Danzaver
2007-12-20, 07:10 PM
In another thread, someone was asking about heraldry and making crests, so I'm going to tack a little something together to give people an idea of the basic rules.
This is by no means a citable scholarly work, giving you only the basics and toning down some of the more complex rules, because lets face it, this is only for a roleplaying game, and there is only one country left in the world that has laws regarding making sure everybody uses the proper conventions. :P
WHY IS HERALDRY USEFUL IN DND?
An excellent question, I am glad I asked it.
* Many people believe that heraldry became popular because of the invention of Plate Mail. This is because it is pretty much impossible to determine anyone’s identity in plate, unless you are wearing an open-faced bascinet or kettle-hat, in which case you are an idiot, and regardless of whether you deserve to be stabbed in the face, it’s going to happen eventually. Any PC rich enough to own plate mail should really be able to spend the extra cash on covering themselves with enough trappings to instantly be recognisable to friends and foes alike. “But all this bright colour destroys my stealth” umm… hello? You’re in plate mail. Stealth is not an option. and you will be screwed if you ever bump into someone else in the same type of plate as yourself and the rogue hiding in the tower covering you from the window can’t tell which is which and YOU cop the sneak attack (DMs – use this. It will amuse me XD)
* It allows for greater options of customising your character and making him/her unique – not just another plate monkey, and fitting it all into their backstory.
* It’s just so damn cool. Seriously, a full heraldic battle-garb (for you and your horse) ftw, with all your lackeys decked out in your colours, and your lady/man-bitch carrying your shield as you walk around town. I’ve scanned a picture of what a fully armoured late 14th/early 15th century knight and warhorse would look like.
http://s270.photobucket.com/albums/jj119/Danzaver/hotspurs001.jpg
* Finally, a use for Knowledge(Nobility and Royalty) – recognising heraldry!
* It adds to the feel and flavour of the game. Being able to tell something of a man’s history and honour by his shield. If you see a bunch of plate monkeys walking down the street without heraldry, canny PCs will know that they are up to no good – perhaps assassins. Certainly they don’t want to be recognised.
TERMINOLOGY
FIELD
The background of the shield and the colours used on it. If the base coat is one colour, that is know as the field, if it is two or more colours, they are the field.
PARTI COLOURED
Generally, when a field consists of two colours, often half and half.
COUNTER-CHARGED
When the device is also parti-coloured, reflecting the field. An example of this is the red and silver crescents here http://www.sandmartyn.freeserve.co.u...01/chapman.gif
CHARGE
A device on a shield, such as a lion. The lion's claws and tongue are called the 'Accessories'
- The following are quoted directly from Col. A. G. Puttock's "A Dictionary of Heraldry and Related Subjects" (1985).... -
CREST
A figure affixed to the helm of ever commander for purposes of identification in the confusion of battle and certainly in use long before the hereditary bearing of coat armour. It is frequently confused with the badge which is a totally different thing and in many cases modern writers refer to the expression crest when they mean Coat of Arms or even Achievement.
COAT OF ARMS
A term which refers to all the bearings placed upon a Heraldic shield. In modern times the term is frequently found loosely employed to mean the full achievement.
BADGES
Marks of distinction somewhat similar to the crest but not placed on a wreath nor worn on the helmet. In early days it was usually embroidered upon the sleeves of servants and followers.
ACHIEVEMENT
This is the correct name given to armorial bearings which include the shield and all appropriate accessories. Unfortunately there is considerable misinterpretation of the expression as frequently an achievement is called a coat of arms, particularly by journalists and other writers.
In early Heraldry the expression achievement was applied particularly to the decorative plaques prepared on the death of an armiger for erection outside his house and in his church. These plaques... today are generally described as funeral hatchments.
ACCESSORIES
An achievement contains the coat of arms which is emblazoned on the shield, together with certain accessories. These include helm, wreath, crest, mantling, supporters, compartment, motto, coronet, cap of estate, etc.
COLOURS
The colours used on the shield are divided up into three categories. Tinctures, metallics, and furs. The common term is followed by its heraldic term, and for interest's sake, the gemstone and planet associated with it by heralds in the 16th century onwards.
Tinctures
- Red (gules, ruby, mars)
- blue (azure, sapphire, jupiter)
- green (vert, emerald, venus)
- purple (purpure, amethyst, mercury)
- black (sable, diamond, saturn)
additionally, there were other less commonly used tinctures, such as deep blood red (known as sanguine), flesh pink, orange, grey, brown, light sky blue and so on. But those are the main 5 tinctures.
Metallics
- Yellow (gold, topaz, sol)
- White (silver, crystal, luna)
Furs
Some of the furs can be seen here
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb....dry/index.html
USE OF COLOURS
* As a strict rule, you do not place metals upon metals, and you do not place tinctures upon tinctures.
