Heraldry in its most general sense encompasses all matters relating to the duties and responsibilities of officers of arms.

To most, though, heraldry is the practice of designing, displaying, describing, and recording coats of arms and badges. The origins of heraldry lie in the need to distinguish participants in combat when their faces were hidden by iron and steel helmets. Eventually a system of rules developed into the modern form of heraldry. The German Hyghalmen Roll was made in the late fifteenth century and illustrates the German practice of repeating themes from the arms in the crest. The system of blazoning arms that is used today was developed by the officers of arms since the dawn of the art. This includes a description of the shield, the crest, and, if present, supporters, mottoes, and other insignia. An understanding of these rules is one of the keys to sound practice of heraldry. The rules do differ from country to country, but there are some aspects that carry over in each jurisdiction. Though heraldry is nearly 900 years old, it is still very much in use. Many cities and towns in Europe and around the world still make use of arms. Personal heraldry, both legally protected and lawfully assumed, has continued to be used around the world. Heraldic societies thrive to promote understanding of and education about the subject.

 

Origins of Heraldry

At the time of the Norman Conquest of England, modern heraldry had not yet been developed. The knights in the Bayeux Tapestry carry shields, but there appears to have been no system of hereditary coats of arms. The beginnings of modern heraldic structure were in place, but would not become standard until the middle of the twelfth century. By this time, coats of arms were being inherited by the children of armigers (persons entitled to use a coat of arms) across Europe. Between 1135 and 1155, seals show the general adoption of heraldic devices in England, France, Germany, Spain, and Italy. In Britain the practice of using marks of cadency arose to distinguish one son from another, and was institutionalized and standardized by John Writhe in the fifteenth century. The tomb of Geoffrey of Anjou is one of the first recorded examples of hereditary armory in Europe. The same shield shown here is found on the tomb effigy of his grandson, William Longespee.In the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance, heraldry became a highly developed discipline, regulated by professional officers of arms. As its use in jousts became obsolete, coats of arms remained popular for visually identifying a person in other ways—impressed in sealing wax on documents, carved on family tombs and flown as a banner on country homes. The first work of heraldic jurisprudence, De Insigniis et Armiis, was written in the 1350s by Bartolus de Saxoferrato, a professor of law at the University of Padua. From the beginning of heraldry, coats of arms have been executed in a wide variety of media, including on paper, painted wood, embroidery, enamel, stonework and stained glass. For the purpose of quick identification in all of these, heraldry distinguishes only seven basic colors and makes no fine distinctions in the precise size or placement of charges on the field. Coats of arms and their accessories are described in a concise jargon called blazon. This technical description of a coat of arms is the standard that must be adhered to no matter what artistic interpretations may be made in a particular depiction of the arms. The idea that each element of a coat of arms has some specific meaning is unfounded. Though the original armiger may have placed particular meaning on a charge, these meanings are not necessarily retained from generation to generation. Unless the arms incorporate an obvious pun on the bearer's name, it is difficult to find meaning in them. Changes in military technology and tactics made plate armor obsolete and heraldry became detached from its original function. This brought about the development of "paper heraldry" that only existed in paintings. Designs and shields became more elaborate at the expense of clarity. The 20th century's taste for stark iconic emblems made the simple styles of early heraldry fashionable again.

Rules of Heraldry

Shield and Lozenge

The main focus of modern heraldry is the armorial achievement, or coat of arms. The central element of a coat of arms is the shield. In general the shape of shield employed in a coat of arms is irrelevant. The fashion for shield shapes employed in heraldic art has generally evolved over the centuries. There are times when a particular shield shape is specified in a blazon. These almost invariably occur in non-European contexts such as the coat of arms of Nunavut and the former Republic of Bophuthatswana, though North Dakota provides an even more unusual example. Traditionally, as women did not go to war, they did not use a shield. Instead their coats of arms were shown on a lozenge—a rhombus standing on one of its acute corners. This continues to hold true in much of the world, though some heraldic authorities make exceptions. In Canada the restriction against women bearing arms on a shield has been completely eliminated. Noncombatant clergy have also made use of the lozenge as well as the cartouche – an oval – for their display.

Tinctures

Tinctures are the colors used in heraldry, though a number of patterns called "furs" and the depiction of charges in their natural colors or "proper" are also regarded as tinctures, the latter distinct from any color such a depiction might approximate. Since heraldry is essentially a system of identification, the most important convention of heraldry is the rule of tincture. To provide for contrast and visibility, metals (generally lighter tinctures) must never be placed on metals, and colors (generally darker tinctures) must never be placed on colors. Where a charge overlays a partition of the field, the rule does not apply. Like any rule, this admits exceptions, the most famous being the arms chosen by Godfrey of Bouillon when he was made King of Jerusalem. The names used in English blazon for the colors and metals come mainly from French and include Or (gold), Argent (white), Azure (blue), Gules (red), Sable (black), Vert (green), and Purpure (purple). A number of other colors are occasionally found, typically for special purposes. Certain patterns called furs can appear in a coat of arms, though they are (rather arbitrarily) defined as tinctures, not patterns. The two common furs are ermine and vair. Ermine represents the winter coat of the stoat, which is white with a black tail. Vair represents a kind of squirrel with a blue-gray back and white belly. Sewn together, it forms a pattern of alternating blue and white shapes. Heraldic charges can also be displayed in their natural colors. Many natural items such as plants and animals are described as proper in this case. Proper charges are very frequent as crests and supporters. Overuse of the tincture "proper" is viewed as decadent or bad practice.

