English heraldry

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English heraldry
Royal Arms of England (1198-1340).svg
Armorial bearings of King Richard I of England, often referred to as the "arms of England"
 
Heraldic tradition Gallo-British
Governing body College of Arms
Chief officer David White, Garter Principal King of Arms

English heraldry is the form of coats of arms and other heraldic bearings and insignia used in England. It lies within the so-called Gallo-British tradition. Coats of arms in England are regulated and granted to individuals by the English kings of arms of the College of Arms. An individual's arms may also be borne 'by courtesy' by members of the holder's nuclear family, subject to a system of cadency marks, [1] to differentiate those displays from the arms of the original holder. The English heraldic style is exemplified in the arms of British royalty, and is reflected in the civic arms of cities and towns, as well as the noble arms of individuals in England. Royal orders in England, such as the Order of the Garter, also maintain notable heraldic bearings.

Contents

Characteristics

Armorial bearing of the College of Arms, the premier authority of heraldry in England Coat of Arms of the College of Arms.svg
Armorial bearing of the College of Arms, the premier authority of heraldry in England

Like many countries' heraldry, there is a classical influence within English heraldry, such as designs originally on Greek and Roman pottery.[ citation needed ] Many coats of arms feature charges related to the bearer's name or profession (e.g. Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (The Queen Mother), depicting bows quartered with a lion), a practice known as "canting arms". Some canting arms make references to foreign languages, particularly French, such as the otter (loutre in French) in the arms of the Luttrel family. [2]

Representations in person of Saints or other figure are very rare, although there are however a few uses, mostly originating from seals, where there have never been such limitations. [3] Although many places have dropped such iconography, the Metropolitan Borough of St Marylebone, London, includes a rendering of the Virgin Mary, although this is never stated. [4] This is also the case in many other examples, particularly those depicting Christ, to remove religious complications. Unlike in mainland Europe where armorial achievements make a large use of their eponymous Saints,[ citation needed ] these are few and far between in England.

Coat of arms of Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick Arms of Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick.svg
Coat of arms of Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick

The lion is the most common charge, particularly in Royal heraldry. [5] Heraldic roses are also common in English heraldry, as in the War of the Roses where both houses, Lancaster and York, used them, and in the ensuing Tudor dynasty. The heraldic eagle, while common on the European continent and particularly in Germany, is relatively rare in English heraldry and, in early English heraldry, was often associated with alliances with German princes. [6]

The coat of arms of Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick, pictured on the left, uses almost all typical forms of heraldry in England: The first quarter consists of his father-in-law, Richard Beauchamp, who bore with an escutcheon of De Clare quartering Despenser, now shown in Neville's fourth quarter. The second quarter shows the arms of the Montacutes (Montagu). The third quarter shows the arms of Neville differenced by a label for Lancaster. [7]

History

Possible arms of Henry II Royal Arms of England (1154-1189).svg
Possible arms of Henry II

King Henry I of England was said to have given a badge decorated with a lion to his son-in-law Geoffrey Plantagenet, Count of Anjou, and some have interpreted this as a grant of the lion arms later seen on his funerary enamel, but the first documented royal coat of arms appear on the Great Seal of Richard I, where he is depicted on horseback with a shield containing one lion on the visible half. Because several of his immediate kin used lion coats, it has been speculated that his father Henry II may likewise have borne a single-lion coat of arms, perhaps with the same colours as later used by the family, a gold lion on red.[ citation needed ] Heraldry is thought to have becoming popular among the knights on the first and second crusades, along with the idea of chivalry. [8] Under Henry III, it gained a system of classification and a technical language. [9] However, over the next two centuries, the system was abused, leading to the swamping of true coats-of-arms. [9] [ dubious ]

For the rest of the medieval period, it was popular within the upper classes to have a distinctive family mark for competitions and tournaments, and it was popular (although not prevalent) within the lower classes. It found particular use with knights, for practice and in the mêlée of battle, where heraldry was worn on embroidered fabric covering their armour. Indeed, their houses' signs became known as coats-of-arms in this way. [10] They were also worn on shields, where they were known as shields-of-arms. [10] As well as military uses, the main charge was used in the seals of households. These were used to prove the authenticity of documents carried by heralds (messengers)[ citation needed ] and is the basis of the word heraldry in English. [11] One example of this is the seal of John Mundegumri (1175), which bears a single fleur-de-lys. [12] Prior to the 16th century, there was no regulation on the use of arms in England. [13]