* That is to say, if the field is gold or silver, the devices on it must be of tinctures or furs.
- However, there are exceptions. -
*According to Rothery's Concise Encyclopedia of Heraldry (1994), "Thus a parti coloured shield, where both metal and [tincture] are used, or a fur-covered field, may bear charges of either metal or [tincture]. On the other hand, if the parti field is half metal and half colour, it is usual to counter-charge".
* The accessories of a charge are exempt from these rules, as are chains, coronets, and crown attached to animals, and marks of cadency (explained later)
ORDINARIES, SUB-ORDINARIES, AND LINES
Basically, these are ways of dividing up a field further and beginning to decorate it. It is not uncommon for a shield to not have any charges, but merely ordinaries and sub-ordinaries, for example, a black and silver parti-coloured field with a chevron counter-charged is the heraldry of Bartholomew's hospital in london.
Some common ordinaries and sub-ordinares are here, as well as some lines. Now we're starting to get creative.
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb....dry/index.html
POSITIONS ON A SHIELD
I have scanned an image showing all of the positions you are allowed to place devices on a shield.
http://s270.photobucket.com/albums/jj119/Danzaver/shield002.jpg
For those who are curious, the names of these points are:
A - Dexter Chief
B - Middle Chief
C - Sinister Chief
D - Honour Point
E - Fess Point
F - I forget... >.>;
G - Dexter Base
H - Middle Bade
I - Sinister Base
CHARGES
Here are a couple of good sites to browse some charges
http://www.rarebooks.nd.edu/digital/heraldry/charges/
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Styx/3384/
COMMON MEANINGS OF CHARGES
Note that these are only common and largely unproven meanings. Don't take it as canon. It is fairly common instead to use puns and 'canting' heraldry. Someone mentioned their name means 'flower' and their heraldry has a rose on it. Exactly like that, though sometimes using some pretty lame puns that you can't help but chuckle at, like Phillipe de Roche, whose shield had three cockroaches on it
http://www.fleurdelis.com/meanings.htm
MARKS OF CADENCY
Are generally signifying your birth order on your family heraldry. There are the marks of cadence listed here down the bottom of the page.
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb....dry/index.html
The far left one signifies first born son, to its right is second born, and so on. They are generally placed on the shield on the Middle Chief Point (see above) - though I have seen the second born son one on the Honour Point, sometimes in the case of the 1st born one, stretching all the way across the top of the shield. Really, they can be places in most places, I just mention those points because it is very rare to find them elsewhere.
MARKS OF HONOUR
Generally, all devices on a shield are designed to be flattering. Eventually, heralds and knight started squabbling about which parts of the shield were the most honourable to place things. I find this pretty wanky personally, but hey, it’s all about the fragile plate monkey egos, I suppose. They like to feel special :3
It was not uncommon for heraldic devices to be ‘gifted’ to people in order to recognise their accomplisments. For example, say you kill a heap of archers and save the day, the bear on your shield might be redrawn so that it is breaking a stick. These would generally be called for by the feudal lord, who would send you off to the Armorial College to work out the particulars.
Borders around shields were popular as marks of honour in the renaissance.
This would work wonderfully in DnD, though dms should make sure their players’ shields don’t get too cluttered!
MARKS OF DISHONOUR
The most common of these is the Mark of Bastardy – that you were born out of wedlock. It is commonly understood to be a “bar sinister”, but according to A.C. Fox-Davies’ ‘A Complete to Heraldry’ (1978) this is a mistranslation. The correct translation is “bend sinister”, which is a line from the upper right corner, across the shield diagonally down.
In actuality (Fox-Davies goes on), this is a misnomer. There is no single symbol indicating bastardy, and some even wore it with pride. But for dnd’s sake, the bend sinister works fine.
There were also a number of symbols which supposedly indicated cowardice or dishonour, but I have never personally found any example of them ever being used. But again, for dnd, they work great. Just use you imagination here. One popular one is for shields which bear animals – if the bearer acts dishonourably in the tournament or brings the ladies’ disfavour upon himself (DON”T do this. Medieval ladies were far more powerful than many of us gave them credit for), the animal’s tail would be tucked between its legs. The term for this is an “[animal] coward”.
PARTS OF HERALDIC GARB
Bit laid across your horse (I forget what it is called) – doubles as a bedroll, if you don’t mind smelling like horse – which you will anyway after a day in the saddle. Seriously. I know professional jousters who sleep in them.
Mantle – lies across your helm, resembles long hair. Often topped off at the top by a coight-like cloth ring like a crown or circlet on the top of the head.
Surcoat – the great big shirt-like thing you wear over your breastplate. A longer one, more like robes, is called a Battle Houpelande. Sometime, the haraldic device would be displayed on the coat of plates itself, but less frequently.
