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The Reichs Council of The Nobility of Germany
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The Reichs College of Princes and Counts of The Holy Roman Empire
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The Reichs College of Princes and
Counts of The Holy Roman Empire
1489-2008
Imperial Council of Princes
and Counts of Germany
Heraldry of The Holy Roman Empire
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(Above)
Imperial Letters Patent of Arms, Issued by The Holy Roman Emperor Charles V.
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THE HISTORY OF HERALDRY
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THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE
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The Holy Roman Emperor of The German Nation, was ultimately the fount of all honours, including arms, The Emperors delegated the granting of arms to other high-ranking personages, but they often took a keen interest in heraldic design, and kept certain honours, such as augmentation of part of the Imperial Arms, very much under their personal control. Under the Emperors of the house of Hohenstaufen (1138-1254), the eagle became the accepted symbol of the rulers of Germany, and through a series of embellishments was turned from a simple one-headed bird (black on a gold shield)into the glorious two-headed creature that became the symbol of the Holy Roman Empire. Heraldry or armory is the science and the art that deal with the use, meaning, knowledge, display and regulation of hereditary symbols, emblems or pictured signs employed to distinguish individuals, institutions and corporations. These symbols, which originated as identification devices on flags and shields from the chivalric times of the Crusades, are called armorial bearings. As its necessary principal part the conventional coat of arms includes a shield on which the charges or figures are depicted according to national heraldic traditions and rules of blason. The full armorial achievement may also comprise a helmet, a mantling or lambrequin, a wreath or torse, a crest coronet, a crown or chapeau, a crest, a motto or a cris-de-guerre on an escrol, supporters on a compartment and, sometimes, a mantle or a robe of estate, as well as various augmentations of honour, insignia of knighthood, heraldic flags, banners, standards and badges.
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THE ELECTORS OF THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE
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For centuries it was the practice for certain great princes to elect the Holy Roman Emperor, and for much of the period the number of electors was limited to seven in number, They were the Archbishops of Mainz, Trier, and Cologne (who were respectively the Arch-Chancellors of Germany, Gaul and Italy) and four lay dynasts, who each enjoyed certain Imperial offices during the Coronation: The King of Bohemia, (Imperial Cupbearer), The Duke of Saxony, (Imperial Marshal), The Count Palatine of the Rhine, (Imperial Steward), and The Margrave of Brandenburg, (Imperial Chamberlain). The Arms of the Lay Electors each tended to include the symbol of their Imperial Offices. Therefore the Dukes of Saxony, bore an escutcheon (sometimes shown as a quarter) bearing the crossed swords of the marshalcy. The Duke-Electors of Bavaria, bore an escutcheon with the Orb of the Empire, and the Margraves of Brandenburg, charged their Arms with an escutcheon bearing the Emperors sceptre. These Officers of The Holy Roman Empire, often delegated some of their duties, and with them the right to their insignia, to lesser members of their families. This is why the Swabian branch of the Hohenzollerns (the family of the Margraves of Brandenburg) placed in the centre of their quarters a blue escutcheon charged with crossed sceptres.
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THE IMPERIAL HOFPFALTZGRAFEN
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A Hofpfaltzgraf (Comes Palatinus)had certain Heraldic powers of creation and registeration of Arms, the holder of this Imperial Title and Dignity could be a person, a corporate body, or a an organisation. Most Noble Families held the position as an Hereditary Title. Not only were the Noble Families of Stadion, Schwarzenberg, Behaim and many others Hofpfaltzgrafen but so too were the Monasterys of Brixen/Tryol, Metz, Toul, Verdun, the Council of Salzburg and the University of Vienna.
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THE IMPERIAL DIGNITIES OF THE EMPIRE
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In the Holy Roman Empire, the granting of Arms usually went hand in hand with an act of ennoblement. Families, and even prelates of the Church, who came to hold high Office within the Empire, were quick to include in their shields a compartment or escutcheon devoted to their regalian rights. Among these is the splendid achievement of Franz Georg von Schonborn (1729-56), Archbishop of Trier, Prince-Bishop of Worms, Prince-Provost of Ellwangen and Prince-Abbot of Prum, who also happened to bear the glorious Title of Oberst-Erblandtruchsess (Hereditary High Steward) of Austria, a fact indicated in his shield by the Imperial Eagle and a crowned escutcheon of the Arms of Austria. Lion supporters also held high his banners of Office. In common with many other high-ranking prelates of the time, his achievement includes no sign indicating ecclesiastical rank, unless, almost as an afterthought, it is by way of the cross on his princely bonnet. Another unusual item that has found its way on to an achievement of Arms is the horses comb borne by the (now extinct) Princes of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen, who were hereditary Masters of the Imperial Stables. Also included in their achievement is a curious device like a pitchfork, which could be mistaken for an implement used to muck out the Imperial horses; in fact it is associated with other rights connected with the mining of silver in the Harz Mountains. The Princes of Schwarzburg also made use of a unique crest, an allegory of a very special diginity, that of the "greater Komitiv", which conferred the right to grant Arms, to ennoble commoners, and to install barristers. Such a right was associated with the title of Hofpfalzgraf (Count Palatine of the Imperial Court). While the right to grant arms in the Holy Roman Empire rested with the Emperor, some secular and ecclesiastical princes, certain universities and persons of high standing, were granted the right of Komitiv. The "lesser Komitiv" was limited to legitimizing children and granting Arms to commoners. The Counts of Schwarzburg-Sonderhausen were created Hofpfalzgrafen by Leopold I, on 22nd of December 1691. on 3rd of September 1697, they were raised to the degree of Princes, and were then granted augmented Arms that included the crest denoting the greater Komitiv: a knight with a sword.
