Heraldry: Where Art and Family History Meet Part I: The Basics of

Transcription

Heraldry: Where Art and Family History Meet
Part I: The Basics of Blazon
by
Richard A. McFarlane, J.D., Ph.D.
Heraldry: Where Art & Genealogy Meet
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© Richard A. M cFarlane (2016)
Heraldry is ... — 1
Writing just over one hundred years ago, A.C. Fox-Davies defined “heraldry” or “armory”
as “that science of which the rules and laws govern the use, display, meaning, and knowledge of
the pictured signs and emblems appertaining to shield, helmet, or banner,” and he is certainly right
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Image: The arms of Edward William Fitzalan-Howard, 18th Duke of Norfolk. Blazon: Quarterly: 1st, Gules a Bend
between six Cross Crosslets fitchée Argent, on the bend (as an Honourable Augmentation) an Escutcheon Or charged with a
Demi-Lion rampant pierced through the mouth by an Arrow within a Double Tressure flory counter-flory of the first (Howard);
2nd, Gules three Lions passant guardant in pale Or in chief a Label of three points Argent (Plantagenet of Norfolk); 3rd,
Checky Or and Azure (Warren); 4th, Gules a Lion rampant Or (Fitzalan); behind the shield two gold batons in saltire,
enamelled at the ends Sable (as Earl Marshal). Crests: 1st, issuant from a Ducal Coronet Or a Pair of Wings Gules each
charged with a Bend between six Cross Crosslets fitchée Argent (Howard); 2nd, on a Chapeau Gules turned up Ermine a Lion
statant guardant with tail extended Or ducally gorged Argent (Plantagenet of Norfolk); 3rd, on a Mount Vert a Horse passant
Argent holding in his mouth a Slip of Oak Vert fructed proper (Fitzalan) Supporters: Dexter: a Lion Argent; Sinister: a Horse
Argent holding in his mouth a Slip of Oak Vert fructed proper. Motto: Sola Virtus Invicta (Virtue alone is unconquerable).
Wikipedia. “Edward Fitzalan-Howard, 18th Duke of Norfolk.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Fitzalan-Howard,_18th
_Duke_of_Norfolk#Titles_and_styles. Accessed: October 17, 2015. Text: Arthur Charles Fox-Davies, A Complete Guide to
Heraldry (New York: Dodge Publishing Co., 1909, reprint. New York: Bonanza Books, 1978) 1.
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in the sense of heraldry being a systematized body of knowledge derived from observation and
study.1 And heraldry is also an art; it decorates and beautifies. Iain Moncreiffe of that Ilk and
Don Pottinger called heraldry “the floral border in the garden of history.”2
Ancient Greek and Roman writers mention soldiers decorating their armor with identifying
symbols. The Children of Israel followed Moses each behind “his own standard, with the ensign
of their father’s house.”3 However, modern heraldry—if “modern” is the right word— dates back
only about one thousand years to the time of the Crusades. J.P. Brooke-Little states, “so far as
our records show, true heraldry began in the second quarter of the twelfth century. It appeared
almost simultaneously in several countries in western Europe.”4 The knights of medieval Europe,
covered from head to toe in chain mail and plate armor, needed some quick and reliable method of
identifying friend from foe on the battlefield, and what better way than a symbol or picture on the
one piece of equipment every knight held out in front of himself for all to see, his shield. Further,
as Crusader knights left from colder European climates to the deserts of the Middle East,
covering iron armor with a cloth surcoat to keep the sun off made sense. The surcoat was an
additional surface to decorate with identifying emblems, often a cross to show a knight’s devotion
to Christ and participation in the Crusades. It followed that the shield, part of a knight’s armor,
or arms, bore the same emblems as his surcoat, hence, the surcoat was literally a “coat of arms.”
1
Arthur Charles Fox-Davies, A Complete Guide to Heraldry (New York: Dodge Publishing Co., 1909, reprint. New
York: Bonanza Books, 1978) 1.
2
Iain Moncreiffe and Don Pottinger, Simple Heraldry, 1st American ed. (New York:: Mayflower Books, 1979) 2.
3
York: Bonanza Books, 1978) 6-11 quoting, inter alia., Numbers 2: 2.
4
J.P. Brooke-Little, rev., Boutell’s Heraldry (London: Frederick Ware, 1978) 4.
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As knights gave up their place on the battlefield to gunpowder, the coat of arms remained behind
as means of decorating and identifying everything from silverware to books.
By about the thirteenth century, heralds, officials in the courts of kings and nobles, became
responsible for keep records of who bore what emblems on his shield. As Brooke-Little points
out:
Since [coats of] arms were primarily a means of identification, they necessarily
aimed at being absolutely distinctive. At the same time, there was a natural
tendency for men allied by blood or feudal ties to bear similar arms, though with
significant difference to prevent confusion between them. Furthermore, in the
early days of heraldry, there was a likelihood of too close a similarity occurring
between the arms of men in no way connected, due to the fact that a comparatively
few devices and figures were in frequent use.1
Hence, customs and traditions evolved into rules and laws, and the royal heralds, under the king,
“soon acquired an expert knowledge of these and became responsible for recording arms, and
then later for controlling their use. As coats of arms were hereditary, heralds soon came to add
expertise in genealogy to their skills. The use of arms on the jousting field and in battle became
steadily less important but at the same time the civilian, social and antiquarian uses of heraldry
grew.”2
Many people, especially Americans, believe there is a “family coat of arms.” This is
incorrect. A coat of arms pertains to a specific individual, and using someone else’s coat of arms
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2
College of Arms. About Us. History. On line. http://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/about-us/history. Accessed:
October 19, 2015.