Religious influence on British Heraldry

Seated woman of Catalhoyuk flanked by two lionesses Museum of Anatolian Civilizations 1320259 nevit.jpg
Seated woman of Çatalhöyük flanked by two lionesses

Prehistoric religions of the Middle East, North India and the Mediterranean, associated lions to a neolithic goddess referred to as Potnia Theron, translated to the 'Mistress of Animals.' In this role, lions became associated with polarities such as the seasons, the zodiacal belt, and with the power of the elite. Importantly, this motif is more common in later Near Eastern and Mesopotamian art with a male figure, called the Master of Animals. Leading to the lion being culturally pictured as a master of the animal kingdom. [14] [15] With the incursions of the Indo-European speakers, this association changed. While initially through myths of confrontation between the goddess lions and the hero or demigod. Eventually, it became a direct association between the lion and the male deity, this led to an association with status and the divine authority of kingship.

The Lion of Judah on a Bezalel ceramic tile. Mosav zkenim 003.jpg
The Lion of Judah on a Bezalel ceramic tile.

Lion imagery became associated with the Zoroastrian and Mithraic religions, as well as Judaeo, Christian, and Islamic monotheism. Furthermore, it became central to Hindu and Buddhist beliefs, and in this way, spread eastward along the Silk Road. [16] As the Silk Road further developed, the imagery of the lion westward with the Roman Empire reaching both China and Britain by the early 1st century. Lion imagery became incorporated into the defining cultural icons of both China and Britain, becoming steadily more populist and taking on culturally specific forms such as European heraldry and the Chinese lion dance. [17]

Rolls of Arms

One of the first contemporary records of medieval heraldry is a roll of arms called Falkirk Rolls, written soon after the Battle of Falkirk in 1298. It includes the whole range of recognised heraldic colours (including furs) and designs. [18] This clearly demonstrates that English heraldry was fully developed at this time, and although the language is not quite identical, much of the terminology is the same as is still used.[ citation needed ] It is an occasional roll of arms, meaning it charted the heraldry visible on one occasion. Other rolls of arms covering England include the Caerlaverock Poem (composed 1300 about siege of Caerlaverock) and Glover's Roll (a mixed and varied collection from around the mid-13th century).

Court of the Earl Marshal

The position of herald in England was well defined, and so on January 5, 1420, William Bruges was appointed by King Henry V to be Garter King of Arms. No such position had been created in other countries. [19] A succession of different titles was introduced over the next four centuries for principal governor of arms, including King of Arms. Some were members of the College of Arms, some were not. Other holders of positions included the Falcon King of Arms, a position created under King Edward III. Other positions were created for important counties, such as the Lancastrian King of Arms, but the balance of power between them and those charged with larger regions remains unclear. [20]

A Display of Heraldrie, early text on heraldry, published at London, 1611 A Display of Heraldrie early text on heraldry printed at London 1611.jpg
A Display of Heraldrie, early text on heraldry, published at London, 1611

During the Tudor period, grants of arms were made for significant contributions to the country by one of the Herald and Kings of Arms in a standard format, as in the case of Thomas Bertie, granted arms on 10 July 1550. [21] This was given as a passage read out by the herald. Although many are written in English, [21] it is possible they were also read out in Latin. [22]

The introduction in his case read:

To all noble and gentled the present letters reading hearing or seeing, Thomas Hawley alias Clarencieulx principal Herald and King of Arms of the south-east and west parts of this realm from the river Trent southward, sendeth humble commendation and greeting.

This seems to be the standard introduction, each herald using their name and position.

Nadir of English Heraldry

The early 18th century is often considered the nadir of English heraldry. [23] [24] [25] The heraldic establishment was not held in high regard by the public; the authority of the Court of Chivalry (though not its armorial jurisdiction) was challenged, [26] and an increasing number of 'new men' simply assumed arms, without any authority. [23] This attitude is evident even in the appointment of the heralds themselves—Sir John Vanbrugh, a prominent dramatist and architect who knew nothing of heraldry, was appointed to the office of Clarenceux King of Arms, the second-highest office in the College of Arms. [27] No new grants were made between November 1704 and June 1707. [28]

The situation slowly improved throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, with the number of new grants per year slowly rising—14 in 1747, [25] 40 in 1784 and 82 in 1884. [29] These numbers reflect an increasing geographical spread in grantees, due to a general increase of interest in heraldry. This was caused by a number of factors, including the creation of the Order of the Bath in 1725, and grants of arms to its members, augmentations for honour granted to successful military commanders in the Peninsular and Napoleonic wars, and the rise in popularity of name and arms clauses. [30] The medieval period, and with it heraldry, also became popular as a result of the Romantic movement and Gothic revival. [31]