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THE WAPPENSAAL
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The Nobility of Germany, perhaps more conscious of their lineage than any of their class elsewhere in europe, often set aside a room in a mansion or castle as a Wappensaal, or armorial hall. Usually the shields were formally lined in a frieze around the walls in order of precedence, with the local rulers given prime position. In Austria a popular theme was a family tree of the Imperial family, often with figures depicting individual members accompanied by their shield of arms. Sometimes the scenes depicted were all too graphic, as in Tratzberg Castle in the Tryol. Here, a frieze shows Albrecht of Habsburg, the King of the Romans, being stabbed to death by his nephew johan "the Patricide" in 1308. The evil nature of the deed is expressed by showing Archduke Johan accompanied by a snake. The Habsburg themselves were keen to claim descent through heraldry, not only from the former ruling dynasty of Austria, the House of Babenburg, but also from legendary rulers of Austria. This theme is played out in its fullest form on the front of the Cathedral Church of St.George, in Wiener Neustadt, where the Coronation of Emperor Fredericke III was commemorated in 1453 through the Wappenwand, a heraldic frieze representing a fantastical genealogical tree of the House of Austria through 95 Lordships. The theme of maintaining the status quo through heraldry is awesomely expressed in the Provincial Council House of Carinthia, Klagenfurt, where each noble family, abbey and town is represented through a baroque cartouche of arms. Not content with one Wappensaal, the heraldic scheme, which includes nearly 700 shields in all, also finds its way into a second, smaller chamber.
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GERMAN TITLES OF THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE
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In the Holy Roman Empire, it was usual for a family's arms to be augmented with quarters as it advanced up the social scale. The original arms were usually kept as a Herzschild ("heart shield"). Coronets of rank were used but often a simplified variant of the arms with a crest coronet, or the family shield and crest displayed in simple medieval style, was preferred. One unusual form of heraldic headgear worth looking out for is the cap or bonnet of the electors of the Holy Roman Empire, a scarlet cap with a large (often scalloped) ermine brim. Such a cap can be seen in the arms borne by the Hanoverian King George III of Britain, as Prince-Elector of the Holy Roman Empire. There is some confusion outside German-speaking lands about the prefixes attached to the title of Graf ("Count"), such as Burggraf, Pfatzgraf or Markgraf. These simply designate a particular territorial responsibility and were not heraldically distinguished. A Burggraf ruled over a Burg or Fortress; a Pfatz was a Palatinate and a Mark was a marcher, or border, land. The prefix von in a name corresponds to the French de, both simply meaning "of". In both German and French names, the word is followed by the place name of the family home, although as an adjunct of nobility it was common practice to add the "von", and place name to a surname after ennoblement. Families of ancient nobility took their surnames from their estates. No family name was required, they were simply "von... For those families of ancient origin still in possession of their estate, von was replaced by zu ("to"), or even von und zu, although this style was not so commonly used. In later centuries the use of von in front a name became debased, becoming almost as common as the van in Dutch surnames. Since World War I, the position of the armiger, whether a private individual or a civic authority, has proved complex and curious in German-speaking lands. Before that time, a noble title was inherited by all the legitimate children of a noble father, not just the eldest son, as is the case in the British nobility. After 1919, the bearing of noble titles was banned altogether in Austria, while in Germany the title was allowed in effect to become affixed to the family's surname. Therefore, in name if not in fact, the German aristocracy may survive long after the demise of the nobility of other nations. This change meant that for the first time the adopted children of noble fathers, who could previously use the family name but could not inherit the noble title, were now able to call themselves, for example, "Hugo Graf von..." or "Gisela Freifrau von..." and pass the name on to their own children.
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THE IMPERIAL REGULATION OF ARMS
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World War I swept away not only the German and Austrian Empires, but also various other German monarchies (those of Baden, Wurttemberg and Bavaria), which had each maintained their own heraldic authorities. Where once the German heralds granted arms on behalf of monarchs, their place has now been taken by a number of heraldic societies (for private individuals) and state government (for local authorities), although in both cases the cerification of arms is purely a registration process, without any formal authority to grant armorial bearings. Whereas The Imperial College of Heraldry holds all official and non official authority over all the formal Granting and Registration of arms in European nations holding present or former Imperial jurisdiction where concerned.
