Coat of arms

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

A coat of arms is a

individual person, family, state, organization, school or corporation
). The term "coat of arms" itself, describing in modern times just the heraldic design, originates from the description of the entire medieval chainmail "surcoat" garment used in combat or preparation for the latter.

early Modern Age centuries, they have been a source of information for public showing and tracing the membership of a noble family, and therefore its genealogy
across time.

History

Coats of Arms in the Dering Roll, an English armorial from the 13th century

Heraldic designs came into general use among European nobility in the 12th century. Systematic, heritable heraldry had developed by the beginning of the 13th century. Exactly who had a right to use arms, by law or

social convention
, varied to some degree between countries. Early heraldic designs were personal, used by individual noblemen (who might also alter their chosen design over time). Arms become hereditary by the end of the 12th century, in England by King Richard I during the Third Crusade (1189–1192).[2][3]

Burgher arms were used in Northern Italy in the second half of the 14th century, and in the Holy Roman Empire by the mid 14th century. In the late medieval period, use of arms spread to the clergy, to towns as civic identifiers, and to royally chartered organizations such as universities and trading companies. The arts of vexillology and heraldry are closely related.

The term coat of arms itself in origin refers to the

knightly tournament, in Old French cote a armer. The sense is transferred to the heraldic design itself in Middle English, in the mid-14th century.[4]

Despite no common, enforceable widespread regulation,[

trademarks as any other unique identifier might be.[6][7] Many[citation needed
] societies exist that also aid in the design and registration of personal arms.

Brabant Lion held by Floris de Merode during the funeral of Albert VII, Archduke of Austria, print after design by Jacob Franquart
The German Hyghalmen Roll, c. late 15th century, illustrates the German practice of thematic repetition from the arms in the crest

Heraldry has been compared to modern corporate logos.[8]

Regional traditions

French heraldry

The French system of heraldry greatly influenced the British and Western European systems. Much of the terminology and classifications are taken from it. However, with the fall of the French monarchy (and later Empire) there is not currently a Fons Honorum (power to dispense and control honors) to strictly enforce heraldic law. The French Republics that followed have either merely affirmed pre-existing titles and honors or vigorously opposed noble privilege. Coats of arms are considered an intellectual property of a family or municipal body. Assumed arms (arms invented and used by the holder rather than granted by an authority) are considered valid unless they can be proved in court to copy that of an earlier holder.

British heraldry

Duke of Richmond
c. 1780

In the heraldic traditions of

Royal Family) is now always the mark of an heir apparent or (in Scotland) an heir presumptive. Because of their importance in identification, particularly in seals on legal documents, the use of arms was strictly regulated; few countries continue in this today. This has been carried out by heralds and the study of coats of arms is therefore called "heraldry". In time, the use of arms spread from military entities to educational institutes, and other establishments.[6]

In Scotland, the Lord Lyon King of Arms has criminal jurisdiction to control the use of arms. In England, Northern Ireland and Wales the use of arms is a matter of civil law and regulated by the College of Arms and the High Court of Chivalry.

In reference to a dispute over the exercise of authority over the Officers of Arms in England, Arthur Annesley, 1st Earl of Anglesey, Lord Privy Seal, declared on 16 June 1673 that the powers of the Earl Marshal were "to order, judge, and determine all matters touching arms, ensigns of nobility, honour, and chivalry; to make laws, ordinances, and statutes for the good government of the Officers of Arms; to nominate Officers to fill vacancies in the College of Arms; to punish and correct Officers of Arms for misbehaviour in the execution of their places". It was further declared that no patents of arms or any ensigns of nobility should be granted and no augmentation, alteration, or addition should be made to arms without the consent of the Earl Marshal.

Irish heraldry

British Government by the College of Arms through the Norroy and Ulster King of Arms
.

German heraldry

The heraldic tradition and style of modern and historic Germany and the Holy Roman Empire – including national and civic arms, noble and burgher arms, ecclesiastical heraldry, heraldic displays, and heraldic descriptions – stand in contrast to Gallo-British, Latin and Eastern heraldry, and strongly influenced the styles and customs of heraldry in the Nordic countries, which developed comparatively late.[9]

Scandinavian heraldry

In the Nordic countries, provinces, regions, cities, and municipalities have coats of arms. These are posted at the borders and on buildings containing official offices, as well as used in official documents and on the uniforms of municipal officers. Arms may also be used on souvenirs or other effects, given that an application has been granted by the municipal council.