Timeline

12th century

13th century

14th century

15th century

16th century

17th century

18th century

19th century

20th century

21st century

Regulation

The College of Arms in London 001SFEC COLLEGE OF ARMS-200705.JPG
The College of Arms in London
Coat of arms of the College of Arms Coat of Arms of the College of Arms.svg
Coat of arms of the College of Arms

Heraldry in England is heavily regulated by the College of Arms, who issue the arms. A person can be issued the arms themselves, but the college fields many requests from people attempting to demonstrate descent from an armigerous (arms-bearing) person; [43] a person descended in the male line (or through heraldic heiresses) from such an ancestor may be reissued that ancestor's arms (with differencing marks if necessary to distinguish from senior-line cousins). To that end, the college is involved in genealogy and the many pedigrees (family trees) in their records, although not open to the public, have official status. Anyone may register a pedigree with the college, where they are carefully internally audited and require official proofs before being altered.

Applications are open to anyone with a 'reputable status' (normally including a university degree, but officially down to the discretion of the college).

The College of Arms was incorporated in 1484 by King Richard III, [44] and is a corporate body consisting of the professional heralds who are delegated heraldic authority by the British monarch. Based in London, the college is one of the few remaining government heraldic authorities in Europe. Its legal basis relies on the Law of Arms, which makes the right to grant arms exclusively to due authority, which has, since the late medieval period, been the Monarch or State, who gives the College of Arms this right and duty. Much of it is under the personal responsibility of the Monarch and not government, although the college has always been self-funded and independent.

According to one source, [45] the number of grants of arms in each half-century was roughly as follows:

1550–16001600–16501650–17001700–17501750–18001800–18501850–1900
26001580780560160046003800

Although the accuracy of the figures is in doubt, the general trend is likely to be correct. [45] It is clear that heraldry saw a resurgence in England in the early 19th century.

Since 1797, no case of free assumption of arms has ever been successfully prosecuted in England. [13] The Court of Chivalry, the court of enforcement of such cases, has fallen into unimportance. [13]

Cadency

The English system of cadency allows nuclear family members to personally use the arms of the head of that family 'by courtesy'. This involves the addition of a brisure , or mark of difference to the original coat of arms. The brisure identifies the bearer's family relationship to the actual bearer of the arms, although there is some debate over how strictly the system should be followed, the accepted system is shown below:

WifeFirst sonSecond sonThird sonFourth sonFifth sonSixth sonSeventh sonEighth sonNinth son
family member Coa Illustration Shield Lozenge.svg Lambel.svg Croissant d or.svg Ginboshi (No background and black color drawing).svg Meuble heraldique - Merlette.svg Cercle noir 100%25.svg Fleur-de-lis-fill.svg Rose BVA.svg Cross-Moline-Heraldry.svg Heraldic double quatrefoil octofoil.png
label of three points
double quatrefoil

†also known as an octofoil [46]

Women do not display the "war-like" crest. Daughters have no special brisures, and customarily bear their father's arms on a lozenge while they are unmarried. [47] The wife of an armigerous man may bear her husband's arms alone on a shield or banner differenced by a small lozenge.

If she bears arms in her own right, while she is married, a woman may marshal (combine) her or her father's arms with her husband's on a single shield, [1] normally by impalement. [48]

Upon becoming a widow, a woman may bear her late husband's arms alone on a lozenge, oval or similar vehicle of display, differenced by a lozenge and if she bears arms in her own right, returns to bearing her father's arms upon a lozenge, though now impaled with her late husband's arms. [47] Her husband's arms are borne on the dexter side and her father's arms on the sinister side.

Royal coat of arms

Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (Tudor crown).svg
Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom

The royal coat of arms is the official coat of arms of the British monarch. [49] These arms are used by the King in his official capacity as monarch, and are also known as Arms of Dominion.[ citation needed ] Variants of the Royal Arms are used by other members of the Royal Family; and by the British Government in connection with the administration and government of the country. [49] In Scotland, the monarch has a separate version of the Royal Arms, a variant of which is used by the Scotland Office. [49]

The shield is quartered, depicting in the first and fourth quarters the three lions passant guardant of England; in the second, the rampant lion and double tressure flory-counter-flory of Scotland; and in the third, a harp for Ireland. [50]

The crest is a lion statant guardant wearing the Tudor crown, itself standing upon another representation of that crown.

