cry – a remnant from the days of the
clan system.[44]
Mottoes may also be inscribed on a strap or circle surrounding a crest
or arms. [45]

Mottoes provide the most expedient means of
identifying armorial stamps. However, caution should be exercised, as several
families may share the same motto. Moreover, while Scottish families retain the
one motto through succeeding generations, in England, a family is not obliged
to adhere to the same motto, and may at some time decide to change it.

Orders of knighthood



Various
orders of knighthood and chivalry commonly appear as part of the heraldic
achievements.

>The Most Noble Order of the Garter is the oldest and
most prestigious of the orders of knighthood for England and Wales. Founded by Edward III in 1348, the Order
consisted of the monarch, his heir, and twenty-four knights companions of noble
birth. The garter resembles a
buckled belt rather than a garter, and bears the motto of the Order, >Honi
soit qui mal y pense. Within the garter is a red cross against
a white field (argent a cross gules) of St George. The collar is composed of twenty-six
miniature garters containing a red rose, alternating with interlaced knots.
From the collar hangs the image of St. George mounted on a white steed slaying
a dragon.

>The Most Ancient and Most Noble
Order of the Thistle in its present incarnation was
inaugurated by King James II of Great Britain in 1687. After James fled the
country in 1688, the Order was reconfirmed by Queen Anne in 1703. The original number of eight knights was
increased to the sixteen knights that since 1827 has made up the Order. The order’s badge, the figure of St.
Andrew holding a saltire, is surrounded by a cartouche bearing the order’s
motto, Nemo me impune lacessit. The breast star has in its centre a
thistle within a circlet bearing the motto.

>The Most Illustrious order of St. Patrick was founded by King
George III in 1783, and was made up of the monarch, the Grand Master and twenty-two
knights. It was reconstituted by King Edward VII in 1905. The emblem is a saltire surmounted by a
shamrock. The motto >Quis
separabit, is followed by the date MDCCLXXXIII, the year of its
founding. The breast star also bears the same emblem and motto.

>The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, instituted in 1399,
is the second oldest order of knighthood. Its name comes from a medieval
ceremony of bathing a candidate entering knighthood. The Order fell into disuse under
Cromwell and during the Restoration, but was revived by George I in 1725, and
was further modified in 1815, 1905, and 1912, and was given new statutes in
1925. It consists of thirty-six knights, divided into three classes: Knight
Grand Cross, Knight Commander, and Knight Companion. The order’s emblem is
three golden crowns, and its motto is >Tria juncta in uno.


When the four
principal orders described above are added to the heraldic achievement, it
became common practice to encircle the bearer’s arms , crest, or monogram with
the cartouche (or garter) inscribed with the order’s motto, Occasionally the
collar and star of the order are also shown.[46]

The French chivalric Order
of St. Michael (Ordre de
Saint-Michel) was founded by Louis XI in 1469. The badge of the order shows Archangel Michael killing a
serpent with a spear. The motto of the order,
"immensi tremor oceani" is a reference to Saint Michael gazing over
the Atlantic Ocean from Mont Saint-Michel.[47]





Ordre de Saint Michel

The oldest military order of knighthood is said to The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, a Roman Catholic order, which traces its
origin to the capture of Jerusalem which ended
the First Crusades in 1099. [48]
Enjoying Papal support throughout its long history, the order carries
out and furthers the cause
of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land.




Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte
on 19 May 1802. The highest decoration in France , membership is normally restricted to French
nationals, but
foreigners who have served France may receive a distinction of the Légion.[49]

>BLAZONING ARMS


Some
blazons contain puns on the family name, not always obvious because the punning
word is no longer be in common usage. For example the name Newton has been
represented by a "new tun" ie a new barrel (see below). Again
bendlets on the arms might suggest the name Bently (see right).

>Order
of blazon





The language of heraldry


The
formal description of a heraldic achievement is known as blazon - a precise vocabulary, drawn largely from Norman
French. Blazon dispenses with
punctuation, and employs a simple syntax in which adjectives follow the nouns
they qualify. The result is a succinct and accurate description from which the reader is able to
reconstruct the appropriate image.


Blazon
follows a prescribed order, beginning with the shield.





>Shield



>1. Field

The
first element to be described is the background of the shield, known as the >field. Usually of a single tincture, the field
is described simply by the name of the tincture alone (the word ‘field’ is
never used in the description), unless it is parted, varied, or peppered with semy charges. >

If the field is parted, the partition
is described first, followed by the tinctures used:

checky > gules and argent

per > pale argent and vert

quarterly > argent and gules

semy > of crosses azure



>2. Charges

The second element of the achievement
to be described is the principal charge. In most cases this is an ordinary, but is
sometimes a subordinary or common charge.

= 1 \* roman i) The name of each charge
is given, followed by its tincture. If the charge has varied lines, the
variation is mentioned before the tincture

a > chevron gules

a > bend engrailed azure >

= 2 \* roman ii) The
position of the charge is assumed to be in the centre of the shield (at fess
point), and need not be stated. If, however, the position is elsewhere, the
description should begin with a phrase indicating its location

in > base a billet

in > chief a rose

= 3 \* roman iii) The
principal charge is followed by a description of any other charges placed on or
around it. The
arrangement of the charges accompanying an ordinary has various
formulations.


