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Scottish Banner Archive
HIGHLAND_DRESS
The Leine
The Early Kilt
Pre-Culloden Tartans
Generations of Highland Dress
Tartan Myths
The
Sources of the Tartans
What is the "Official" Word on
Tartans?
Tartan Colors
Advice for Kilt Wearers
Did the Belted Plaid Have a
Drawstring?
William Muirhead Kilt
OTHER SCOTTISH
Robert the Bruce
Alexander Cuming
The Scots-Irish Migration to Western
NC
A Brief History of Scotland
Scottish Heraldry
Scottish Medieval Performing Class
Scottish Saints
The Trump (Jews Harp)
The Lost Tribes of Isreal?
What Was the Celtic Church?
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Scottish Heraldry
Taught by Matthew Allen
Newsome
Curator of the Scottish Tartans Museum
www.scottishtartans.org
What is Heraldry?
Heraldry first developed in the 12th century in Europe as an outgrowth
of chivalric culture. Designs were placed on banners, shields, and
surcoats, and were worn by knights in tournaments for easy identification.
These designs were eventually used in miniature depictions of the shields,
complete with a helm, crest, etc., on personal seals and tombs of great
knights. Heraldry became a way of identifying great men at an instant.
Arms: The primary heraldic device is the coat of arms, or arms.
Arms are individual. THERE ARE NO FAMILY ARMS IN SCOTLAND.
Some European countries have developed heraldic systems were anyone with
a given surname can wear the same arms. This is unusual, however,
and is not the case in most countries, including Scotland. Arms are
granted to an individual and may only be bore by that individual and then
passed on to his or her heir upon the armiger’s death. This fact
has been upheld in Scotland by the Acts of the Scottish Parliament of 1592
and 1672.
Cadency: While an armiger (one who bears arms) is still
living, his descendants and relatives may display those arms by differencing
them with cadency marks to identify them as the first son of the armiger,
second daughter, and so on…. We will not go too much into cadency
here, but it is enough to know what the term means.
IT IS ILLEGAL TO USE OTHER’S ARMS AND IT IS ILLEGAL TO INVENT OR
USE BOGUS ARMS. SUCH ACTIONS MAY RESULT IN FINES, THE OBJECTS DEPICTING
THE ARMS BEING CONFISCATED, OR ARREST!
Lord Lyon King of Arms: The governing body for all things
heraldic in Scotland is the Lyon office, headed by Lord Lyon, King of Arms.
He holds the same position in relation to heraldry as a monarch does over
a country. This office incorporates the pre-heraldic, Celtic office
of High Sennachie to the Royal Line. The Lord Lyon office itself
dates back at least to 1318 when Robert the Bruce inaugurated a King of
Arms. No other herald in Europe has such jurisdiction and rank.
He can enforce all of the heraldic laws and create new ones, just as a
monarch. He is also a Judge of the Realm. Scotland is possibly
the only country where a court of heraldry and genealogy operates daily
and is fully integrated into the judicial system.
Public Register of All Arms and Bearings In Scotland: AKA,
the Lyon Register. This is the body of documents that contains all
of the Arms granted in Scotland. Very few private manuscript records
of arms, called “armorials” survived the destruction of Scottish records
during Cromwell’s occupation in the mid 17th century. In 1672 an
Act of the Scottish Parliament created one central public register.
At first, to garner support, anyone with existing arms could register them
for free. It took 5 years to collate the initial onslaught of heraldry.
Heralds from the office traveled all over Scotland to correct errors and
investigate bogus heraldic claims. After 1677 all new arms were recorded
on payment and in chronological order. The volumes of this register
all contain about 120 pages of vellum with a painting of the arms, and
a manuscript text of the blazon and personal details of the armiger.
Lord Lyon has never sought to impose a “house style” on the heraldic artists,
and so the individual painters were free to follow their own heraldic style.
The result is the most magnificent collection of heraldic art in Europe.
New grants of arms are made through a legal petition to the Lyon Court
based on genealogical record and personal details. If an application
is accepted, Lyon will devise a suitable coat of arms based on the submitter’s
desires and the rules of heraldry. Grants also can be made to corporations,
schools, colleges, etc.
