Heraldry 101 - Part 1

[sirdaniel1975]

Hello all!

With some recent posts, I have found that people seem to be interested in heraldry. So I thought that I would try to share some of the things that I have learned over the years on this topic.

This is the first part of (hopefully, if interest is there) several to explore some of the history of heraldry and how it works.

First, lets start with the basics. Heraldry is simply the fancy name for the pictures that were on medieval shields and tabbards. It originally started as simply as Sir Goodguy wore a read surcoat, and Lord Notsogoodguy wore a blue one. In this way, they were identifiable in the heat of close combat. This practice later spread to the supporters.

As more and more people started using heraldry, the patterns and pictures started getting more complicated. And, because humans love bureaucracy, rules and a lnaguage evolved to control the pictures and thier use.

So, lets start with some of the terminology. The heraldic colors are as follows:

gules - red
vert - green
azure - blue
purpure - purple
sable - black
sanguine - maroon
tenne - orange

And the heraldic metals are:

White/Silver - argent
Yellow/Gold - or

The word description for the heraldic picture is called a blazon. A typical blazon would look something like this:

Azure, a saltire argent

This of course describes the Cross of St. Andrew, and the Scottish National Flag.

The first part describes the color of the files. Azure, blue.
The next part describes the charge, or the object on the field. A saltire (big honkin x) argent, or white.

Blazons can get quite complicated depending on what they are describing. But that is a topic for another show.

In the next edition, I will cover animal charges, and field divisions. So stay tune on the same bat channel, at the same bat time.

James

Nice post.. keep 'em commin'!

[Phil]

I'm sure it's a fascinating subject but not one most people really connect with. It seems to be mostly schools and other organisations nowadays that are interested in having coats of arms apart from the upper class twits that have always had them.

[Archangel]

Gilmore, you've basically said the same thing as me. I'm saying "half empty", you're saying "half full".
There would be two "overnights", 1066 and Edward, in which Scots woke up to Heraldry being important.
Anyway, I don't really want to detract from this thread. My point is that Heraldry is only one component of the Scottish clan system, and only those that have registered.

I would rather we stay with the thread here and learn more about the art of it.

[caig]

I must take issue with you Phil. I have a Coat of Arms, granted to me in 1999as an individual, by the Lord Lyon. I am not an "upper class twit" and your reference to such is bordering on being offensive.

Any person of Scottish heritage can apply for a Scottish Coat of Arms, provided they are respectable ( and I imagine that is a wide interpretation).

[Phil]

I must take issue with you Phil. I have a Coat of Arms, granted to me in 1999as an individual, by the Lord Lyon. I am not an "upper class twit" and your reference to such is bordering on being offensive.

Any person of Scottish heritage can apply for a Scottish Coat of Arms, provided they are respectable ( and I imagine that is a wide interpretation).

Oh dear, profuse apologies if I have offended you and I retract my reference to "upper class". I doubt if I am respectable enough to apply for a coat of arms anyway and certainly wouldn't fancy parting with the large amounts of cash necessary for one either. No doubt you will correct me on this but I would equate purchasing a coat of arms along with the "cherished number plate" or "Lord of the Manor" adherents. I have no issue with any of these as long as they don't encourage the owner to imagine that they somehow confer on the purchaser a position in society above others as a result. Sadly my experience tells me otherwise.

[macwilkin]

Point of information: Robert Burns was very interested in the "gentle science" of heraldry:

http://www.worldburnsclub.com/newsle...le_science.htm

Certainly no one can call Burns an "upper class twit".

Todd

[Phil]

Point of information: Robert Burns was very interested in the "gentle science" of heraldry:

http://www.worldburnsclub.com/newsle...le_science.htm

Certainly no one can call Burns an "upper class twit".

Todd

Different times, different aspirations but hardly in the spirit of of his poem "The Man's a man for a that". I read from the article his "detestation of the Anglicisation process" and I can agree wholeheartedly with his sentiments there which I am sure were closer to his fierce patriotism than all the silly flummery associated with heraldry.

[macwilkin]

Different times, different aspirations but hardly in the spirit of of his poem "The Man's a man for a that". I read from the article his "detestation of the Anglicisation process" and I can agree wholeheartedly with his sentiments there which I am sure were closer to his fierce patriotism than all the silly flummery associated with heraldry.

I tend to agree with you that Burns's interest in heraldry was more in terms of his nationalism, but to dismiss heraldry as simply "silly flummery" is not very objective. There are many people who are interested in heraldry, myself included, who find it to be a legimate and interesting subject.

Heraldy itself is not "silly flummery" or elitist; it is the individual that chooses to make it a vehicle for those beliefs, and as Acaig pointed out, not everyone who is an armiger is that way.

Regards,

Todd

[Phil]

There are many people who are interested in heraldry, myself included, who find it to be a legimate and interesting subject.

I would never wish to decry what is to you a legitimate interest and hobby and as I said earlier I am sure it is a fascinating subject. I can also understand the interest aroused by it in places where this sort of thing doesn't exist particularly as it is redolent of knights in armour, chivalry etc.. I believe Ireland and South Africa, both republics, have started up their own forms of heraldry so it can not even be said to be entirely bound up with monarchical societies. And, no doubt, the Irish will have recognised its tourism and money-making possibilities tied in with the present-day obsession with genealogy. For me, alas, it seems little different from papal indulgences, offering meaningless tokens to gullible souls in exchange for (quite a lot of) money but as to its practical relevance to a modern society I can see none.

[JamesA]

The main reason I thought to post in the first place, is that I thought it might be interesting to some. Also that it might help explain some of the typical symbols and such that go with the Scottish clans. The clan crests, and plan badges can be traced back to the basics. I probably should have started with more history, and less mechanics. I will try to include more of the history and why it might be of interest to some in future parts.

Thanks for reading,
James