Portal:Heraldry
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Welcome to the Heraldry and Vexillology Portal!
![A herald wearing a tabard](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f2/Thomas_Hawley_Clarenceux_King_of_Arms.jpg/640px-Thomas_Hawley_Clarenceux_King_of_Arms.jpg)
![Flags of the Nordic countries](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8f/Norden.jpg/640px-Norden.jpg)
Heraldry encompasses all of the duties of a herald, including the science and art of designing, displaying, describing and recording coats of arms and badges, as well as the formal ceremonies and laws that regulate the use and inheritance of arms. The origins of heraldry lie in the medieval need to distinguish participants in battles or jousts, whose faces were hidden by steel helmets.
Vexillology (from the Latin vexillum, a flag or banner) is the scholarly study of flags, including the creation and development of a body of knowledge about flags of all types, their forms and functions, and of scientific theories and principles based on that knowledge. Flags were originally used to assist military coordination on the battlefield, and have evolved into a general tool for signalling and identification, particularly identification of countries.
Selected biography
Sir Alexander Colin Cole, KCB, KCVO, (16 May 1922–20 February 2001) was a long serving officer of arms at the College of Arms in London. He eventually rose to the rank of Garter Principal King of Arms, the highest heraldic office in England. Prior to his joining the College of Arms he represented the Manchester Palace of Varieties in the Court of Chivalry for the only case it has tried in the last 200 years. He designed the coat of arms for Margaret Thatcher. (more...)
Selected coat of arms
![Coat of arms of Germany](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/da/Coat_of_arms_of_Germany.svg/320px-Coat_of_arms_of_Germany.svg.png)
The coat of arms of Germany displays a black eagle (the Bundesadler "Federal Eagle", formerly Reichsadler "Imperial Eagle") on a yellow shield (Or, an eagle displayed sable). The current official design is due to Tobias Schwab (1887–1967) and was introduced in 1928. It is a re-introduction of the coat of arms of the Weimar Republic (in use 1919–1935) adopted by the Federal Republic of Germany in 1950. The Weimar Republic had re-introduced the medieval coat of arms of the Holy Roman Emperors, in use during the 13th and 14th centuries, before Sigismund of Luxemburg adopted the double-headed eagle beginning in 1433. The single-headed Imperial Eagle (on a white background, Argent, an eagle displayed sable) had also been used by the German Empire during 1889–1918, based on the earlier coat of arms of Prussia. (more...)
Selected flag
The flag of Australia was chosen in 1901 from entries in a worldwide design competition held following Federation. It was approved by Australian and British authorities over the next few years, although the exact specifications of the flag were changed several times both intentionally and as a result of confusion. The current specifications were published in 1934, and in 1954 the flag became legally recognised as the "Australian National Flag". The flag is a defaced Blue Ensign: a blue field with the Union Flag in the canton (upper hoist quarter), and a large white seven-pointed star known as the Commonwealth Star in the lower hoist quarter. The fly contains a representation of the Southern Cross constellation, made up of five white stars – one small five-pointed star and four, larger, seven-pointed stars. (more...)
Selected picture
The Hyghalmen Roll was made in the late fifteenth century and illustrates the German practice of repeating themes from the arms in the crest.
Did you know...
- ...that the three caducei on the Flag of Brisbane (pictured) represent Hermes' role as the protector of commerce, and not its more familiar meaning associated with medicine?
- ...that Henry Lane was appointed Bluemantle Pursuivant at the age of 15?
- ...that the coat of arms of Andalusia bears the Pillars of Hercules, the ancient name given to the promontories that flank the entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar?
- ...that the United Nations Honour Flag was designed as a symbol of the Allies of World War II at the suggestion of Winston Churchill?
- ...that George Hargreaves, Christian Party candidate in the 2008 UK Haltemprice and Howden by-election, said that the dragon symbol on the Welsh flag is "nothing less than the sign of Satan"?
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