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A BRIEF HISTORY OF HERALDS
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The First Heralds were probably wandering minstrels whose ability to memorize the great heroic songs of love and war made them well suited for remembering and recounting the devices on the shields that they saw on their travels all over Europe. Their skills of recognition were employed in battle to identify the arms and banners of opposing forces. By the late 14th century, heralds held a prominent position within the court or household. Heralds were also called officers of arms and were organized by the marshal. In peacetime the heralds compiled armorial records and organized tournaments. Tournaments began as a brutal sport, but by the 14th and 15th centuries they had developed into a highly organized series of ceremonies and pageants closely bound up with heraldic display. Under the control of the heralds, strict codes of conduct and behaviour were enforced on and off the "field of honour". To break this code, or to act in any way unchivalrously, could bring dishonour to a knight, and, more importantly, to his coat of arms-the very symbol of his family name and pride. One important ceremony was the 'helm show', in which knights would present their helmet and crest to the heralds or judges and the ladies of the court. The ladies would name those knights who they felt were tarnished in some way and the unfortunate knight would have his helm identified by the herald and cast to the ground. As the tournament grew more elaborate a 'theme' would be announced and the heralds would sometimes device special arms or pictorial references for use during the festivities. Such events gave the herald ample opportunity to show off his skill.
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THE HISTORY OF HERALDS STAVES OF OFFICE
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The heralds of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance claimed to trace the origin of our office from the caduceator, a Roman official who, as you can guess, carried a caduceus, the emblem of Mercury, who was the herald of Olympus. His job was delivering messages declaring war and peace, calling for truces, and other duties that heralds have always performed in times of war. The caduceus of the caduceator was not the elaborate winged wand with snakes commonly associated with Mercury in art today. That representation of the caduceus emerged late in Antiquity, when the old Roman religion was fading out. Instead, the caduceator's caduceus, as well as that of Mercury, was about eighteen inches long, with a white ribbon tied near the top. The very top had a snall knob. The caduceator seems to have disappeared as Roman culture decayed and Antiquity gave way to the Middle Ages. Even though the barbarians who took over most of the Empire admired Roman wealth and culture, they had their own customs when it came to war, which shoved Roman war customs into the dustbin of history. Also, the caduceator's clear ties to Mercury would have put the office under attack after the adoption of Christianity as Rome's official religion by Constantine the Great. Centuries passed before anything like a caduceator would return to Europe. Heralds emerged out of the mirk of history in northern France in the twelfth century. However, the earliest depictions of heralds are much later, dating to the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. Since England's College of Arms is, nominally, the source of many of the SCA's heraldic customs, it seems appropriate for English examples to come first. Illuminations of Lancastrian and Tudor grants of arms depict heralds holding thin, slightly tapering, plain white staves between eighteen and twenty-four inches long. Modern English heralds' staves' size and shape are like the early staves, but they can be either black or white. Each has a specific herald's badge of office on top, and a handle like that of a nightstick on the bottom. Modern Scots heralds carry a black rod tipped at both ends with ivory. In France and parts of the Holy Roman Empdepiction of two heralds show them holding elaborately turned staves about two feet long. Like the modern English herald's staff, these had nightstick- like handles at one end, and badges-in this case, fleurs-de- lys-at the other. The herald's staff is often carried by the herald during processions. As a staff of office, it stands for the authority imparted to the herald by his office, as a sort of substitute for a sceptre, just like a field marshal's baton. In other situations, heralds wrap scrolls around them and use them as stabilizers. It could also be waved overhead to get the attention of a group. The caduceus' ribbons would be useful for this prupose.ire, the usual mediaeval herald's staff resembled the Tudor herald's staff, but was sometimes a bit longer. Heralds in the Holy Roman Empire also were known to carry staves that were striped in their employer's liveries. However, mediaeval and Renaissance heralds' staves could also be fairly elaborate. Some heralds in the Iberian kingdoms and the Holy Roman Empire who had especially powerful employers carried staves like ceremonial maces with their employers' coats of arms on the mace-head. An English picture showing all the regalia of a king of arms has a similar staff. Also, a very late Renaissance Swedish
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THE MEANING OF THE WORD BLAZON
THE LANGUAGE OF HERALDRY
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Blazon is an heraldic language adopted by early heralds to regulate and control the use of colours, charges, and so on. This language was originally in French and Latin and still uses words from these languages. Blazon totally and precisely describes a coat of arms in such a way that there is no room for doubt or confusion. The coat of arms is centred on a shield, its most important component. There are five heraldic colours which are called tinctures namely the following-'Purpure'(purple)'Sable'(black) 'Vert'(green) 'Azure'(blue)'Gules'(red). There are also two metals and several furs namely- 'Gold'(Or) can be depicted as yellow,'Silver'(Argent) is depicted as white. The most common furs are Ermine and Vair (grey squirrel). Rules were developed whereby tincture was never placed over tincture or metal over metal. The surface of the Shield is known as the field and the art of good heraldry is to keep the field as simple as possible, using as few tinctures, metals, shapes and objects as possible. Blazoning a coat of arms, is the heraldic term for describing a coat of arms. First the Field (background) of the shield is described, then the principal charge, followed by lessor charges on the field and lessor charges on the principal charge. A full coat of arms (in heraldry the correct term is an Achievement of Arms) usually includes the shield, the crest and the helmet of rank, a motto often appears but is not strictly necessary. In certain cases the shield maybe held by figures, animals or fabulous beasts, and these are called supporters. Therefore the blazon builds a step by step picture of a coat of arms.
