Heraldry: Where Art and Family History Meet Part I: The Basics of Blazon by Richard A. McFarlane, J.D., Ph.D. Heraldry: Where Art & Genealogy Meet 1 Part I: The Basics of Blazon © Richard A. McFarlane (2016) Heraldry is ... — 1 Writing just over one hundred years ago, A.C. Fox-Davies defined “heraldry” or “armory” as “that science of which the rules and laws govern the use, display, meaning, and knowledge of the pictured signs and emblems appertaining to shield, helmet, or banner,” and he is certainly right 1 Image: The arms of Edward William Fitzalan-Howard, 18th Duke of Norfolk. Blazon: Quarterly: 1st, Gules a Bend between six Cross Crosslets fitchée Argent, on the bend (as an Honourable Augmentation) an Escutcheon Or charged with a Demi-Lion rampant pierced through the mouth by an Arrow within a Double Tressure flory counter-flory of the first (Howard); 2nd, Gules three Lions passant guardant in pale Or in chief a Label of three points Argent (Plantagenet of Norfolk); 3rd, Checky Or and Azure (Warren); 4th, Gules a Lion rampant Or (Fitzalan); behind the shield two gold batons in saltire, enamelled at the ends Sable (as Earl Marshal). Crests: 1st, issuant from a Ducal Coronet Or a Pair of Wings Gules each charged with a Bend between six Cross Crosslets fitchée Argent (Howard); 2nd, on a Chapeau Gules turned up Ermine a Lion statant guardant with tail extended Or ducally gorged Argent (Plantagenet of Norfolk); 3rd, on a Mount Vert a Horse passant Argent holding in his mouth a Slip of Oak Vert fructed proper (Fitzalan) Supporters: Dexter: a Lion Argent; Sinister: a Horse Argent holding in his mouth a Slip of Oak Vert fructed proper. Motto: Sola Virtus Invicta (Virtue alone is unconquerable). Wikipedia. “Edward Fitzalan-Howard, 18th Duke of Norfolk.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Fitzalan-Howard,_18th _Duke_of_Norfolk#Titles_and_styles. Accessed: October 17, 2015. Text: Arthur Charles Fox-Davies, A Complete Guide to Heraldry (New York: Dodge Publishing Co., 1909, reprint. New York: Bonanza Books, 1978) 1. Heraldry: Where Art & Genealogy Meet 2 Part I: The Basics of Blazon © Richard A. McFarlane (2016) in the sense of heraldry being a systematized body of knowledge derived from observation and study.1 And heraldry is also an art; it decorates and beautifies. Iain Moncreiffe of that Ilk and Don Pottinger called heraldry “the floral border in the garden of history.”2 Ancient Greek and Roman writers mention soldiers decorating their armor with identifying symbols. The Children of Israel followed Moses each behind “his own standard, with the ensign of their father’s house.”3 However, modern heraldry—if “modern” is the right word— dates back only about one thousand years to the time of the Crusades. J.P. Brooke-Little states, “so far as our records show, true heraldry began in the second quarter of the twelfth century. It appeared almost simultaneously in several countries in western Europe.”4 The knights of medieval Europe, covered from head to toe in chain mail and plate armor, needed some quick and reliable method of identifying friend from foe on the battlefield, and what better way than a symbol or picture on the one piece of equipment every knight held out in front of himself for all to see, his shield. Further, as Crusader knights left from colder European climates to the deserts of the Middle East, covering iron armor with a cloth surcoat to keep the sun off made sense. The surcoat was an additional surface to decorate with identifying emblems, often a cross to show a knight’s devotion to Christ and participation in the Crusades. It followed that the shield, part of a knight’s armor, or arms, bore the same emblems as his surcoat, hence, the surcoat was literally a “coat of arms.” 1 Arthur Charles Fox-Davies, A Complete Guide to Heraldry (New York: Dodge Publishing Co., 1909, reprint. New York: Bonanza Books, 1978) 1. 2s Iain Moncreiffe and Don Pottinger, Simple Heraldry, 1 t American ed. (New York:: Mayflower Books, 1979) 2. 3 Arthur Charles Fox-Davies, A Complete Guide to Heraldry (New York: Dodge Publishing Co., 1909, reprint. New York: Bonanza Books, 1978) 6-11 quoting, inter alia., Numbers 2: 2. 