Concepts and Vocabulary of Heraldry
Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 7:38 pm
If it's all right, I'd like to start this thread (to be added to as stuff is thought of) in order to explain aspects of heraldry to those who aren't familiar with them. This first post will deal with some of the basics, and some of the misconceptions; also, keep in mind that this deals with more traditional heraldry, and that what we actually end up designing here may vary in some respects.
In the real world, a coat of arms is either granted to or freely assumed by an individual (the specific practice, and the consequences of not following it, vary by country) as a kind of personal symbol, to be inherited by that individual's descendants. The design of a coat of arms is generally described by a heraldic jargon known as blazon, which specifies the position, color, and nature of the shapes making up the shield. It is traditionally understood that it is this blazoning of a coat of arms which officially defines it, rather than any particular depiction; in other words, the description is official, but the image that results from it has significant stylistic wiggle room. A coat of arms may have a number of versions that look surprisingly different from one another, but so long as they all follow the same core description, they are all the same arms.
As for the components of a coat of arms:
The central, and essential, part of a coat of arms is the shield, whose design is the main feature that distinguishes one coat of arms from another. Other components may surround the shield, or they may not, but there can be no arms without the shield.
Usually, the shield has above it a helm, essentially a knightly helmet. The look of the helm, and whether there are any rules about how it looks, vary from country to country. In some more modern heraldry, this may be replaced by other headgear (I've seen some Canadian examples such as a fur hood and an aviator's cap). For members of the clergy, the helm and other components associated with it are often replaced with an ecclesiastical hat
Atop the helm is the torse, or wreath, usually in two colors; this represents the twisted fabric that attached the mantling to the helm. The mantling is a stylized piece of fabric that hangs down behind the helm and shield. Often, the colors of the mantling echo the principal theme of the shield, but this again varies by tradition.
Atop the wreath is usually a crest. This element, representing the fanciful fixtures which were once attached to helmets during tournaments and other ceremonial occasions, is customizable and does not necessarily have to be related to the design of the shield, though it follows similar heraldic rules. The term "crest" or "family crest" should not be applied to the coat of arms as a whole.
Often, there is also a motto accompanying the coat of arms on a scroll; this may be either above or below the shield.
Some elements tend to be given only as a sign of rank, or specifically granted as a mark of distinction.
-Supporters are figures, usually in the forms of animals or people, but occasionally of other types, which as depicted as holding up the shield. They are usually granted in pairs, with one on each side of the shield, but there have been instances of a single supporter to the side (more rarely, a single supporter behind the shield, usually when the supporter is an inanimate object).
-The compartment is another, rarer, mark of distinction, in the form of a landscape. It is almost always granted in conjunction with or after supporters, as it gives the supporters something to stand on.
-In lieu of, or in addition to, the helm, those of feudal rank may have a specific style of crown or coronet corresponding to their rank. In this case, especially when there is only a crown, the mantling tends to be replaced by a robe, depicted as lined with fur and also often rank-specific in its design.
-Various kinds of insignia associated with knightly orders may be depicted in the arms, often in the form of a collar and badge encircling the shield; those associated with positions in government tend to have batons or other symbols of office visible, often depicted as behind the shield with the ends sticking out.
-Rarely, usually in the arms of monarchs, there will be a fur-lined covering over the whole called a pavilion.
The entirety of a representation of a coat of arms is technically referred to as the achievement. Particularly complex arms, such as those representing countries or monarchs, may have different official forms; for example, a set of Greater Arms containing all the elements applicable, and a set of Lesser Arms, which is simplified for situations where convenience is a priority. Any coat of arms may be stripped down to just the shield for ease of depiction if required.
(Note: This will not be an issue for our purposes, but for the sake of completeness: One of the ideas that many people, especially Americans, tend to have about coats of arms is that each one is attached to a family name, and that therefore anyone with a particular last name may freely use it. A lot of websites and services claiming to find a person's coat of arms for them make a lot of money off this misunderstanding. In reality, a person only has a right to use arms if they are actually descended from the particular person who originally had them. In countries like the United States, however, where for most purposes coats of arms are not legally protected, there is really nothing to stop anyone from misusing arms (compare with places like Scotland, which is far stricter about such things).
