Welcome to my Heraldry Site

To any viewers, this is my site designed with the intentions of being my YR 8 English assignment. You will find a lot of information on the Art of Heraldry and other relevant subjects.  Hope you enjoy it!!!

The Art of Heraldry

Heraldry is the science of armorial bearings. It originated in medieval western Europe during the period of tournaments. It was used to clearly signify different contestants and noble families during the heat of battle. This art is still used today in corporations and some families with very interesting histories.

The Art of Heraldry involves devising, blazoning, or describing, and regulating heraldic symbols. During the medieval period the designs on a warriors shield and surcoat were depicted on wood, stone or glass. As armour became obsolete the Coats of Arms served as marks of social distinction, seals to authenticate documents, and soon became far more elaborate.

A Coat of Arms usually consists of the following: The Shield, which is essential and displays the arms of the bearer; the Helmet; the Crest above the helmet which is bound by a wreath and matching the colours of the shield; the Mantling that hangs from the helmet, also in the shields colours; and the Motto, which usually appears on a scroll beneath the shield. The Motto adopted by the bearer and can be changed at any time. The Mantling is depicted as a cut and shaped cape, and is usually coloured with a dye, and lined with a metal. The helmet denotes the rank of the bearer. A steel tilting helm is for esquires and gentlemen. A raised visor is for knights, and a sovereign's helmet is gold. A more elaborate Coat of Arms called Armorial Bearings may have a Crown or coronet to designate a royal rank, the Supporters, or figures that appear on either side of the shield, and the Compartment, which is the foundation upon which the supporters stand.

The Colours used in heraldry still use their old French names.. They are the Tinctures of - Gules (red), Azure (blue), Sable (black), Vert (green), Purpure (purple), and the Metals - Argent (white), and Or (gold). The rules to choosing colours are that a tincture cannot be placed on a tincture, nor a metal on a metal, for the simple reason that at a distance it would not be noticeable.

The background of a shield is the Field and can be a metal, a tincture, or Fur. There are many ways and patterns to divide a Field and these divisions can be partitioned in a variety of ways. Placed on the Field, is the principle Charge or Charges and they are usually animals or mythical beasts, but can be inanimate shapes such as plants, weapons or religious symbols.

Some Charges used are deer, lions, tigers, unicorns, griffins, dragons, and wyverns. Figures can be passant (walking), rampant (rearing), displayed (i.e.. outstretched eagle), statant (standing), guardant (full-faced posture), sejant (sitting), regardant (looking back), and dormant (sleeping).

Blazoning is the description in words of the shield.
 

Tell me what you think about my web site.  I welcome all of your comments and suggestions.

Heraldic Gallery

Below are images to give you examples of Heraldry.

The picture, "the arms of dodge", there is a REARING GRIFFIN and the dominant colours are OR and SABLE with a strip GULES. The VISOR indicates that the shield belongs to a knight who is most likely using it in a tournament. This particular knight has no motto.

The first picture is a few coats of arms, the second and third show ways of partitioning a shield and the fourth is a few charges.

This site was last updated