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Introduction to Heraldry
Presented byYehuda ben Moshe, Elmet Herald
April 20, 2012
Which one do you root for?
How do you know?
Identification!
Identification!
Evolution of Heraldry
• Early devices were simple, designed for rapid identification of opponents.
Images from the Manesse Codex ca 1305
Evolution of Heraldry
• As warfare and technology evolved, individual identification became less important
• “Heraldic space” was filling up• Heraldry became a perk of the nobility• Devices got more complex
Evolution of Heraldry
Images from the Armorial of the Order of the Golden Fleece ca 1560
Evolution of Heraldry - Marshalling
• Noble families combined arms to show relationships
• Armigerous wives combined their devices with those of their husbands
• Children with two armigerous parents used devices combining those of
• Three types of marshalling – dimidiation, impalement, quartering
Evolution of Heraldry - Marshalling
Dimidiation Impaling Quartering
Images from Wikimedia Commons
Evolution of Heraldry - Marshalling
Evolution of Heraldry - Augmentation
• Individuals were sometimes granted the right to augment their arms
• Usually a sign of royal favor or recognition of some meritorious act
Edward SeymourThomas Howard
Images from Wikimedia Commons
Rules of Heraldry - Terminology
• Emblazon• The actual drawing of the device
• Blazon • A verbal description of the device• Written in a special language derived from Norman French• Follows specific grammar and construction rules
Rules of Heraldry - Terminology
• Directions are from the point of view of the person holding the shield
Chief
Base
Dexter Sinister
Images from Wikimedia Commons
Rules of Heraldry - Terminology
• Field – base “layer” of the device– Lines of division
• Charges – anything placed on the field (or on top of other charges)
• Tinctures– Colors– Metals
Rules of Heraldry - Tinctures
• Colors
• Metals
Gules Azure Sable Vert Purpure
Or Argent
Rules of Heraldry - Tinctures
• Rule of tincture – no color on color or metal on metal
• Assures good contrast and identifiability
Good Contrast Poor Contrast
Rules of Heraldry – Lines of Division
• The field can be divided into multiple sections• Field may be divided into 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 or more
parts• Adjoining sections aren’t required to have
good contrast with each other
Rules of Heraldry – Lines of Division
• Divisions into 2 sections
Per Fess Per Pale Per Bend Per BendSinister
Rules of Heraldry – Lines of Division
• Divisions into 2 sections
Per Chevron
Rules of Heraldry – Lines of Division
• Division into 3 sections
Per Chevron
Rules of Heraldry – Lines of Division
• Divisions into 4 sections
Per Saltire Quarterly
Rules of Heraldry – Ordinaries
• Ordinaries are charges• They are usually comprised of simple
geometric figures running from side to side or top to bottom of the field
• Ordinaries can be classified as central or peripheral
Rules of Heraldry – Ordinaries
a Pale a Bend
• Central ordinaries
a Fess a BendSinister
Images from Wikimedia Commons
Rules of Heraldry – Ordinaries
a Cross
• Central ordinaries
a Saltire a Chevron
Images from Wikimedia Commons
Rules of Heraldry – Ordinaries
a Base
• Peripheral ordinaries
a Chief a Bordure
Images from Wikimedia Commons
Rules of Heraldry – Geometrics
Roundels Lozenge
• Geometric Charges
Annulets Mascles
Images from Wikimedia Commons
Rules of Heraldry – Geometrics
Mulletsvoided
Pile
• Geometric Charges
Bar Gemel Billets
Images from Wikimedia Commons
Rules of Heraldry – Animals
LionRampant
Lion Dormant
• Animals can be drawn in different postures
Lion StatantGuardant
Two LionsCombatant
Images from Wikimedia Commons
Rules of Heraldry – Animals
Two FishAddorsed
EagleDisplayed
• Animals can be drawn in different postures
(Heraldic) DolphinNaiant
Hart’s headcabossed
Images from Wikimedia Commons
Rules of Heraldry – Charges
Tree Fructed
Fleur-de-lys
• Many other charges - plants
Garb (of Wheat)
(Heraldic)Rose
Images from Wikimedia Commons
Rules of Heraldry – Charges
Maunche Estoile
• Many other charges
Excarbuncle Sun in hissplendour
Images from Wikimedia Commons
Rules of Heraldry – Complex Lines
• Lines of division and lines forming ordinaries shown so far were simple, straight lines
• Such lines can also be complex, using various patterns.
Rules of Heraldry – Complex Lines
Embattled RayonnyWavyIndented
Images from Wikimedia Commons
Rules of Heraldry – Complex Lines
Invected UrdyNebulyEngrailed
Images from Wikimedia Commons
Rules of Heraldry – Blazon
• Blazon utilizes a specific grammar structure• Items generally follow the pattern “number,
name, posture, tincture”, with tincture always the last
• We usually blazon from lowest to highest level, from center out, from chief to base, from dexter to sinister
Rules of Heraldry – Blazon
• Gules, in pale three lions passant guardant Or
• Arms of England
Rules of Heraldry – Blazon
• Azure, three fleurs-de-lys Or
• Arms of France
Rules of Heraldry – Blazon
• Azure, three fleurs-de-lys Or within a bordure engrailed Gules
• Arms of the duc de Berry
Rules of Heraldry – Blazon
• Azure, on a bend gules between two mermaids argent, three fleurs-de-lys Or
• Arms of the Chefe Ornelas (Portugal)
Rules of Heraldry – Blazon
• Or, five mullets of eight points, two, one, and two gules, within a bordure azure
• Arms of the Chefe Barbedo (Portugal)
SCA Practice
• SCA heraldry is based largely on Anglo-Norman tradition
• Evolved over the years towards greater authenticity
• The SCA College of Heralds registers devices and names
SCA Practice
• Within the SCA, the tradition is that each of us earns our own noble title
• Therefore, the SCA does not registered marshalled arms
• Display of two individually registered arms marshalled together is perfectly fine
Resources
• http://heraldry.sca.org/ - the main page of the SCA College of Arms
• http://heraldry.sca.org/laurel/armory_articles.html - articles on various aspects of period and SCA heraldry
• http://www.eastkingdom.org/heraldry/ - East Kingdom College of Heralds
• http://ech.eastkingdom.org/ - East Kingdom submission information
Resources
• https://lists.andrew.cmu.edu/mailman/listinfo/sca-hrlds - SCA-HRLDS mailing list
• [email protected] – East Kingdom heraldry mailing list, send blank email to subscribe
• [email protected] – East Kingdom heraldry education mailing list, send blank email to subscribe