Divisions of the field

Division of the field The field of a shield in heraldry can be divided into more than one tincture, as can the various heraldic charges. Many coats of arms consist simply of a division of the field into two contrasting tinctures. Since these are considered divisions of a shield the rule of tincture can be ignored. For example, a shield divided azure and gules would be perfectly acceptable. A line of partition may be straight or it may be varied. The variations of partition lines can be wavy, indented, embattled, engrailed, or made into myriad other forms.

Ordinaries

In the early days of heraldry, very simple bold rectilinear shapes were painted on shields. These could be easily recognized at a long distance and could also be easily remembered. They therefore served the main purpose of heraldry—identification. As more complicated shields came into use, these bold shapes were set apart in a separate class as the "honorable ordinaries." They act as charges and are always written first in blazon. Unless otherwise specified they extend to the edges of the field. Though ordinaries are not easily defined, they are generally described as including the cross, the fess, the pale, the bend, the chevron, the saltire, and the pall. There is also a separate class of charges called sub-ordinaries which are of a geometrical shape subordinate to the ordinary. According to Friar, they are distinguished by their order in blazon. The sub-ordinaries include the inescutcheon, the orle, the tressure, the double treasure, the bordure, the chief, the canton, the label, and flaunches. Ordinaries may appear in parallel series, in which case English blazon gives them different names such as pallets, bars, bendlets, and chevronels. French blazon makes no such distinction between these diminutives and the ordinaries when borne singly. Unless otherwise specified an ordinary is drawn with straight lines, but each may be indented, embattled, wavy, engrailed, or otherwise have their lines varied.

Charges

A charge is any object or figure placed on a heraldic shield or on any other object of an armorial composition. Any object found in nature or technology may appear as a heraldic charge in armory. Charges can be animals, objects, or geometric shapes. Apart from the ordinaries, the most frequent charges are the cross—with its hundreds of variations—and the lion and eagle. Other common animals are stags, boars, martlets, and fish. Dragons, unicorns, griffins, and more exotic monsters appear as charges but also as supporters. Animals are found in various stereotyped positions or attitudes. Quadrupeds can often be found rampant—standing on the left hind foot. Another frequent position is passant, or walking, like the lions of the coat of arms of England. Eagles are almost always shown with their wings spread, or displayed. In English heraldry the crescent, mullet, martlet, annulet, fleur-de-lis, and rose may be added to a shield to distinguish cadet branches of a family from the senior line. These cadency marks are usually shown smaller than normal charges, but it still does not follow that a shield containing such a charge belongs to a cadet branch. All of these charges occur frequently in basic undifferenced coats of arms.

Marshalling

Two or more coats of arms are often combined in one shield to express inheritance, claims to property, or the occupation of an office. Marshalling can be done in a number of ways, but the principal mode is impalement or dimidiation. This involves using one shield with the arms of two families or corporations on either half. Another method is called quartering, in which the shield is divided into quadrants. This practice originated in Spain after the thirteenth century. One might also place a small inescutcheon of a coat of arms on the main shield. When more than four coats are to be marshaled, the principle of quartering may be extended to two rows of three (quarterly of six) and even further. A few lineages have accumulated hundreds of quarters, though such a number is usually displayed only in documentary contexts. Some traditions have a strong resistance to allowing more than four quarters, and resort instead to sub-quartering.

Helm and crest

The coat of arms of Saskatchewan, with its constituent parts labeled. Main articles: Helmet and Crest (heraldry) In English the word "crest" is commonly used to refer to a coat of arms—an entire heraldic achievement. The correct use of the heraldic term crest refers to just one component of a complete achievement. The crest rests on top of a helmet which itself rests on the most important part of the achievement—the shield. The crest is usually found on a wreath of twisted cloth and sometimes within a coronet. The modern crest has evolved from the three-dimensional figure placed on the top of the mounted knights' helms as a further means of identification. In most heraldic traditions a woman does not display a crest, though this tradition is being relaxed in some heraldic jurisdictions. When the helm and crest are shown, they are usually accompanied by a mantling. This was originally a cloth worn over the back of the helmet as partial protection against heating by sunlight. Today it takes the form of a stylized cloak or hanging from the helmet. Typically in British heraldry, the outer surface of the mantling is of the principal color in the shield and the inner surface is of the principal metal. The mantling is conventionally depicted with a ragged edge, as if damaged in combat. Clergy often refrain from displaying a helm or crest in their heraldic achievements. Members of the Roman Catholic clergy may display appropriate headwear. This takes the form of a galero with the colors and tassels denoting rank; or, in the case of Papal arms until the inauguration of Pope Benedict XVI in 2005, an elaborate triple crown known as a tiara. Benedict broke with tradition to substitute a mitre in his arms. In the Anglican tradition, clergy members may pass crests on to their offspring, but rarely display them on their own shields.

