Encyclopædia Heraldica

AN ILLUSTRATED DICTIONARY OF HERALDRY

INTRODUCTION

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Every heraldic term or subject connected with Heraldry will be found in alphabetical order under each specific head in this Dictionary, properly explained, technically or otherwise, and illustrated in order that it may be the more clearly understood. Nevertheless, to those who may be new to Heraldry, a Grammar of Heraldry, if it may be so termed, cannot prove otherwise than interesting as well as useful, and the following general outline of its composition is given by way of introduction, which a reference to the Dictionary and its illustrations will more fully explain.

The shield upon which the various devices of Heraldry are depicted has varied in shape with the caprice of the times, as a result of the fertile imaginations of heralds, engravers and painters, but seldom bearing any close resemblance to the shield of the warrior actually used in the field of battle or tournament. This will be found more fully treated upon under the several heads of achievement,  escutcheon, etc. but more particularly under that of shield.

The Points of the Shield are so termed from their pointing onto the precise part of the field upon which any charge is to be borne at that particular place, and are called:

The tinctures, whether metal or colour, of the shield, its several partitions and charges, (the whole ground or surface of the shield, being termed the field, and allusively so called from these commemorative charges, or symbols, being originally won in the actual field of battle or, in civil cases, in the field of honourable career, in service to the state or to record acts of virtue, generosity, and the like, are as follow:  

 Metals

These several metals and colours, in ancient blazon, are sometimes designated by precious stones and planets; and the capricious whim of even blazoning the tinctures by the elements, celestial signs, seasons, virtues, &c. may be found under Tinctures, where curious paradigms of these strange fancies are inserted.

Furs are also used in coats of armour, and are as follow:

Ermine, Ermines, Erminites, Erminois, Pean, Vair, Vairé, Counter-vair, Vair-en-point,  Potent, Potence and Counter-Potent

These furs are depicted in Heraldry as spotting over the whole charge. A similar kind of powdering or sprinkling, represented by drops of various liquids in specific tinctures, termed Goutté are as follow:

Roundels, or circular pieces of metal and colour, taking various names according to the tincture are very common bearings in coats of armour and are often borne strewn all over the field, ordinary and charge. They are called as follow :

Some of these, when strewn over the field or charge, are termed semé of golpes, etc., but others have specific terms, i.e. the powdering with bezants  being called bezanté, plates, platé and pellets, pelletté.

The  Lines of Partition, used in the division of the field. upon which partitions the various charges are borne, diversify the numerous coats of arms and render each family distinct.

The Ordinaries, which are the principal bearings in coats of armour will be found under this head generally, and separately under each particular term. They are formed of lines crossing the field in various ways, and are called as follow:

*Although the Chevronel is one-third the size of a Chevron it is not considered a diminutive 

These Ordinaries are borne with and without other charges upon them, and so various are the different devices used in the multiplicity of bearings, consisting of animate and inanimate things, it is scarcely possible to say what may be met with in coats of armour. However the more general sort of bearings such as human and celestial beings, beasts, birds, fishes, reptiles and insects, implements of husbandry and trade, weapons, crosses of various formation and appellation, (which will be found alphabetically arranged under the general term of Cross,) flowers, fruits, trees, plants, shrubs, leaves, &c. may be referred to in the Dictionary and are further elucidated by illustrations in most cases.

Some of the Ordinaries have diminutives which are termed as follow:

Thus, from Tinctures, Furs, Lines of Partition, Ordinaries, Subordinaries, and Charges, variously disposed at different points of the shield, are formed the armorial bearings of individuals and families, honourable in their first achievement, and, with laudable ambition, continued by their descendants, as a lasting memorial of heroic deeds, and other notable actions worthy of record, which, otherwise, might have been long forgotten

The Crest, which was of much later device than the armorial bearings on the shield, was introduced more readily to distinguish leaders and commanders in the heat of battle; and, in more peaceable times, was adopted by their followers or retainers as a cognizance, or badge. In the course of time, it became generally attached to the coats of armour, with other decorations, such as the Helmet, Mantling, Motto, and Supporters, which, by certain rules and regulations, and the introduction of coronets, and other badges of distinction, mark the dignity of the bearer, whether Prince, Archduke or Grand Duke,  Duke, Marquess, Count  or Earl, Viscount, Baron, Hereditary Knight or Baronet, Knight, and Squire and may be referred to in the Dictionary under each appellation. 

General Rules of Blazon

Blazon (Latin definition: blasonia et nobilium vel gentilitiorum scutorum explicatio et descriptio seu recitatio) 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 and 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 saltire    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 or any charge or bearing in its particular place or point of the shield, is 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. The bordure, if any, is last to be names. This sequence 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 sable, 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, palewise, 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 lines of partition.

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.  

Sources:

Aveling, Rev. S.T.: HERALDRY ANCIENT AND MODERN including BOUTELL'S HERALDRY [W.W. Gibbings, London 1892]

Berry, William: EncyclopÆdia Heraldica, Dictionary of Heraldry [Sherwood Gilbert and Piper, London, between 1816 and 1820]

Brooke-Little, J.P.(Editor): BOUTELL'S HERALDRY [Frederick Warne & Co. Ltd, London and New York, 1970]

Fox-Davies, Arthur Charles: THE ART OF HERALDRY AN ENCYCLOPÆDIA OF ARMORY (1904) [Bloomsbury Books, London 1986]

Pimbley's Dictionary of Heraldry: An Authoritative Guide to the Terminology of Heraldry [1908]

Rietstap, J.B.: ARMORIAL GÉNÉRAL 2éme ed., [G.B van Goor Zonen, Gouda 1884]

Rogers, Col. H.C.B.: THE PAGEANT OF HERALDRY [Seeley Service & Co. Limited, London]

Scott-Giles, C. Wilfred: The Romance of Heraldry [London: JM Dent & Sons Ltd 1957]

Stalins, Le Baron: VOCABULAIRE-ATLAS HÉRALDIQUE EN SIX LANGUES [Société du Grand Armorial de France, Paris 1952]