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HERALDIC FURS
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Two Fur patterns were utilized in heraldic art. Ermine, generally displayed as a white-argent field with a repeating black-sable motif representing the animals tails.This practice recalls early periods when pelts were attached to the covers of shields. The other pattern more rarely used is "Vair", believed to mimic squirrel skins sewn together. Usually is shown as a white-argent field with a bell/shield shape in blue/azure spaced evenly across the surface.Both furs can occasionally use different tinctures but must observe the rules regarding contrast & metals versus tinctures.
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THE USE OF CHARGES AND
HELMETS IN HERALDRY
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The shapes and objects placed on the shield are called charges. Some charges feature military subjects, such as scaling ladders, arrows or other weapons. A complete heraldic bestiary evolved with fantastic creatures based on classical mythology and the heralds imagination. Charges such as lions were given different terms to show their 'attitude'-Guardant (looking at you), Dormant(lying down), Rampant(standing on one back leg), and so on. In more recent times, symbols of contemporary civilization have begun to appear on coat of arms: the symbol of the atom and an heraldic representation of the internet are two examples. The charges- which include Ordinaries- and colours can be placed and combined on the shield in an infinite variety. The Ordinaries are simple geometric shapes placed on the shield, they have been used since early heraldry, namely-(The Chief), (The Saltire), (The Cross), (The Fess), (The Pale), (The Chevron), (The Pile), (The Bend), (The Bend Sinister), (The Pall).
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SIMPLE HERALDIC CHARGES
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Many animal charges were used in the art of heraldry, the creatures chosen were as often fantasy/mythological as real. Sometimes they were real but never seen by the artist and wouldn't be recognized by modern eyes.
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ANIMAL HERALDIC CHARGES
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Animal charges are described by the pose in which they were shown such as "rampant"- rearing up in a combative stance or "passant"- a more docile pose. The direction they faced was noted in their description; "dexter" means to face to their right and "sinister" to face to their left.
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IMPERIAL SUPPORTERS IN THE
HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE
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Supporters, as their name suggests, are those heraldic accessories that support the shield of arms. They may be human figures, animals or mythical beasts, and very rarely they can also be inanimate objects. Supporters are by no means as common as the other components of a coat of arms, the shield, crest and helmet. They are mainly associated with the highest Ranks of Nobility and Royalty. In the Holy Roman Empire, some cities with rights of free trade and exemption from certain taxes bore their Coat of Arms on the Imperial Doppeladler or Double-Headed Eagle of The Holy Roman Empire, certain Families of High-Ranking Nobles such the Counts and Princes of The Holy Roman Empire, also often bore their arms on the breast of this creature, surely the most impressive charge of all, in the entire heraldic menagerie. The grandest creature of all must be the Quaternionenadler, eblem of the Holy Roman Empire between the 15th century and the 17th century. Here the Double-Headed Eagle was fully displayed, with each pinion of its wings bearing a group of four shields representing the Empires lands.
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HERALDIC AUGMENTATIONS
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Italy was a constant battleground in the Middle Ages: the struggle between the Pope and the Emperor, which extended into the long-lasting Guelf / Ghibelline conflict, was later followed by the wars between France and Spain over control of the Peninsula. As a result, many Italian families have adopted or received augmentations as indication of the side they had chosen. The terms of Guelfi and Ghibellini come from a dispute between two German families, the Hohenstaufen (lords of Weibelingen) and the Welfen, over the Imperial throne, between 1138 and 1234. This dispute ended in Germany but its repercussions continued in Italy. The two terms appeared there in 1218, and came to mean partisans of Italian freedom from foreign intervention, support of the Pope, and democratic institutions (Guelfi) versus partisans of the Emperor's participation in Italian affairs and strong central authority (Ghibellini). The Angevin dynasty in Naples (1266-1435) was the Pope's ally against the Emperor, hence the chief of Anjou, which recalls the arms of this junior branch of France. In practice, the terms were used to designate long-standing rivalries, and Pisa was Ghibelline because Florence was Guelf; and "per fess" meant Guelf because "per pale" meant Ghibelline! Florence was a long-standing Guelf city, and the arms of the Guelf party were an eagle preying on a wyvern and surmounted by a fleur-de-lys flory.
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(Above)
The Holy Roman Emperor and The Imperial Arms of Empire, surrounded by The Imperial Seven Electors and their Princely Arms of The Empire. The Arms of The Holy Roman Emperor of The German Nation, Or, a double-headed eagle displayed sable, The Crest, an Imperial Crown Closed by high arches, surmounted by an Eagle on a globe, Or. "Long lives Charles, by the Hand of God, Imperator Augustus of The Romans".