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is a form of identify theft.1 In England, Wales, Northern Ireland and most Commonwealth
countries, the College of Arms in London, an official agency of Her Majesty’s Government, has
jurisdiction over heraldry and the use of coats of arms by British and Commonwealth citizens.2 In
Scotland, the Lord Lyon King of Arms has similar jurisdiction.3 Canada, Ireland, South Africa,
and many European countries also have official heraldic authorities. In these countries, coats of
arms are granted by, and protected by, government authority, and misuse can be a civil or criminal
offense.4 In the United States, there is no official heraldic authority, but several private societies
such as the American Heraldry Society promote and encourage the study and use of coats of
arms. Under certain circumstances, the College of Arms or the Court of the Lord Lyon will grant
“honorary” coats of arms to American citizens.5 There is no law against an American assuming
any coat of arms he or she likes, and these may be protected by copyright and trademark laws as
intellectual property, nevertheless, misappropriating some else’s coat of arms would be rude, and
in bad taste.
1
College of Arms. Home. On line. http://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/about-us/history. Accessed: October 19, 2015;
The Court of the Lord Lyon. The History of Arms. On line. http://www.lyon-court.com/lordlyon/216.181.html. Accessed:
October 19, 2015.
2
College of Arms. Home. On line. http://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/. Accessed: October 19, 2015.
3
The Court of the Lord Lyon. About the Court. History of the Court. On line. http://www.lyon-court.com/lordlyon/
215.180.html. Accessed: October 19, 2015.
4
Society of Scottish Armigers. What is an Armiger? On line. http://www.scotarmigers.net/whatis.htm. Accessed:
October 21, 2015.
5
College of Arms. Resources. FAQ. On line. http://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/resources/faqs. Accessed: October
19, 2015; Court of the Lord Lyon. About Coats of Arms. Applying for Coats of Arms. On line. http://www.lyon-court.com
/lordlyon/228.html. Accessed: October 19, 2015.
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A Blazon ... — 1
Everyone has heard the old saw, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” A blazon is
exactly the opposite. It describes a picture in as few words as possible by using a unique
vocabulary, grammar and syntax. The vocabulary is a sort of bastardized Anglo-Norman French
mixed with English. The syntax “developed, whereby the various charges, with their tinctures
[that is, colors], positions, and other details, were mentioned in such an order that there could be
no doubt as to their arrangement in the shield and relation to one another.”2 It is precise and
technical, yet within the precision and technicality, heraldic artists are free to indulge their
1
Image: Hyghalmen Roll of Arms (c. 1447-1455, Cologne, Germany), College of Arms, London, UK (1st MS 5).
Online. Wikipedia. Heraldry. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heraldry. Accessed: October 21, 2015.
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creativity.
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Elements of an Achievement — 1
“A complete display of armorial bearings is termed an ‘achievement of arms’ or an
‘achievement.’”2 It consists of the following elements: shield, coronet of rank, helm, torse, crest,
supporters, mantle, compartment, motto, and honors and offices.3 Not all achievements contain
all of these elements. For example, in the illustration above, the Earl of Annandale and Hartfell,
displays above his shield a “cornet of rank” indicating his earldom. A person not an earl would
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Image: Arms of Patrick Hope-Johnstone, Earl of Annandale and Hartfell, Chief of the Name and Arms of Johnstone.
Blazon: Argent, a Saltire Sable on a Chief Gules three cushions Or. Crest: A Winged Spur Or. Supporters: Dexter: a Lion
Argent armed and langued Azure crowned with an Imperial Crown Or; Sinister: a Horse Argent furnished Gules. Motto:
Nunquam Non Paratus (Never unprepared). Online. The Johnstone Clan. http://www.billwilliams.org/history/johnstone
_clan.html. Accessed: October 21, 2015. Citing Russell C. Honey, The Gentle Johnston/es, The Story of the Johnston/e
Family.
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not display the cornet of rank. The helmet, silver with gold bars affront, also indicates
membership in the peerage. Also, in British heraldry, supporters, the lion and the horse in this
case, are usually reserved for peers of the realm, so a commoner’s achievement of arms would not
include those either. Finally, the Earl of Annandale and Hartfell is not a knight and does not hold
any of the offices of State, so his achievement, unlike others we will examine, does not contain
these elements.
The one element that is common to all achievements is the shield. In fact, without the
shield, none of the other elements of the achievement would make sense, or even exist. With a
few exceptions, the shield can be any size or shape. One interesting exception is the coat of arms
of the State of North Dakota which specifies “On an Indian arrowhead point to base, Or a bend
vert charged with three mullets of the first, in base a fleur-de-lis of the second.”1 The coat of
arms of the Canadian territory of Nunavut specifies a “circular shield.”2 More commonly, since
women did not usually engage in combat during the Middle Ages, the arms of a lady are displayed
on a lozenge, a rhombus resting on one of its narrower points. Since clergymen were also
noncombatants, the arms of clergymen are commonly displayed on a oval or cartouche.
1
North Dakota Code, § 54-41-01.
2
Canada. Governor General. “Grant of Arms, Supporters, and Flag to the Territory of Nunavut,” Public Register of
Arms, Flag and Badges, 3: 293 (March 31, 1999).
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Learning Your Way Around — 1
Regardless of the size or shape of the shield, the top of the shield is called the “chief,” and
the bottom of the shield is the “base.” The “dexter” is the right side of the shield from the point
of view of a person standing behind it, or wearing it. The “sinister” is the left side of the shield
from the point of view of someone standing behind it, or wearing it. Consequently, dexter is left
and sinister is right to a person looking at the shield. In heraldry, there is nothing sinister about
sinister.
1
Image: Philip D. Blanton, An American Heraldic Primer. American Heraldry Society. Page 2. Online.
http://www.americanheraldry.org/pages/index.php?n=Primer.Page2. Accessed: August 16, 2015.
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The Rule of Tincture — 1
The size and shape of the shield are unimportant, but the color of the shield is extremely
important. Yet, color, or “tincture,” is very simple as there are a limited number of possibilities.
