BLAZON SAMPLERBLAZON SAMPLERA Selection from Each of Our A Selection from Each of Our

Heraldry ProgramsHeraldry Programs

An Introduction to Heraldry for GenealogistsBlazon 100 – Basic Heraldic Terms

Blazon 101 – Basic Heraldic Terms (cont’d)Blazon 102 – The Grammar of Blazon

Blazon 200 – Early Period Style HeraldryBlazon 205 – The “Heraldry” of the Mamluks

Copyright © 2001, 2004 by David B. Appleton Copyright © 2001, 2004 by David B. Appleton All Rights ReservedAll Rights Reserved

A Self-Paced Computer Slide A Self-Paced Computer Slide ShowShowfromfrom

Appleton StudiosAppleton Studios

bybyDavid B. AppletonDavid B. Appleton

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

This PowerPointTM program contains sample screens from our series of educational programs about heraldry and coats of arms. We have produced this sample program in the hope of giving you a better idea of what these programs are like.

An Introduction to Heraldry for GenealogistsThis program discusses, in layman's terms:

• the origins of heraldry

• the various bits and pieces of an "achievement of arms"

• determining the colors of black and white drawings of coats of arms;

• where to look for armorial clues to a genealogy;

• how to use armory in your own genealogy; and

• corrects a couple of common misconceptions about heraldry.

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

““HeraldryHeraldry (fr. (fr. armoiriearmoirie, or , or La science des La science des armes et de blasonarmes et de blason): the name of ): the name of HeraldryHeraldry has has been applied to the Art, or (as some with been applied to the Art, or (as some with reason contend that it should be called) the reason contend that it should be called) the Science which deals with observing, Science which deals with observing, deciphering, and recording the coats of arms deciphering, and recording the coats of arms borne by the ancestors of the nobility and borne by the ancestors of the nobility and gentry of the present day; because in the gentry of the present day; because in the sixteenth and seventeenth century this became sixteenth and seventeenth century this became an important part of the duties of the Heralds.”an important part of the duties of the Heralds.”

James Parker, James Parker, A Glossary of Terms A Glossary of Terms Used in HeraldryUsed in Heraldry, p. 322, p. 322

Or, put Or, put muchmuch more simply, more simply,

““Heraldry is the systematic use of Heraldry is the systematic use of hereditary devices centred on the hereditary devices centred on the shield.”shield.”

Sir Anthony Wagner Clarenceaux King of ArmsSir Anthony Wagner Clarenceaux King of Arms

Ah! Here’s what we as genealogists Ah! Here’s what we as genealogists have been looking for! Hereditary. have been looking for! Hereditary. Systematic.Systematic.

So, what’s “heraldry”, again? And So, what’s “heraldry”, again? And how is it useful in genealogical how is it useful in genealogical research?research?

The central feature of any The central feature of any achievement is, and must be, the achievement is, and must be, the shieldshield, on which is displayed the coat , on which is displayed the coat of arms. Indeed, it is the only of arms. Indeed, it is the only indispensible feature, and may often indispensible feature, and may often be displayed alone.be displayed alone.

Frequently, above the shield will be a Frequently, above the shield will be a helmethelmet of some sort. The type of of some sort. The type of helmet, and the direction it faces, may helmet, and the direction it faces, may hold clues to the rank of the person hold clues to the rank of the person whose arms are on the shield.whose arms are on the shield.

Surrounding the helm, and sometimes Surrounding the helm, and sometimes extending down the sides of the shield, extending down the sides of the shield, is is mantlingmantling, a cloth protecting the , a cloth protecting the helmet. It may be very simple, or quite helmet. It may be very simple, or quite ornate.ornate.

So, we’ve now discussed why So, we’ve now discussed why heraldry is “colorful”. What makes it heraldry is “colorful”. What makes it a useful “tool” for genealogists?a useful “tool” for genealogists?

Simply this – remember that earlier Simply this – remember that earlier definition of heraldry? “definition of heraldry? “The The systematic use of hereditary devices systematic use of hereditary devices centred on the shield.centred on the shield.””

Because coats of arms are hereditary, Because coats of arms are hereditary, and because their use is systematic, and because their use is systematic, study of them can lead to clues which study of them can lead to clues which may help us trace a family line, just may help us trace a family line, just as the records of births, marriages, as the records of births, marriages, and deaths may help us to do so.and deaths may help us to do so.

