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==Characteristics==
[[File:Coat of Arms of the College of Arms.svg|thumb|right|200px|Armorial bearing of the [[College of Arms]], the premier authority of heraldry in England]]
Like many countries' heraldry, there is a classical influence within English heraldry, such as designs originally on [[Ancient Greece|Greek]] and [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] pottery.{{Citation needed|date=March 2009}} Many coats of arms feature [[Charge (heraldry)|charges]] related to the bearer's name or profession (e.g. [[Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother|Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon]] (The Queen Mother), depicting [[bow and arrow|bows]] quartered with a [[lion (heraldry)|lion]]), a practice known as "[[canting arms]]".
Representations in person of Saints or other figure are very rare, although there are however a few uses, mostly originating from [[Seal (device)|seals]], where there have never been such limitations.<ref>Fox-Davies (1909), p. 158.</ref> Although many places have dropped such iconography, the [[Metropolitan Borough of St Marylebone]], [[London]], includes a rendering of the Virgin Mary, although this is never stated.<ref>Fox-Davies (1909), p. 161.</ref> This is also the case in many other examples, particularly those depicting Christ, to remove religious complications. Unlike in mainland Europe where armorial achievements make a large use of their eponymous Saints,{{Citation needed|date=March 2009}} these are few and far between in England.
[[File:Arms of Richard Neville,
The lion is the most common charge, particularly in Royal heraldry.<ref>Fox-Davies (1909), p. 174.</ref> [[Rose (heraldry)|Heraldic roses]] are also common in English heraldry, as in the [[War of the Roses]] where both houses, Lancaster and York, used them, and in the ensuing Tudor dynasty. The [[Eagle (heraldry)|heraldic eagle]], while common on the European continent and particularly in [[German heraldry|Germany]], is relatively rare in English heraldry and, in early English heraldry, was often associated with alliances with German princes.<ref>Boutell (1914), p.92.</ref>
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King [[Henry I of England]] was said to have given a badge decorated with a lion to his son-in-law [[Geoffrey Plantagenet, Count of Anjou]], and some have interpreted this as a grant of the lion arms later seen on his funerary enamel, but the first documented [[Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom|royal coat of arms]] appear on the Great Seal of [[Richard I of England|Richard I]], where he is depicted on horseback with a shield containing one lion on the visible half. Because several of his immediate kin used lion coats, it has been speculated that his father [[Henry II of England|Henry II]] may likewise have borne a single-lion coat of arms, perhaps with the same colours as later used by the family, a gold lion on red.{{Citation needed|date=March 2009}} Heraldry is thought to have becoming popular among the knights on the [[First Crusade|first]] and [[Second Crusade|second crusades]], along with the idea of chivalry.<ref name="sweeney">[[James Ross Sweeney]] (1983). "Chivalry", in ''[[The Dictionary of the Middle Ages]]'', Volume III.</ref> Under Henry III, it gained a system of classification and a technical language.<ref name="EH9">Boutell (1914), p. 9.</ref> However, over the next two centuries, the system was abused, leading to the swamping of true coats-of-arms.<ref name="EH9" />{{dubious|'true' coats of arms is a false distinction in this period|date=June 2019}}
For the rest of the medieval period, it was popular within the upper classes to have a distinctive family mark for competitions and tournaments, and it was popular (although not prevalent) within the lower classes. It found particular use with knights, for practice and in the [[mêlée]] of battle, where heraldry was worn on embroidered fabric covering their armour. Indeed, their houses' signs became known as ''coats-of-arms'' in this way.<ref name="EH2">Boutell (1914), p. 2.</ref> They were also worn on shields, where they were known as shields-of-arms.<ref name="EH2" /> As well as military uses, the main [[Charge (heraldry)|charge]] was used in the seals of households. These were used to prove the authenticity of documents carried by heralds (messengers){{Citation needed|date=April 2009}} and is the basis of the word ''heraldry'' in English.<ref>{{Cite web | title=English etymology of Heraldry | url=http://www.myetymology.com/english/heraldry.html | work=myEtymology | publisher=Jim Sinclair | access-date=2009-04-16 | url-status=
===Religious influence on British Heraldry===
[[File:
