Introduction to Heraldry Presented by Yehuda 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 Thomas Howard Edward Seymour 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 Dexter Sinister Base 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 Gules Azure Sable Vert Purpure • Metals Argent Or
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 Bend Sinister
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 • Central ordinaries a Pale a Fess a Bend a Bend Sinister Images from Wikimedia Commons
Rules of Heraldry – Ordinaries • Central ordinaries a Cross a Saltire a Chevron Images from Wikimedia Commons
Rules of Heraldry – Ordinaries • Peripheral ordinaries a Chief a Base a Bordure Images from Wikimedia Commons
Rules of Heraldry – Geometrics • Geometric Charges Roundels Annulets Lozenge Mascles Images from Wikimedia Commons
Rules of Heraldry – Geometrics • Geometric Charges Mullets voided Bar Gemel Pile Billets Images from Wikimedia Commons
Rules of Heraldry – Animals • Animals can be drawn in different postures Lion Rampant Lion Statant Guardant Lion Dormant Two Lions Combatant Images from Wikimedia Commons
Rules of Heraldry – Animals • Animals can be drawn in different postures Two Fish Addorsed (Heraldic) Dolphin Naiant Eagle Displayed Hart’s head cabossed Images from Wikimedia Commons
Rules of Heraldry – Charges • Many other charges - plants Tree Fructed Garb (of Wheat) Fleur-de-lys (Heraldic) Rose Images from Wikimedia Commons
Rules of Heraldry – Charges • Many other charges Maunche Excarbuncle Estoile Sun in his splendour 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 Indented Wavy Rayonny Images from Wikimedia Commons
Rules of Heraldry – Complex Lines Invected Engrailed Nebuly Urdy 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 • ekheralds-subscribe@eastkingdom.org – East Kingdom heraldry mailing list, send blank email to subscribe • EKHerEd-subscribe@yahoogroups.com – East Kingdom heraldry education mailing list, send blank email to subscribe
Resources • Elmet Herald – I am the East Kingdom heraldic education deputy • elmet@eastkingdom.org