In the real world, a coat of arms is either granted to or freely assumed by an individual (the specific practice, and the consequences of not following it, vary by country) as a kind of personal symbol, to be inherited by that individual's descendants. The design of a coat of arms is generally described by a heraldic jargon known as blazon, which specifies the position, color, and nature of the shapes making up the shield. It is traditionally understood that it is this blazoning of a coat of arms which officially defines it, rather than any particular depiction; in other words, the description is official, but the image that results from it has significant stylistic wiggle room. A coat of arms may have a number of versions that look surprisingly different from one another, but so long as they all follow the same core description, they are all the same arms.
As for the components of a coat of arms:
The central, and essential, part of a coat of arms is the shield, whose design is the main feature that distinguishes one coat of arms from another. Other components may surround the shield, or they may not, but there can be no arms without the shield.
Usually, the shield has above it a helm, essentially a knightly helmet. The look of the helm, and whether there are any rules about how it looks, vary from country to country. In some more modern heraldry, this may be replaced by other headgear (I've seen some Canadian examples such as a fur hood and an aviator's cap). For members of the clergy, the helm and other components associated with it are often replaced with an ecclesiastical hat
Atop the helm is the torse, or wreath, usually in two colors; this represents the twisted fabric that attached the mantling to the helm. The mantling is a stylized piece of fabric that hangs down behind the helm and shield. Often, the colors of the mantling echo the principal theme of the shield, but this again varies by tradition.
Atop the wreath is usually a crest. This element, representing the fanciful fixtures which were once attached to helmets during tournaments and other ceremonial occasions, is customizable and does not necessarily have to be related to the design of the shield, though it follows similar heraldic rules. The term "crest" or "family crest" should not be applied to the coat of arms as a whole.
Often, there is also a motto accompanying the coat of arms on a scroll; this may be either above or below the shield.
Some elements tend to be given only as a sign of rank, or specifically granted as a mark of distinction.
-Supporters are figures, usually in the forms of animals or people, but occasionally of other types, which as depicted as holding up the shield. They are usually granted in pairs, with one on each side of the shield, but there have been instances of a single supporter to the side (more rarely, a single supporter behind the shield, usually when the supporter is an inanimate object).
-The compartment is another, rarer, mark of distinction, in the form of a landscape. It is almost always granted in conjunction with or after supporters, as it gives the supporters something to stand on.
-In lieu of, or in addition to, the helm, those of feudal rank may have a specific style of crown or coronet corresponding to their rank. In this case, especially when there is only a crown, the mantling tends to be replaced by a robe, depicted as lined with fur and also often rank-specific in its design.
-Various kinds of insignia associated with knightly orders may be depicted in the arms, often in the form of a collar and badge encircling the shield; those associated with positions in government tend to have batons or other symbols of office visible, often depicted as behind the shield with the ends sticking out.
-Rarely, usually in the arms of monarchs, there will be a fur-lined covering over the whole called a pavilion.
The entirety of a representation of a coat of arms is technically referred to as the achievement. Particularly complex arms, such as those representing countries or monarchs, may have different official forms; for example, a set of Greater Arms containing all the elements applicable, and a set of Lesser Arms, which is simplified for situations where convenience is a priority. Any coat of arms may be stripped down to just the shield for ease of depiction if required.
(Note: This will not be an issue for our purposes, but for the sake of completeness: One of the ideas that many people, especially Americans, tend to have about coats of arms is that each one is attached to a family name, and that therefore anyone with a particular last name may freely use it. A lot of websites and services claiming to find a person's coat of arms for them make a lot of money off this misunderstanding. In reality, a person only has a right to use arms if they are actually descended from the particular person who originally had them. In countries like the United States, however, where for most purposes coats of arms are not legally protected, there is really nothing to stop anyone from misusing arms (compare with places like Scotland, which is far stricter about such things).