Star (heraldry)

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1545 depiction of the flag of the city of Maastricht in the Netherlands (gules, a six-pointed mullet, argent) Wapen 1545 Mastricht (Maastricht).jpg
1545 depiction of the flag of the city of Maastricht in the Netherlands (gules, a six-pointed mullet, argent)

In heraldry, the term star may refer to any star-shaped charge with any number of rays, which may appear straight or wavy, and may or may not be pierced. While there has been much confusion between the two due to their similar shape, a star with straight-sided rays is usually called a mullet in English heraldry while one with wavy rays is usually called an estoile. [1]

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While a mullet may have any number of points, it is presumed to have five unless otherwise specified in the blazon, and pierced mullets are common; estoiles, however, are presumed to have six rays and (as of 1909) had not been found pierced. [1] In Scottish heraldry, an estoile is the same as in English heraldry, but mullet refers only to a mullet pierced (also called a spur revel), while one that is not pierced is called a star. [1]

Terminology

The use of the word star in blazons, and how that charge appears in coat armory, varies from one jurisdiction to another. In Scots heraldry, both star and mullet interchangeably mean a star with five straight rays;[ citation needed ] the official record from 1673 gives Murray of Ochtertyre azur three Starrs argent ... (Public Register, vol 1 p 188), while the Ordinary of Arms produced by a late 19th century Lyon King of Arms 'modernizes' the original as Az. three mullets arg. .... In Canadian heraldry the usual term is mullet, but there is also the occasional six-pointed star (e.g. in Vol. IV, at p. 274 and in online version of the Canadian Public Register), which is what others would blazon as a six-pointed mullet. The United States Army Institute of Heraldry, the official heraldic authority in the United States, uses the term mullet in its blazons, [2] but elsewhere, as in US government documents describing the flag of the United States and the Great Seal of the United States, the term star is constantly used, and these nearly always appear with five straight-sided points.

The term mullet or molet refers to a star with straight sides, typically having five or six points, but may have any number of points specified in the blazon. If the number of points is not specified, five points are presumed in Gallo-British heraldry, and six points are presumed in German-Nordic heraldry.[ citation needed ]

Unlike estoiles, mullets have straight (rather than wavy) rays and may have originally represented the rowel of a spur, rather than a celestial star. [3] The term is said to be derived from French molette, a spur-rowel, [3] although it was in use in heraldry even before rowel spurs. [4]

The term estoile refers to wavy-sided stars, usually of six points, though they may also be blazoned with a different number of points, often eight (e.g. "Portsmouth County Council" pictured here Archived 2016-11-20 at the Wayback Machine ), and many variants feature alternating straight and wavy rays (e.g. "Honford" pictured here). The term derives from Old French estoile 'star', in reference to a celestial star (cf. Modern French étoile), from Latin stella 'star'.

Classical heraldry

The Washington coat of arms at Selby Abbey (mid 15th century) Washington coat of arms.jpg
The Washington coat of arms at Selby Abbey (mid 15th century)

Stars are comparatively rare in European heraldry during the medieval period. An early reference of dubious historicity is reported by Johannes Letzner, who cites Conradus Fontanus (an otherwise unknown authority) to the effect that one Curtis von Meinbrechthausen, a knight of Saxony, in 1169 after committing a murder lost his rank and arms, described as an eight-pointed star beneath a chevron. In Scotland, the armigers of Clan Murray and Clan Douglas used arms with stars as early as the 12th or 13th century. Examples of stars in a late medieval heraldry of the Holy Roman Empire include those of Wentz von Niederlanstein (1350), Gemm (attested 1352), Geyer von Osterberg (1370), Enolff Ritter von Leyen (d. 1392). [5]

Under the system of cadency in use in England and Ireland since the late 15th century, a third son bears a mullet (unpierced) as a difference. [6]

Stars become much more popular as heraldic charges in the early modern era, especially in then-recent family coats of arms of burghers and patricians, as well as in coats of arms of cities (e.g. Maastricht, Bozen, Kaufbeuren). [7] The coat of arms of Valais originates in the 16th century, when seven stars representing its Seven Tithings were added to the party per pale coat of arms of the Bishop of Sion. Of the higher nobility in Siebmachers Wappenbuch (1605), the landgrave of Hessen and the counts of Waldeck and Erbach have stars in their coats of arms, as do several Swiss knights. [8]

United States

The American flag as described in the Flag Resolution passed by the Second Continental Congress on 14 June 1777. US flag 13 stars.svg
The American flag as described in the Flag Resolution passed by the Second Continental Congress on 14 June 1777.