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THE COMPLETE TERMINOLOGY OF HERALDRY
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ABATEMENT -Mark of dishonour added to arms. None exists in English heraldry but there is at least one example in modern Scottish heraldry.
ACHIEVEMENT -The complete armorial ensigns.
ADDRESSED -Back to back.
AFFRONTY -Facing the front.
ALLERION -An eagle displayed but without beak and legs.
ANNULET -A ring.
ANTELOPE -The heraldic antelope has serrated horns, a beak, tufts on the body, and a lions tail.
APAUME -Hand or gauntlet, open and showing the palm.
ARGENT -Silver/White.
ARMED -Used to refer to the claws, talons, tusks, and suchlike of creatures when of a different tincture from the body. Also used of parts of the human body when encased in armor.
ARMIGER -One who bears arms. Hence "armigerous".
AT GAZE -A synonym for guardant but only applied to members of the deer species.
ATTIRED -Used to describe antlers when of a different tincture from the head or body.
AUGMENTATION -An addition made to arms, often to commemorate a special achievement or event.
AZURE -Blue.
BADGE -A heraldic symbol, often combined with a motto, indicating status of one kind or another.
BANNER -(1) Poetic expression for flags in general. (2) In a narrower sense, an armorial flag. (3) A hanging standard or flag. In the strictest sense, a banner is bestowed on the bearer under specific conditions and cannot therefore be readily exchanged for a copy of the same design. For this reason it is usually fixed permanently to the staff.
BAR -An ordinary which runs horizontally across the shield like a fess, but narrower than the latter.
BAR GEMEL -Two narrow bars close together.
BARBED -Used to refer to points of arrows and spears and the sepals of a rose.
BARRE -French term for bend sinister.
BASE -The bottom third of the shield.
BATON -A bendlet couped when borne from sinister chief to dexter base it is a mark of bastardy.
BEAR ARMS -To bear arms consists of making use of the coat of arms on all appropriate occasions.
BEND -An ordinary consisting of a band running diagonally across the shield from dexter chief to sinister base. A small bend is bendlet.
BEND SINISTER -A band running diagonally across the shield from dexter base to sinister chief.
BEZANT -A gold roundel representing a coin but usually shown plain and unstamped.
BICORPORATE -Having two bodies conjoined to a single head.
BILLET -A charge consisting of a small rectangle, usually used in large numbers to cover a field, which is then known as billety.
BLAZON -The technical heraldic language for describing a coat of arms. The blazon must include all the details required to enable the artist to draw an accurate coat of arms.
BORDURE -A band running round and touching the edge of the shield.
BUFFALO HORNS -Two bulls' or cows' horns used occasionally as a charge and extremely frequently as a crest in central Europe.
BURGUNDIAN CROSS -A diagonal cross formed from two crossed branches.
CABOSHED -Used of the heads of certain animals when shown affronty and cut off clean behind the ears.
CADUCEUS -The staff of Mercury or Hermes. It consists of a rod round which two serpents are entwined and ending two wings at the top.
CALTRAP -A charge derived from a kind of iron spike strewn on the ground to impale horses' hooves.
CANTING ARMS -Arms which make a pun or play on words involving the name of the bearer.
CANTON -An ordinary consisting of a small square in the dexter chief of the shield.
CELESTICAL CROWN -A coronet composed of eight triangular points, each ensigned with a star and set about a rim.
CHAPEAU -A cap of red velvet rimmed with ermine extending into two points at the back. Popular in England as part of a crest.
CHARGE -Any object used in heraldry.
CHEQUY -A pattern of checkers like a chessboard.
CHESS ROOK -A represention of the chess piece.
CHEVRON -An ordinary like an inverted V emerging from the base of the shield.
CHIEF -(1)The upper third of a shield. (2) A shortened form of chief shield.
CHIEF SHIELD -A practical term for a large shield quartered, bearing one or more inescutcheons.
CINQUEFOIL -A five-petaled figure, rose-shaped.
CLARION -An old musical instrument.
COLOURS -The colours, as opposed to the metals, which make up the heraldic palette.
COMBATTANT -Used when two rampant figures face each other as if in combat.
COMPARTMENT -The ground on which supporters sometimes stand.
COMPONY -Used of a charge which is divided into alternating rectangles of two different tinctures. The border of a shield so decorated would be a bordure compony.
COTISED -Used of certain ordinaries when shown with a narrow diminutive on either side. If two cotises are shown on each side it is termed double cotised.
COUCHANT -Lying down but with head erect.
COUNTERCHANGED -A way of describing a partitioned shield where the metal and colour on one side of the partition line are reversed on the other side.
COUPED -Charges which are untypically cut off so that they do not touch the edge of the shield.
COURANT -Running.
CRINED -Use of hair and tufts of hair when of a diffferent tincture from the body.
CRAMPON -An iron clamp used by builders to strengthen walls, often used as an armorial charge.
CRONAL -The crown-shaped steel tip of a jousting lance.
CROWN VALLERY -A coronet composed of eight inverted "shield-shapes" set about a rim.