= 1 \*
alphabetic a) If a charge is placed above
an ordinary, it is described as being in chief, and follows the
description of the ordinary

a > fess in chief a fleur-de-lys



Indexed as fess and in chief
= 2 \* alphabetic b) Similarly, if the charge is
placed beneath the ordinary, it is described as being in base:

a > fess in base a fleur-de-lys







Indexed as fess
and in base


= 3 \* alphabetic c) If a charge is surrounded by
other minor charges, it is described as being ‘between’. The primary
charge is mentioned first, followed by the minor charges.

a > chevron between three roses



>

a > bend engrailed azure between three martlets argent

Indexed
as bend
between

= 4 \* alphabetic d) If a charge carries other
charges upon it, the primary charge is named first, preceded by the preposition
‘on’,
followed by a description of the minor charges:

on > a chevron three cross crosslets

>

>



>on > a bend engrailed azure three martlets argent

Indexed
as bend,
on a


= 5 \* alphabetic e) If there are charges both on
and between the principal charge, the description begins with ‘on’ plus the name
of the principal charge, followed by ‘between’ and the name(s) of the secondary
charges, and ending with a description of the charges that are laid on the
principal charge

on > a chevron between three roses three
cross crosslets







on > a bend engrailed azure between three crosses sable three martlets or
Indexed
as bend,
on a, between

>
= 6 \* alphabetic f) When a common
charge is placed over another common charge, the underlying charge is described
first, followed by the phrase ‘ >surmounted by’, or >‘surmounted
of’ and the name of the second charge.

a > broken globe surmounted by a rainbow

Indexed
as globe,
on a


= 7 \* alphabetic g) When a charge (usually
an ordinary) is placed over an entire field, it is preceded by the word ‘ >overall’
and the name of the ordinary.

quarterly > 1 & 4 a griffin sergeant 2 & 3 a chevron gules overall a fess gules

Here > griffin sergeant and >chevron indexed separately


= 8 \* alphabetic h) When the charge is an
animal on which an ordinary has been superimposed, extending across the entire
field, the phrase ‘debruised of’ follows by the name of the charge, and is
followed by the name of the ordinary

a > lion rampant debruised of a bend

Indexed
as lion
rampant, on a and >bend

>
= 9 \* alphabetic i) When
common charges appear in threes, it is assumed two are in chief and one in
base, and this need not be stated. When they are in multiples of more than
three, the number and arrangement are specified, and also, where appropriate,
their orientation. For instance the
description

an > escutcheon between six roundels three,
two and one

indicates that the roundels are arranged in
rows, the uppermost consisting of three roundels, the middle row two, and the
bottom row one. The
description seven lozenges three, three and one indicates the arrangement of the lozenges. >Seven
lozenges in fess, on the other hand, indicates
their orientation.

Indexed as lozenges (7)

= 10 \* alphabetic j) If several charges are
disposed geometrically, their orientation is defined according to the ordinary
to which they correspond

three > roundels gules fesswise (or three roundels gules in fess)

five > crescents or in saltire

three > greyhounds courant palewise

= 11 \* alphabetic k) If
a bordure, orle, or tressure is present, it is described after the other charges
have been blazoned. The principal charge in the centre of
the shield is described first, followed by the bordure

>a > bend a bordure

Indexed
as bend within and >bordure



If
the bordure is charged, the charges are mentioned last

>a > lion rampant on a bordure eight crosses

= 4 \* roman iv) If a
charge is a bird or beast, its attitude is described, followed by its tincture.
The attitude and attributes of certain creatures, such as the lion, stag and
eagle, because of their frequency, require more detailed description. If any of
the individual parts of an animal are of a different colour to its body, they
should be described, using the appropriate terminology. Thus a black lion with
red claws and tongue is described as

a > lion sable armed and langued gules

A black horse with golden hooves and
mane is described as

a > horse sable unguled and crined or

>

A white stag with red antlers is
described as

a > stag argent attired gules

argent > a lion statant regardant rouge tail extended

or > three lions passant sable langued and armed gules

= 5 \* roman v) When a
shield in quartered the description begins with the words ‘quarterly of’ followed by
the number of quarters, if greater than four. Unless stated otherwise, the number of quarters is
assumed to be four. Each quarter is described in order beginning
with the dexter chief, and ending with the sinister base.




= 6 \* roman vi) If
the shield is impaled or dimidiated, the dexter arms are described first,
followed by the phrase ‘ >impaling’ or ‘dimidiating’ after which
the sinister arms are described

vii) Finally any marks of
cadency are mentioned followed by the phrase ‘for difference’

on > a bend three roses a crescent for difference >








Crown
or coronet of rank

See
above. The description begins with >crown of É or coronet of É



Helmet
of rank

See
above. Described as helmet of a É



Crest

The same rules that apply to the
description of charges, are equally valid for
describing crests. The majority of crests rest on a torse
which is omitted from the description. However, if the crest is sitting
on or issuing from something else, such as a coronet or chapeau, they should be
mentioned first

on > a mural coronet a swan

out > of a ducal coronet a demi-lion rampant





Supporters

The dexter supporter is described
first, then the sinister. The
supporters are not indexed.



Motto

Mottoes are transcribed as they
appear (upper or lower case). They are indexed in lower case



Orders
of knighthood

‘ >Order of ‘+ name

>Order of the Garter