Stars are nearly ubiquitous in United States heraldry and vexillology and nearly always appear unpierced with five straight-sided points. In the flag of the United States, each star represents one state. [9] The flag adopted in 1777 is the attributed origin of the thirteen stars, representing the thirteen United States, appearing on the Great Seal since 1780. [10]

A mullet "barbed to chief" appears in the arms of the 240th Signal Battalion of the 40th Infantry Division of the California Army National Guard United States Army. [11]

Modern use

In the design of modern flags and emblems, the stars (mullets, usually five-pointed) when standing alone often represent concepts like "unity" or "independence". When arranged in groups, they often enumerate provinces or other components of the nation (such as ethnic groups). In the flags of Nauru and the Marshall Islands, this enumeration is done by the points of a single star rather than by multiple number of stars.[ citation needed ]

Some flags of countries on the southern hemisphere show a depiction of the Southern Cross consisting of four or five stars. The star and crescent symbol is found in flags of states succeeding the Ottoman Empire, which used flags with this symbol during 1793-1923.

The twelve stars on the Flag of Europe (1955) symbolize unity. [12]

The green five-pointed star on the Esperanto flag (1890) symbolizes the five inhabited continents.

The 50 stars of the US flag is the largest number on any national flag. The second-largest is 27, on the flag of Brazil.

The current national flags featuring stars include:

FlagDate# of starsPointsStars representDescription/comment
Flag of the United States.svg United States 1777; 1960505enumerate US states originally 13 stars, 50 stars since 1960, see timeline of the flag of the United States
Flag of Chile.svg Chile 181715ideal"The star represents a guide to progress and honor"
Flag of Brazil.svg Brazil 1822; 1992275enumerate States of Brazil originally 19 stars, 27 stars since 1992, see Flag of Brazil
Flag of Tunisia.svg Tunisia 1831; 195615 star and crescent based on the Ottoman flag [ citation needed ]
Flag of Turkey.svg Turkey 1844; 193615 star and crescent the Republic of Turkey was established in 1923 and its Flag Law was passed in 1936, declaring the continued use of the Ottoman flag that had been flown since 1844 (an earlier variant with an eight-pointed star dates to ca. 1793).
Flag of Cuba.svg Cuba 1849;

