Supporter

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Seal of the city of Berlin (1280), showing the Brandenburg coat of arms flanked by two bears Seal Berlin 1280.png
Seal of the city of Berlin (1280), showing the Brandenburg coat of arms flanked by two bears
Standesscheibe
of Solothurn, c. 1520, with two lions as supporters OrbisSaloduripagorumI.jpg
Standesscheibe of Solothurn, c.1520, with two lions as supporters
Early example of the Royal Arms of England with lion and dragon as supporters, from a painting of Edward VI dated c. 1547 Coa HenryVI MasterJohn.jpg
Early example of the Royal Arms of England with lion and dragon as supporters, from a painting of Edward VI dated c.1547

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.

Contents

Historically, supporters were left to an individual's free choice and were assumed and changed at will, not always having any meaning whatsoever. [1] In more modern times, restrictions have been put in place in certain countries and nowhere more prevalent than in the United Kingdom [1] .

Early forms of supporters are found in medieval seals. However, unlike the coronet or helmet and crest, supporters were not part of early medieval heraldry. As part of the heraldic achievement, they first become fashionable towards the end of the 15th century, but even in the 17th century were not necessarily part of the full heraldic achievement (being absent, for example, in Siebmachers Wappenbuch of 1605).

The figures used as supporters may be based on real or imaginary animals, human figures, and in rare cases plants or other inanimate objects, such as the pillars of Hercules of the coat of arms of Spain. Often, as in other elements of heraldry, these can have local significance, such as the fisherman and the tin miner granted to Cornwall County Council, or a historical link; such as the lion of England and unicorn of Scotland in the two variations of the coat of arms of the United Kingdom. The arms of nutritionist John Boyd-Orr use two 'garbs' (wheat sheaves) as supporters; the arms of USS Donald Cook, missiles; the arms of the state of Rio Grande do Norte in Brazil, trees. [2] Letters of the alphabet are used as supporters in the arms of Valencia, Spain. Human supporters can also be allegorical figures, or, more rarely, specifically named individuals. [3]

There is usually one supporter on each side of the shield, though there are some examples of single supporters placed behind the shield, such as the imperial eagle of the coat of arms of the Holy Roman Empire. The coat of arms of the Republic of the Congo provide an extremely unusual example of two supporters issuing from behind the shield. [4] While such single supporters are generally eagles [5] with one or two heads, there are other examples, including the cathedra in the case of some Canadian cathedrals. [6] At the other extreme and even rarer, the Scottish chief Dundas of that Ilk had three supporters: two conventional red lions and the whole supported by a salamander. The coat of arms of Iceland even has four supporters. [7]

The context of the application of supporters may vary, although entitlement may be considered conditioned by grant of a type of augmentation of honour by admission in orders of chivalry or by heraldic authorities, such as in the case of traditional British heraldry.

Attitude

Animal supporters are, by default, as close to rampant as possible, if the nature of the supporter allows it (this does not need to be mentioned in the blazon), though there are some blazoned exceptions. An example of whales 'non-rampant' is the arms of the Dutch municipality of Zaanstad. [8]

Regional development and entitlement

Older writers trace origins of supporters to their usages in tournaments, where the shields of the combatants were exposed for inspection, and guarded by their servants or pages disguised in fanciful attire. However, medieval Scottish seals afford numerous examples in which the 13th and 14th century shields were placed between two creatures resembling lizards or dragons. Also, the seal of John, Duke of Normandy, eldest son of the King of France, before 1316 bears his arms as; France ancient, a bordure gules, between two lions rampant away from the shield, and an eagle with expanded wings standing above it.

Australia

In Australia, Knights or Dames of the Order of Australia may be granted supporters. It is unclear whether supporters may only be used on arms granted by Garter Principal King of Arms, or whether other heraldic authority suffices. [9] Further, as arms may be legitimately adopted upon an armiger's whim, there may be nothing limiting the adoption of supporters by any person, should they so choose. [10]

Canada

In Canada, Companions of the Order of Canada, Commanders of the Order of Military Merit, Commanders of the Royal Victorian Order, people granted the style the Right Honourable, and corporations are granted the use of supporters on their coats of arms. [11] [12] Further, on his retirement from office as Chief Herald, Robert Watt was granted supporters as an honour. [13]

France

In France, writers made a distinctive difference on the subject of supporters, giving the name of Supports to animals, real or imaginary, thus employed; while human figures or angels similarly used are called Tenants (i.e. 'holders'). Trees and other inanimate objects which are sometimes used are called Soutiens.

New Zealand

Knights Grand Companion and Principal Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit are granted the use of heraldic supporters. [14]

Spain

In Spain, there is a difference between tenantes, used for human figures, soportes, used for beasts, and sosténes, used for anything other than humans or beasts. [15] There aren't any rules governing the use, position, or whether they face the viewer or not. [15] As a matter of fact, Vicente de Cadenas y Vicent says "There are no rules that determine the use of [supporters] and it can be considered that their use are complete capriciousness or fantasy, without any precedent, in almost the totality of cases, with documented justification for the inclusion of these ornaments with the arms of a House or individual." [15] The only generally accepted rule is that female and ecclesiastical arms should not have supporters, with the only exception for ecclesiastical the use of angels or when it comes to the arms of saints or monasteries. [15]

United Kingdom

Originally, in England, supporters were regarded as little more than mere decorative and artistic appendages.

