Heraldic authority

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A heraldic authority is defined as an office or institution which has been established by a reigning monarch or a government to deal with heraldry in the country concerned. It does not include private societies or enterprises which design and/or register coats of arms. Over the centuries, many countries have established heraldic authorities, and several still flourish today.

Contents

Europe

Belgium

The Council of Heraldry and Vexillology registers non-noble personal and municipal arms in the French Community of Belgium. Coat of arms of the Council of Heraldry and Vexillology.svg
The Council of Heraldry and Vexillology registers non-noble personal and municipal arms in the French Community of Belgium.

Burgundy

Croatia

The commission deals only with municipal heraldry and vexillology. It is composed of five members appointed on a four years mandate by the Minister: jurist, heraldist, archivist, historian and visual artist. [2] Pursuant to article 10. Law on the local self-government units, all municipal coats of arms have to be made and blazoned in accordance with heraldic rules. [3] Ministry will issue armorial (Croatian : grbovnica) to municipality in the form of a booklet composed of 8 pages. The Armorial is made in three copies of which one is obtained by : unit of local self-government, Croatian State Archives and the Ministry of Public Administration.

Czech Republic

The subcommittee deals only with municipal heraldry and vexillology. The grants of arms approved by the committee are signed by the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies. The Czech Republic has no heraldic authority for personal arms.

Denmark

Finland

France

Georgia

The State Council of Heraldry advises the government of Georgia on all matters related to heraldry. Logo of the State Council of Heraldry at the Parliament of Georgia 1.png
The State Council of Heraldry advises the government of Georgia on all matters related to heraldry.

Germany

Holy Roman Empire

Bavaria

Prussia

Saxony

Hungary

Ireland

Italy

Coat of arms, granted by the Istituto Nazionale del Nastro Azzurro to one of its members, the italian Admiral Ernesto Burzagli. The Nastro Azzurro is one of the main heraldic authorities in Italy. Nastroazzurro.JPG
Coat of arms, granted by the Istituto Nazionale del Nastro Azzurro to one of its members, the italian Admiral Ernesto Burzagli. The Nastro Azzurro is one of the main heraldic authorities in Italy.

Latvia

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Malta

(Note : although the office was established in 2019, the necessary legislation was passed only in 2021, and the regulations bringing it into operation were gazetted in 2022. All grants and registrations made between 2019 and 2022 were gazetted in April 2022, to make them official.)

Netherlands

Norway

Poland

Portugal

Romania

Russia

Slovakia

Spain

Sweden

United Kingdom

England and Wales

The College of Arms is the office regulating heraldry for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It was founded in 1484 by King Richard III, and is a private corporate body which is delegated heraldic authority by the British monarch. Coat of Arms of the College of Arms.svg
The College of Arms is the office regulating heraldry for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It was founded in 1484 by King Richard III, and is a private corporate body which is delegated heraldic authority by the British monarch.

Northern Ireland

Scotland

The Lord Lyon King of Arms is an official with responsibility for regulating heraldry in Scotland, issuing new grants of arms and serving as the judge of the Court of the Lord Lyon, the oldest heraldic court in the world that is still in daily operation. Coat of Arms of the Lord Lyon King of Arms.svg
The Lord Lyon King of Arms is an official with responsibility for regulating heraldry in Scotland, issuing new grants of arms and serving as the judge of the Court of the Lord Lyon, the oldest heraldic court in the world that is still in daily operation.

Africa

Kenya

South Africa

The Heraldry Act 1962, which governs the Bureau of Heraldry, has not been changed to replace "State herald" with "National Herald". [16] Announcements in the Government Gazette of South Africa still use "State Herald".

Zambia

Zimbabwe

Asia

Azerbaijan

Philippines

North America

Canada

United States

Oceania

New Zealand

Related Research Articles

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">Genealogical Office</span> Office of the Government of Ireland

The Genealogical Office is an office of the Government of Ireland containing genealogical records. It includes the Office of the Chief Herald of Ireland, the authority in Ireland for heraldry. The Chief Herald authorises the granting of arms to Irish bodies and Irish people, including descendants of emigrants. The office was constituted on 1 April 1943 as successor to the Ulster King of Arms, established during the Tudor period of the Kingdom of Ireland in 1552. The Ulster King of Arms' duties in relation to Northern Ireland were taken over by the Norroy and Ulster King of Arms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bureau of Heraldry</span> South African authority for heraldry