1902

15ideal"The white star in the triangle stands for independence". Based on the flag carried by Narciso López in 1850.
Flag of Venezuela.svg Venezuela 1859; 193085enumerate provincesvarious arrangement of the stars in design changes since 1859. Twenty stars during 1859–1863.
Flag of Honduras.svg Honduras 186655enumerate provincesbased on the flag of the Federal Republic of Central America. The five stars also represent the historical provinces of that state, not subdivisions of Honduras itself.
Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand 1869; 190245 Southern Cross used as a governmental ensign since 1869, made the official national flag in 1902. Designed by Albert Hastings Markham under a request from Governor George Bowen.
Flag of Puerto Rico.svg Puerto Rico 1895; 195215idealThe white star in the triangle represents the island of Puerto Rico. Based on the design of the Cuban flag, see Flag of Puerto Rico
Flag of the Philippines.svg Philippines 189835enumerate island groupsthe three stars represent the three major geographical island groups that compose the Philippines: Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia 190167; 5 Southern Cross; Commonwealth Star seven-pointed stars for the Commonwealth Star and the main stars of the constellation, plus a smaller five-pointed star representing Epsilon Crucis. Based on the winning design in the 1901 Federal Flag Design Competition.
Flag of Azerbaijan.svg Azerbaijan 191818 star and crescent "the eight-pointed star points to the eight letters of the name Azerbaijan (in Arabic script)" [13]
Flag of Panama.svg Panama 192525ideal"the blue star stands for the purity and honesty of the life of the country; the red star represents the authority and law in the country"
Flag of Jordan.svg Jordan 192817ideal"The seven points symbolize the seven verses of the first surah of the Qur’an. The seven points also represent faith in one God, humanity, humility, national spirit, virtue, social justice, and aspiration. The star also stands for the unity of the Arab nation."
Flag of Vietnam.svg Vietnam 194515idealthe Communist Star; "The five-pointed yellow star represents the unity of workers, peasants, intellectuals, traders and soldiers in building socialism"
Flag of Pakistan.svg Pakistan 194715idealthe star represents "light". The crescent and star symbolize progress and light respectively.
Flag of North Korea.svg North Korea 194815idealthe Communist Star
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg People's Republic of China 194955ideal"Five-starred Red Flag" (五星红旗, Wǔxīng Hóngqí), one large star representing the Communist Party surrounded by four smaller ones depicting the four then social classes
Flag of Samoa.svg Samoa 194955 Southern Cross
Flag of Somalia.svg Somalia 195415ideal"Star of Unity"
Flag of Europe.svg European Union 1955; 1985125ideal"unity among Europeans". Believed to also be a reference to the Catholic iconographic tradition of showing the Blessed Virgin Mary as the Woman of the Apocalypse, wearing a "crown of twelve stars". [14]
Flag of Ghana.svg Ghana 195715ideal"the lodestar of African freedom"
Flag of the Central African Republic.svg Central African Republic 195815idealThe star "guides the steps of the Central African people towards freedom and emancipation."
Flag of Syria.svg Syrian Republic 1958; 198025enumerate statesThe 1958 flag was that of the United Arab Republic. The two stars originally represented Syria and Egypt as member states of that entity.
Flag of Mauritania.svg Mauritania 195915 star and crescent
Flag of Senegal.svg Senegal 196015The five points of the star are said to recall the human ideogram which was displayed in the middle of the flag of the former Mali Federation.[ citation needed ]
Flag of Togo.svg Togo 196015ideal"hope"[ citation needed ]
Flag of Algeria.svg Algeria 196215 star and crescent
Flag of Malaysia.svg Malaysia 1963114enumerate statesa 14-pointed star alongside a crescent, representing the 13 member states plus the federal government
Flag of Singapore.svg Singapore 196555idealfive stars alongside a crescent, representing "democracy, peace, progress, justice and equality". According to Lee Kuan Yew, the Chinese population wanted five stars (influenced by the flag of the People's Republic of China) and the Muslim population wanted a crescent moon.
Flag of Burundi.svg Burundi 196736ideal"Unity, Work, Progress"
Flag of Nauru.svg Nauru 1967112enumerate tribes
Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg Papua New Guinea 197155 Southern Cross
Flag of Guinea-Bissau.svg Guinea-Bissau 197315ideal"the Black Star of Africa"
Flag of Grenada.svg Grenada 197475enumerate parishes
Flag of Angola.svg Angola 197515idealin origin imitating the Communist Star
Flag of Cameroon.svg Cameroon 197515ideal"star of unity"
Flag of Suriname.svg Suriname 197515ideal"The star represents the unity of all ethnic groups"
Flag of Sao Tome and Principe.svg São Tomé and Príncipe 197525enumerate islands
Flag of Tuvalu.svg Tuvalu 197695enumerate islandsThe stars are arranged in imitation of the geographic location of the islands of Tuvalu
Flag of Djibouti.svg Djibouti 197715ideal"The red star signifies the unity of the diverse state."
Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg Solomon Islands 197755enumerate islands
Flag of Dominica.svg Dominica 1978105enumerate parishes
Flag of the Marshall Islands.svg Marshall Islands 1979124enumerate districtsthe points of the stars enumerate the electoral districts
Flag of the Federated States of Micronesia.svg Federated States of Micronesia 197945enumerate statesBased on the Flag of the US Trust Territory of the Pacific, each star represents a constitutional State (Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei, and Kosrae)
Flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis.svg Saint Kitts and Nevis 198325ideal / enumerate islands"hope and liberty, or Saint Kitts and Nevis"
Flag of Burkina Faso.svg Burkina Faso 198415ideal"the guiding light of the revolution"
Flag of Croatia.svg Croatia 199026 morning star The stars are part of the coat of arms of Croatia. One star is part of the coat of arms of the Illyrian movement, and the other is part of the coat of arms of Slavonia.
Flag of Slovenia.svg Slovenia 199136ideal"democracy", inspired by the historical coat of arms of the Counts of Celje [15]
Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Uzbekistan 1991125ideala crescent and twelve stars, representing the "ancient calendar cycle"
Flag of Tajikistan.svg Tajikistan 199275seven stars on heaven's mountains
Flag of Cape Verde.svg Cape Verde 1992105enumerate islands
Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg Bosnia and Herzegovina 19988 ("∞")5ideala diagonal line of seven five-pointed stars, plus two half-stars cut off by the flag boundary. The stars represent "Europe" and are intended to be "infinite" in number.
Flag of the Comoros.svg Comoros 200145enumerate islandsfour stars alongside a crescent
Flag of Turkmenistan.svg Turkmenistan 200155enumerate provincesfive stars alongside a crescent
Flag of East Timor.svg East Timor 200215ideal"the light that guides"
Flag of South Sudan.svg South Sudan 200515ideal"the Star of Bethlehem, represents the unity of the states of South Sudan"
Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg Democratic Republic of the Congo 200715idealderived from the flag of Congo Free State (1885)
Flag of Myanmar.svg Myanmar 201015ideal"unity"