CROZIER -The badge of abbots and bishops, derived from the shepherds crook.
DANCETTY -A partition line composed of deep indentations.
DEER'S ATTIRES -A favorite form of crest in Germany.
DEVISE -The French term for a badge.
DEXTER -The heraldic term for right.
DIMIDIATE -Cut in half; often used of two coats each halved vertically, the dexter side of one being impaled by the sinister side of the other.
DIADEM -A Crown.
DIAPERED -(Damasked), A field so described has its plain surface broken up by patterns executed in a lighter or darker shade of the same color.
DISARMED -Used of an animal or bird deprived of its weapons.
DISPLAYED -A bird with wings outspread, tips upward. One also speaks of displaying arms.
DOUBLE-QUEUED -Having two tails. This occurs almost exclusively with the lion and was characteristic of a number of arms in the classical period of heraldry .
DOUBLE TRESSURE -Two narrow parallel lines forming a border within the shield. When interspersed with fleurs-de-lis on alternate sides it is termed "fleury counterfleury". This is a favourite charge in Scotland.
DRAGON -A scaly, four-legged monster with batlike wings and an eagles claws.
DUCAL CORONET -A coronet similar to that of a duke but having four instead of eight strawberry leaves set about a rim. It is often used in place of a crest wreath but does not indicate rank.
EAGLE -One of the commonest medieval charges on heraldic shields, often denoting imperial sovereignty.
EASTERN CROWN -A crown consisting of triangular segments on a headband.
ENFILE -Encircle or environ.
ENGRAILED -A scalloped line of partition, the points of the scalloping pointing outward.
ENNOBLEMENT -When a hitherto bourgeois family is raised to the ranks of the nobility by a reigning sovereign, it at the same time receives a coat of arms.
ENSIGN -Place above, as of a crown resting on a rose.
ERASED -Cut off roughly, leaving a ragged edge.
ERMINE -A fur composed of black ermine spots on white.
ERMINOIS -A variant of ermine, the background being gold instead of white.
ESCARBUNCLE -A wheel usually consisting of eight ornamental spokes radiating from a central boss and terminating in fleurs-de-lis.
FAMILY TREE -A tabular record of the ancestors of a particular person or family.
FESS -A heraldic ordinary consisting of wide horizontal bar across the central third of the shield.
FESS POINT -The center point of the shield.
FESSWISE -Running horizontally across the center of the shield.
FIELD -The plain ground on which a coat of arms is painted.
FIELD OF ROYAL PREROGATIVE -A completely red field appearing in some royal arms.
FITCHED -Pointed at the foot; used of crosses whose bottom arms ends in a point.
FLAG -The generic term for any decorative piece of material fixed loosely to a staff and not necessarily of armorial significance.
FLANKS OR FLAUNCHES -The lateral thirds of a shield.
FLEUR-DE-LIS -A stylized form of lily; the emblem of the Kings of France. Applied to a lance tip so shaped.
FLIGHTED -Used of the feathers of an arrow, as for example when they are of a different colour.
FLEURY COUNTERFLEURY -See double tressure.
FOUNTAIN -A roundel barry wavy argent and azure.
FRET -A voided lozenge interlaced by a bendlet and a bendlet sinister.
FURS -Generic term for the stylized representation of animal pelts in heraldry.
FUSIL -An elongated lozenge.
GHIBELLINE BATTLEMENTS -Crenelation with dovetial shaped notches on their upper edges.
GORGED -Used of an animal wearing a collor, which may be a plain collor or also a wreath or a crown. The unicorn of Scotland is gorged with a crown.
GOUTTY -Covered with drops or gouttes.
GRIFFIN -A mythical beast whose upper body resembles that of an eagle, but with pointed ears, and the lower part that of a lion.
GUARDANT -Used of heraldic animals which are looking out at the spectator.
GULES -Red.
GYRONNY -Used of a shield that is divided into at least six triangular segments (gyrons) by lines radiating from the center.
HAMADE -A bar couped (i.e., not touching the edge of the shield).
HARPY -A mythical creature with a vultures body and the head and bust of a women.
HATCHMENT -A corruption of achievement but used solely to describe an achievement painted on a lozenge to indicate the death of the bearer. The way the background is coloured indicates the marital status of the deceased.
HAURIENT -Used to describe a fish shown erect.
HERALD -Originally a messenger and maker of proclamations, the herald became involved with armory by necessity. His functions on the medieval battlefield combined those of ambassador and armorial expert. Outside the realms of heraldry, the concept of "herald" is connected with ideas of communication and publicity. Thus the International Herald Tribune is a newspaper, and Herald books an English publisher.
HEXAGRAM -A charge formed of two interlaced triangles, one of them inverted; also known as the star of David or the seal of Solomon.
HILTED -Used of a sword whose hilt has a colour of its own.
IMPALE -To place two coats side by side on a single shield, as in certain marital arms where the husbands coat is placed on the dexter and the wifes on the sinister half of the shield.
INESCUTCHEON -Used of a small shield borne in the center of another shield.