First, there are the five “colours”: red, blue, green, black, and purple, or, to give them their proper
heraldic names, gules, azure, vert, sable, and purpure. The exact shades are left up to the artist’s
taste, or that of his patron. That said, heralds usually employ bright, vivid colors. There are two
“metals”: gold and silver, normally depicted as yellow and white. Their heraldic names are Or,
and argent. Note that “Or,” when used as an adjative meaning “gold,” is usually capitalized to
distinguish it from the conjunction. The three stains are sanguine, a dark blood-red color; murrey,
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mulberry, a deep purple; and tenné, or orange. These tinctures are less common. There are also
eight “furs,” of which ermine and vair are the only ones commonly seen. Ermine represents the
winter coat of the stoat, which is white with a black tail. Vair represents a kind of squirrel with a
blue-gray back and white belly. Sewn together, it forms a pattern of alternating blue and white
shapes. The other six furs are variations on ermine and vair. An object or animal depicted as it is
in nature is termed “proper.” Objects might also be “countercharged,” that is, “when there is a
reciprocal exchange of tincture, e.g. Per pale argent and gules, a bend countercharged ...; here,
the bend [a diagonal stripe] is gules [red] where it lies on the argent [silver or white] half of the
shield, and argent where it lies on the gules.”1
The basic rule is never put color on color, nor metal on metal. The reason is contrast,
“arms of contrasting tinctures would be more clearly visible that (say) gold charges on silver, or
blue on green.”2 There are a few exceptions. If a shield is partly of a metal and party of a color, a
charge of either a color or a metal may be placed over both parts. The rule does not apply to furs
or to charges blazoned proper.
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2
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Divisions of the Field — 1
The shield may be one tincture, or two, or three. If more than one tincture, the division
must be described first. If the shield is tireced, it is divided into three parts. Quarterly is
sometimes referred to as per cross to distinguish a shield divided into four parts from a shield
made by combining four different coats of arms. The field of a shield may be made up of a pattern
of tinctures. A pattern of horizontal stripes, for example, is called barry, while a pattern of
vertical stripes is called paly. A pattern of diagonal stripes may be called bendy or bendy sinister,
depending on the direction of the stripes. In each case, there are always an even number of stripes,
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half of one tincture and half of the other. Other variations include chevrony, gyronny and chequy.1
Next, the tinctures must be named in the proper order, basically chief to base, or dexter to
sinister:2
per fess, bend, chevron, and saltire, and barry
per pale and paly
per cross and checky
bendy
bendy sinister
gyronny
per pall
chief to base, or top to bottom
dexter to sinister, or right to left
dexter chief corner
sinister chief
dexter chief
sinister chief half of the first quarter
the tinctures are mentioned in the order:
chief, dexter, sinister.
Examples: Per fess, azure and argent means the shield is divided horizontally, blue on top and
white on the bottom. Per pale, argent and azure means that the shield is divided vertically, white
on the dexter (right) side and blue on the sinister (left) side.
1
International Heraldry and Heralds. On line. http://www.internationalheraldry.com/#marshalling. Accessed:
October 19, 2015.
2
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Lines on the Field — 1
Lines dividing the field are normally straight, unless otherwise stated. Engrailed has points
up, or out; invected has the points down, or in. A description of a line usually refers to both sides
of an ordinary. The table above “shows some of the most common [lines dividing the field],
however modern heralds have invented many other lines of partition including some that resemble
fir trees, shamrocks, maple leaves, and other recognizable shapes.”2
1
http://www.americanheraldry.org/pages/index.php?n=Primer.Page3. Accessed: October 18, 2015.
2
Philip D. Blanton, An American Heraldic Primer. American Heraldry Society. Page 3. Online.
http://www.americanheraldry.org/pages/index.php?n=Primer.Page3. Accessed: October 18, 2015.
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The Honorable Ordinaries — 1
The “honorable ordinaries” are basic geometric shapes that appear on the field. They may
be the principal charge with other charges on and around them, or even the only charge. All of
the ordinaries could be engrailed, invected, indented, wavy, embattled, or whatever. The
difference between par fess and a chief is proportions; par fess divides the shield in half; a chief is
about one-third the area of the shield.
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The Sub-Ordinaries — 1
The sub-ordinaries are like the honorable ordinaries, but for some now obscure reasons
less “honorable.” Note that a bordure touches the outer edge of the shield, while an orle does
not. A pile may come from chief, base, sinister, or dexter, and more than one pile may be on the
shield.
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The Diminutives —
1
The diminutives are smaller versions of the ordinaries. Thus, a fess becomes a bar, a pale
becomes a pallet, a bend becomes a bendlet, and so forth. While only one ordinary usually
appears on a shield, many diminutives commonly appear. A coat of arms “featuring pallets, bars
or bendlets” must not be confused “with (respectively) paly, barry and bendy arms. The former
always have an odd number of stripes and the latter an even number. The former are stripes of one
color on top of a field of another color. The later are alternating colored stripes.”2
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2
International Heraldry and Heralds. On line. http://www.internationalheraldry.com/#marshalling. Accessed:
October 19, 2015.
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Lines Around Lines — 1
The ordinaries may be surrounded by another line. If there is a small gap between the
ordinary and the line so that the field shows between them, the ordinary is called “cotticed,” and
may be double or triple cotticed as well. If there is no gap between the ordinary and line so that
the field does not show between them, the ordinary is called “fimbraited.” A fimbratied ordinary
is a work-around of the rule of tincture. In the example above, the first coat of arms—sable, a
bend azure—violates the rule of tincture inasmuch as a it places colour on colour. However, by
adding the narrow white stripe, the second coat of arms—sable, a bend azure frimrated argent—
follows the rule by effectively placing a blue stripe on a white stripe on a black shield.
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The Cross — 1
The cross is one of the honorable ordinaries, and one of the most common charges in
heraldry. It is probably one of the oldest too. Not only is it the most basic of geometric shapes,
Crusader knights painted crosses on their shields and surcoats, or “took up the cross,” as a
emblem of their devotion to the Church and to Christ.
Without more, a blazon “cross” is assumed to be the honorable ordinary and to extend
completely across the shield. This cross may be wavy, engrailed, indented, or whatever. It may
also be “voided” (“having the central area entirely removed’), or “quarter-pierced” (“having the
1
http://www.americanheraldry.org/pages/index.php?n=Primer.Page2. Accessed: August 16, 2015. Quotation: Arthur Charles
Fox-Davies, A Compete Guide to Heraldry (New York: Dodge Publishing Co., 1909, reprint New York: Bonanza Books, 1978)
127.