Mottoes

An armorial motto is a phrase or collection of words intended to describe the motivation or intention of the armigerous person or corporation. This can also form a pun on the family name as in the Neville motto "Ne vile velis." Mottos are generally changed at will and do not make up an integral part of the armorial achievement. Mottoes can typically be found on a scroll under the shield. In Scottish heraldry where the motto is granted as part of the blazon, it is usually shown on a scroll above the crest. A motto may be in any language.

Supporters and other insignia

The coat of arms of Prince Edward Island uses two foxes as supporters. Supporters are human or animal figures placed on either side of a coat of arms as though supporting it. In many traditions, these have acquired strict guidelines for use by certain social classes. On the European continent, there are often fewer restrictions on the use of supporters. In Britain only peers of the realm, senior members of orders of knighthood, and some corporate bodies are granted supporters. Often these can have local significance or a historical link to the armiger. If the armiger has the title of baron, hereditary knight, or higher, he or she may display a coronet of rank above the shield. In Britain this is usually below the helmet, though it is often above the crest in Continental heraldry. In Canada, descendants of the United Empire Loyalists are entitled to use a Loyalist military coronet (for descendants of members of Loyalist regiments) or Loyalist civil coronet (for others). Another addition that can be made to a coat of arms is the insignia of an order of knighthood. This is usually represented by a collar or similar band surrounding the shield. When the arms of a knight and his wife are shown in one achievement, the insignia of knighthood surround the husband's arms only, and the wife's arms are customarily surrounded by a meaningless ornamental garland of leaves for visual balance.

National Styles

The emergence of heraldry occurred across western Europe almost simultaneously. Originially, heraldic style was very similar from country to country. Over time, there developed distinct differences between the heraldic traditions of different countries. The four broad heraldic styles are German-Nordic, Gallo-British, Latin, and Eastern. In addition it can be argued that later national heraldic traditions, such as South African and Canadian have emerged in the twentieth century. In general there are characteristics shared by each of the four main groups.

German-Nordic heraldry

Coats of arms in Germany, the Scandinavian countries, the Baltic states, and northern Switzerland generally change very little over time. Marks of difference are also very rare in this tradition as are heraldic furs. One of the most striking characteristics of German-Nordic heraldry is the treatment of the crest. Often, the same design is repeated in the shield and the crest. The use of multiple crests is also common. The crest cannot be used separately as in British heraldry, but can sometimes serve as a mark of difference between different branches of a family.

Dutch heraldry

Coats of arms in the Netherlands were not controlled by an official heraldic system as in Britain, nor were they used solely by noble families. Any person could develop and use a coat of arms if they wished to do so. As a result, many merchant families had coats of arms even though they were not members of the nobility. These are sometimes referred to as burgher arms, and it is thought that most arms of this type were adopted while the Netherlands were a republic (1501-1806).

Gallo-British heraldry

The use of cadency marks to difference arms within the same family and the use of semy fields are distinctive features of Gallo-British heraldry. It is also common to see heraldic furs used. In Britain, the style is notably still controlled by royal officers of arms. French heraldry also experienced a period of strict rules of construction under the Emperor Napoleon. English heraldry makes greater use of supporters than other European countries.

Latin heraldry

The heraldry of southern France, Iberia, and Italy is characterized by a lack of crests and shields of unique shape. Iberian heraldry occasionally introduces words to the shield of arms, a practice frowned upon in British heraldry. It is also known for its extensive use of quartering, due to armorial inheritance through both the male and female lines. Italian heraldry, in particular, is dominated by the Roman Catholic church with many shields and achievements bearing some reference to the church.

Eastern heraldry

Eastern heraldry is the tradition that developed in Croatia, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine, and Russia. These are characterized by a pronounced territorial clan system. Often, entire villages or military groups were granted the same coat of arms irrespective of family relationships. In Poland, nearly six hundred unrelated families are known to bear the same arms of a horseshoe enclosing a cross. Also, many heraldic shields derive from ancient house marks. Marks of cadency are almost unknown and shields are generally very simple with only one charge. It is also interesting to note that at least 15 percent of all Hungarian personal arms bear a decapitated Turk's head in reference to their wars against Turkey.