Other national traditions

Coat of arms of Liptov County in Slovakia

At a national level, "coats of arms" were generally retained by European states with constitutional continuity of more than a few centuries, including constitutional monarchies like Denmark as well as old republics like San Marino and Switzerland.

In

college of arms of the Kingdom of Italy
, was abolished in 1948, personal coats of arms and titles of nobility, though not outlawed, are not recognised.

Coats of arms in

Fleur-de-lys
and the Rule of Tinctures used in English heraldry as well.

North American

Canada

The

Herald Chancellor. The Canadian Heraldic Authority, the governmental agency which is responsible for creating arms and promoting Canadian heraldry, is situated at Rideau Hall.[10][11]

United States

The Great Seal of the United States, which displays as its central design the heraldic device of the nation

The

state seal and a state coat of arms
that are independent of one another (though both contain a pine tree, a cow and sheaves of grain); the seal is used to authenticate documents, whilst the heraldic device represents the state itself.

Ecclesiastic heraldry

papal tiara and crossed keys
of the pontifical office.

The

Roman Catholic dioceses are also each assigned a coat of arms, as are basilicas
or papal churches, the latter usually displaying these on the building. These may be used in countries which otherwise do not use heraldic devices. In countries like Scotland with a strong statutory heraldic authority, arms will need to be officially granted and recorded.

Flags and banners

royal arms of Scotland has a red lion within a double tressure on a gold (or)
field.

Modern national emblems

Egyptian coats of arms from the late monarchical, and early republican periods showing common Near and Middle Eastern motifs, namely the crescent and stars which are symbols of the region's predominant religion, Islam, and the Eagle of Saladin

Among the states ruled by communist regimes, emblems

resembling those of the Soviet states were adopted in all the Warsaw Pact states except Czechoslovakia and Poland. Since 1986–1989, some of the ex-Communist states, such as Russia, have reused their original pre-communist heraldry, often with only the symbols of monarchy removed. Other countries such as Belarus
have retained their communist coats of arms or at least kept some of the old heraldry.

With the independence of the modern nation states of the

Ottoman flag
. Other commonly seen symbols are birds, chiefly the
Syria
, amongst others.

decolonisation often chose emblems based on regional traditions or wildlife. Symbols of a ritual significance according to local custom were generally favoured, such as the leopard in the arms of Benin, Malawi, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and, in the form of the black panther, of Gabon
.

In

Pula
(lit. "Rain") is used in like fashion.

In the coat of arms of Eswatini, a lion and an elephant serve as supporters. They are each intended to represent the king and the queen mother respectively, the nation's joint heads of state.

Comparable traditions outside of Europe

Imperial Seal of Japan

Japanese emblems, called

kamon
(often abbreviated "mon"), are family badges which often date back to the 7th century, and are used in Japan today. The Japanese tradition is independent of the European, but many abstract and floral elements are used.

See also

References

Citations

  1. .
  2. ^ Aivars Gulbis (24 May 2017). "Baron fon Bury's Grave in Ugāle hillfort". redzet.eu. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  3. ^ McDonald, James. "International Heraldry". Castles and Manor Houses. Archived from the original on 4 October 2023.
  4. ^ "coat of arms | Etymology of phrase coat of arms". etymonline. Archived from the original on 1 August 2023.
  5. OCLC 16094741
    .
  6. ^ on 1 September 2009. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  7. ^ "Policy on use of the Workmark and Insignia of McGill University" (PDF). McGill. 2000. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 February 2015. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  8. ^ Employee Identification with the Corporate Identity International Studies of Management and Organization, Volume 32, Number 3, 2002 "Group Identity Formation in the German Renaissance". 20 August 2002. Archived from the original on 20 January 2013. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  9. p. 129.
  10. ^ "The History of Heraldry in Canada". Royal Heraldry Society of Canada. 28 April 2004. Archived from the original on 6 March 2009. Retrieved 21 August 2008.
  11. ^ "The Canadian Heraldic Authority". Canadian Heraldic Authority. 2015. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  12. ^ "2004 Seal Broch" (PDF). July 2003. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  13. ^ "Coat of arms of His Holiness Benedict XVI". 2015. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  14. ^ "Vatican press office". 9 June 2013. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  15. ^ "Coat of Arms (Eagle of Saladin)". Macaulay Honors College. 5 April 2011. Retrieved 19 August 2015.

Sources

External links