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center square removed’).1 According to Fox-Davies, “There are nearly four hundred varieties [of
the cross] known to armory, or rather to heraldic text-books, and doubtless authenticated
examples could be found of most if not of them all. But some dozen or twenty forms are about as
many as will be found regularly or constantly occurring.”2 These versions of the cross do not
extend across the entire shield, and the ends of the cross are the principal difference between
them.
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2
Arthur Charles Fox-Davies, A Compete Guide to Heraldry (New York: Dodge Publishing Co., 1909, reprint New
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Animals — 1
Other than the honorable ordinaries and their variations, animals are the most common
charge on a shield. An animal may be natural—lions, bears, horses, and stags are all popular—or
mythical—unicorns and dragons for instance. Some animals are both, sort of. A heraldic sea lion
is a creature with the forequarters of a lion and the body and tail of a fish. A heraldic sea horse is
a creature with the forequarters of a horse and the body and tail of a fish. A heraldic tyger and a
heraldic antelope bear only slight resemblance to their natural namesakes. Most likely, medieval
heralds heard about these strange beast in far off lands and, without ever seeing one, incorporated
them into coats of arms. If the natural animal known as a sea lion (subfamily Otariine), a sea
1
Upper and Lower Images: Philip D. Blanton, An American Heraldic Primer. American Heraldry Society. Page 2.
Online. http://www.americanheraldry.org/pages/index.php?n=Primer.Page2. Accessed: August 16, 2015.
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horse (genus Hippocampus), or an antelope (various species of family Bovidae) is a charge on
the shield, or more likely a supporter, it is blazoned as a “proper” sea lion, or a “proper” sea
horse, or a “proper” antelope. In many cases, the animal’s precise scientific name is also given to
avoid any confusion. A natural tiger (Panthera tigris) is usually blazoned as a “Bengal tiger.”
There is at least one example of a dinosaur used as a heraldic charge. The coat of arms of the
United States Army’s 40th Calvary Regiment is blazoned: “Vert, a demi-dinosaur (Tyrannosaurus)
rampant couped Argent, eyed Gules, langued Azure holding in its sinister claw a sword erect of
the second, enflamed Proper.”1 “An Iguanodon proper collared Gules” is the dexter supporter of
the arms of the Maidstone Borough Council in England. This blazon begs the question what is
the proper coloring of a dinosaur extinct 125 million years, and how does anyone know?
A blazon begins by stating the number of animals, then state the animal. After identifying
the animal, the blazon states its “attitude,” or pose. For example, “a lion rampant,” is a lion
shown in profile balancing on its sinister hind paw, its dexter hind paw and fore paws raised up as
if warding off a blow. A “lion rampant guardant” is the same, except that the lion’s head is turned
looking over its shoulder at the observer. A “lion rampant regardent” is the same, except that the
lion’s head is turned around looking backwards. That an actual lion would never, and probably
could never, assume one of these attitudes is unimportant. Some attitudes are reserved for certain
animals. For example, fish may be “naiant” (swimming fesswise), “urinant” (swimming palewaise,
head to base, as if diving), or “hauriant” (swimming palewise, head to chief, as if surfacing). A
1
United States. Department of the Army. The Institute of Heraldry. 40th Cavalry Regiment. On line.
http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Catalog/HeraldryMulti.aspx?CategoryId=7912&grp=2&menu=Uniformed%20Services.
Accessed: October 21, 2015.
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snake may be “nowed” (tied in a knot), or “erect” (rising up as if to strike).
Next, the animal’s tincture is stated. An animal may be of any tincture, or, if a natural
animal, may be proper. A mythical creature cannot be proper. Part of an animal may be another
tincture, for example a lion’s claws may be a different tincture, in which case the lion is blazoned
as “armed” such-and-such. It the animal has any equipment, such as a saddle on a horse, it must
be blazoned too.
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Birds — 1
The same rules apply to birds as to mammals, fish, reptiles, and monsters. State the
number of birds, if more than one, identify the birds, state the attitude of the birds, state the
tincture of the birds, and if necessary any parts of the birds or equipment with a different tincture.
For example: the arms of the Piers de Gaveston, Earl of Cornwall are blazoned: “Vert, six eagles
displayed Or.”
Parts of animals may also be used. For example, the “demi-dinosaur ... rampant couped,”
in the arms of the 40th Cavalry Regiment, the dinosaur has been “couped” or ripped in half.
Heads, feet, antlers, wings, and so forth appear as charges.
1
Upper and Lower Images: Philip D. Blanton, An American Heraldic Primer. American Heraldry Society. Page 2.
Online. http://www.americanheraldry.org/pages/index.php?n=Primer.Page2. Accessed: August 16, 2015.
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Other Charges —
Plants, flowers, human beings and body parts, and inanimate objects of every kind may be
charges on the field, or on an ordinary. In blazon, state the number, the object, the location on
the field, if confusion might result, and the tincture. Multiple objects may be blazoned as “in
fess,” meaning in a horizontal row; “in pale,” meaning in a vertical row; “in pile,” meaning in a
triangular form; and so forth.
Certain flowers have stylized forms. The fleur-de-lis, long the symbol of the French
monarchy, is a stylized lily. The heraldic rose is a stylized dog-rose. Its tincture must always be
blazoned because it has no “proper” tincture. During the fifteenth century, the competing English
royal houses of York and Lancaster adopted the white rose and the red rose, respectively, as their
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badges giving the civil war between the War of the Roses. When Henry Tudor won the war and
proclaimed himself King Henry VII, he combined white rose and red rose into the “Tudor rose”
that is still the floral badge of England. The “quarterfoil,” “cinquefoil,” or “quintfoil,” “sixfoil,”
and “octofoil” are stylized flowers with the indicated number of petals, and no real, natural
counterpart.
Human beings are sometimes seen as charges on the field, and are usually seen as
supporters or on the crest. Sometimes the person is readily identified as, for example, “Sir Isaac
Newton, proper,” a supporter in the arms of Baroness Margaret Thatcher. Other times, the
person is an allegorical figure such as Liberty, Industry, or Justice, a saint, or the Virgin Mary.