Not bearing heraldic stars as such, the 1915 Flag of Morocco and the 1996 flag of Ethiopia have a pentagram each, and the 1948 flag of Israel a hexagram or "star of David". The 1962 Flag of Nepal has what would technically be described as a 12-pointed mullet, but is intended to depict the Sun[ citation needed ].

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Fox-Davies, Arthur Charles; Graham Johnston (1909). A Complete Guide to Heraldry. pp. 295–296.
  2. "172D Support Battalion Distinctive Unit Insignia". The Institute of Heraldry. Archived from the original on October 26, 2017.
  3. 1 2 Volborth, Carl Alexander (1981). Heraldry: Customs, Rules and Styles. Poole, England: Blandford Press. p. 48. ISBN   0-7137-0940-5.
  4. "Mullet". Pimbley's Dictionary of Heraldry. 2008-03-12. Archived from the original on 2012-04-05. Retrieved 2008-02-07.
  5. Christian Friedrich August von Meding, Nachrichten von adelichen Wapen, 1786.
  6. Volborth, 1981. p. 80.
  7. Siebmachers Wappenbuch (1605), p. 219-224
  8. Siebmachers Wappenbuch (1605) pp.197-204
  9. "Our Flag" (PDF). United States Government Printing Office. 1998. S. Doc 105-013. Retrieved 2009-02-07.
  10. "The Great Seal of the United States" (PDF). U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Public Affairs. Retrieved 2009-02-07.
  11. The Institute of Heraldry, ed. (2010-11-01). "240th Signal Battalion". Department of the Army. Retrieved 2010-11-01.
  12. "The European Flag, Europa (web portal)". 4 August 2007. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  13. Сабухи Ахмедов, Государственный флаг Азербайджанской Республики ("The national flag of the Republic of Azerbaijan") (in Russian), citing Мярданов М., Гулийев Я., Азярбайъан Республикасынын дювлят рямзляри. Б., 2001, pp. 74-75.
  14. Carlo Curti Gialdino, I Simboli dell'Unione europea, Bandiera – Inno – Motto – Moneta – Giornata. Roma: Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato S.p.A., 2005. ISBN   88-240-2503-X, pp. 80–85. Gialdino is here cited after a translation of the Italian text published by the Centre Virtuel de la Connaissance sur l'Europe (cvce.eu):
    Irrespective of the statements by Paul M. G. Levy and the recent reconstruction by Susan Hood, crediting Arsène Heitz with the original design still seems to me the soundest option. In particular, Arsène Heitz himself, in 1987, laid claim to his own role in designing the flag and to its religious inspiration when he said that 'the flag of Europe is the flag of Our Lady' [Magnificat magazine, 1987].
    Secondly, it is worth noting the testimony of Father Pierre Caillon, who refers to a meeting with Arsène Heitz. Caillon tells of having met the former Council of Europe employee by chance in August 1987 at Lisieux in front of the Carmelite monastery. It was Heitz who stopped him and declared "I was the one who designed the European flag. I suddenly had the idea of putting the 12 stars of the Miraculous Medal of the Rue du Bac on a blue field. My proposal was adopted unanimously on 8 December 1955, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. I am telling you this, Father, because you are wearing the little blue cross of the Blue Army of Our Lady of Fatima".
  15. "Državni simboli niso čarovnija, so pa silen potencial" [National Symbols are not Magic, but Are a Strong Potential]. Primorske.si (in Slovenian). Primorske novice, d.o.o. 26 June 2011. ISSN   1580-4747.