[[Prehistoric religions]] of the [[Middle East]], [[North India]] and the [[Mediterranean]], associated lions to a [[neolithic]] goddess referred to as [[Potnia Theron]], translated to the 'Mistress of Animals.' In this role, lions became associated with polarities such as the seasons, the [[zodiac|zodiacal belt]], and with the power of the elite. Importantly, this motif is more common in later [[Near east|Near Eastern]] and [[Mesopotamian art]] with a male figure, called the [[Master of Animals]]. Leading to the lion being culturally pictured as a master of the animal kingdom.<ref name=fatd>{{cite book|last=Fischer-Hansen|first=Tobias|title=From Artemis to Diana: the goddess of man and beast|year=2009|publisher=Museum Tusculanum Press|isbn=978-8763507882 |author2=Birte Poulsen|page=23}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Chadwick|first=John|title=The Mycenaean world|year=1976|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-29037-1|page=[https://archive.org/details/mycenaeanworld00chad/page/92 92]|url=https://archive.org/details/mycenaeanworld00chad/page/92}}</ref> With the incursions of the [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European speakers]], this association changed. While initially through myths of confrontation between the goddess lions and the [[hero]] or [[demigod]]. Eventually, it became a direct association between the lion and the [[God (male deity)|male deity]], this led to an association with status and the divine authority of kingship.
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Women do not display the "war-like" crest. Daughters have no special brisures, and customarily bear their father's arms on a lozenge while they are unmarried.<ref name="Fox-Davies533">Fox-Davies (1909), pp. 533–4.</ref> The wife of an armigerous man may bear her husband's arms alone on a shield or banner differenced by a small lozenge.
If she bears arms in her own right, while she is married, a woman may ''[[Division of the field#Marshalling|marshal]]'' (combine) her or her father's arms with her husband's on a single shield,<ref name="The Arms of Women, a Decree"/> normally by [[Impalement (heraldry)|impalement]]
Upon becoming a widow, a woman may bear her late husband's arms alone on a lozenge, oval or similar vehicle of display, differenced by a lozenge and if she bears arms in her own right, returns to bearing her father's arms upon a lozenge, though now impaled with her late husband's arms.<ref name="Fox-Davies533" /> Her husband's arms are borne on the dexter side and her father's arms on the sinister side.
==Royal coat of arms==
[[File:Royal Coat of
{{Main|
The royal coat of arms is the official [[coat of arms]] of the [[British monarch]].<ref name="royalcoa">{{Cite web | title=British Monarchy Symbols: Coat of Arms | url=http://www.royal.gov.uk/MonarchUK/Symbols/Coatsofarms.aspx | publisher=Official British Monarchy Website | access-date=2009-03-29 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130308050901/https://www.royal.gov.uk/MonarchUK/Symbols/Coatsofarms.aspx | archive-date=2013-03-08 }}</ref> These arms are used by the King in his official capacity as monarch, and are also known as '''Arms of Dominion'''.{{Citation needed|date=March 2009}} Variants of the Royal Arms are used by other members of the [[British Royal Family|Royal Family]]; and by the [[British Government]] in connection with the administration and government of the country.<ref name="royalcoa" /> In [[Scotland]], the monarch has a separate version of the Royal Arms, a variant of which is used by the [[Scotland Office]].<ref name="royalcoa" />
The shield is quartered, depicting in the first and fourth quarters the three lions passant guardant of [[England]]; in the second, the rampant lion and double tressure [[fleur de lis|flory-counter-flory]] of [[Scotland]]; and in the third, a [[Clàrsach|harp]] for [[Ireland]].<ref name="Boutell">Boutell & Brooke-Little (1978), pp. 205–222.</ref>
The [[crest (heraldry)|crest]] is a lion statant guardant wearing the [[
The dexter [[supporters|supporter]] is a likewise crowned [[lion]], symbolizing [[England]]; the sinister, a [[unicorn]], symbolising [[Scotland]].<ref name="royalcoa" /> According to legend, a free unicorn was considered a very dangerous beast; therefore the heraldic unicorn is chained, as were both supporting unicorns in the [[Royal coat of arms of Scotland]].{{Citation needed|date=March 2009}}
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!Main feature
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|align="center"|[[File:Arms of Henry of Wales.svg|100px]]||[[Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex|The Duke of Sussex]]||
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!