Still other times, the human figure is simply “a man” or a “woman,” in which case the figure’s
clothing needs to be described as well. Sometimes, the humans depicted in old coats of arms
might offend twenty-first century sensibilities, a “blackamoor,” a “savage,” or a “Saracen.” Body
parts, particularly arms holding objects, are often used as charges.
Heraldry is an ancient art, and it is also consistently evolving. The coat of arms of the
municipality of Stenungsund, Sweden blazon, “Argent, a hydrocarbon molecule of three pellets
[solid black circles] conjoined Sable with six torteau [solid red circles], over a base wavy Azure.”1
The arms of Clarington, Ontario, Canada are blazoned “Quarterly Gules and Vert, first, a pine
tree, second, a millstone, third, a nucleus encircled by electrons, fourth, three salmon in pale
1
Wikipedia. Wikimedia Commons. File:Stenungsund vapen.svg. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki
/File:Stenungsund_vapen.svg. Accessed: October 23, 2015.
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Argent.”1 The arms of Sir Paul McCarthy include six guitar strings. The arms of Sir Elton John
depict two long-playing records, two compact disks and a piano keyboard all blazoned in classic
heraldic terms.
1
Heraldry of the World. Civic Heraldry of Canada. Clarington. http://www.ngw.nl/heraldrywiki/index.php?title
=Clarington. Accessed: October 23, 2015.
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Augmentations of Honor — 1
An augmentation of honor is charge added to a shield to memorialize some great
achievement of the armiger, or sometimes just as a mark of royal favor. Unlike orders of
knighthood, augmentations of honor become part of the achievement, and are inheritable.
The most famous augmentation of honor in British heraldry is the augmentation granted to
Thomas Howard, the second Duke of Norfolk, by King Henry VIII for the former’s victory at the
Battle of Flodden between England and Scotland in 1513. Howard commanded the English
forces during the battle in which James IV, King of Scots, was killed by an arrow. The
1
Upper image: International Heraldry and Heralds. Augmentations of Honor. http://www.internationalheraldry
.com/#marshalling. Accessed: November 1, 2015. Shields rearranged by the author. Lower image: Arthur Charles Fox-Davies,
A Complete Guide to Heraldry (New York: Dodge Publishing Co., 1909, reprint. New York: Crown Books, 1978) plate ii
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augmentation is the Royal Shield of Scotland having a demi-lion only which is pierced through
the mouth with an arrow which was added to the bend in the Howard arms (Gules, a bend
between six crosslets fitchy argent). It is still born by the current Dukes of Norfolk.
The second example shown above is from the arms of Ross of Bladensburg. Major
General Robert Ross commanded the British forces that invaded Maryland in August 1814 during
the War of 1812. His troops routed the Americans at the Battle of Bladensburg before marching
on Washington, which they sacked and burned. Ross was killed by sniper fire during the Battle of
Baltimore, September 12, 1814, the day before the British bombardment of Fort McHenry. The
augmentation is an arm holding the 15-starred-15-striped flag of the United States on a broken
staff.1
1
Arthur Charles Fox-Davies, A Compete Guide to Heraldry (New York: Dodge Publishing Co., 1909, reprint New
York: Bonanza Books, 1978) 593, plate ii.
30
Blazon From the Inside Out — 1
Describe a cost of arms, or blazon, from the inside out. Begin with the shield, and begin
with the tincture or tinctures of the field. Next, state the “principal charge,” this is often an
ordinary. Then, state any charges on the field around the principal charge. Next, state any charges
on the principal charge. Finally, state any charges on the field not resting in the central position,
and not already mentioned. A tincture once mentioned is usually not named again, but referred to
as “the first,” or “the second.” Thus, in this example, the arms of Thomas Urquhart III are
blazoned “Per fess Or and Argent, on a fess Azure between in chief three boar’s heads erased
1
Image: The Arms of Thomas Urquhart III: Arms: Per fess Or and Argent, on a fess Azure between in chief three
boar’s heads erased Gules armed Proper and Langued Azure and in the base two mullets Gules, a cartwheel Or spoked Gules.
Crest: a falcon rising Proper. Motto: Always with Honour Always with Courage. Heraldry Society of Scotland. Members’
Arms–Scottish Arms. Online. http://heraldry-scotland.com/copgal/displayimage.php?album=7&pos=5. Accessed: October 24,
2015.
31
Gules armed Proper and Langued Azure and in the base two mullets Gules, a cartwheel Or
spoked Gules.”1 Or, in other words, the shield is divided horizontally with gold on the top and
silver on the bottom, and through the middle of the shield is a blue stripe. Three, red boar’s heads
cut off at the neck, with white tusks and blue tongues are above the blue stripe. Two, red fivepointed stars are below the blue stripe. A gold cartwheel with red spokes is on the blue stripe.
The easiest way to learn to blazon is to spend a few hours with Burke’s Peerage reading
the blazons of the coats of arms of noble families. Copies may be found online, and at most
family history libraries and other major public libraries.2 The illustrations are black-and-white line
drawings, but a careful reading of the blazon and a little imagination should make everything
clear.
1
Heraldry Society of Scotland. Members’ Arms–Scottish Arms. Online. http://heraldry-scotland.com/copgal
/displayimage.php?album=7&pos=5. Accessed: October 24, 2015.
2
Bernard Burke, et al. Burke's Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Peerage, Baronetage, and Knightage. 104th
ed. (London: Burke’s Peerage Ltd., 1967) and other editions. John Burke, A General and Heraldic Dictionary of the Peerage
and Baronetage of the United Kingdom, for MDCCCXXVI (London: H. Colburn, 1826) Available online. https://archive.org
/details/bub_gb_qRUYAAAAYAAJ. Accessed: October 24, 2015.
32
Two More Examples — 1
The arms of Sir Paul McCartney: Or, between two Flaunches fracted fesswise two
Roundels Sable over all six Guitar Strings palewise throughout countercharged.
The arms of General Colin Powell, AUS (ret.) Azure, two swords in saltire, between four
mullets argent, on a chief of the second, a lion passant gules, armed and langued of the first.