INVERTED -Used of a charge turned through 180 from its normal position.
IRRADIATED -With rays of light issuing from a charge.
ISSUANT -Used of a charge emerging from a line or border.
JAMB -The leg of a beast.
KNOTS -Knots made out of lengths of cord are very popular as family badges in England. A knot in the form of a figure 8 is considered a love knot, because it closes when the ends of the cord are pulled.
LABEL -A narrow bar with tabs or points pendant from it. A label of three points across the top of a shield is the distinguishing mark of the eldest son.
LANGUED -Almost all heraldic beasts have their tongues done in a different colour, and this is known as langued.
LINED -Refers to the inside of a piece of material.
LODGED -A synonym for couchant but only used in repect of animals of the deer species.
LOZENGE -A charge consisting of a rhombus standing on its point. In western Europe it is customary for a womans arms to be on a lozenge.
LOZENGY -Used of a field divided in a diagonal criss-cross pattern to give a series of lozenges.
LUNEL -A group of four half moons with their tips turned towards one another.
LYMPHAD -An ancient ship with a single mast. Often shown with flags flying, sail unfurled, and oars in action.
MANTLING -The decorative piece of material attached to the helmet and covering the back of the neck.
MARSHAL -Draw up an achievement of arms showing the insignia and quarterings.
MARTLET -A bird resembling a house martin but having no feet; a popular charge in the Netherlands, and in England it is a mark of the fourth son.
MASCLE -A voided lozenge.
MASONED -A charge representing masonry is said to be masoned. The joins between the blocks are assumed to be of the same shade in a darker tone unless otherwise blazoned.
MAUNCH -The sleeve of a ladys dress shown in a stylized manner.
MELUSINE -A young maiden with long hair and a fishs tail.
MILL-RIND -A charge similar to a crampon representing the iron which supports a millstone; it is pierced in the center to take the spindle of the millstone.
MONOGRAM -A badge composed of different letters or initials.
MULLET -A star, normally of five points drawn with straight lines; derives from the molet or spur-rowel.
MURAL CROWN OR WREATH -An embattled crown or garland bestowed on the first soldier to scale the walls of a besieged town.
NAIANT -Used to described a fish swimming across the shield.
NAISSANT -When one charge issues from the middle of another.
NAVAL CROWN -A coronet composed of hulls and sails of ships set alternately about a rim.
NEBULY -One of the lines of partition.
NESSELBLATT ( Nettle Leaf )-The German term for a charge formed using a zigzag bordure.
NIMBUS OR CIRCLE OF GLORY -A synonym for halo.
NOBILITY -The Highest social class. There are particular crowns corresponding to the different grades of nobility.
NOMBRIL POINT -A point situated between the fess point and the base of the shield.
NOWED -Knotted; often applied to snakes or the tails of beasts when tied in a knot.
OCTOFOIL -An eight-leaved figure.
OMBRELLO -An umbrella or canopy used as a sign of dignity in church.
OR -Gold.
ORB OR MOUND -Part of the monarchs regalia consisting of a ball surmounted by a cross, which symbolizes temporal sovereignty under the rule of Christ.
ORDINARIES -A term used to refer to certain basic geometric charges such as the pale, fess, chevron, chief, cross, bend and bend sinister, pile, and saltire.
ORIFLAMME -(1)The Imperial banner of France. (2) A long, pointed banner hanging on a transverse staff.
ORLE -A bordure standing away from the edge of the shield by its own width.
OVER ALL -Used of a charge which is superimposed on several other charges.
PALE -An Ordinary consisting of a broad vertical band down the central third of the shield.
PALL -A Y-shaped band on a shield.
PALISADO CROWN -A coronet composed of pointed stakes set about a rim; similar to a crown vallery.
PALLET -A narrow pale.
PALLIUM -The ecclesiastical pallium shown in the form of Y, the top limbs issuing from the corners of the shield.
PANTHER -A mythical beast.
PARTED -The term used to signify that a field is divided into different segments.
PASSANT -Walking along.
PEAN -A variant of ermine composed of gold ermine spots on black.
PEGASUS -The mythical winged horse.
PELLET -A balck roundel, also called an orgress or gunstone.
PENTAGRAM -Five-pointed version of the seal of solomon.
PER BEND -Per bend sinister.
PER FESS -Per fess.
PER PALE -Per pale.
PURPURE -Purple.
PURSUIVANT -A junior herald.
PHOEN -An arrowhead.
PHONENIX -A mythical bird.
PILE -An ordinary consisting of a triangular wedge emerging from the chief or, when reserved, the base.
PLACING OF CHARGES -Charges are described in such a way as to indicate their manner of placing on a field. Where three like charges are placed on a shield, two are always deemed to be in the chief and one in the base unless otherwise mentioned. Charges placed in a row across the middle of the shield are "in fess", vertically down the middle they are "in pale".
PATE -A silver roundel.
PLUME -A very popular crest composed of a bunch of feathers.
POMEIS -A green roundel.
