Blazon
(Latin definition: blasonia et nobilium vel gentilitiorum scutorum explicatio et descriptio seu recitatio)
Blazon is generally understood as the proper technical description and representation of armorial bearings according to the rules of heraldry. The description may be made verbally, in the technical language of heraldry, or graphically, using the symbols of heraldry, when it is more precisely called Blazonry or Emblazonment. Nisbet traces the origin of the word from the blowing or winding of a horn at jousts and tournaments, when the heralds proclaimed and recorded the achievements of the combatants.
In the western world the manner of describing coats of arms has been put into writing since medieval times. Publications began to appear after the invention of printing and, with their proliferation in England, France and other European countries, whilst there was a remarkable convergence of opinion on the basic grammar of heraldry, differing and sometimes conflicting descriptions of specific terms and their variations began to emerge depending on the author’s whim or fancy. Some of these interpretations have been hotly championed or coldly dismissed and undoubtedly will continue to be the subject of debate. This work attempts to present the various arguments as far as possible in the hope that the reader of heraldic texts will be able to identify any obscure terms which may be encountered.
The art of blazonry or blazoning coat-armour consists in a knowledge of the several parts, lines of partition, ordinaries, charges and tinctures whereof it is composed.
After attaining the knowledge of the points of the shield and the lines of partition, tinctures and ordinaries, which compose the principal parts of coats of arms, the various charges of the shield may, with some general rules, be accurately blazoned, so as to be readily understood without the illustration of a sketch or drawing.
In the first place brevity is to be studied, and tautology avoided in blazonry, yet in as few words as possible, giving such a minute description of every bearing, its position, place on the shield, tincture, etc. that misinterpretation may not arise. Words such as of, or, and with, should rarely be repeated, nor should the same metal or colour. The latter is avoided by calling the charge, etc. borne of the tincture before mentioned, of the first, second, or third, as it may stand in rotation to the first mentioned in the blazon, as the following example will explain. This coat of arms having two bearings of the same metal, which cannot in the blazon be described follow each other, and a chief, which is generally last described, the emblazonment will run thus: az a chevron or between three fleurs-de-lis arg, a chief of the second (meaning the second tincture before mentioned in the blazon, to prevent the repetition of the word Or.)
And it is here necessary to observe that in mentioning the rotation, furs, metals and colours must be indiscriminately all counted from the first named. In the case of the field or surface of the shield, which in blazon is ever first described, when it is wholly of one metal or colour, it is usual to say of the field, when the tincture described is the same; but when the field is party coloured, this rule cannot be followed and the term of the first must be used.
It likewise sometimes happens that, in blazon, the last mentioned charge or bearing is borne in the tincture of the one immediately preceding it, in which case it is usual to say of the last to describe it of the same tincture.
It has to be said that some heralds consider these rules unnecessary and prefer to repeat the tincture in all circumstances.
Having thus premised as to brevity and the avoidance of repetition, the next general rule to be observed is that the blazon always begins with a description of the field, whether borne of only one tincture or of several, describing technically its division as per fess, per pale, per saltier and the like, together with the relevant metal, colour or fur of such divisions.
The principal ordinary, if any, should next be named, and its particulars if not plain, but indented, embattled, etc. with its tincture, the chief, canton o
r any charge or bearing in its particular place or point of the shield being generally blazoned last. Next to be named are the charges around it, as in the example given above, followed by any surcharges upon such ordinary. This may be illustrated if the chevron of the example described has been charged with three pellets. This will also serve to exemplify another point in blazonry in avoiding the repetition of the number three, which occurs twice in this instance. The blazon should then run as follows: Az [the field] on a chevron or, [the word on being placed before the principal ordinary to describe its charges] between three fleurs-de-lis, arg as many pellets; [the word many being introduced to avoid repeating the number, and pellets being always sa, it is unnecessary to name the colour] a chief of the third [being arg like the fleurs-de-lis, the third tincture named, third being used to avoid the repetition of arg].
When, as is often the case, none of the ordinaries is borne in the shield, the charges and their exact positions in the field, whether bendways, fessways, paleways, etc. as well as the attitude of such charges, if beast, bird, &c. and their tincture, should be particularly named; but when borne in threes, two in chief and one in base, a very common way of bearing, it is unnecessary to state the position, or even to say two and one, which is often done when borne in a triangle. This rule applies when the fess, chevron and bend is borne between such charges; and when crosses occur between four charges, all alike, their position in the quarters is understood without naming it, as a cross or saltire between four crescents, and similar.
Generally the principal bearing, or the charge borne in the centre of the field, is described after the field itself, which, as before stated, must ever be first blazoned, and after such principal charge, the bearings around it, more remote from the centre or fess point.
To summarise, the proper order of describing arms is as follows:
1. The field or surface of the shield with its tincture or tinctures and, if parted, the relevant Partition Lines.
2. The main charge or charges stating name, number and precise position and attitude on the shield.
3. Any other secondary charges appearing on the shield.
4. Any item placed on the charges mentioned earlier.
5. Any other important charges, such as a chief or bordure not occupying the centre of the shield together with any items placed on them.
6. Marks of cadency or difference, if any.