The Bureau of Heraldry is the South African heraldic authority, established in Pretoria on 1 June 1963. It is headed by a State Herald and its functions are to register arms, badges, flags and seals, to keep a public register, to issue registration certificates and, since 1980, to advise the government on heraldic matters. Together with the Heraldry Council, it forms part of the National Archives and Records Service, which is currently under the authority of the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canadian Heraldic Authority</span> Part of the Canadian honours system

The Canadian Heraldic Authority is part of the Canadian honours system under the Canadian monarch, whose authority is exercised by the Governor General of Canada. The authority is responsible for the creation and granting of new coats of arms, flags, and badges for Canadian citizens, government agencies, municipal, civic and other corporate bodies. The authority also registers existing armorial bearings granted by other recognized heraldic authorities, approves military badges, flags, and other insignia of the Canadian Forces, and provides information on heraldic practices. It is well known for its innovative designs, many incorporating First Nations symbolism.

The law of heraldic arms, sometimes simply laws of heraldry governs the possession, use or display of arms, called bearing of arms. That use includes the coats of arms, coat armour or armorial bearings. Originally with the sole function of enabling knights to identify each other on the battlefield, they soon acquired wider, more decorative uses. Today they are used by countries, public and private institutions or individuals. The first laws regarding arms were written by Bartolus de Saxoferrato and the officials who administer these matters today are called pursuivants, heralds, or kings of arms. The law of arms is part of the law in countries which regulate heraldry, although not part of common law in England and in countries whose laws derive from English law. In most European countries without monarchies, much like in the United States, there are no laws against assuming arms, with the closest legal authenticity mechanism being a pictorial copyright protection.

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

Portuguese heraldry encompasses the modern and historic traditions of heraldry in Portugal and the Portuguese Empire. Portuguese heraldry is part of the larger Iberian tradition of heraldry, one of the major schools of heraldic tradition, and grants coats of arms to individuals, cities, Portuguese colonies, and other institutions. Heraldry has been practiced in Portugal at least since the 12th century, however it only became standardized and popularized in the 16th century, during the reign of King Manuel I of Portugal, who created the first heraldic ordinances in the country. Like in other Iberian heraldic traditions, the use of quartering and augmentations of honor is highly representative of Portuguese heraldry, but unlike in any other Iberian traditions, the use of heraldic crests is highly popular.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spanish heraldry</span> Tradition and art of heraldry of Spain

The tradition and art of heraldry first appeared in Spain at about the beginning of the eleventh century AD and its origin was similar to other European countries: the need for knights and nobles to distinguish themselves from one another on the battlefield, in jousts and in tournaments. Knights wore armor from head to toe and were often in leadership positions, so it was essential to be able to identify them on the battlefield.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flemish Heraldic Council</span>

The Flemish Heraldic Council advises the Flemish Government on all matters relating to heraldry. The Council was created on 11 April 1984, as the successor to the Subcommittee for Heraldry or Subcommissie Heraldiek, established in 1978. Its prime task was to supervise the granting of a coat of arms and a flag to all municipalities of the Flemish Region. Following the reorganization of the Belgian provinces, the council's field of action was extended to provincial arms and flags in 1994. Since 2000, the Council has likewise advised the Flemish Government on grants of arms to Flemish individuals and corporations. In the meantime, more than 200 such grants have received official sanction. Grants of arms by the Flemish Government are published in the Belgian official journal.

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

Heraldry in the United States was first established by European settlers who brought with them the heraldic customs of their respective countries of origin. As the use of coats of arms may be seen as a custom of royalty and nobility, it had been debated whether the use of arms is reconcilable with American republican traditions. Families from English, Scottish, Irish, Welsh, German, and other European nations with a heraldic tradition have retained their familial coat of arms in the United States. Several founding fathers also employed personal arms and a great number of Americans continue to do so.

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

South African heraldry dates back to the 1650s, inheriting European heraldic traditions. Arms are borne by individuals, official bodies, local authorities, military units, and by a wide variety of organisations. South Africa has had its own heraldic authority since 1963, to provide armigers with legal protection, and to promote high standards of armorial practice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burgher arms</span>

Burgher arms or bourgeois arms are coats of arms borne by persons of the burgher social class of Europe since the Middle Ages. By definition, however, the term is alien to British heraldry, which follows other rules.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frederick Brownell</span> South African herald, vexillologist and genealogist (1940–2019)

Frederick Gordon Brownell was a South African herald, vexillologist, and genealogist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canadian heraldry</span> Canadian coats of arms and other heraldic achievements

Canadian heraldry is the cultural tradition and style of coats of arms and other heraldic achievements in both modern and historic Canada. It includes national, provincial, and civic arms, noble and personal arms, ecclesiastical heraldry, heraldic displays as corporate logos, and Canadian blazonry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">English heraldry</span> English form of heraldic bearings and insignia

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, 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Court of the Lord Lyon</span> Court which regulates heraldry in Scotland

The Court of the Lord Lyon, or Lyon Court, is a standing court of law, based in New Register House in Edinburgh, which regulates heraldry in Scotland. The Lyon Court maintains the register of grants of arms, known as the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland, as well as records of genealogies.