Modern Heraldry

Heraldry continues to flourish in the modern world. Institutions, companies, and individuals continue to use coats of arms as forms of pictorial identification. In the British Isles, the Kings of Arms and the Chief Herald of Ireland continue to make grants of arms. There are also heraldic authorities in Spain, Canada and South Africa that grant or register coats of arms. Heraldic societies abound in the world today in Africa, Asia, Australia, the Americas, and in Europe. Some people who have interests in heraldry as a hobby participate in the Society for Creative Anachronism and other medieval revivals or in micro nationalism. Many more people see heraldry as a part of their national, and even personal, heritage, as well as a manifestation of civic and national pride. Today, heraldry has ceased to be an expression of aristocracy throughout the world and is simply a form of identification. Military heraldry continues to develop, incorporating blazons unknown to the medieval world. Nations and their subdivisions—provinces, states, counties, cities, and more—continue to build on traditions of civic heraldry. The Roman Catholic Church, the Church of England, and other faiths maintain a tradition of heraldry known as ecclesiastical heraldry for its highest ranking prelates, holy orders, universities and schools.

Since the dawn of time, man has relished in the use of symbolism. From as far back as prehistoric cave paintings and totem poles, history is enriched by a full array of symbolism. This symbolism has never, throughout the history of man, lost it's power. The power of symbolism comes from instantaneous recognition of the image or device being rendered. Modern man understands this power, which urges companies to create logos, militaries to create insignia, and sports teams to create uniforms with logos. All of us now enjoy the gentle and colorful art and science that took it's roots in feudal Europe. We call these roots, heraldry.

It is interesting to note that the term that we use today as a family crest was not a part of heraldic tradition. The earliest use of a family coat of arms originated before heraldry. The family coat of arms should be more accurately stated as a family mark. Households would put a graphic image on their property to allow everyone to know that the piece of property belonged to a certain family. The images were used because very few people could read and wright. A good modern example of this comes from the American west and the ranchers. The ranchers would put a brand on their cattle to signify that this cow was owned by a specific family (for example, the family owned bar-T ranch). This did not indicate nobility, title, or anything other than a mark of ownership.

Heraldry has been defined as the art of blazoning, assigning, and marshalling a coat of arms. The origins of this art is disputed. The most widely recognized origin was the need for a combatant to be recognized during a battle. Some historians have theorized that the origins of heraldry come from the above mentioned family mark. The difference was that the heraldic "marks" were used by the noblemen, which were protected by law. Whatever the original origin may be, heraldry and the use of devices on a shield became military status symbols. Heraldry was also indisputably used as a way to identify soldiers during and after a battle (both to recognize a combatant who is still in the battle, and a means to identify the fallen after the battle).

As armour became heavier and more cumbersome, the ability of a armored warrior to tilt his helmet back as William I (William the Conqueror) did at Hastings, became an impossible task. Therefore, men in armour distinguished themselves through the devices on their shields and surcoats (which were worn over their armour). If the person carrying arms were a Nobleman (or high ranking Knight), their followers would also use the devices of the noble, thus signifying which military unit they belonged to. Feudal armies employed banners to signify to their soldiers where the rallying point, or headquarters, of their unit was located at. These heraldic devices used by mounted soldiers, became hereditary as the first son retained the devices of his father.

As the Knightly class grew and began to blend with the nobility, heraldry became regulated. A coat of arms became the right of a Sovereign to grant to an individual for service to the crown. Adornments to the coat of arms were then granted to the bearer of the arms to signify achievements. For example, the Sovereign might add a specific device to the blazon of arms as recognition for military victories during a campaign. Therefore, heraldry became the way for a Knight or Nobleman to visually represent who he was, his importance, status, and achievements.

The ancient use of heraldry has never become obsolete. In today's military, every soldier wears a distinctive unit patch to signify what unit he or she belongs to. The United States Army has an Institute of Heraldry to create distinctive crests and devices to signify certain units, grades of power (rank), and honors (infantry badge and the medal of honor). All of these devices and crests are a visual representation of the wearers importance, status, and achievements. The big difference is that in today's military, the insignia are not granted to the individual (they are not the property of the individual) and are not combined on a single shield. To find all the information you will have to look at his shoulder to find which unit he belongs to, his arm or collar to see his status (or rank), and his chest to see his achievements (medals).

The Divine Right of Kings is a European political and religious doctrine of political absolutism. Such doctrines are largely, though not exclusively, associated with the medieval and ancient regime eras. It states that a monarch owes his rule to the will of God, and not necessarily to the will of his subjects, the aristocracy or any other competing authority. This doctrine shows that any attempt to depose a monarch or to restrict his powers runs contrary to the will of God.

Its symbolism remains in the coronations of the British monarchs, in which they are anointed with Holy oils by the Archbishop of Canterbury, thereby ordaining them to monarchy. It is further evidenced by efforts to trace the genealogy of European monarchs to King David of the Old Testament, with the belief that it legitimizes the rule of the present monarch. The king or queen of the United Kingdom is the last monarch still to undergo such a ceremony, which in other countries has been replaced by an inauguration or other declaration. It is the reason why the British Royal Family's motto is Dieu Et Mon Droit (God and my [birth] Right - i.e. I rule with God's blessing).