First of all, because coats of arms are First of all, because coats of arms are passed down from generation to passed down from generation to generation within a family, they can generation within a family, they can give clues to family lines.give clues to family lines.

If you find two individuals of the If you find two individuals of the same surname living many miles same surname living many miles apart but bearing the same or very apart but bearing the same or very similar coats of arms, the chances similar coats of arms, the chances increase that these individuals are increase that these individuals are related to each other.related to each other.

On the other hand, if you have two On the other hand, if you have two individuals living very near each individuals living very near each other, but bearing completely other, but bearing completely different coats of arms, the odds different coats of arms, the odds increase that they are that they are increase that they are that they are not related, even though they share a not related, even though they share a surname.surname.

These men are probably related.These men are probably related.

Second, because arms are frequently Second, because arms are frequently modified in specific ways for junior, or modified in specific ways for junior, or cadet, branches of a family, it is cadet, branches of a family, it is sometimes possible to determine sometimes possible to determine through which son a coat of arms has through which son a coat of arms has descended.descended.

Both the English and the Scots have Both the English and the Scots have specific, though different, methods of specific, though different, methods of indicating whether the arms borne are indicating whether the arms borne are those of a first son, second son, and so those of a first son, second son, and so on. It is sometimes possible to trace on. It is sometimes possible to trace arms through several generations arms through several generations using such “using such “cadencycadency” marks.” marks.

Places to Look for Places to Look for Heraldic CluesHeraldic Clues

Family heraldry may be found in Family heraldry may be found in many different places, and any many different places, and any armory found may be a clue to a armory found may be a clue to a family’s history.family’s history.

Where might you look for coats of Where might you look for coats of arms used by your family?arms used by your family?

BLAZON 100

Blazon 100 is an introduction to some of the basic terms of heraldry: the names of the colors used; lines of division of the shield; and specialized charges called “ordinaries”, which are among the very earliest designs painted on heraldic shields.

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTIONThe language of heraldry, like that of The language of heraldry, like that of any other specialized field, has its any other specialized field, has its own vocabulary and grammar, its own vocabulary and grammar, its “jargon”.“jargon”.

This specialized jargon is called This specialized jargon is called “blazon”. An heraldic blazon is a “blazon”. An heraldic blazon is a word description of a coat of arms, word description of a coat of arms, and is sufficiently precise so as to and is sufficiently precise so as to allow someone to recreate the allow someone to recreate the picture, the “emblazon”, of a coat of picture, the “emblazon”, of a coat of arms from the word description, the arms from the word description, the “blazon”, alone, without ever having “blazon”, alone, without ever having seen the emblazon.seen the emblazon.

To someone new to the language of To someone new to the language of computers, the description “2.8 GHz computers, the description “2.8 GHz with a 60 GB hard drive, 1 GB of with a 60 GB hard drive, 1 GB of RAM, a DSL modem and a 54X DVD-RAM, a DSL modem and a 54X DVD-R/CD-ROM drive” is no more R/CD-ROM drive” is no more intelligible than is the descripton intelligible than is the descripton ““Gules three lions passant guardant Gules three lions passant guardant in pale orin pale or” to someone new to the ” to someone new to the language of blazon.language of blazon.

Just as one can speak intelligibly Just as one can speak intelligibly about computers once the vocabulary about computers once the vocabulary is known, so it is with the language of is known, so it is with the language of heraldry.heraldry.

So, to quickly So, to quickly review:review:

There are five There are five dark tinctures dark tinctures (the “colors”): (the “colors”): gulesgules, , azureazure, ,

sablesable, , vertvert, and , and purpurepurpure..

And there are the And there are the two light two light

tinctures (the tinctures (the “metals”): “metals”): oror and argent.and argent.

The Ermine FursThe Ermine FursThe ermine furs are all variants of the The ermine furs are all variants of the winter coat of a type of weasel, the winter coat of a type of weasel, the ermine. The most common of this ermine. The most common of this kind of fur, called “kind of fur, called “ermineermine”, is white ”, is white with black ermine tails or “spots” with black ermine tails or “spots” scattered throughout it, where the tip scattered throughout it, where the tip of the tail shows.of the tail shows.

The Vair-Based FursThe Vair-Based Furs

The other fur commonly found in The other fur commonly found in heraldry is “vair”, a fur of two colors heraldry is “vair”, a fur of two colors – blue and white – which is believed – blue and white – which is believed to be based on the skins of a gray to be based on the skins of a gray squirrel.squirrel.