For the purposes of this article, heraldry societies are defined as private associations of people who are interested in heraldry. Heraldic authorities, which have been established by reigning monarchs or governments, are dealt with in a separate article.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Civic heraldry</span> Type of heraldry

Civic heraldry is heraldry used by municipalities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Macedonian Heraldic Society</span>

The Macedonian Heraldic Society (MHS) is the only professional body in the field of heraldry, vexillology, phaleristics, chivalristics and nobiliar issues in North Macedonia. The society was founded on 2 July 2003 in Skopje under the name Macedonian Heraldry Society, and changed to its current name in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Council of Heraldry and Vexillology</span>

The Council of Heraldry and Vexillology is the Heraldic authority for the French-speaking Community of Belgium. It is the institution that advises the Government of the French-speaking Community on all matters concerning civic, personal, and familial arms and flags. Grants of arms from the Council are published in the Belgian official journal.

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

Belgian heraldry is the form of coats of arms and other heraldic bearings and insignia used in the Kingdom of Belgium and the Belgian colonial empire but also in the historical territories that make up modern-day Belgium. Today, coats of arms in Belgium are regulated and granted by different bodies depending on the nature, status, and location of the armiger.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Héraldique en Belgique | Association Royale Office Généalogique et Héraldique de Belgique". oghb.be. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  2. Pravilnik o postupku davanja odobrenja grba i zastave jedinici lokalne samouprave [Regulation on the procedure for granting the coat of arms and flags to the local self-government unit] (in Croatian). 29 June 1998.
  3. Čl. 10. Grb mora biti heraldički ispravan i opisan po pravilima heraldike. Grb se sastoji isključivo od štita i sadržaja unutar njega. Jedinica lokalne i jedinica područne (regionalne) samouprave u pravilu preuzima svoj povijesni grb i zastavu. Zakon o lokalnoj i područnoj (regionalnoj) samupravi (pročišćeni tekst) [Law on Local and Regional Self-Government (consolidated text)] (in Croatian). 18 February 2013.
  4. "Rigsvåbenet, kongekronen og offentlig heraldik".
  5. Peltonen, Isto (April 2013). "Suomen kunnallisvaakunat – Perinteet ja käyttötaide" (PDF) (in Finnish). Jyväskylän yliopisto: 16. Retrieved 11 September 2018.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  6. "Heraldinen lautakunta" (in Finnish). Kansallisarkisto. Archived from the original on 11 September 2018. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  7. "Commission nationale d'héraldique (FranceArchives)" (in French). Archives Nationales. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  8. 1 2 Bertényi, Iván (2006). "A kommunális heraldika napjainkban". In Takács, Edit (ed.). Magyar Levéltárosok Egyesülete 2004. évi Vándorgyűlése (in Hungarian). Budapest: Magyar Levéltárosok Egyesülete. pp. 174–177. ISBN   9632182278 . Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  9. Dr. Fodros, Péter (2018). ""Magyarország nemzetiségpolitikája európai szinten is példaértékű" Interjú dr. Semjén Zsolt miniszterelnök-helyettessel" ["Hungary's national policy is exemplary at a European level" Interview with H.E. Dr Zsolt Semjén, Deputy Prime Minister](PDF). Diplomata Magazin. 18 (9). Budapest: Diplomata Magazin Kiadó Kft.: 3. ISSN   1419-1733 . Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  10. Regulation
  11. Attribuzioni
  12. "State Heraldry Commission". Latvijas Valsts Prezidents. Archived from the original on 31 October 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  13. Galkus, Juozas (2009). Lietuvos Vytis / The Vytis of Lithuania. Vilnius: Vilniaus dailės akademijos leidykla. p. 368. ISBN   9789955854449.
  14. "Portuguese Law on Municipal Heraldry (1991)".
  15. See the registry:
  16. Heraldry Act, 1962, as amended, at World Intellectual Property Organisation website.