Crested helm - The crested helm (as seen in picture, above) would not be ideal for pitched battle, instead for tournament and show. Though I have read of commanders wearing them into battle to be recognised at a distance. There is actually a little ring in the back of the chain hauberk where which ever helm you were not using would hang from. A totally mobile fashion machine.
Well, that is the absolute basics.
There should be enough here for starters, here is a catalogue of some example heraldric shields to look through.
http://www.farreaches.org/staendebuc...ker/parker.htm
Also, please ask any questions. I am happy to help.
EDIT: Compiled all the sections into one.
This is by no means a citable scholarly work, giving you only the basics and toning down some of the more complex rules, because lets face it, this is only for a roleplaying game, and there is only one country left in the world that has laws regarding making sure everybody uses the proper conventions. :P
WHY IS HERALDRY USEFUL IN DND?
An excellent question, I am glad I asked it.
* Many people believe that heraldry became popular because of the invention of Plate Mail. This is because it is pretty much impossible to determine anyone’s identity in plate, unless you are wearing an open-faced bascinet or kettle-hat, in which case you are an idiot, and regardless of whether you deserve to be stabbed in the face, it’s going to happen eventually. Any PC rich enough to own plate mail should really be able to spend the extra cash on covering themselves with enough trappings to instantly be recognisable to friends and foes alike. “But all this bright colour destroys my stealth” umm… hello? You’re in plate mail. Stealth is not an option. and you will be screwed if you ever bump into someone else in the same type of plate as yourself and the rogue hiding in the tower covering you from the window can’t tell which is which and YOU cop the sneak attack (DMs – use this. It will amuse me XD)
* It allows for greater options of customising your character and making him/her unique – not just another plate monkey, and fitting it all into their backstory.
* It’s just so damn cool. Seriously, a full heraldic battle-garb (for you and your horse) ftw, with all your lackeys decked out in your colours, and your lady/man-bitch carrying your shield as you walk around town. I’ve scanned a picture of what a fully armoured late 14th/early 15th century knight and warhorse would look like.
http://s270.photobucket.com/albums/jj119/Danzaver/hotspurs001.jpg
* Finally, a use for Knowledge(Nobility and Royalty) – recognising heraldry!
* It adds to the feel and flavour of the game. Being able to tell something of a man’s history and honour by his shield. If you see a bunch of plate monkeys walking down the street without heraldry, canny PCs will know that they are up to no good – perhaps assassins. Certainly they don’t want to be recognised.
TERMINOLOGY
FIELD
The background of the shield and the colours used on it. If the base coat is one colour, that is know as the field, if it is two or more colours, they are the field.
PARTI COLOURED
Generally, when a field consists of two colours, often half and half.
COUNTER-CHARGED
When the device is also parti-coloured, reflecting the field. An example of this is the red and silver crescents here http://www.sandmartyn.freeserve.co.u...01/chapman.gif
CHARGE
A device on a shield, such as a lion. The lion's claws and tongue are called the 'Accessories'
- The following are quoted directly from Col. A. G. Puttock's "A Dictionary of Heraldry and Related Subjects" (1985).... -
CREST
A figure affixed to the helm of ever commander for purposes of identification in the confusion of battle and certainly in use long before the hereditary bearing of coat armour. It is frequently confused with the badge which is a totally different thing and in many cases modern writers refer to the expression crest when they mean Coat of Arms or even Achievement.
COAT OF ARMS
A term which refers to all the bearings placed upon a Heraldic shield. In modern times the term is frequently found loosely employed to mean the full achievement.
BADGES
Marks of distinction somewhat similar to the crest but not placed on a wreath nor worn on the helmet. In early days it was usually embroidered upon the sleeves of servants and followers.
ACHIEVEMENT
This is the correct name given to armorial bearings which include the shield and all appropriate accessories. Unfortunately there is considerable misinterpretation of the expression as frequently an achievement is called a coat of arms, particularly by journalists and other writers.
In early Heraldry the expression achievement was applied particularly to the decorative plaques prepared on the death of an armiger for erection outside his house and in his church. These plaques... today are generally described as funeral hatchments.
ACCESSORIES
An achievement contains the coat of arms which is emblazoned on the shield, together with certain accessories. These include helm, wreath, crest, mantling, supporters, compartment, motto, coronet, cap of estate, etc.
COLOURS
The colours used on the shield are divided up into three categories. Tinctures, metallics, and furs. The common term is followed by its heraldic term, and for interest's sake, the gemstone and planet associated with it by heralds in the 16th century onwards.
Tinctures
- Red (gules, ruby, mars)
- blue (azure, sapphire, jupiter)
- green (vert, emerald, venus)
- purple (purpure, amethyst, mercury)
- black (sable, diamond, saturn)
additionally, there were other less commonly used tinctures, such as deep blood red (known as sanguine), flesh pink, orange, grey, brown, light sky blue and so on. But those are the main 5 tinctures.