Or the field may be divided into two Or the field may be divided into two parts horizontally. This field division parts horizontally. This field division is called “is called “per fessper fess”.”.

This is a very ancient coat of arms, This is a very ancient coat of arms, those of Philip de Cerne, which uses a those of Philip de Cerne, which uses a per fessper fess division of the field. division of the field.

Just as a field could be divided into a Just as a field could be divided into a number of parts vertically, so may it number of parts vertically, so may it be divided horizontally, or “be divided horizontally, or “barrybarry”.”.

And here is a And here is a barrybarry field. The arms of field. The arms of Hungary found in an old roll of arms.Hungary found in an old roll of arms.

Because their names sound so similar, Because their names sound so similar, many people get the many people get the palepale, the , the pilepile, and , and the the pallpall confused. Here they are side- confused. Here they are side-

by-side for comparison.by-side for comparison.

Pale Pile Pall Pale Pile Pall

BLAZON 101Blazon 101 is a continuation of Blazon

100, and discusses the complex lines of division and various types of common charges: geometric (e.g., roundels, lozenges); animate (beasts, birds, fish, monsters, human figures); and other miscellaneous charges (e.g., architecture, weapons, celestial objects). Again, real coats of arms from around the world are used to illustrate the various lines and charges.

The complex lines of division may be The complex lines of division may be divided into several sub-categories. divided into several sub-categories. These sub-categories are based on These sub-categories are based on the general shape of the line, and the general shape of the line, and may be roughly grouped as:may be roughly grouped as: Pointed;Pointed; Square;Square; Rounded; andRounded; and Miscellaneous, or Other.Miscellaneous, or Other.

The “pointed” complex lines of The “pointed” complex lines of division include such lines as:division include such lines as: IndentedIndented;; DancettyDancetty;; EngrailedEngrailed;; InvectedInvected; and; and RayonnyRayonny

In the early days of heraldry, indented and dancetty described slightly different things.

Indented described a single line of division – either on the field or the edge of a one-sided subordinary like a chief or a bordure – or a specific type of two-sided ordinary whose “bumps” were not “in synch” with each other.

Dancetty described only two-sided ordinaries which zig-zagged, or “danced” across the field.

By the 17th Century, however, the difference between the two terms became one only of degree. Both were zig-zag lines; indented described a line with smaller, more numerous zig-zags, and dancetty described a line with larger, fewer zig-zags.

Indented

Dancetty

Here is a coat of arms using the dancetty line of division in both the old and the new definitions. The primary charge here is blazoned as a “fess dancetty” or, more simply, a “dance”.

Animate ChargesProbably the single most common animate charge is the king of beasts: the lion.

Lions are found mostly in two postures: rampant, or fiercely attacking; and passant, walking.

Another very popular flower charge is the fleur- de-lis. It is believed to derive from the iris flower. It is not solely a French charge, being found in arms from all across Europe. The examples here come from Germany, Italy, and Sweden, respectively. Of course, its use in the French royal arms (and its name) leads us to think of it primarily as French.

BLAZON 102

Blazon 102 is subtitled “The Grammar of Blazon”. It is a graphical discussion of how the word description of a coat of arms, the blazon, actually works to build the picture of a coat of arms, the emblazon.

How To “Build” A BlazonHow To “Build” A Blazon

Blazons, like houses, are “built” in a particular order. In general, they are built “from the field up” and “from the center out”.

From the field upFrom the field up

Think of it like layers of paint. The first layer of paint that goes on the wood or metal of the shield is the “field”, the bottommost layer.

Here, the “field”, the bottommost layer, is Or, or yellow.

Second come the charges which lie directly on the field.

Here, the second layer, the charges which lie directly on the field, are azure (blue) and gules (red).

Finally comes the charges which lie on top of the charges which are already on the field.

Here, the third layer, the charge which lies entirely on another charge, is also Or (gold).

If we were to look at the various layers of the coat of arms we just finished from the top edge, it would look something like the illustration below right, with the field, the bottommost layer, being Or; the second layer, the charges on the field, being azure and gules; and the third layer, the charge on top of another charge, Or.

Gules

Gules, in pale

Gules, in pale three lions*

* Lions are rampant by default. That is, unless their posture is otherwise specified, they will be rampant, as here.

