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What
is Heraldry?
True heraldry, quite distinct from
the tribal emblems and insignia used by warriors in ancient times, began in the
second quarter of the 12th century, when it appeared simultaneously in several
countries of Western Europe. The earliest known decorated shield was that which
Henry I gave to his son-in-law Geoffrey of Anjou when he knighted him in
1127.
By definition, heraldry is the art or science of blazoning the
description in appropriate technical terms of Coats of Arms and other heraldic
and sartorial insignia.
In peaceful times, these insignia were the reward
of personal merit and could be secured by the humblest as well as the highest.
They were testimonials and warrants of the bravery, heroism, and meritorious
deeds of our ancestors.
The Language of
Heraldry
 Contrary to popular opinion, coats of arms were rarely recorded
visually, that is to say in the form of a picture or drawing. And so, today it
is often up to the heraldic artist to render arms from a written descriptions.
As a result, there is no absolutely correct way to draw or paint a lion rampant,
for example; however, the size, proportions portions and positioning of the lion
do follow a precise format that is still observed today.
The language
used to describe the heraldic tinctures (metals, colors and furs), ordinaries
and devices developed to quite a concise but common language throughout Europe
by the sixteenth century. While many countries often recorded the arms in their
own language, the structure was for the most part universal (generally the
tincture of the surface of the shield is provided first, followed by ordinaries
and devices or emblazons and their colors. Thus the expression " Ar... a lion
ramp. sa..." can be translated to "Argent, a lion rampant, sable" or a silver
shield with a black lion rampant. As you can see, the heraldic description is
neither French, Latin or English but a mixture of many languages that has
developed over the centuries.
 The Heraldic Artist
Even today, the
heraldic artist has a formidable challenge. Whilst he may enjoy considerable
freedom, within certain limits, the objects in the arms and crest, their colors,
disposition and symmetry may not be altered. Unfortunately, attempts by layman
and even some commercial graphic artists often result in some classic mistakes
or incongruities. Although a "lion rampant, gules, armed and langued, azure" can
be fat, thin, hairy or bald, happy or angry, it must be in the rampant position,
colored red and the tongue and claws of blue.
Obviously, its resemblance
to a real lion is obscure. Historically, the heraldic artists' only choice was
often to render an animal as he thought it would appear. Therefore, many modern
artists portray their lions with the claws and head of a similar size as people
traditionally believed that the lion's claws were just as important as the
lion's head.
 The
martlet is another example of an apparent mistake by heraldic artists. Martlets
are traditionally drawn without legs but tufts of feathers. The real reason for
this apparent mistake is unclear, but some say legless birds like these were
found in the Holy Land at the time of the Crusades, others say that the birds
like these followed ships endlessly for scraps of food and as they never seemed
to land, they had no legs. Whatever, the real reason, it matters not as martlets
are always correctly drawn without legs, even as the mark of cadency for a
fourth son.
For more on symbols and their meanings, visit:
http://www.fleurdelis.com/meanings.htm
Heraldry through the Ages
It is generally believed that in its beginning, heraldry
originally had a strong military purpose. Men in armor were very difficult to
recognize. For example, William the Conqueror had to remove his helmet in the
midst of the battle of Hastings in order to prove himself to his followers who
thought he was killed. Thus the need for identification or distinction from
one's enemies became essential, especially when the closed helmet was developed.
 By the 13th century,
the rules and the terminology that we know today started to form. Specialists in
the field became known as heralds. They were appointed but it was their task to
set forth and document all arms in existence to insure that duplication did not
occur. Blazon, a heraldic term, originated with the custom of blowing a trumpet
to announce the arrival of a knight at the joust or tournament. The blast was
answered by the heralds who described and explained aloud the arms borne by the
knight.
In ancient times, crests and mottoes may have been used by all,
but with the passing of the centuries some have been omitted or forgotten.
With the suppression of private armies, and the gradual disappearance in
the 16th century of both tournaments and closed helmets, the sporting and
military uses of heraldry became less important and it became rather a
decorative art. Coats of arms were carved over doorways, woven on tapestries,
placed in stained glass windows and engraved on silver.
Many heralds
attempted to "collect" as many arms for their published works as they could, an
arduous task obviously limited by the inability to travel or comunicate over
vast regions. In addition, through the ages, vast numbers of heraldic records
have been lost and many legitimate coats of arms cannot be found in reference
books of today.
 Supporters
Supporters are traditionally beasts,
birds, monsters, human or mythical animals that stand on either side and support
the coat of arms. Today, many civic and municipal coats of arms have such
supporters, but their use is mostly restricted to the above or for people who
have achieved much notoriety. Family coats of arms do not show
supporters.
Heraldry today
The term
"heraldry" often necessitates many people to check their dictionary for the
meaning, but evidence of heraldic art is everywhere today. If one takes a moment
to reflect many of the coats of arms or heraldic shields seen in the normal
course of a day, it becomes quite astounding.
The obvious national,
provincial or state coat of arms usually come to mind first. But on closer
inspection, most schools, colleges and universities, cities or towns, military
groups or police forces, and even many corporations use coats of arms today as a
proud symbol of their heritage and comradeship.
 The world of sport is another
example of modern heraldry at its best with most ball clubs, leagues (the
National Football League and the National Hockey League both have a shield as
their basis of their design), associations or groups having an heraldic design
as their emblem.
In fact, purists believe that most logos or emblems are
simply a hybrid of ancient heraldic seals or emblazons.
The world of law
is steeped in the tradition of heraldry. Today, most legal documents still
require a red seal to be affixed. This tradition dates back to medieval times
when the knight's seal was used with sealing wax to ensure a document was
legitimate and bona fide. In short, heraldry is very much a part of our lives
today, whether it appears in it's most conventional art form, or as an emblem or
corporate design.
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