In the United Kingdom, supporters are typically an example of special royal favour, granted at the behest of the sovereign. [16] Hereditary supporters are normally limited to hereditary peers, certain members of the Royal Family, and to some chiefs of Scottish clans.[ citation needed ] Non-hereditary supporters are granted to life peers; Knights and Ladies Companion of the Order of the Garter; Knights and Ladies of the Order of the Thistle; Knights and Dames Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath, the Order of St Michael and St George, the Royal Victorian Order and the Order of the British Empire; and Bailiffs and Dames Grand Cross of the Order of St John.[ citation needed ] Knights banneret were also granted non-hereditary supporters, but no such knight has been created since the time of Charles I.

Supporters may also be granted to corporations which have a royal charter.[ citation needed ]

Examples

See also

Related Research Articles

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Heraldry is a discipline relating to the design, display and study of armorial bearings, as well as related disciplines, such as vexillology, together with the study of ceremony, rank and pedigree. Armory, the best-known branch of heraldry, concerns the design and transmission of the heraldic achievement. The achievement, or armorial bearings usually includes a coat of arms on a shield, helmet and crest, together with any accompanying devices, such as supporters, badges, heraldic banners and mottoes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coat of arms</span> Heraldic design on a shield, surcoat or tabard

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">Motto</span> Short sentence expressing a motivation

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Compartment (heraldry)</span> Heraldic element placed under the shield

In heraldry, a compartment is a design placed under the shield, usually rocks, a grassy mount, or some sort of other landscape upon which the supporters are depicted as standing. Care must be taken to distinguish true compartments from items upon which supporters are merely resting one or more feet, or, sometimes, mere heraldic badges or pure decoration under the shield, and, conversely, care must also be taken in very unusual cases such as the coat of arms of Belize and Gabon, in which what may be taken to be a crest, trees in both coats of arms rising above the shield, is really part of the compartment. It is sometimes said to represent the land held by the bearer. As an official part of the blazon it is a comparatively late feature of heraldry, often derived from the need to have different supporters for different families or entities, although sometimes the compartment is treated in the blazon separately from the supporters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coat of arms of Nova Scotia</span>

The coat of arms of Nova Scotia is the heraldic symbol representing the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. It is the oldest provincial achievement of arms in Canada, and the oldest British coat of arms in use outside Great Britain. It is blazoned as follows: Argent, a saltire azure charged with an escutcheon of the Royal Arms of Scotland.

<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">Coat of arms of Scotland</span>

The coat of arms of Scotland, colloquially called the Lion Rampant, is the coat of arms historically used as arms of dominion by the monarchs of the Kingdom of Scotland, and later by monarchs of Great Britain and the United Kingdom. The coat of arms, or elements from it, are also used in heraldry to symbolise Scotland in general. The arms consist of a red lion surrounded by a red double border decorated with fleurs-de-lis, all on a gold background. The blazon, or heraldic description, is: Or a lion rampant Gules armed and langued Azure within a double tressure flory-counter-flory of the second.

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

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crown (heraldry)</span> Emblem of a sovereign state, usually a monarchy

A crown is often an emblem of a sovereign state, usually a monarchy, but also used by some republics.

<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.

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References

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  2. "Rio Grande do Norte - Brasão de Rio Grande do Norte (coat of arms, crest)". www.ngw.nl. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  3. "Flags of the World — Blumenau, Santa Catarina(Brazil)". fotw.net. Archived from the original on 25 July 2008. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  4. "Heraldry of the world - Congo_(Brazzaville)". www.ngw.nl. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  5. e.g. Perth & Kinross District Council (Scotland) at Heraldry of the World
  6. General, The Office of the Secretary to the Governor. "Saint Paul's Cathedral [Civil Institution]". archive.gg.ca. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  7. "Iceland". Heraldry of the World. 15 October 2023.
  8. "Zaanstad". Heraldry of the World. September 2023.
  9. "Insignia Ordinance". www.gg.gov.au. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  10. "Australian Heraldic Authority". heraldryaustralia.org. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  11. Greaves, Kevin (1994). A Canadian Heraldric Primer (PDF). The Royal Heraldry Society of Canada. p. 9. ISBN   0969306342.
  12. McCreery, Christopher (2008). On Her Majesty's Service: Royal Honours and Recognition in Canada . Toronto: Dundurn Press. p.  76. ISBN   9781550027426 . Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  13. "Organizing The Term Paper – mbmpl". www.scotsheraldry.com. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  14. "Statutes of the New Zealand Order of Merit (1996), article 50". legislation.govt.nz. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  15. 1 2 3 4 Cadenas y Vicent, Vicente de (1994). Fundamentos de Heráldica (Ciencia del Blasón). Madrid: Hidalguia. pp. 172–173. ISBN   8487204643.
  16. Charles Boutell; Arthur Charles Fox-Davies (2003). English Heraldry. Kessinger. p. 238. ISBN   0-7661-4917-X.
  17. "Rio Grande do Norte (Brazil)". www.crwflags.com. Retrieved 19 May 2023.