Heraldry

I

Introduction

Heraldry, originally, the many duties and functions of a herald or officer at arms, including the devising and granting of armorial bearings, or coats of arms. The term “heraldry” now usually refers to the branch of knowledge dealing with the history and description of armorial bearings.

II

Origins and History

Symbolic and ornamental figures similar to those of heraldry have been used as tribal or national emblems since ancient times; for example, the Romans used the eagle, and the French employed first the lion and later the fleur-de-lis. The practice of carrying personal armorial devices on shields and banners began during feudal times, when it was necessary for a knight, with his face covered by the visor of his helmet, to be recognized at a distance. In the 14th century the practice of embroidering the family insignia on the surcoat worn over the coat of mail was introduced, giving rise to the term coat of arms. In England armorial insignia were freely assumed by knights until early in the 15th century, when Henry V restrained the practice. In 1483 Edward IV established the College of Heralds in London to supervise the granting of armorial bearings. Individuals, families, kingdoms, lordships, towns, episcopal sees, abbeys, and corporations may have coats of arms.

The original purpose of using insignia to identify individuals in battle developed into a complex system of inherited identification of social status. The practice of adopting coats of arms was carried to the American colonies; in fact, the seals of each of the states of the United States bear heraldic devices. Today, many eminent individuals and corporations in many parts of the world, still display a coat of arms or can apply for one at the colleges of heralds (heraldic authorities) that still exist in Great Britain and on the European mainland. A collection of heraldic objects in the Herald's Museum at the Tower of London traces the history of English heraldry from the 12th century to the present.

III

Heraldic Design

The design of a coat of arms consists of several parts, including the following: the escutcheon, or shield; the helm, or helmet; the crest; the motto; the mantle; the supporters; and the torse, or wreath. All are discussed below, in the context of English usage. Of these parts, the escutcheon is the most important. The complete ensemble is called an achievement of arms. The proper description of a coat of arms involves the use of a precise heraldic vocabulary that has survived, in English, from about the 13th century.

The term escutcheon is derived from the French écusson, which signified a shield with arms portrayed on it, as distinct from a plain shield. The escutcheon is usually in the shape of a conventional shield, except for the arms of churchmen, when it is oval, and the arms of ladies, when it is lozenge-shaped. To facilitate description, heralds divided the shield from top to bottom into three areas—chief, fess, and base—and from right to left (of the wearer) into dexter, middle or pale, and sinister. The shield bears various charges, or figures, represented in, tinctures or colours.

The term tincture includes the representation of metals, colours, and furs. The two metals in common use are or (gold) and argent (silver). The former is represented in painting by yellow, the latter by white; in black-and-white drawings or engravings, gold is represented by white stippled with fine black dots, and silver by plain white. The principal colours are gules (red), azure (blue), sable (black), vert (green), and purpure (purple). A charge emblazoned, or depicted, on the natural colour of the object represented is said to be proper. The furs are ermine and vair (squirrel). Colours and furs are represented in drawings by conventional hatchings and figures.

IV

Charges

The figures depicted on the escutcheon are classified as honourable ordinaries, subordinaries, and common charges. The field, or background, of an escutcheon may be of two or more tinctures, divided by one or more partition lines. A shield divided vertically is parted, or party per pale; and a shield divided vertically and horizontally is called party per cross, or quarterly. If one of the divisions is also quartered, the original division is called a grand quarter. A shield parted per saltire (divided into four parts by two crossed diagonal lines) and per cross is called a gyronny of eight, and each segment is called a gyron. When the shield is completely divided into a number of equal parts by a pale, bend, bar, or chevron (see below), it is said to be paly, bendy, barry, or chevrony, and the number of divisions is specified, as, for example, a paly of six or and sable. A field divided by vertical and horizontal lines is called checky, and one divided by intersecting diagonal lines is called lozengy or fusilly (see below). A field strewn with an indefinite number of small charges so as to produce a pattern is said to be semé of that charge. Fretty describes a field covered with an open network of diagonal interlaced ribbons.