PORTCULLIS -A vertically lowered gate consisting of horizontal and vertical bars, the latter pointed at the bottom.
POTENT -The ancient name for a crutch, shown heraldically as a charge in the form of a T.
PROPER -Anything depicted in its natural colours.
QUARTERED -To divide a shield into any number of divisions each bearing a different coat of arms.
QUARTERING -a segment of the armorial shield which may be smaller than an actual quarter. Each quartering represents arms inherited from a different branch of the armigers family.
QUINTUPLE MOUNT -A triple mount surmounted by two single mounts.
RAMPANT -Rearing up; used of beasts.
REGUARDANT -Used of a creature looking back over its shoulder.
RISING -Used of a bird with its wings open, ready for flight.
ROMPU -Broken; used particularly of a chevron, the center broken and enhanced.
ROUNDEL -A disk; different coloured roundels have their own special names.
SABLE -Black.
SALADE -A medieval helmet like a broadbrimmed steel hat.
SALTIRE -An ordinary consisting of a diagonal cross, the shape of the St.Andrews cross.
SCEPTER -A rod-shaped emblem of rank bearing a symbol of authority at the upper end.
SCHIRMBRETT -The German term for an early type of crest.
SEA -Prefix to indicate a creature with a fishs tail.
SEA-MONSTERS -Often created in heraldry by attaching a fishs tail to the top half of a creatures body. The resulting hybrids are called sea-lions,sea-unicorns, etc.
SEJANT -Sitting down.
SEMY -A field is discribed as semy when it is strewn with small charges.
SEXTUPLE MOUNT -A quintuple mount with a sixth mount added
on top.
SHAKEFORK -Shown as a Y, the ends pointed and not tounching the edge of the shield.
SINISTER -The heraldic term for left.
SLIPPED -Used to describe the stalk of a flower.
SPIKED MACE -The correct blazon for a war mace covered with spikes, to distinguish it from the civic mace.
STAINS -Mixed colours sometimes used in heraldry; the principle stains are murrey(mulberry colour), sanguine(blood red), and tenne(orange).
STANDARD -A long tapering flag with the arms in the hoist and badges, crest, and motto on the fly.
STATANT -Standing.
SURMOUNTED -One charge laid over another.
THROUGHOUT -Used of a charge touching the edge of the shields, which does not normally do so.
THUNDERBOLT -Twisted bar, normally with rays of lighting behind it.
TIERCED IN PAIRLE -Divided into three in the form of a Y.
TINCTURE -The generic term for the colours in the heraldic palette, including the metals and fur.
TORTEAU -A red roundel.
TREFOIL -A three-leaved figure usually slipped at the base.
TRIPLE MOUNT -A charge usually placed at the bottom of the shield and serving as a base for the armorial design itself.
TYGER -The heraldic tyger is similar to the antelope but with a lions body and no horns. The natural tiger is usually called called a Bengal Tiger.
UNGULED -Used of the hooves of scertain animals when of a different tincture from the body.
UNICORN -A mythological beast with an antelopes body, lions tail and bearded horses head with a single horn on its forehead.
URINANT -Used to describe a fish when plunging head downward.
VAIR -There are two principle furs used in heraldry, of which vair is one. It consists of the skins of small squirrels joined head to tail.
VAIRY -A type of fur, a variation of vair.
VERT -Green.
VISOR -The movable part on the front of a helmet. In British heraldry the position of visor denotes the rank of the bearer.
VOIDED -With the center cut out.
VOL -A French term for two wings joined at the base with the tips upward.
VOLANT -Flying.
VULNED -Wounded.
WAR CRY OR CRI DE GUERRE -Often used as a motto by ancient families.
WATER BOUGET -Symbolically depicted as two water bags pendant from a yoke.
WAVY -One of the lines of partition.
WINGED -With wings attached; used of animals and monsters. A charged used in Germany, for example, consists of an animals forepaw or eagles talon joined directly to a single wing. Another is a clasp attached to an eagles wing with a cloverleaf at the top.
WREATH -(1) A wreath consisting of twisted strips of material serves as a link between the crest and the helmet.(2) A wreath of leaves maybe used to surround any charge on a shield, which is then said to be "wreathed".
WYVERN -A dragon without hind legs.
YALE -A very English monster, a goatlike creature with teeth like a boar, feet like a unicorn, and spots of various colours.
YOKE - A still-existing feature in the state arms of Spain.
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(Above)
The Imperial and Royal Coat of Arms of HI&RH Prinz Karl Friedrich von Deutschland, Herzog von Swabia, de jure Kaiser Charles VIII of Germany, Or a double-headed eagle displayed sable armed, membred, beaked and haloed Or, langued gules ( Holy Roman Empire )charged on the breast with an inescutcheon Or an eagle displayed sable, armed, membred and langued gules, beaked and haloed Or,( Kingdom of Germany )charged on the breast with an inescutcheon Or there on three lions passant inpale sable armed and langued gules ( Duchy of Swabia ).
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"CHRISTUS VINCIT, CHRISTUS REGNAT, CHRISTUS IMPERIT."
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