4 J.P. Brooke-Little, rev., Boutell’s Heraldry (London: Frederick Ware, 1978) 4. Heraldry: Where Art & Genealogy Meet 3 Part I: The Basics of Blazon © Richard A. McFarlane (2016) As knights gave up their place on the battlefield to gunpowder, the coat of arms remained behind as means of decorating and identifying everything from silverware to books. By about the thirteenth century, heralds, officials in the courts of kings and nobles, became responsible for keep records of who bore what emblems on his shield. As Brooke-Little points out: Since [coats of] arms were primarily a means of identification, they necessarily aimed at being absolutely distinctive. At the same time, there was a natural tendency for men allied by blood or feudal ties to bear similar arms, though with significant difference to prevent confusion between them. Furthermore, in the early days of heraldry, there was a likelihood of too close a similarity occurring between the arms of men in no way connected, due to the fact that a comparatively few devices and figures were in frequent use.1 Hence, customs and traditions evolved into rules and laws, and the royal heralds, under the king, “soon acquired an expert knowledge of these and became responsible for recording arms, and then later for controlling their use. As coats of arms were hereditary, heralds soon came to add expertise in genealogy to their skills. The use of arms on the jousting field and in battle became steadily less important but at the same time the civilian, social and antiquarian uses of heraldry grew.”2 Many people, especially Americans, believe there is a “family coat of arms.” This is incorrect. A coat of arms pertains to a specific individual, and using someone else’s coat of arms 1 J.P. Brooke-Little, rev., Boutell’s Heraldry (London: Frederick Ware, 1978) 9. 2 College of Arms. About Us. History. On line. http://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/about-us/history. Accessed: October 19, 2015. Heraldry: Where Art & Genealogy Meet 4 Part I: The Basics of Blazon © Richard A. McFarlane (2016) is a form of identify theft.1 In England, Wales, Northern Ireland and most Commonwealth countries, the College of Arms in London, an official agency of Her Majesty’s Government, has jurisdiction over heraldry and the use of coats of arms by British and Commonwealth citizens.2 In Scotland, the Lord Lyon King of Arms has similar jurisdiction.3 Canada, Ireland, South Africa, and many European countries also have official heraldic authorities. In these countries, coats of arms are granted by, and protected by, government authority, and misuse can be a civil or criminal offense.4 In the United States, there is no official heraldic authority, but several private societies such as the American Heraldry Society promote and encourage the study and use of coats of arms. Under certain circumstances, the College of Arms or the Court of the Lord Lyon will grant “honorary” coats of arms to American citizens.5 There is no law against an American assuming any coat of arms he or she likes, and these may be protected by copyright and trademark laws as intellectual property, nevertheless, misappropriating some else’s coat of arms would be rude, and in bad taste. 1 College of Arms. Home. On line. http://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/about-us/history. Accessed: October 19, 2015; The Court of the Lord Lyon. The History of Arms. On line. http://www.lyon-court.com/lordlyon/216.181.html. Accessed: October 19, 2015. 2 College of Arms. Home. On line. http://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/. Accessed: October 19, 2015. 3 The Court of the Lord Lyon. About the Court. History of the Court. On line. http://www.lyon-court.com/lordlyon/ 215.180.html. Accessed: October 19, 2015. 4 Society of Scottish Armigers. What is an Armiger? On line. http://www.scotarmigers.net/whatis.htm. Accessed: October 21, 2015. 5 College of Arms. Resources. FAQ. On line. http://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/resources/faqs. Accessed: October 19, 2015; Court of the Lord Lyon. About Coats of Arms. Applying for Coats of Arms. On line. http://www.lyon-court.com /lordlyon/228.html. Accessed: October 19, 2015. Heraldry: Where Art & Genealogy Meet 5 Part I: The Basics of Blazon © Richard A. McFarlane (2016) A Blazon ... — 1 Everyone has heard the old saw, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” A blazon is exactly the opposite. It describes a picture in as few words as possible by using a unique vocabulary, grammar and syntax. The vocabulary is a sort of bastardized Anglo-Norman French mixed with English. The syntax “developed, whereby the various charges, with their tinctures [that is, colors], positions, and other details, were mentioned in such an order that there could be no doubt as to their arrangement in the shield and relation to one another.”2 It is precise and technical, yet within the precision and technicality, heraldic artists are free to indulge their 1 Image: Hyghalmen Roll of Arms (c. 1447-1455, Cologne, Germany), College of Arms, London, UK (1st MS 5). Online. Wikipedia. Heraldry. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heraldry. Accessed: October 21, 2015. 2 J.P. Brooke-Little, rev., Boutell’s Heraldry (London: Frederick Ware, 1978) 15. Heraldry: Where Art & Genealogy Meet 6 Part I: The Basics of Blazon © Richard A. McFarlane (2016) creativity.