The concept of Divine Right incorporates the broader concept of "royal God-given rights", which simply says that "the right to rule is anointed by God (or gods)," this is found in many other cultures including Aryan and Egyptian traditions. Thomas Aquinas accepted the overthrow of a king and even regicide when the laws of the king are untenably unjust, and towards the end of the Middle Ages many philosophers such as Nicholas of Cusa and Francisco Suarez propounded similar theories. In addition, the Chinese concept of Mandate of Heaven required that the emperor properly carry out the proper rituals, consult his ministers, and made it extremely difficult to undo any acts carried out by an ancestor.

Much of the Scriptural basis of the Divine Right of Kings comes from Romans 13:1-2, which state: "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation." In summary this appears to say that any attempted act of revolution against an authority is against the will of God and that any person implementing such actions are punishable by damnation.

A monarchy, from the Greek μονος, "one", and αρχειν, "to rule', is a form of government that has a monarch as head of state. In most monarchies the monarch usually reigns as head of state for life; this is also true in many republics, though it is also common for the Head of State (often called the president) to be elected for a certain amount of time. There are currently 32 monarchs reigning over 46 extant sovereign monarchies in the world, the monarch of the United Kingdom being shared with 15 other independent realms. As such, this one multiple monarch reigns over vast geographic areas including the trans-continental realms of Canada and Australia. Only one, Andorra, is ruled by two co-monarchs.

The term monarchy is also used to refer to the people (especially the dynasty, also known as 'royalty') and institutions that make up the royal or imperial establishment, or to the realm over which the monarch reigns.

In all monarchies, the monarch serves as a symbol of continuity and statehood. The extent of a monarch's additional powers varies from monarchy to monarchy, but in constitutional monarchies they are usually only evident in times of crisis. Many monarchies are constituted by tradition or by codified law so that the monarch has little real political power, in others the monarch holds some power but is limited from exercising it by popular or precedental opinion; in still others the monarch holds substantial power. In some cases, the symbolism of monarchy alongside the symbolism of democracy can lead to divisions over seemingly contradictory principles of sovereignty.

Monarchy is one of the oldest forms of government, with echoes in the leadership of tribal chiefs. Many monarchs claimed to rule by divine right or at least by divine grace, ruling either by the will of the god(s) or as gods themselves. In some early systems the monarch was overthrown or sacrificed when it became apparent that divine sanction had been withdrawn. Monarchs might be chosen by election, succession, or conquest.

Since 1800, most of the world's monarchies have been abolished and have been replaced by republics. Most countries which remain monarchies have become constitutional monarchies.

Among the few states that retain a rather absolute monarchy are Vatican City, Swaziland, Brunei, Qatar, Oman, Bhutan, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. In Jordan and Morocco, the monarch also retains considerable power. There are also recent (2003) developments in Liechtenstein, wherein the regnant prince was given the constitutional power to dismiss the government at will. Nepal had several swings between a constitutional role and direct rule related to the Maoist rebel movement and the palace killings by a suicidal crown prince.

Nobility is a traditional hereditary status (see hereditary titles) that exists today in many countries (mainly present or former monarchies). The term originally referred to those who were "known" or "notable" and was applied to the highest social class in pre-modern societies. In the feudal system (in Europe and elsewhere), the nobility were generally those who held a fief, often land and/or office, under vassalage, i.e. in exchange for allegiance and various, mainly military, services to the Monarch and at lower levels to another nobleman. It rapidly came to be seen as a hereditary caste, sometimes associated with a right to bear a hereditary title and, for example in pre-revolutionary France, enjoying fiscal and other privileges. Today, in most countries, "noble status" is a purely honorary dignity that confers no legal privileges; an important exception is the United Kingdom, where certain titles (titles of the peerage, until recently guaranteeing a seat in the Upper House of Westminster Parliament, hence its name House of Lords), still confer some residual privileges.

Nobility is a historical, social and often legal notion, which should not be confused with socioeconomic status which is mainly statistical based on income and possessions. Being wealthy or influential does not automatically make one a noble, nor are all nobles wealthy and influential (aristocratic families have lost their fortunes in various ways, and the concept of the 'poor nobleman' is almost as old as nobility itself).

To put it plainly, a knight was a professional soldier. With the invention of the stirrup in the 8th century, the Knight became the mounted soldier. The mounted soldier (cavalry) was the most powerful element of medieval armies. However, being a mounted soldier was costly. A mounted soldier had to have enough income to buy and sustain a horse, armor, weapons, squires, etc. to go with him. Therefore, only those who were more wealthy became Knights. Those who were poor became attached to the land in service to this mounted soldier (peasants). They were in the service of this Knight because in the 10th century, everyone had land from someone else. They paid for the land with goods or services. So a Knight would pay for his land with service as a soldier in the Dukes army; likewise a peasant would pay for his land with grain or meat (as just two examples) to the Knight. There were instances where free men who were under a Knight paid for their land as being a lesser Knight. Therefore, when the Duke called the Knight into service, he would then call his lesser Knights into service; thus becoming a contingent in the Duke's army.

