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| Neville-Warwick Arms. |
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What is a Coat of Arms? - Shadiversity > .
The Proud Symbolism of Heraldry - Cornell University Library > .
Divisions of the Shield - Michael Richards > .
Heraldry for beginners (I) - Introduction - The Web Herald > .
How to Blazon a Coat of Arms - Pete Kennedy > .
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To properly describe blasons arms, one has to use arcane terminology, codified and refined to a fault by heralds and scholars over the centuries. To make things worse, in English speaking countries the language of heraldry is normally still Norman French, the language habitually spoken at the court of England in the early heraldic age.
Especially after the 14th century the use of armorial bearings was almost never restricted to certain individuals, families, corporations or institutions. Clearly there was a difference between England, where heraldry was most for aristocrats, and Italy, where heraldry was everywhere and pretty much for everyone.
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Heraldry
The first use of heraldry associated with the English was in the Bayeux Tapestry, recounting the events of the Battle of Hastings in 1066, where both sides used emblems in similar ways.
The first Royal Coat of Arms was created in 1154 under Henry II, the idea of heraldry becoming popular among the knights on the first and second crusades, along with the idea of chivalry. Under Henry III it gained a system of classification and a technical language. However, over the next two centuries the system was abused, leading to the swamping of true coats-of-arms.
For the rest of the medieval period it was popular within the upper classes to have a distinctive family mark for competitions and tournaments, and was popular (although not prevalent) within the lower classes. It found particular use with knights, for practice and in the mêlée of battle, where heraldry was worn on embroidered fabric covering their armour. Indeed, their houses' signs became known as coats-of-arms in this way. They were also worn on shields, where they were known as shields-of-arms. As well as military uses, the main charge was used in the seals of households. These were used to prove the authenticity of documents carried by heralds (messengers) and is the basis of the word heraldry in English. One example of this is the seal of John Mundegumri (1175), which bears a single fleur-de-lys. Prior to the 16th century, there was no regulation on the use of arms in England.
image:
The coat of arms of Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick uses almost all typical forms of heraldry in England: The first quarter consists of his father-in-law, Richard Beauchamp, who bore with an escutcheon of De Clare quartering Despenser, now shown in Neville's fourth quarter. The second quarter shows the arms of the Montacutes (Montagu). The third quarter shows the arms of Neville differenced by a label for Lancaster.
Richard Beauchamp, 13th Earl of Warwick .
De Clare .
Isabel le Despenser, Countess of Worcester .
Thomas Montagu, 4th Earl of Salisbury .
House of Neville ..
https://plus.google.com/+SuttonHoo/posts/BtksziWpiBG
Earl of Warwick ..
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 (in Scotland the most significant mark of cadency being the bordure, the small brisures playing a very minor role). It is common to see heraldic furs used. In the United Kingdom, the style is notably still controlled by royal officers of arms. French heraldry experienced a period of strict rules of construction under Napoleon. English and Scots heraldries make greater use of supporters than other European countries.
Furs, chevrons and five-pointed stars are more frequent in France and Britain than elsewhere.
Portal Heraldry.
Tincture.
Thomas Montagu, 4th Earl of Salisbury .
House of Neville ..
https://plus.google.com/+SuttonHoo/posts/BtksziWpiBG
Earl of Warwick ..
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 (in Scotland the most significant mark of cadency being the bordure, the small brisures playing a very minor role). It is common to see heraldic furs used. In the United Kingdom, the style is notably still controlled by royal officers of arms. French heraldry experienced a period of strict rules of construction under Napoleon. English and Scots heraldries make greater use of supporters than other European countries.
Furs, chevrons and five-pointed stars are more frequent in France and Britain than elsewhere.
Portal Heraldry.
Tincture.