The Court of the Lord Lyon is in Edinburgh and can be contacted at:
The Court of the Lord Lyon King of Arms
HM New Register House
Edinburgh EH1 3YT
There are ranges of fees payable for the matriculation of arms. The
list below was accurate as at 1st April 1995:
New Grant of Armorial Bearings - shield alone
- £786
New Grant of Armorial Bearings - shield and crest - £1,225
New Grant of Armorial Bearings - shield crest, motto
and supporters - £1,706
Rematriculation of previously recorded Armorial Bearings
including shield and crest, with a Grant of new supporters - £843
Rematriculation of previously recorded Armorial Bearings
- shield, crest and supporters - £576
Rematriculation of previously recorded Armorial Bearings
- shield and crest £365
Additional charges may be made for extra painting work and for postage.
The Full Achievement: This is the
arms displayed on a shield, with all of the accompanying devices.
It is also correct for the arms to be displayed alone.
Shield: This contains the arms. Modern Scottish heraldic
practice favours strong and simple outlines. The shape of the shield
can vary according to the period of the arms or individual taste.
This can be displayed upright or at a slight angle as if hung from a strap.
Women bearing arms display them on an oval or lozenge shaped shield.
Helmet: Or helm. This should match the period of
the shield and be in proportion to the shield. The design of the
helm is determined by rank. The helm usually faces to the left, unless
the crest dictates otherwise. The rules for helms in Scotland are
similar to those in England, but they are generally accorded less importance.
The helm types are:
Sovereign - A gold helm with grilles
Peers - A silver helm garnished with gold
and with gold grilles (usually five)
Knights & Baronets - A steel helm garnished
in gold with an open visor (occasionally a tilting helm may be used)
Feudal Barons - A steel tilting helm garnished
in gold (occasionally a steel helm with one or three grilles)
Esquires - A steel pot helm garnished in gold,
or a helm with a closed visor
Gentleman - An ungarnished steel pot helm
or helm with closed visor
In Scots heraldry there can be a tendency to "go downmarket" in the
use of helms so people should not be surprised to see say, the arms of
a Duke with a simple form of helm such as a tilting helm.
Mantling: This evolved from a simple cloth worn over the
head to keep cool and is now a very decorative part of the achievement,
used to fill space. The sovereign uses gold mantling lined with ermine.
Peers and Great Officers of State use crimson lines with ermine.
All others use their principal livery colors.
Wreath: AKA torse. This is also in the livery colors.
Originally was a twisted band of cloth used to hold the crest on the helm.
Crest: This evolved from a 3 dimensional object set on
the helm to help identify the knight in tournaments. There are no specific
rules about Scots crests, except that they should be wearable were a 3-D
model of them made and fixed to a helm. They usually face left unless
specified otherwise. The clergy do not use crests. Instead,
armigerous clergy use an ecclesiastical hat of their rank. There
is no prohibition in Scotland against two armigers having identical crests.
Motto: The motto first appeared on standards and shields,
not as battle cries. Some chiefs have an additional motto, called
a slug-horn. The motto is an integral part of a Scots coat of arms
and cannot be altered without re-matriculation. This is different from
the situation in England where mottoes are a matter of personal choice
and can in theory be changed daily if the armiger so desired.
Coronets or Caps of Rank: These are special caps
specific to rank, peers of the realm, and feudal barons. Barons still
in possession of their fief use a red cap. Those of old baronial
families no longer in possession of land use a blue cap.
Robe or Mantle of Estate: Peers and Barons will
sometimes use this in place of mantling.
Compartment: Beneath the shield. This is usually
a depiction of a grassy mound, rocks, the ocean, etc., and is often embellished
with the clan’s plant badge. Sometimes more elaborate designs are
used that may relate to a family’s history. Compartments are only
used in cases of high rank or distinction.
Supporters: called “bearers” in old Scots patents.
These are regarded in Scotland as one of the highest honors. They
are normally granted in pairs, although they may be granted singly.
These can either be granted on a hereditary basis or only for the life
of an individual. Various ranks in Scotland - more than in England - are
entitled to supporters. Generally, the rules are:
Hereditary Peer - Hereditary supporters (which
descend with the title)
Life Peer (including law lords) - Supporters
for life
Knights of the Thistle & Knights Grand
Cross - Supporters for life
Clan Chief - Hereditary supporters (which
descend with the chiefly dignity)
Feudal Barons whose barony pre-dates 1587
- Hereditary Supporters
Chieftains of Considerable Cadet Branches
– maybe
THE ONLY CORRECT AND LEGAL HERALDIC DEVICE
THAT CAN BE USED BY A NON-ARMIGER IS THE STRAP-AND-BUCKLE CREST BADGE.