Powell’s arms were technically awarded to his father, a citizen of Jamaica, one of the
Commonwealth realms, and inherited by Colin Powell.
1
Images: Left: The arms of Sir Paul McCartney: Or, between two Flaunches fracted fesswise two Roundels Sable
over all six Guitar Strings palewise throughout countercharged. Online. http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z1lypDUPZkE
/UKUL4eZSScI/AAAAAAAAFO0/uweU0tha9nQ/s1600/Coat%2Bof%2Barms%2Bof%2BPaul%2BMcCartney.png. Accessed:
October 24, 2015. Right: General Colin Powell, AUS (ret.) Azure, two swords in saltire, between four mullets argent, on a
chief of the second, a lion passant gules, armed and langued of the first. Online. https://upload.wikimedia.org
/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Coat_of_Arms_of_Colin_Powell.svg/736px-Coat_of_Arms_of_Colin_Powell.svg.png..
Accessed: October 24, 2015.
33
... And Yet Two More — 1
MacFarlane of that Ilk (vacant): Argent, a saltire engrailed between four roses gules,
seeded Or, barbed vert.
Sir Walter John Buchanan Riddell of that Ilk, Barronet Riddell of Riddell Argent, a
cheveron Gulles between three ears of rye slipped and bladed Proper.
1
Images: Left: MacFarlane of that Ilk (vacant): Argent, a saltire engrailed between four roses gules, seeded Or,
barbed vert Online. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clan_MacFarlane#/media/File:MacFarlane_of_MacFarlane_arms.svg.
Accessed: October 24, 2015. Image: Right: Sir Walter John Buchanan Riddell of that Ilk, Barronet Riddell of Riddell Argent, a
cheveron Gulles between three ears of rye slipped and bladed Proper. Online. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia
/commons/thumb/5/54/Riddell_of_that_Ilk_arms.svg/545px-Riddell_of_that_Ilk_arms.svg.png. Accessed: October 24, 2015.
34
... And Yet Two More — 1
Left: Arms of the Very Rev. Professor Iain R. Torrance blazoned,” Per pale Ermine and
Or, two oars in saltire Azure, on a chief Gules a cross potent cantoned of four plain crosslets Or,
between two closed books proper clasped of the last, within a bordure chequy Or and Gules.
Crest: A bull’s head erased proper gorged with an Eastern Crown Or.”
Right: Arms of Steuart Ralston blazoned, “Argent, on a bend between two estoiles Azure
1
Images: Left: Arms of the Very Rev. Professor Iain R. Torrance blazoned,” Per pale Ermine and Or, two oars in
saltire Azure, on a chief Gules a cross potent cantoned of four plain crosslets Or, between two closed books proper clasped of
the last, within a bordure chequy Or and Gules. Crest: A bull’s head erased proper gorged with an Eastern Crown Or.” Online.
Heraldry Society of Scotland. HSS Members – Scots Arms. http://heraldry-scotland.com/copgal/displayimage.php?album
=7&pos=6. Accessed: October 25, 2015. Right: Arms of Steuart Ralston blazoned, “Argent, on a bend between two estoiles
Azure three acorns Or within a bordure of the Third. Crest: A boar's head erased Azure armed Argent langued Gules. Motto:
Omnia Mors Aequat.” Online. Heraldry Society of Scotland. HSS Members – Scots Arms. http://heraldry-scotland.com/copgal
/displayimage.php?album=7&pos=34. Accessed: October 25, 2015.
35
three acorns Or within a bordure of the Third. Crest: A boar's head erased Azure armed Argent
langued Gules. Motto: Omnia Mors Aequat.”
36
Next Move on the Stuff Around the Shield — 1
After blazoning the shield, blazon the parts of the achievement around the shield, in order,
the cornet of rank, the helm, the torse or wreath, the crest, the supporters, the compartment, any
orders of knighthood or symbols of office, and the motto. For example, in the case of the Earl of
Annandale and Hartfell, after blazoning the shield, the blazon continues, “Above the shield the
cornet of an earl and above that a helm befitting his rank, issuing therefrom, upon a wreath of the
colors, a winged spur Or. Supporters: Dexter: a Lion argent armed and langued azure crowned
1
Image: Arms of Patrick Hope-Johnstone, Earl of Annandale and Hartfell, Chief of the Name and Arms of Johnstone.
Blazon: Argent, a Saltire Sable on a Chief Gules three cushions Or. Crest: A Winged Spur Or. Supporters: Dexter: a Lion
Argent armed and langued Azure crowned with an Imperial Crown Or; Sinister: a Horse Argent furnished Gules. Motto:
Nunquam Non Paratus (Never unprepared). Online. The Johnstone Clan. http://www.billwilliams.org/history/johnstone
_clan.html. Accessed: October 21, 2015. Citing Russell C. Honey, The Gentle Johnston/es, The Story of the Johnston/e
Family.
37
with an Imperial Crown Or; Sinister: a Horse Argent furnished Gules. Motto: Nunquam Non
Paratus (Never unprepared).
38
Cornet and Helm of Rank — 1
In British heraldry, a peer, that is some one with the rank of baron or higher, may display a
“cornet of rank” above his or her shield. The design of the cornet, that is the number of
strawberry leaves or balls, indicates the bearers precise title: duke, marquess, earl, viscount, or
baron. Her Majesty the Queen, the Prince of Wales, and other children and grandchildren of the
Sovereign have distinctive crowns. The crowns of the Royal Family are always shown
surrounding a “chapeau,” a red velvet cap trimmed with ermine, and the cornets of lesser nobles
1
Images: Upper: Image: Philip D. Blanton, An American Heraldic Primer. American Heraldry Society. Page 4.
Online. http://www.americanheraldry.org/pages/index.php?n=Primer.Page4. Accessed: August 16, 2015. Lower: Online.
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Heraldic+Helmet&view=detailv2&&id=29178A16A45EC5CFEA326CA3898C33A749
024DEF&selectedIndex=19&ccid=CSH3TC13&simid=608049760787104387&thid=OIP.M0921f74c2d772ec6d5c5a8cbf40338
e0H0&ajaxhist=0. Accessed: October 25, 2015.