The dexter supporter is a likewise crowned lion, symbolizing England; the sinister, a unicorn, symbolising Scotland. [49] According to legend, a free unicorn was considered a very dangerous beast; therefore the heraldic unicorn is chained, as were both supporting unicorns in the Royal coat of arms of Scotland.[ citation needed ]

The coat features both the motto of English monarchs, Dieu et mon droit (God and my right), and the motto of the Order of the Garter, Honi soit qui mal y pense (Shamed be he who thinks ill of it) on a representation of the Garter behind the shield. [49]

Coat of arms of the British Royal Family

Children and male-line grandchildren of a monarch are usually granted their own coats of arms. Although many are given peerage titles named for places in Wales or Scotland, the royal family follows English heraldic tradition; indeed, most coats of arms of the royal family are based on the royal arms as described above.

Children and grandchildren of a monarch in the male line
Arms/StandardBearerMain feature
Arms of the Prince of Wales.svg The Prince of Wales The coat of arms of Edward VIII and Charles III as Prince of Wales was the arms of the United Kingdom with a white label of three points and an inescutcheon bearing the arms of Wales.
Arms of Henry of Wales.svg The Duke of Sussex Three-point label with a red escallop on each point, alluding to the arms of his mother, Lady Diana Spencer.
Arms/StandardBearerMain feature
Arms of Anne, the Princess Royal.svg The Princess Royal Three-point label, the points bearing a red cross, a red heart and a red cross. [50]
Arms of Richard, Duke of Gloucester.svg The Duke of Gloucester Five-point label, the first, third and fifth points bearing a red cross, the second and fourth points bearing a red lion. [50]
Arms of Edward, Duke of Kent.svg The Duke of Kent Five-point label, the first, third and fifth points bearing a blue anchor, the second and fourth points bearing a red cross. [50]
Consorts
Arms of Catherine, Princess of Wales.svg The Princess of Wales The arms of the Prince of Wales impaled with those of her father, Mr. Michael Middleton, crowned by the single-arched Coronet of Prince of Wales.
Shield of arms of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.svg The Duchess of Sussex The arms of the Duke of Sussex impaled with those of her own design. [51]
Arms of Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh.svg The Duchess of Edinburgh The arms of the Duchess of Edinburgh impaled with those of her father, Christopher Bournes Rhys-Jones.

County families

The Heraldic Visitations of the several counties of England were instituted in the 16th century and required each family which displayed coat armour to report to the visiting heralds, generally holding court in the county capital during a certain period, to declare its pedigree to show it came from ancient gentry stock. This has given rise to well recorded armorials of the ancient gentry families from each county, which generally assumed amongst themselves the administration of the county on behalf of the monarch, filling such offices as Sheriff, Justice of the Peace, Commissioners, Knights of the Shire or Members of Parliament, and in the feudal era if tenants-in-chief fought in the royal army.

Civic armory

The Coat of Arms of the Manchester City Council since 1842. Arms of the City of Manchester.svg
The Coat of Arms of the Manchester City Council since 1842.

Almost every town council, city council and major educational establishment has an official armorial bearing (coat of arms), although the use of such arms varies wildly, due to the governance of the institution, and who uses the arms, particularly concerning unitary authorities. The College of Arms grants arms only to people or corporate bodies, and so coats of arms are attributed to Borough, District or Town councils, rather than to a place or its populace. [52] Mottoes are common but not universal. Arms of such councils may feature the historical ecclesiastical arms of a local church, cathedral or diocese, such as the arms of Watford Borough Council which feature the arms of the Diocese of St. Albans. Similarly they can also feature the arms of a local patron Saint, as in the arms of St. Edmundsbury Borough Council which features the coat of arms of Saint Edmund. [53] Another example is the use of the rose, the symbol of the Virgin Mary. [54] Others are derived from the arms of an associated influential family or local organisation, or their creation is granted as an honour to an influential person.

In local government, however, there has been a move away from traditional heraldic style designs to clean, streamlined ones, as in the case of London. Whether this is a good or bad thing is a matter of debate.[ citation needed ]

Often use is restricted to certain events and institutions within the town or city, its use superseded by the logo of the local borough council or Arms Length Management Organisation.[ citation needed ] Current uses of historical coats of arms normally include use in town halls and on litter bins and benches (where corporate-style council logos are deemed inappropriate). [54]

Educational Institutions

Many British educational establishments have arms dating back hundreds of years, but the College of Arms continues to grant new arms to schools, colleges and universities each year. [lower-alpha 1] The arms of educational establishments often represent the aims of the institution and history of the establishment, town or major alumni.

