heraldry and genealogy

A Genealogist’s Guide to Heraldry

PRESENTED BY :

SHANNON COMBS -BENNET T

FREDERICKSBURG FAMILY HISTORY DAY 14 MARCH 2015

HousekeepingPlease silence your cell phones or other electronic devices

Questions will be taken at the conclusion of the presentation if there is time

Handouts are provided for your personal use and may not be uploaded or duplicated without permission

SHANNON COMBS-BENNETT (C) 2014

In This Presentation:Brief historical background on heraldry

Explanation of some basic concepts in heraldry

Using heraldry for genealogical research

Examples of heraldry for genealogy research

Resources for further reading



Morse With Apostles and Heraldic Shield, The Walters Museum. Image taken by author.

Heraldry Defined:

“It is an ordered system of personal and corporate symbolism following certain rules, it is hereditary in character; the bearing of arms is in the nature of an honour, and the principal vehicle for the display of arms is the shield”

J.P. Brook-Little

Clarenceux King of Arms


Sir Thomas Innes of Learney in his tabard of the Royal Arms, He held the office of the Lord Lyon from 1945 to 1969. Image from WikiCommons.

A Brief General HistoryBefore there was heraldry, there were heraldsArranged tournaments

Were messengers

Voice of the King

First displayed about the 12th century and spread all over Europe

Initially as way to mark tournament entrants and noble families

By 13th century what we know today as heraldry was codified

By 14th century businesses, towns and the growing middle class had heraldry


The Spread of HeraldryWestern Europe Modern day countries of France,

Germany, Austria, the British Islands, Spain, and Italy

Eastern EuropeRussia, Lithuania, Poland, and

Hungry

Beyond the knightsLadies of the court, abbeys,

towns, corporations


Dendermonde town hall. Eleven flags adorn the facade, these flags are the crests of the Lords of Dendermonde throughout the ages. Image © Ad Meskens / Wikimedia Commons

Who Has The Right to Arms?Coveted and sought after “bucket shop” heraldry

A few countries encouraged arms for tax purposes

Rules were created by each kingdom, or countryThey have evolved over the years

Some are more lax than others

Stringent rules for military and civic usage


Book of English Heraldry, W847, folio 5r. The Walters Museum.

Heraldic Usage In the Middle Ages:Labeled all the family “stuff”

Imagery held significance to person or heritage

Show Alliances to the King or other families

Demonstrated patronage


In Recent Years:More for pride, less for social

standing

Can Apply for arms

Adapted to represent the “new” technology and advancement

More used for fun less for family

Where Can You Find Heraldry?Anywhere a person could label their “stuff”Rolls of Arms

Glass Windows

Books / Manuscripts / Documents

Textiles

Tombstones

Chests/Contatiners

And more…


Kneeling Abbot, Flemish, c. 1510-1520, located at the Worchester Museum of Art. Photograph by author.

Types of HeraldryBadgesMainly in England

Called imprese in Italy

LiveryCollars

Uniforms

Flags, pennons, and standardsKnights Banneret = military

Gonfalone = church


Univeristy of Heidleburg, Cod. Pal. germ. 848 Große Heidelberger Liederhandschrift (Codex Manesse) Zürich, ca. 1300 bis ca. 1340, folio 184v.

What You Can Learn Occupations

Locations

Marriages

Birth order

Rank / Titles


Genealogical Tree of Maria Justina und Johann Maximilian zum Jungen, c 1634. Image at Wikimedia commons.

Invest in BooksA Complete Guide to Heraldry by A.C. Fox-Davies

An Heraldic Alphabet by J.P. Brooke-Little

The Complete Book of Heraldryby Stephen Slater


Understand the “Lingo”Everything has a meaning

Learn the common words to help decipher images and words

Basic Latin and French, or a good book on them, is helpful


Traite de blazon, c 1401-1500; Gallica, Bibliotheue Numerique. http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b53023942t

Using the CluesLocating or translating mottos

What could the crest mean

Are the supporters significant

Identify key items from the arms

Are there awards or medallions

What is the shape of the shield


Clue: Alliances What families were unitedMarriage

Economic partnership

Military alliance

Shows fealty to sovereign


Woodcut of the Coronation of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon.

Clue: Women and Marriage Historically women shown as a lozenge without a crest

Marital armsDimidiation

Impalement

Widows and Divorces


The arms of the Kate Middleton.

Clue: Women and MarriageQuartering and HeiressesEscutcheon of Pretense

Simple quartering

Complex quartering

Heraldic pedigrees


The coat of arms of the dukes of Atholl above the entry gate of Blair Castle, in Scotland. Photo by Guillaume Piolle, Wikimedia commons.


Image from the American Heraldry Society, http://www.americanheraldry.org/

Clue: Cadency and Difference Marks Cadency = order of sonsAncient heraldry does not differentiate daughters

Some countries modernly have cadency for daughters

Most frequently used is the label

Cadency marks change over time

May be replaced by quartering


Heraldic marks of cadency used in English heraldic cadency. G T Clark - EncyclopaediaBritannica, 9th edition (1884), vol. 11, p. 705. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

Clue: IllegitimacyMore of a concern in centuries past

Father must acknowledge child

Symbols vary on country


Tournoi «fait en la ville de Bruges par tres hault et puissant seigneur, monseigneur de La Gruthuse», le 11 juin 1392; avec les armoiries des combattants (f°Er) -- «Traittié de la forme et devis comme on fait les tournoyz», par René d'Anjou, 1401-1500 [BNF Ms Fr 2693- ark:/12148/btv1b8449033b]

Clue: AugmentationsGiven by “honor” or by “grace”Granted for a deed of merit

Grant part of royal arms

Augmentation has significance to the deed

Aids in adding context and historic background to family


Sir Francis Drake And His Coat Of Arms, unknown artist. Image Wikimedia Commons

Clue: Abetments and Degradations Punishment by the sovereign

Common Abetments: Boaster of martial acts, Effeminacy, Liar, Coward, and etc…

Common Degradations:“X” out, declared “dead”

Reversal of arms


The shield of the Portuguese town of Castello Rodrigo, inverted for the town's treachery in 1383–1385. As Cidades e Villas da Monarquia Portugueza que Teem Brasão d'Armas (III vols., 1860-62; data na capa do vol. I, 1865),

Clue: Dating the ImageShield shape / design

Helmet style

Crowns / coronets

Artistic design


Examples



Illustrations from the Nuremberg Chronicle, by Hartmann Schedel (1440-1514). Genealogy of Henry II. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

Thank You For Attending!


Shannon Combs-BennettT2 Family History

http://[email protected]

@tntfamhist

heraldry and genealogy

Education

readingshannon combsbennett

book of english heraldry

bucket shop heraldry

bearing of arms

display of arms

royal arms

walters museum

middle ages