A complete and illustrated collection of Scottish crest badges and mottoes
can be found in The Book of Crests by Mike McLaren, published by
Heritage Books in 1990. PB. This can be ordered from the Scottish
Tartans Museum for $22.50. Item number BO041.
Heraldic information, tartans, and a brief family history for all members
of the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs as well as Armigerous Families
in Scotland can be found in the Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia,
by George Way of Plean and Romilly Squire, published by Harper Collins
in 1994. HB. This can be ordered from the Scottish Tartans
Museum for $63.95. Item number BOBD329.
An abridged version of the above is available in paper back, called
Clans
& Tartans. It contains only the crest and mottoes of all
the families included, as well as tartan and a brief history. This
can be ordered for $11.95. Item number BO270.
The Scottish Tartans Museum. (828)524-7472. www.scottishtartans.org
Further Information:
The Heraldry Society of Scotland was founded in 1977 and exists
to promote knowledge and use of heraldry in Scotland. In keeping with the
spirit of Sir Iain Moncreiffe and Don Pottinger it treats the subject seriously
but in a light hearted spirit. The Society publishes a journal, The
Double Tressure and a newsletter, Tak Tent. The Society has
regular lectures in Edinburgh and outings across Scotland. Details are
available from their web site:
http://www.heraldry-scotland.co.uk
The American College of Heraldry
PO Box 1899, Little
Rock, AR 72203-1899
Facsimile: (501) 834-4038
http://users.aol.com/ballywoodn/acheraldry.html
Heraldic Flags and Banners:
National Flags:
UNION JACK: This is the correct flag for citizens loyal to the
United Kingdom.
SALTIRE: The St. Andrew’s Cross. This is the correct flag
for Scots wishing to display their loyalty and nationality. Can be
flown with the Union Jack or alone.
Banner: The personal flag of the armiger. This shows
the arms and nothing else. The purpose is to locate and identify
the owner.
Pipe Banner: For the armiger’s personal piper. It
is attached to the base drone of the pipes.
Trumpet Banner: Rarely used now. It is a square
banner hanging from a heraldic trumpet.
Street Banner: Used when no vertical flag staff is available.
The arms can be manipulated so that they drape properly in the position
of the flag.
Gonfannon: or gonfalon. This is a flag hanging
from a horizontal bar, supported by a carrying staff. Often has long
tassels in the livery colors.
Livery Pennon: A simple flag with tinctures of the field and
principal charge arranged on a long streamer tapering to a point.
An economical means of heraldic display.
SPECIAL HERALDIC FLAGS THAT ARE AUTHORISED BY LORD LYON
Standard: a long, narrow, tapering flag granted by Lord
Lyon to those who have a following, such as a clan chief. It is used
to mark a gathering point or headquarters. It does not necessarily
denote the presence of the owner as a personal banner does.
Guidon: a long flag similar in shape to the standard.
It is assigned to non-baronial lairds who have a following.
Pinsel: a small, triangular flag granted by Lord Lyon
to a chief or chieftain-baron to denote someone authorized to act in their
absence. Particular to Scotland.
Pennon: a small guidon, four feet long. Rarely assigned.
Also used to refer to the triangular flag at the end of a lance or spear.
Heraldic Glossary
Achievement: a full coat of arms with crest, helmet, mantling,
shield, motto and, where appropriate, coronet of rank, supporters and insignia
or orders.
Armiger: any person who bears arms by lawful authority.
Blazon: 1) the written description of armorial bearings,
2) to describe a coat of arms using heraldic terminology.
Charge: any device or figure placed upon a shield.
Field: the background or surface of a shield on which
charges are to be placed.
Ordinary: a major heraldic charge. These may be
placed between other charges or may themselves be charged. See illustration
for examples.
Partition, line of: a line that divides the field into
a variety of geometrical shapes.
Sub-ordinary: major charges that are subordinate
to the ordinaries.
Tinctures: the metals, colors, and furs used in heraldry.
METALS: Or = gold or yellow. Argent = silver or
white
COLORS: The principal heraldic colors are gules (red), azure
(blue), sable (black), and vert (green). Less common are purpure
(purple), bleu celeste (sky blue), murrey (mulberry), tenne (orange), sanguine
(dark red).
FURS: stylized depictions of animal skins. The principal
furs are ermine, ermines, erminois, pean, vair and potent.
This information prepared for a class on Scottish Heraldry taught at
the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games,
June 1999.
Webbed on 3/23/00 by Matt
Newsome. |