For instance the Letters Patent granting Arms to the University of Plymouth were presented by Eric Dancer, CBE, JP, Lord Lieutenant of Devon, in a ceremony at the University on 27 November 2008, in the presence of Henry Paston-Bedingfeld, York Herald of the College of Arms, the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Plymouth, Judge William Taylor, the Recorder of Plymouth, and Baroness Wilcox. [55] The books represent the university's focus on learning and scholarship. The scattering of small stars represents navigation, which has played a key role in the history of the city and the university. The scallop shells in gold represent pilgrimage, a sign of the importance of the departure of the Pilgrim Fathers from the Barbican aboard the Mayflower in 1620. A Pelican and a Golden Hind support the shield and reflect both the original and later, better known, name of Sir Francis Drake's ship. The crest contains the Latin motto Indagate Fingite Invenite ('Explore Dream Discover'), a quote from Mark Twain, reflecting the university's ambitions for its students and Plymouth's history of great seafarers.

In the arms of Cranfield University (prepared by Sir Colin Cole, the sometime Garter Principal King of Arms), the "bars wavy" in the chief of the shield are intended in combination with the cranes to allude to the name Cranfield. The three-branched torch in the base refers to learning and knowledge in the sciences of engineering, technology and management. In the crest, the astral crown alludes to the college of Aeronautics and also commemorates the contribution of its founding Chancellor, Lord Kings Norton, to the development of aeronautical research. The keys signify the gaining of knowledge by study and instruction. The owl, with its wings expanded, may also be taken to represent knowledge in the widest sense. In the badge, which repeats the keys, the crown rayonny refers both to the royal charter under which Cranfield came into being and, by the finials composed of the rays of the sun, to energy and its application through engineering and technological skills to industry, commerce and public life. The chain that surrounds the badge shows the links between the various disciplines to be studied at the university and in itself also refers to engineering where it plays so many parts.

Heraldists

English heraldists include:

Order of the Garter

The arms of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, are encircled by both the Garter and the collar. 1st Duke of Marlborough arms.png
The arms of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, are encircled by both the Garter and the collar.

Members of the Order of the Garter may encircle their arms with the Garter and, if they wish, with a depiction of the collar as well. [57] However, the Garter is normally used alone, and the more elaborate version is seldom seen. Stranger Knights and Ladies do not embellish the arms they use in their countries with English decorations.

Knights and Ladies Companion are also entitled to receive heraldic supporters, a privilege granted to few other private individuals. While some families claim supporters by ancient use, and others have been granted them as a special reward, only peers, Knights and Ladies Companion of the Garter, Knights and Ladies of the Thistle, and certain other knights and ladies are automatically entitled to them. [57]

On January 5, 1420, William Bruges was appointed by King Henry V to be Garter King of Arms. [ citation needed ] Since the creation of the position, it has been changed into the position Garter Principal King of Arms, but the duties remain the same. Ex officio , it also makes the position's holder head of the College of Arms, and subsequently is usually appointed from among the other officers of arms at the college. The Garter Principal is also the principal adviser to the Sovereign of the United Kingdom (particularly England, Wales and Northern Ireland) with respect to ceremonial and heraldry. [58]

See also

Heraldry of English county families:

