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projects: Heraldry

Heraldry

What are Heraldic Devices?

Originally to identify them in battle, Medieval knights had pictures (or 'arms') on their shields and coats.

The Duke of Brittany and the Duke of Bourbon

This led to the name 'coat of arms' being used to describe a family's crest. Heraldic Devices are these coats of arms which have been properly assembled according to very old and strict rules. Lots of the words used in Heraldry are Latin or Old French.

Example of an Heraldic Device

What colours are used?

Only 5 colours and 2 metals are used in correct Heraldry;

COLOURS AND NAMES USED IN HERALDRY
LATIN NAME	GULES	AZURE	VERT	PURPURE	SABLE	OR	ARGENT
COLOUR	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
ENGLISH NAME	RED	BLUE	GREEN	PURPLE	BLACK	GOLD	SILVER

Technically the two metalic colours should not be placed next to each other on the device.

What shapes are used?

The basic shield can be any shape. It can be as rounded or pointy as you like. The sides could even be 'S' shaped. The blank shield shape is called the Field.

Devices with different shaped fields

The top of the field is called the Chief and the bottom is called the base.
The left is called sinister and the right is called dexter, but that is when you are holding the shield, so as you look at it, sinister is right and dexter is left!
Confused yet???
Chief Dexter is where the most important parts of a design should go.

How is the shield divided up?

The basic field can be divided up into Partitions.


PER PALE	PALE	PER FESS	FESS

PER BEND	BEND	PER BEND SINISTER	BEND SINISTER

QUARTERLY	CROSS	PER SALTIRE	SALTIRE

PER CHEVRON	CHEVRON	PER PALE and CHEVRON	CHIEF