Knighthood was therefore, a professional association of those who could afford the expense of mounted warfare. The members of this class were typically nobles or members of the land owning class. The boundaries of Knighthood were quite fluid in early times. Anyone who could obtain the training and equipment necessary to become a professional soldier could eventually become a Knight. By the 12th century, a social element was added to this class of person. Monks tried to also give it a moral aspect, because the Church thought warfare was too savage. Therefore a soldier was trained to also follow a code of behavior (chivalry). Literature gave a model for the Knightly class ,as well as glorifying it, with the Arthurian legend.

Because knighthood was more of a professional association, knights were not necessarily nobles (however, nobles were the main source of individuals who could afford to be a knight). The noble class and the knightly class began to merge in the 12th century. In the 13th century heredity enters into the knightly class, and more and more nobles were being knighted, to include royalty, for example Louis VI. With heredity being a part of knighthood, a son of a knight automatically became a squire and eligible for knighthood. By the late 13th century, laws were also enacted which greatly imposed restrictions on who could become a knight, for example the Parliament in Paris forbade a count from making un free men knights without the approval of the king. In England, anyone who held land in a knight's fee could pay a tax if they did not want to become a soldier. Also, as an interesting note, knighthood in England did not become a hereditary class, as in the rest of Europe.

With the development of gunpowder, warfare ushered in a new era. Heavily armored knights charging could not guarantee a victory. The battle of Agincourt in 1415 demonstrated the shift in strategy. England relied upon powerful archery weapons, while the French relied upon heavily armored Knights. With the terrain on England's side, the power of the arrows could prevent the Knights from moving by falling the horses of the French Knights. Charles VII learned a couple of lessons from this battle. First he learned that the Knight was not the dominant force on the battlefield anymore. Second, he learned that terrain and weather played as much to do with the outcome of a battle as the strategy of the battle. Last he gained incite as to the benefit of having a professional standing army. Up to this point, the Knights were not soldiering every day of the year, only when their Lord called them into service. Charles VII had created the first professional standing army in Europe.

Now that the reality of Knights as professional soldiers started to decline, the chivalric ideals they held grew because free reign was given to literature. Literature romanticized knighthood and their code. The traditional knights attire was more and more used for decoration, and knights in armor were seen less on the battlefield and more in tournaments.

The development of Heraldry owes a lot to the knightly class. Initially heraldry was the way lesser knights or men at arms knew where their headquarters were, and where their lord was on the battlefield. Today heraldry is still used by the professional soldiers, we know it as distinctive unit insignia. The patch a soldier has in a modern army signifies what unit he belongs to. The blazon of a knights shield was that distinctive unit insignia. Heralds were those with an expert knowledge of heraldry. They were used during tournaments to boast their knight, which is the most popularly know use for heralds. However, heralds were also used to catalogue coats of arms, and helped identify others on the battlefield (and after the battle was over, helped identify the bodies of the fallen). Because of this reason, heralds were used in an official capacity in battles, truces, and declarations of war.

Orders of Knighthood began during the Crusades. Knights associated themselves together to form a group of professional soldiers. The Church saw them as a way to be the military arm of the Church. Therefore, the Catholic Church approved and granted special permissions to certain Orders of Knighthood. One of the most well known Orders of Knighthood was the Order of the Temple of Jerusalem (Knights Templar), who only had to answer to the Pope and not to any King. Because they were in a way sponsored by the Catholic Church, these Orders of Knighthood were required to take quasi-monastic vows which made them warrior monks. These military-monastic orders were mostly disbanded after the Crusades. Monarchs saw the power and wealth of these orders and created their own. By the 16th century, these monarchical orders became orders of merit and common throughout Europe. Today, orders of knighthood, even those awarded by sovereigns or governments are awards of merit, despite their history. Some of those orders are the English Garter and the Spanish Golden Fleece.

	Argent (Silver, often shown as white)- The very first word always describes the color (tincture) or metal of the shield. NOTE: This is a shield, NOT a crest. The crest is the device that sits on top of the helm (helmet) in the full achievement.
	Argent, on a chevron sable - This means that a chevron has been placed on the silver shield, and the "on a" part means that there will be something on the chevron itself. To find out what color the chevron is we must go to the next mentioned color - in heraldry all things mentioned BEFORE a color are of that color We note that the next mentioned color is Sable (Black) so that is what the chevrons color is.
	Argent, on a chevron sable between three axes erect gules - This means that the chevron is between three axes and that the axes are erect (upright) and of the color Gules (Red). Whenever there are three charges, unless we are told otherwise, they are always placed upon the shield two at the top (in chief) and one at the bottom (in base) with the chevron in between the axes.
	Argent, on a chevron sable between three axes erect gules, three crescents or. (on a chevron + three crescents Gold) This means that we place three gold crescents on the chevron itself. With all the proceeding steps, we get the blazon of the shield: Argent, on a chevron sable between three axes erect gules, three crescents or.
	Now we will look at the crest, remember this is what is on top of the helm (helmet). On a helm, plume argent. This means that on top of the helmet, there is a silver (or white) Ostrich feathers, or plume.
	When we add a mantling, the Crest will look like this. The Mantling is never mentioned in the blazon. This is a cloth used to shade the wearer from the sun. It is sometimes used to depict a cloth given by a lady to a knight. This cloth is what a knight would wear during knightly games, such as jousting, to show that he is favored by a certain lady.
	A scroll is often seen with coats of arms to display the families motto.
	Therefore, the full achievement of arms will read as follows: Arms: Argent, on a chevron sable between three axes erect gules, three crescents or. Crest: On a helm, plume argent. Motto: Toujours pret (which means, "Always ready")