Notes

  1. Universities in Scotland, however, must, by Scots law, have their coats of arms matriculated by the Lord Lyon King of Arms before they can be used.
  1. 1 2 "The Arms of Women, a Decree". 2018-03-02.
  2. Boutell (1914), p. 76.
  3. Fox-Davies (1909), p. 158.
  4. Fox-Davies (1909), p. 161.
  5. Fox-Davies (1909), p. 174.
  6. Boutell (1914), p.92.
  7. Turnbull (1985), The Book of the Medieval Knight.
  8. James Ross Sweeney (1983). "Chivalry", in The Dictionary of the Middle Ages , Volume III.
  9. 1 2 Boutell (1914), p. 9.
  10. 1 2 Boutell (1914), p. 2.
  11. "English etymology of Heraldry". myEtymology. Jim Sinclair. Archived from the original on 2009-07-26. Retrieved 2009-04-16.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  12. Illustrated in Boutell (1914), pp. 10–11.
  13. 1 2 3 François R. Velde. "Regulation of Heraldry in England". Heraldica. Archived from the original on 2008-09-15. Retrieved 2009-01-04.
  14. Fischer-Hansen, Tobias; Birte Poulsen (2009). From Artemis to Diana: the goddess of man and beast. Museum Tusculanum Press. p. 23. ISBN   978-8763507882.
  15. Chadwick, John (1976). The Mycenaean world. Cambridge University Press. p.  92. ISBN   978-0-521-29037-1.
  16. Kurin, Richard. "THE SILK ROAD: CONNECTING PEOPLE AND CULTURES". Smithsonian Folklife Festival. Smithsonian. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  17. Feltham, Heleanor. "Here be lions: an investigation into the origin, distribution, meaning and transformation of lion imagery". Open Publications of UTS Scholars. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  18. The Falkirk Rolls Archived 2009-02-04 at the Wayback Machine , sourced at Studies in Heraldry by Brian Timms based on Gerard J Brault, Eight Thirteenth Century Rolls of Arms, Pennsylvania State University Press (1973). Original held at the British Museum, MS Harl 6589, f9-9b. Accessed 2009-01-04.
  19. Fox-Davies (1909), p. 28.
  20. Fox-Davies (1909), pp. 28–34.
  21. 1 2 Williams (1967), p. 261.
  22. Noble (1804), Appendix, p. viii.
  23. 1 2 Bedingfeld (1993), Heraldry, p. 67.
  24. Wagner (1967), p. 318.
  25. 1 2 Woodcock & Robinson (1988), p. 43.
  26. Wagner (1967), pp. 315–6.
  27. Wagner (1967), pp. 329–30.
  28. Wagner (1967), p. 342.
  29. Bedingfeld (1993), pp. 68–71.
  30. Woodcock & Robinson (1988), pp. 44–46.
  31. Wagner (1946), p. 23.
  32. Wagner, A. (1946). Heraldry in England
  33. J. H. Round, "The Introduction of Armorial Bearings into England", The Archaeological Journal, volume 51, pp 43-48
  34. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Woodcock, T. & Robinson, J.M. (1988). The Oxford Guide to Heraldry
  35. Velde, F. (1999) [Commoners' Arms in England | http://www.heraldica.com Archived 2010-08-31 at the Wayback Machine ]
  36. 1 2 3 4 Briggs, C. (1970). Civic and Corporate Heraldry
  37. 1 2 Wagner, A. (1939). Historic Heraldry of Britain
  38. 1 2 Fox-Davies, A.C. (1915). The Book of Public Arms
  39. 1 2 Pine, L.G. (1952). The Story of Heraldry
  40. 1 2 3 4 5 Friar, S. (Ed) (1987). A New Dictionary of Heraldry
  41. [Cheshire Heraldry | http://www.cheshire-heraldry.org.uk Archived 2010-08-23 at the Wayback Machine ]
  42. "Same-sex marriages - College of Arms". www.college-of-arms.gov.uk. Retrieved 2021-08-27.
  43. "Frequently Asked Questions". College of arms website. Archived from the original on 2009-04-13. Retrieved 2009-04-16.
  44. "The history of the Royal heralds and the College of Arms". College of arms website. Archived from the original on 2009-04-13. Retrieved 2009-04-16.
  45. 1 2 François Velde. "Number of Grants by the English Kings of Arms". Archived from the original on 2008-12-05. Retrieved 2009-01-04.
  46. "Heraldry Examination". Royal Heraldry Society of Canada. Archived from the original on 2009-08-27. Retrieved 2008-08-30.
  47. 1 2 Fox-Davies (1909), pp. 533–4.
  48. Fox-Davies (1909), p. 531.
  49. 1 2 3 4 5 "British Monarchy Symbols: Coat of Arms". Official British Monarchy Website. Archived from the original on 2013-03-08. Retrieved 2009-03-29.
  50. 1 2 3 4 Boutell & Brooke-Little (1978), pp. 205–222.
  51. "Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Sussex: Coat of Arms". The Royal Family. May 25, 2018. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  52. "Civ heraldry (homepage)". Civic heraldry of England and Wales. Robert Young. Archived from the original on 2009-04-03. Retrieved 2009-04-17.
  53. Compare Coat of arms of St. Edmundsbury Borough Council Archived 2008-09-26 at the Wayback Machine on Civil Heraldry by Robert Young and the coat of arms of Saint Edmund Archived 2013-08-17 at the Wayback Machine (both accessed 2009-01-06).
  54. 1 2 One such example, Carlisle Archived 2009-07-26 at the Wayback Machine on the City Council website. Accessed 2009-01-05.
  55. "At the heart of the city and the region". Archived from the original on 2011-08-11. Retrieved 2010-08-30.
  56. Lee, Colin (2004). "Charles Boutell:Oxford Biography Index Entry". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Archived from the original on 2008-12-02. Retrieved 2009-03-29.
  57. 1 2 Paul Courtenay. "The Armorial Bearings of Sir Winston Churchill". The Churchill Centre. Archived from the original on 4 October 2006. Retrieved 1 January 2009.
  58. "The origin and history of the various heraldic offices". College of Arms. 2004-04-10. Archived from the original on 2010-07-29. Retrieved 2009-01-06.