39
are sometimes shown this way as well.1 Continental nobility have their own distinctive cornets.2
These cornets of rank must not be confused with certain types of crowns that are used as
charges. For example, the “mural crown” is a crown made to look like the battlements on a city
wall, and is sometimes found in the arms of cities. The “naval crown,” which shows alternating
sails and sterns of ships, is sometimes found in the arms of distinguished naval officers and in port
cities.3
After a shield, a helm or helmet was the knight’s most important piece of armor. In
tournament, if not in battle, the helm was also a platform for the crest, another identifying feature
after the shield. The exact shape and design of the helm is at the whim of the artist, but in British
heraldry, there are conventions which must be followed. The Sovereign displays a gold helm with
bars affronte, as so her sons and grandsons. Peers display a barred helm of silver, decorated with
gold, and usually placed in profile. Baronets and knights display visored helms affronte with the
visor open. Esquires and gentlemen displayed closed helms or visored helms with the visor down
in profile. The practice of placing some helms in profile and others affronte sometimes leads a
crest being depicted ninety degrees off from where it ought to be if the painted, two-dimensional
achievement were actually made in the real, three-dimensional world. Little-Brooke, writing in
the 1970s, opines, “Clearly the nature of the crest should determine the way the helm faces. It is
1
J.P. Brooke-Little, rev., Boutell’s Heraldry (London: Frederick Ware, 1978) 185-187; Arthur Charles Fox-Davies,
A Complete Guide to Heraldry (New York: Dodge Publishing Co., 1909, reprint. New York: Bonanza Books, 1978) 362-368.
2
Carl-Alexander von Volborth, Heraldry: Customs, Rules and Styles (London: New Orchard Editions, 1991) 100-
174.
3
40
to be hoped that the rule with regard to the position of helms will fall into disuse in England, as
seems to be happening already in Scotland.”1
The arms of a lady normally do not include a helm, and hence frequently do not include a
crest.
The arms of an ecclesiastic also do not normally show a helm. Rather, bishops and
archbishops may display a mitre.2 The Bishop of Durham, in England, uniquely displays a mitre
inside, or “issuing from,” a duke’s cornet, a token of his former temporal power.3 Other
ecclesiastics of the Roman Catholic or Anglican Churches may display a flat-crowned, broadbrimmed hat with two cords hanging down and a number of tassels indicating the armiger’s rank.4
1
2
A Complete Guide to Heraldry (New York: Dodge Publishing Co., 1909, reprint. New York: Bonanza Books, 1978) 603-606
3
J.P. Brooke-Little, rev., Boutell’s Heraldry (London: Frederick Ware, 1978) 225. Arthur Charles Fox-Davies, A
Complete Guide to Heraldry (New York: Dodge Publishing Co., 1909, reprint. New York: Bonanza Books, 1978) 603-604.
4
Carl-Alexander von Volborth, Heraldry: Customs, Rules and Styles (London: New Orchard Editions, 1991) 201-
208.
41
Torse and Crest — 1
The torse or wreath represents a cloth wrapped around the helm to hide the bolts or other
mechanics that fastened the crest to the helm. Unless otherwise blazoned, it is shown as “a
twisted ribbon of two or more tinctures” usually the “principal metal and the principal colour of
the arms.”2 In modern times, a crest may appear without a helm, but never without a torse.
In medieval times, a crest had the practical purpose of deflecting blows. Painting it with
distinctive colors and symbols as a means of identification made sense because the crest would be
up above and better seen than just the shield. In time, crests became more elaborate and lost their
1
Images: Upper: Helm and crest of Sir Paul McCartney. Lower: Clan members’ badge for Clan Johnstone.
Wikimedia Commons. Online. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Clan_member_crest_badge_-_Clan_Johnstone.svg.
Accessed: January 9, 2016.
2
42
defensive purpose. Now, anything that might be a charge on a shield could be part of a crest.
Crests are so closely associated with heraldry that the entire achievement of arms is sometime
incorrectly called a “family crest.”
The idea of a family crest exists in Scotland, after a fashion. In Scotland, where the right
to bear coats of arms is strictly regulated by the Court of the Lord Lyon, any person may display
the crest of his or her clan chief within a “strap and buckle” device as a sign of loyalty to the chief
and to the clan. Or, a Scot with his own coat of arms and crest would wear that within a plain
circle.1
1
Court of the Lord Lyon. Scottish Clans and Tartans. Crests. http://www.lyon-court.com/lordlyon
/controller?p_service=Content.show&p_applic=CCC&pContentID=242. Accessed: October 25, 2015.
43
Mantling or Lambrequin — 1
The mantling or lambrequin is an “ornamental design which in a representation of an
armorial achievement descends from the helmet, falling away on either side of the escutcheon.”2
It suggests a cloth worn by Crusader knights to cover their heads, shoulders, and backs as
protection from the sun, and from Saracen swords. Typically, the lambrequin shows the principal
metal on the inside, and the principal color on the outside.3
1
Image: Arms of Sir Elton John, Kt., CBE: Per saltire gules and or, in fess two pellets pierced and in pale as many
plates also pierced, on a chief argent issuant in chief seven pallets retrait two three and two sable. Queerstory Files. Queer
Achievment–Sir Elton John. http://queerstoryfiles.blogspot.com/2012/11/queer-achievement-elton-john.html. Accessed:
November 1, 2015.
2
3
44
Supporters — 1
Supporters are figures, typically humans or animals, which hold up or “support” the shield.
Most commonly, there are two supporters, one on either side, but sometimes a shield has only one
supporter in which case it is placed behind the shield. In the upper example above, Baroness
Thatcher’s supporters are “Dexter, an admiral of the Royal Navy holding binoculars, and sinister
Sir Isaac Newton holding a scales, both proper.” In the lower example above, Charles V, King of
Spain and Holy Roman Emperor, has three supporters, the double-headed eagle from his German
holdings, and the two Pillars of Hercules issuing from the sea from his Spanish holdings.
Supporters themselves need support, or someplace to stand. This is the compartment.
1
Images: Upper: Arms of Baroness Margaret Thatcher, KG. Lower: Charles V, King of Spain and Holy Roman
Emperor.
