introduction to heraldry presented by yehuda ben moshe, elmet herald april 20, 2012
TRANSCRIPT
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