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A coat of arms is a heraldic visual design on an escutcheon, surcoat, or tabard. The coat of arms on an escutcheon forms the central element of the full heraldic achievement, which in its whole consists of a shield, supporters, a crest, and a motto. A coat of arms is traditionally unique to the armiger. The term "coat of arms" itself, describing in modern times just the heraldic design, originates from the description of the entire medieval chainmail "surcoat" garment used in combat or preparation for the latter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Supporter</span> Figures usually placed on either side of an heraldic shield and depicted holding it up

In heraldry, supporters, sometimes referred to as attendants, are figures or objects usually placed on either side of the shield and depicted holding it up.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coat of arms of England</span> National arms of England

The coat of arms of England is the coat of arms historically used as arms of dominion by the monarchs of the Kingdom of England, and now used to symbolise England generally, but not officially. The arms were adopted c.1200 by the Plantagenet kings and continued to be used by successive English and British monarchs; they are currently quartered with the arms of Scotland and Ireland in the coat of arms of the United Kingdom. Historically they were also quartered with the arms of France, representing the English claim to the French throne, and Hanover.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">College of Arms</span> Corporation responsible for heraldry in England and Wales

The College of Arms, or Heralds' College, is a royal corporation consisting of professional officers of arms, with jurisdiction over England, Wales, Northern Ireland and some Commonwealth realms. The heralds are appointed by the British Sovereign and are delegated authority to act on behalf of the Crown in all matters of heraldry, the granting of new coats of arms, genealogical research and the recording of pedigrees. The College is also the official body responsible for matters relating to the flying of flags on land, and it maintains the official registers of flags and other national symbols. Though a part of the Royal Household of the United Kingdom, the College is self-financed, unsupported by any public funds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abatement (heraldry)</span> Defacement of a coat of arms

An abatement is a modification of a coat of arms, representing a less-than honorable augmentation, imposed by an heraldic authority or by royal decree for misconduct. The practice of inverting the entire escutcheon of an armiger found guilty of high treason has been attested since the Middle Ages and is generally accepted as reliable, and medieval heraldic sources cite at least one instance of removing an honourable charge from a coat of arms by royal decree as an abatement of honour. Other abatements of honour implied by the addition of dishonourable stains and charges, appearing in late 16th-century texts, have never been reliably attested in actual practice. Additionally, as many heraldic writers note, the use of arms is not compulsory, so armigers are more likely to relinquish a dishonored coat of arms than to advertise their dishonor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">King of arms</span> Rank of an officer of arms

King of arms is the senior rank of an officer of arms. In many heraldic traditions, only a king of arms has the authority to grant armorial bearings and sometimes certify genealogies and noble titles. In other traditions, the power has been delegated to other officers of similar rank.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bend (heraldry)</span> Heraldic ordinary

In heraldry, a bend is a band or strap running from the upper dexter corner of the shield to the lower sinister. Authorities differ as to how much of the field it should cover, ranging from one-fifth up to one-third.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Escutcheon (heraldry)</span> Main or focal element in an achievement of arms

In heraldry, an escutcheon is a shield that forms the main or focal element in an achievement of arms. The word can be used in two related senses. In the first sense, an escutcheon is the shield upon which a coat of arms is displayed. In the second sense, an escutcheon can itself be a charge within a coat of arms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Women in heraldry</span>

Due to the differing role of women in past society, special rules grew relating to the blazoning of arms for women. The rules for women and heraldry developed differently from place to place and there is no one single rule that applies everywhere. In general, arms of women were most likely depicted not on shields but on lozenges or ovals. Different rules exist that depend on the woman's marital status and a married woman would also often make use of her husband's arms in addition to those from her family. In both the English and the Scottish systems of heraldry these differences remain active.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roll of arms</span> Record of coats of arms