Gules, in pale three lions passant

Gules, in pale three lions passant guardant

Gules, in pale three lions passant guardant Or.

BLAZON 200

Blazon 200 discusses early heraldic style – what the underlying principles of early heraldic style are: simplicity, contrast, balance, static design, and so on, with examples demonstrating each element.

The Philosophical Basis of The Philosophical Basis of Period StylePeriod StyleThe philosophical roots of heraldry can

be found in the attitudes of medieval life. One of these is the belief that the proper order of the world is fixed and static. God is in His Heaven, the King rules on earth. Duty and obligation are part of a great chain from the lowest to the highest, and one's place in that social ladder is one's proper place.

SimplicitySimplicityOne of the most fundamental of the

underlying principles of early heraldry is that same one as much of human life in general, which has been summed up into a single acronym: KISS, for Keep It Simple, Stupid). One of the reasons for this is what has been called the raison d'être of heraldry: rapid, if not instant, identification.

BalanceBalanceEarly period armory, and even much of later

armory, usually places the primary elements of the design in a static arrangement, such as a single charge in the center of the field or three identical charges on the field.

ContrastContrastAt its simplest, the “Rule of Contrast” is frequently described as “No color on color, no metal on metal”. The modern-day application of this rule is found on every street corner and highway in the country. For example, stop signs are argent (a metal) on gules (a color).

This gives a greater contrast and allows for easier visibility (and identifiability). What if stop signs had black letters on red? Green on red? Blue on green? How easy would it be to read at dusk? At dawn? At night? Under oblique light? A lot more difficult to discern, don't you think?

IdentifiabilityIdentifiabilityAs heraldry is a means of identification, its

motifs should be drawn large and easily visible. Or, put another way, "big, bold and butch". For example, complex lines of division, such as embattled, running horizontally across the shield need have only three or four “bumps”. A complex line of division running vertically or diagonally across the shield need have but perhaps five or possibly six “projections”. By reducing the number of “bumps,” each can be drawn larger, making them all more easily and quickly identifiable.

A period-style line of division will not look as if it were cut with a pair of pinking shears!

To go back to our traffic sign analogy, many traffic signs can be determined simply by their shape, and the shape of sign is a part of the identification process. In the United States, stop signs are always octagonal; yield signs are always triangular; railroad crossing signs are always an X or a round sign. In each case, the shape of the sign aids in the identification.

So, too, charges in period armory were generally drawn in their "most easily recognizable" aspect. For example, bull's heads were drawn facing, or nearly facing, the viewer, so their horns, as one of their greatest identifying characteristics, could be seen, rather than the more standard posture with the head in profile. Stag’s heads, too, appear this way.

BLAZON 205This program discusses the “heraldry”

of the Mamluk dynasties of Egypt and Syria in the Middle Ages. While not true heraldry as understood by Europeans, the Mamluks had a system of armorial insignia which resembled heraldry in many ways. This PowerPointTM was designed as an introduction to this unusual armorial system.

Shi'ar (charges) may be classified into several general categories. The first is that of animals. Though rare in Muslim heraldry, three animals do appear. They are: the lion passant guardant (the emblem of Baybars, mentioned before); the eagle (or falcon) displayed wings inverted; and the horse passant.

Cup Penbox Sword Pellet Bow

Sari Dawadar Silahdar Bunduqdar

(Cup- (Secretary) (Armor-bearer) (Bowman)

Bearer)

That these charges could be emblazoned in a number of variants may be demonstrated by one of the most common, the penbox. This armorial charge is based on the interior of the actual object.

In its typical form, it consists of four elements: the first, containing the ink-pot; the second, the sand-pot and the starch paste pot; the third, a receptacle for thread (used for cleaning pens); and the fourth, two (or three) receptacles for reed pens.

[Any resemblance to a dorsal view of Star Trek’s USS Enterprise, NCC-1701, A, B, C or D, is purely coincidental. I think.]

Through the course of the 15th Century C.E., the early extremely simple coats gave way to those more complex. Here are a couple of the simplest.

Eventually, things became quite complex: On a fess between in chief a napkin and in base a cup, a cup charged with a penbox between 'trousers of nobility' and On a fess between in chief a napkin and in base a cup, a cup charged with a penbox surmounted by an axe between 'trousers of nobility'.

We hope that the samples shown here of these programs have been of interest to you. If you should desire additional information or wish to purchase any of the programs sampled here, please visit us on the web at:

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