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|align="center"|[[File:Shield of arms of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.svg|110px]]||[[Meghan, Duchess of Sussex|The Duchess of Sussex]]||The arms of the Duke of Sussex impaled with those of her own design.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.royal.uk/her-royal-highness-duchess-sussex-coat-arms|title=Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Sussex: Coat of Arms|date=May 25, 2018|work=The Royal Family|access-date=May 25, 2018}}</ref>
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[[File:Arms of the City of Manchester.svg|thumb|right|The [[Symbols of Manchester|Coat of Arms of the Manchester City Council]] since 1842.]]
Almost every town council, city council and major educational establishment has an official armorial bearing (coat of arms), although the use of such arms varies wildly, due to the governance of the institution, and who uses the arms, particularly concerning [[Unitary authority|unitary authorities]]. The [[College of Arms]] grants arms only to people or corporate bodies, and so coats of arms are attributed to Borough, District or Town councils, rather than to a place or its populace.<ref>{{Cite web | title=Civ heraldry (homepage) | url=http://www.civicheraldry.co.uk/ | work=Civic heraldry of England and Wales | publisher=Robert Young | access-date=2009-04-17 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090403002215/http://www.civicheraldry.co.uk/ | archive-date=2009-04-03 }}</ref> [[Motto]]
Arms of such councils may feature the historical ecclesiastical arms of a local [[Church (building)|church]], [[cathedral]] or [[diocese]], such as the arms of [[Watford Borough Council]] which feature the arms of the [[Diocese of St. Albans]]. Similarly they can also feature the arms of a local patron Saint, as in the arms of [[St Edmundsbury (borough)|St. Edmundsbury Borough Council]] which features the coat of arms of [[Edmund the Martyr|Saint Edmund]].<ref>Compare [http://www.civicheraldry.co.uk/suffolk.html#st%20edmundsbury%20bc Coat of arms of St. Edmundsbury Borough Council] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080926130442/http://www.civicheraldry.co.uk/suffolk.html |date=2008-09-26 }} on ''Civil Heraldry'' by Robert Young and the [http://www.civicheraldry.co.uk/ecclesiastical.html coat of arms of Saint Edmund] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130817110450/http://civicheraldry.co.uk/ecclesiastical.html |date=2013-08-17 }} (both accessed 2009-01-06).</ref> Another example is the use of the rose, the symbol of the [[Virgin Mary]].<ref name="tulliehouse">[http://www.tulliehouse.co.uk/pages.asp?type=M&url=178 One such example, Carlisle] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090726093958/http://www.tulliehouse.co.uk/pages.asp?type=M&url=178 |date=2009-07-26 }} on the City Council website. Accessed 2009-01-05.</ref> Others are derived from the arms of an associated influential family or local organisation, or their creation is granted as an honour to an influential person.