A roll of arms is a collection of coats of arms, usually consisting of rows of painted pictures of shields, each shield accompanied by the name of the person bearing the arms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scottish heraldry</span>

Heraldry in Scotland, while broadly similar to that practised in England and elsewhere in western Europe, has its own distinctive features. Its heraldic executive is separate from that of the rest of the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Brooke-Little</span> British heraldic writer (1927–2006); Clarenceux King of Arms

John Philip Brooke Brooke-Little was an English writer on heraldic subjects, and a long-serving herald at the College of Arms in London. In 1947, while still a student, Brooke-Little founded the Society of Heraldic Antiquaries, now known as the Heraldry Society and recognised as one of the leading learned societies in its field. He served as the society's chairman for 50 years and then as its president from 1997 until his death in 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lion (heraldry)</span> Element in heraldry

The lion is a common charge in heraldry. It traditionally symbolises courage, nobility, royalty, strength, stateliness and valour, because historically the lion has been regarded as the "king of beasts". The lion also carries Judeo-Christian symbolism. The Lion of Judah stands in the coat of arms of Jerusalem. Similar-looking lions can be found elsewhere, such as in the coat of arms of the Swedish royal House of Bjelbo, from there in turn derived into the coat of arms of Finland, formerly belonging to Sweden.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blazon</span> Art of describing heraldic arms in proper terms

In heraldry and heraldic vexillology, a blazon is a formal description of a coat of arms, flag or similar emblem, from which the reader can reconstruct the appropriate image. The verb to blazon means to create such a description. The visual depiction of a coat of arms or flag has traditionally had considerable latitude in design, but a verbal blazon specifies the essentially distinctive elements. A coat of arms or flag is therefore primarily defined not by a picture but rather by the wording of its blazon. Blazon is also the specialized language in which a blazon is written, and, as a verb, the act of writing such a description. Blazonry is the art, craft or practice of creating a blazon. The language employed in blazonry has its own vocabulary, grammar and syntax, which becomes essential for comprehension when blazoning a complex coat of arms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heraldic flag</span> Flag containing coat of arms or heraldic badge

In heraldry and vexillology, a heraldic flag is a flag containing coats of arms, heraldic badges, or other devices used for personal identification.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Attributed arms</span> Coats of arms given to a person retrospectively

Attributed arms are Western European coats of arms given retrospectively to persons real or fictitious who died before the start of the age of heraldry in the latter half of the 12th century. Once coats of arms were the established fashion of the ruling class, society expected a king to be armigerous. Arms were assigned to the knights of the Round Table, and then to biblical figures, to Roman and Greek heroes, and to kings and popes who had not historically borne arms. Individual authors often attributed different arms for the same person, although the arms for major figures eventually became fixed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal standards of England</span> English heraldic flags used in battles and pageantry

The royal standards of England were narrow, tapering swallow-tailed heraldic flags, of considerable length, used mainly for mustering troops in battle, in pageants and at funerals, by the monarchs of England. In high favour during the Tudor period, the Royal English Standard was a flag that was of a separate design and purpose to the Royal Banner. It featured St George's Cross at its head, followed by a number of heraldic devices, a supporter, badges or crests, with a motto—but it did not bear a coat of arms. The Royal Standard changed its composition frequently from reign to reign, but retained the motto Dieu et mon droit, meaning God and my right; which was divided into two bands: Dieu et mon and Droyt.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coat of arms of the Prince of Wales</span> Personal coat of arms of the Prince of Wales

The coat of arms of the Prince of Wales is the official personal heraldic insignia of the Princes of Wales, a title traditionally granted to the heir apparent of the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, formerly the Kingdom of Great Britain and before that the Kingdom of England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of heraldry</span> History and development of the concept of heraldry

Heraldry is the system of visual identification of rank and pedigree which developed in the European High Middle Ages, closely associated with the courtly culture of chivalry, Latin Christianity, the Crusades, feudal aristocracy, and monarchy of the time. Heraldic tradition fully developed in the 13th century, and it flourished and developed further during the Late Middle Ages and the Early Modern period. Originally limited to nobility, heraldry is adopted by wealthy commoners in the Late Middle Ages. Specific traditions of Ecclesiastical heraldry also develop in the late medieval period. Coats of arms of noble families, often after their extinction, becomes attached to the territories they used to own, giving rise to municipal coats of arms by the 16th century.

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