Coat of arms
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A coat of arms is a
). 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.History
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
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
Despite no common, enforceable widespread regulation,[] societies exist that also aid in the design and registration of personal arms.
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
In the heraldic traditions of
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
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]
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
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
Coats of arms in
North American
Canada
The
United States
The
Ecclesiastic heraldry
The
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
field.Modern national emblems
Among the states ruled by communist regimes, emblems
With the independence of the modern nation states of the
In
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
Japanese emblems, called
See also
- Arms of assumption
- Armorial of UK universities
- Baron and feme
- Gallery of country coats of arms
- List of coats of arms
- National emblem
- Officer of arms
- Seal
- Siebmachers Wappenbuch (coats of arms from German-speaking regions)
References
Citations
- ISBN 978-1-78536-542-3.
- ^ Aivars Gulbis (24 May 2017). "Baron fon Bury's Grave in Ugāle hillfort". redzet.eu. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
- ^ McDonald, James. "International Heraldry". Castles and Manor Houses. Archived from the original on 4 October 2023.
- ^ "coat of arms | Etymology of phrase coat of arms". etymonline. Archived from the original on 1 August 2023.
- OCLC 16094741.
- ^ doi:10.1108/13563280510578196. Archived from the originalon 1 September 2009. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ISBN 0-7137-0940-5p. 129.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "The Canadian Heraldic Authority". Canadian Heraldic Authority. 2015. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
- ^ "2004 Seal Broch" (PDF). July 2003. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
- ^ "Coat of arms of His Holiness Benedict XVI". 2015. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
- ^ "Vatican press office". 9 June 2013. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
- ^ "Coat of Arms (Eagle of Saladin)". Macaulay Honors College. 5 April 2011. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
Sources
- Pimbley, Arthur Francis (1908). Pimbley's dictionary of heraldry. Pimbley.
External links
- coat of arms (P237) (see uses)
- Media related to Coats of arms at Wikimedia Commons
- College of Arms – Repository of the coats of arms and pedigrees of English, Welsh, Northern Irish and Commonwealth families and their descendants together with, and in principle under the control of, the legal body the Court of Chivalry, both medieval in origin.
- The Court of the Lord Lyon – the statutory heraldry office for Scotland (archived 5 June 2011)
- Royal Dutch Library page for the "Wapenboek Beyeren" – written by Claes Heynenzoon around 1400, containing over 1000 drawings of coats of arms.
- General armorial of noble families in the Russian Empire (Gerbovnik) (archived 22 March 2018)