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For instance the [[Letters Patent]] granting [[Coat of arms|Arms]] to the [[University of Plymouth]] were presented by [[Eric Dancer]], [[Order of the British Empire|CBE]], [[Justice of the peace#United Kingdom|JP]], [[Lord Lieutenant]] of [[Devon]], in a ceremony at the University on 27 November 2008, in the presence of [[Henry Paston-Bedingfeld]], [[York Herald]] of the [[College of Arms]], the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Plymouth, Judge William Taylor, the Recorder of Plymouth, and [[Judith Wilcox, Baroness Wilcox|Baroness Wilcox]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/pages/view.asp?page=24787 |title=At the heart of the city and the region |access-date=2010-08-30 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811040529/http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/pages/view.asp?page=24787 |archive-date=2011-08-11 }}</ref> The books represent the university's focus on learning and scholarship. The scattering of small stars represents [[Celestial navigation|navigation]], which has played a key role in the history of the city and the university. The scallop shells in gold represent [[pilgrimage]], a sign of the importance of the departure of the [[Pilgrim (Plymouth Colony)|Pilgrim Fathers]] from the [[Mayflower Steps|Barbican]] aboard the [[Mayflower]] in 1620. A Pelican and a [[Golden Hind]] support the shield and reflect both the original and later, better known, name of [[Francis Drake|Sir Francis Drake]]'s ship. The crest contains the Latin motto ''Indagate Fingite Invenite'' ('Explore Dream Discover'), a quote from [[Mark Twain]], reflecting the university's ambitions for its students and Plymouth's history of great seafarers.
In the arms of [[Cranfield University]] (prepared by Sir [[Colin Cole (officer of arms)|Colin Cole]], the sometime [[Garter Principal King of Arms]]), the "bars wavy" in the chief of the shield are intended in combination with the [[Crane (bird)|cranes]] to allude to the name ''Cranfield''. The three-branched [[torch]] in the base refers to learning and knowledge in the sciences of engineering, technology and management. In the crest, the [[astral crown]] alludes to the college of [[Aeronautics]] and also commemorates the contribution of its founding Chancellor, [[Baron Kings Norton|Lord Kings Norton]], to the development of aeronautical research. The keys signify the gaining of knowledge by study and instruction. The [[owl]], with its wings expanded, may also be taken to represent knowledge in the widest sense. In the badge, which repeats the keys, the crown rayonny refers both to the [[royal charter]] under which Cranfield came into being and, by the finials composed of the rays of the sun, to energy and its application through engineering and technological skills to industry, commerce and public life. The chain
==Heraldists==
English heraldists include:
* [[Arthur Charles Fox-Davies]], author of ''[[The Art of Heraldry: An Encyclopædia of Armory|The Art of Heraldry]]'', ''
* [[Charles Boutell]], heraldic author and writer about antiques<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.oxforddnb.com/index/101003014/|title=Charles Boutell:Oxford Biography Index Entry|last=Lee|first=Colin|year=2004|publisher=Oxford Dictionary of National Biography|access-date=2009-03-29|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202150058/http://www.oxforddnb.com/index/101003014/|archive-date=2008-12-02}}</ref>
* [[Constance Egan]], an English heraldist, as managing editor of the Heraldry Society's journal ''The Coat of Arms''.
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Knights and Ladies Companion are also entitled to receive heraldic [[supporters]], a privilege granted to few other private individuals. While some families claim supporters by ancient use, and others have been granted them as a special reward, only peers, Knights and Ladies Companion of the Garter, Knights and Ladies of the Thistle, and certain other knights and ladies are automatically entitled to them.<ref name="Churchill" />
On January 5, 1420, [[William Bruges]] was appointed by [[Henry V of England|King Henry V]] to be Garter King of Arms. {{Citation needed|date=March 2009}} Since the creation of the position, it has been changed into the position [[Garter Principal King of Arms]], but the duties remain the same. ''[[Ex officio]]'', it also makes the position's holder head of the College of Arms, and subsequently is usually appointed from among the other [[officer of arms|officers of arms]] at the college. The Garter Principal is also the principal adviser to the Sovereign of the [[United Kingdom]] (particularly [[England]], [[Wales]] and [[Northern Ireland]]) with respect to ceremonial and heraldry.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/About/06.htm |title=The origin and history of the various heraldic offices |publisher=College of Arms |date=2004-04-10 |access-date=2009-01-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100729132925/http://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/About/06.htm |archive-date=2010-07-29 }}</ref>
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