45
Typically, the supporters are shown standing on some sort of “grassy knoll, but sometimes as a
pebbly beach when the supporters are sailors or fishermen; or as marshy ground when they are
heron, and so on. An excellent example is shown in the achievement of Viscount St. David,
whose supporting knights stand on the top of a battlement wall.”1 Sometimes, the compartment is
a fixed part of the grant of arms, and sometimes it is not. The coat of arms of Nunavat is example
of the former. The supporters are, dexter, a caribou, and, sinister, a narwhal, both proper. The
compartment is, dexter, of land set with Arctic poppies, dwarf fireweed, and Arctic heather,
proper, and, sinister, ice floes argent set on barry wavy azure and argent.2 According to Thomas
Innes of Learney, the compartment “represents the bearer’s territories, and are this feudal
honours, now only assigned to historic territorial houses, and in the case of clan-chiefs, now
usually incorporate the plant-badge.”3 In the latter cases, the artist is free to indulge his or his
patron’s whim.4
1
2
Canada. Governor General. “Grant of Arms, Supporters, and Flag to the Territory of Nunavut,” Public Register of
Arms, Flag and Badges, 3: 293 (March 31, 1999).
3
Thomas Innes of Learney, Scot’s Heraldry: A Practical Handbook on the Historical Principle and Modern
Applications of the Art and Science. 2d ed. (Edinburgh: Oliver & Boyd, 1956) 39.
4
J.P. Brooke-Little, rev., Boutell’s Heraldry (London: Frederick Ware, 1978) 180; Arthur Charles Fox-Davies, A
Complete Guide to Heraldry (New York: Dodge Publishing Co., 1909, reprint. New York: Bonanza Books, 1978) 441-447;
Thomas Innes of Learney, Scot’s Heraldry: A Practical Handbook on the Historical Principle and Modern Applications of the
Art and Science. 2d ed. (Edinburgh: Oliver & Boyd, 1956) 39.
46
Orders of Knighthood — 1
Coats of arms are most closely associated with knights, and many European countries still
award orders of knighthood to prominent citizens as rewards for service or merit. In such cases,
the knight may place the circlet of his or her order around the shield and display the badge or
jewel of the order below. In the two examples above, Sir Elton John shows badge of a
Companion of the British Empire, of a Knight Bachelor, and of an officer of the French Order of
Arts and Letters. This third award is probably not strictly correct on an English coat of arms, but
it gives a nice visual balance. Baroness Thatcher, displays the Garter and the Order of Merit.
1
Images: Upper: Coat of Arms of Sir Elton John, Per saltire gules and or, in fess two pellets pierced and in pale as
many plates also pierced, on a chief argent issuant in chief seven pallets retrait two three and two sable, showing the badge of
CBE. Kt, and officer of the French Order of Arts and Letters; Lower: Baroness Thatcher, displaying the Garter and the Order of
Merit.
47
Motto —
The motto is some inspiring word or phrase usually displayed on a scroll either above or
below the rest of the achievement. It may be in any language. Mottos may have evolved from a
ancient war cry. In some cases, the motto may be a pun the armigers name, or some charge on
the shield..1 For example, Sir Elton John’s motto is in Spanish, “El tono es bueno” (“The sound is
good”) a reference to his music, of course, and also a pun on his first name.
In English practice, the motto is not, strictly speaking, part of the achievement. According
to Fox-Davies, “No one is compelled to bear [a motto]; nor is any authority needed for the
adoption of a motto, the matter is left purely to the personal pleasure of every individual.”2
1
J.P. Brooke-Little, rev., Boutell’s Heraldry (London: Frederick Ware, 1978) 174-175.
2
48
In Scottish practice, the motto is made a part of the official grant of arms, and may not be
changed without an official rematriculation of the arms.1 According to Thomas Innes of Larney,
“Cadets’ mottos should ‘answer’ the chief’s.”2
1
2
Thomas Innes of Learney, Scot’s Heraldry: A Practical Handbook on the Historical Principle and Modern
Applications of the Art and Science. 2d ed. (Edinburgh: Oliver & Boyd, 1956) 38.
49
Symbolism — 1
Historian Rodney Dennys wrote, “So many people expect a coat of arms to tell a story
and feel cheated if the herald to whom they put this question has to reply that he does not know
why a particular design was selected for a particular family. Yet more often than not there is no
clue at all.”2
As heraldry evolved from pure military practicality to artistic expression, coats of arms
became more symbolic. Dennys relates a story of a fifteenth-century squire who was granted a
coat of arms for his valor in battle. The herald granted him Argent, three ox heads caboshed
1
Images: Upper: Arms of William Shakespear. Lower: Arms of H.M. Queen Mother
2
Rodney Dennys, Heraldry and the Heralds (London: Jonathan Cape, 1982) 44.
50
sable, because the new armiger “had been ‘maymed so in his privi parts that he was unable of
generation,” ... [and] because plough-oxen were gelded and ‘therefore oxen or theyr heddes
betokeneth that the berer of theym fyrst was gelded.”1 Sir Paul McCarthney’s arms are symbolic
of his guitar, and Sir Elton John’s arms are symbolic of his piano and his many recordings. The
four stars in General Colin Powell’s arms symbolize his rank, and the eagle’s head in his crest
symbolizes the 101st Airborne Division (the Screaming Eagles) with which he served in Vietnam.
The supporters on Baroness Thatcher’s arms symbolize her leadership in the Falklands War of
1982, and her background as a chemist. However, there is no dictionary of symbolism. The fact
that a particular charge is placed on the field, without more, cannot and should not be taken as
evidence that the armiger did or did not do something.
Sometimes coats of arms pun or “cant” on the family surname. For example, the arms of
William Shakespear display a tilting spear. The arms of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, the Queen
Mother, whose family name was Bowes-Lyon, shows bows and lions.
1
Rodney Dennys, Heraldry and the Heralds (London: Jonathan Cape, 1982) 44.
51
A Final Test —
52

Heraldry: Where Art and Family History Meet Part I: The Basics of

Transcription

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