An additional item that you might find on a shield would be marks of Cadency. Cadency is the way of distinguishing similar coats of arms belonging to members of the same family.

A specific coat of arms belongs to a person, not a name. Because it is owned by a person, just like his house and land, the coat of arms can be inherited by his male children. Therefore, until the rightful owner of the coat of arms passes on, cadency is the system of distinguishing which member of the family carries the coat of arms. The oldest son, who will inherit the main coat of arms, will have a lable (the image on the top left corner of the graphic above) on top of the coat of arms. The second born son will place a crescent (the image just to the right of the lable of the graphic above) on top of the coat of arms. By following these rules and designs in the graphic above, the bearer of the coat of arms can be recognized as a member of the family, but not the owner of the coat of arms.

Owner of Coat of Arms (person who received the grant of arms)	First born son (person who will inherit their fathers arms)	Second born son (person who is in the family, but will not inherit the exact blazon of his father)

The Lion is one of the most recognized heraldic symbols. We see it on t-shirts, mugs, and even letterheads. In medieval times, when you would see a lion on someone's shield, it would represent who that person is, or what that person has done. Originally, armorial bearings were granted to individuals from the monarch of a country as a reward for services given to the crown. The lion on a shield would then be the outward symbolism of what that person has done for the crown.


The Lion is the Symbol used in heraldry to primarily represent deathless courage. Some of the other meanings behind this symbol are majesty, strength, justice, and military might. Therefore, when a person was granted armorial bearings with a lion as part of the blazon, it showed the world that the bearer of those arms demonstrated courage in battle, and had many men at arms under him creating military might. The English people had military might (as the Normans were basically Viking settlers, and the Vikings were known for their military prowess). This strength was shown as the English Kings adopted the Lion as their blazon. Just as the Lion is known for it's strength and power, the lioness is known as the Great Mother and Protector.


Throughout the world, the lion has inspired awe in all people. As just a few examples: The lion is known in many cultures as the, "King of the beasts"; In Egypt, Sekhmet (the goddess of war) was depicted as a woman with a lions head; In China (even though lions are not native to China), lions are believed to be protectors of humans from evil spirits; and in Greek myth, Hercules represents his power by the wearing of a Nemean Lion pelt that he killed barehanded. The lion is also connected to Gods in Greek Mythology, as being a symbol of Apollo. In antiquity, according to the Book of Genesis in the Bible, the tribe of Judah had the lion as it's symbol. The mythos and symbolism of the lion became so powerful throughout time, that the lion even is immortalized among the stars (with the constellation Leo).

Five major orders were formed in the Holy Land in the late 11th century to the early 12th century: the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre (circa 1099), Knights Templar, Knights Hospitaller (circa 1207) (St John), Knights of the Hospital of St Mary of Jerusalem (Teutonic Knights) and Knights of St Lazarus. Templar knights who contracted leprosy were sent to the care of the Order of St Lazarus. These knights trained the brethren of St Lazarus in the military arts and were responsible for transforming the Order into a military one. William, Archbishop of Tyre, as well as other historians of the period, appeared unaware of the difference between the Orders of Saint Lazarus and Saint John, referring to them in their accounts simply as 'Hospitallers'. The latter were, and still are, called Hospitallers as they were really 'hospital workers', thus hospitallers, and were not made a military order until much later in 1207 (and subsequently known as the Order of Malta). Indeed, Godfrey de Bouillon - the uncrowned ‘king’ of Jerusalem - was so impressed with the dedication of these hospital workers under its leader Gerard and with their work toward the sick and the wounded that 'king' Godfrey de Bouillon supported and gave them funds and facilities.


Pilgrimages to the Holy Land were a common if dangerous practice from shortly after the crucifixion of Jesus to throughout the Middle Ages. Numerous detailed commentaries have survived as evidence of this early Christian devotional. While there were many places the pious visited during their travels, the one most cherished was the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, first constructed by Constantine the Great in the fourth century AD. A local tradition, begun long before the Crusades, provided for the bestowing of knighthood upon qualified men whose presence, character and devotion were deemed worthy of enoblement by those entrusted to the care of the church. These Cannons of the Holy Sepulchre (circa 400AD - 800AD) became the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre.

As it was for the deliverance of the Holy Sepulchre that the First Crusade was organized (Duke Godfrey de Bouillon was the leader of the First Crusade, and the first 'king' of Jerusalum), so for its defence were certain military orders instituted. The Order earlier was called Order of Cannons, which today is now known as the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. It is considered the oldest of the military Orders of knighthood. It is the fourth oldest order in the Catholic Church. As the oldest military order original surviving Orders from Jerusalem, this Order of Knighthood was given a charter by Papal decree in 1099. It is likely much older and dates to well before the time of Charlemagne (circa 800). The practice of bestowing knighthood at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre was part of this mediaeval military movement toward reinstating a Christian presence in the Holy Land.


In 1099, Duke Godfrey of Bouillon took no other title than that of "Advocate of the Holy Sepulchre", and other Latin princes, Bohemond I of Antioch and Tancred, Prince of Galilee, (because he said he could not take the title of King in the city where Jesus had died) bound themselves as vassals of the Holy Sepulchre as they would to a king. The ultimate fall of the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem to the Muslims in 1291 did not suspend pilgrimages to the Tomb of Christ, or the custom of receiving knighthood there, and when the custody of the Holy Land was entrusted to the Franciscan Order, they continued this pious custom and gave the order its first Grand Master after the death of the last King of Jerusalem. These kings were the Grand Masters of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre and the Order had a hereditary Grand Master for the next 600 years. The kings had reserved that dignity to themselves previously.


The official arrival of the Franciscan Friars Minor in Syria dates from the Bull addressed by Pope Gregory IX to the clergy of Palestine in 1230, charging them to welcome the Friars Minor, and to allow them to preach to the faithful and hold oratories and cemeteries of their own. In the ten years' truce of 1229 concluded between Frederick II of Sicily and the sultan Al-Kamil, the Franciscans were permitted to enter Jerusalem, but they were also the first victims of the violent invasion of the Khwarezmians in 1244. Nevertheless, the Franciscan province of Syria continued to exist, with Acre as its seat.


The monks quickly resumed possession of their convent of Mount Sion at Jerusalem. The Turks tolerated the veneration paid to the tomb of Christ and derived revenue from the taxes levied upon pilgrims. In 1342, in his Bull Gratiam agimus, Pope Clement VI officially committed the care of the Holy Land to the Franciscans. (The restoration of a Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem by Pius IX in 1847 superseded the Franciscans.) Consequently, as early as 1336, the Franciscans were enrolling applicants among the lay Order of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre, in ceremonies frequently mentioned in the itineraries of pilgrims. Those pilgrims deemed worthy of the honour were received into the Order with an elaborate ceremonial of ancient chivalry. In the ceremonial of reception, the role of the clergy was limited to the benedictio militis, the dubbing with the sword being reserved to a professional knight, since the carrying of the sword was incompatible with the sacerdotal character.


From 1480 to 1495, there was in Jerusalem a German knight of the Holy Sepulchre, John of Prussia, who acted as steward for the convent and regularly discharged this act reserved to knighthood. It was also of frequent occurrence that a foreign knight, present among the crowds of pilgrims, would assist at this ceremony. However, in default of other assistance, it was the superior who had to act instead of a knight, although such a course was deemed irregular, It was since then also that the superior of the convent assumed the title of Grand Master, a title which has been acknowledged by various pontifical diplomas, and finally by a Bull of Benedict XIV dated 1746.


Pius IX re-established the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem in 1847. Pius X ordained that the Order's cape, as worn by the original knights, be a "white cloak with the cross of Jerusalem in red enamel." Pius X assumed the title of Grand Master. The title of Grand Master is now held by a cardinal of the Roman Curia who is resident in Rome at the Palazzo della Rovere, the 15th century palace of Pope Julius II, immediately adjacent to the Vatican. It serves as the Order's international headquarters. The Order remains a Roman Catholic religious Order which along with the Sovereign Military Order of Malta (circa 1207) are both international Catholic Orders of Knighthood.


In ecclesiastical heraldry, the Order of the Holy Sepulchre is one of only two Orders whose insignia may be displayed in a clerical coat of arms. (Laypersons have no such restriction.) Knights and Ladies of the Order display their arms in the badge of the order, while Knights and Ladies of the rank Grand Cross surround their shield with a ribbon. Other ranks place the appropriate ribbon below the shield and may also display the red Jerusalem cross behind their shield.


The Order had a hereditary Grand Master for 600 years; from the time of Duke Godfrey de Bouillon (first 'King' of Jerusalem). Many of the Kings of the Royal Houses of Europe were the Order's Grand Master. Later, succeeding popes became the Grand Master of the Order. In 1942 Pope Pius XII, busy with World War II, relinquished a Cardinal Protector as the Grand Master.


In 2007, Pope Benedict XVI appointed John Patrick Cardinal Foley as the Cardinal Protector, or Grand Master of the Order.

Version 1.2, November 2002

Copyright (C) 2000,2 001,2002 Free Software Foundation, Inc.

51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA

Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies

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0. PREAMBLE

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