Metallics
- Yellow (gold, topaz, sol)
- White (silver, crystal, luna)
Furs
Some of the furs can be seen here
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb....dry/index.html
USE OF COLOURS
* As a strict rule, you do not place metals upon metals, and you do not place tinctures upon tinctures.
* That is to say, if the field is gold or silver, the devices on it must be of tinctures or furs.
- However, there are exceptions. -
*According to Rothery's Concise Encyclopedia of Heraldry (1994), "Thus a parti coloured shield, where both metal and [tincture] are used, or a fur-covered field, may bear charges of either metal or [tincture]. On the other hand, if the parti field is half metal and half colour, it is usual to counter-charge".
* The accessories of a charge are exempt from these rules, as are chains, coronets, and crown attached to animals, and marks of cadency (explained later)
ORDINARIES, SUB-ORDINARIES, AND LINES
Basically, these are ways of dividing up a field further and beginning to decorate it. It is not uncommon for a shield to not have any charges, but merely ordinaries and sub-ordinaries, for example, a black and silver parti-coloured field with a chevron counter-charged is the heraldry of Bartholomew's hospital in london.
Some common ordinaries and sub-ordinares are here, as well as some lines. Now we're starting to get creative.
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb....dry/index.html
POSITIONS ON A SHIELD
I have scanned an image showing all of the positions you are allowed to place devices on a shield.
http://s270.photobucket.com/albums/jj119/Danzaver/shield002.jpg
For those who are curious, the names of these points are:
A - Dexter Chief
B - Middle Chief
C - Sinister Chief
D - Honour Point
E - Fess Point
F - I forget... >.>;
G - Dexter Base
H - Middle Bade
I - Sinister Base
CHARGES
Here are a couple of good sites to browse some charges
http://www.rarebooks.nd.edu/digital/heraldry/charges/
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Styx/3384/
COMMON MEANINGS OF CHARGES
Note that these are only common and largely unproven meanings. Don't take it as canon. It is fairly common instead to use puns and 'canting' heraldry. Someone mentioned their name means 'flower' and their heraldry has a rose on it. Exactly like that, though sometimes using some pretty lame puns that you can't help but chuckle at, like Phillipe de Roche, whose shield had three cockroaches on it
http://www.fleurdelis.com/meanings.htm
MARKS OF CADENCY
Are generally signifying your birth order on your family heraldry. There are the marks of cadence listed here down the bottom of the page.
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb....dry/index.html
The far left one signifies first born son, to its right is second born, and so on. They are generally placed on the shield on the Middle Chief Point (see above) - though I have seen the second born son one on the Honour Point, sometimes in the case of the 1st born one, stretching all the way across the top of the shield. Really, they can be places in most places, I just mention those points because it is very rare to find them elsewhere.
MARKS OF HONOUR
Generally, all devices on a shield are designed to be flattering. Eventually, heralds and knight started squabbling about which parts of the shield were the most honourable to place things. I find this pretty wanky personally, but hey, it’s all about the fragile plate monkey egos, I suppose. They like to feel special :3
It was not uncommon for heraldic devices to be ‘gifted’ to people in order to recognise their accomplisments. For example, say you kill a heap of archers and save the day, the bear on your shield might be redrawn so that it is breaking a stick. These would generally be called for by the feudal lord, who would send you off to the Armorial College to work out the particulars.
Borders around shields were popular as marks of honour in the renaissance.
This would work wonderfully in DnD, though dms should make sure their players’ shields don’t get too cluttered!
MARKS OF DISHONOUR
The most common of these is the Mark of Bastardy – that you were born out of wedlock. It is commonly understood to be a “bar sinister”, but according to A.C. Fox-Davies’ ‘A Complete to Heraldry’ (1978) this is a mistranslation. The correct translation is “bend sinister”, which is a line from the upper right corner, across the shield diagonally down.
In actuality (Fox-Davies goes on), this is a misnomer. There is no single symbol indicating bastardy, and some even wore it with pride. But for dnd’s sake, the bend sinister works fine.
There were also a number of symbols which supposedly indicated cowardice or dishonour, but I have never personally found any example of them ever being used. But again, for dnd, they work great. Just use you imagination here. One popular one is for shields which bear animals – if the bearer acts dishonourably in the tournament or brings the ladies’ disfavour upon himself (DON”T do this. Medieval ladies were far more powerful than many of us gave them credit for), the animal’s tail would be tucked between its legs. The term for this is an “[animal] coward”.
PARTS OF HERALDIC GARB
Bit laid across your horse (I forget what it is called) – doubles as a bedroll, if you don’t mind smelling like horse – which you will anyway after a day in the saddle. Seriously. I know professional jousters who sleep in them.
Mantle – lies across your helm, resembles long hair. Often topped off at the top by a coight-like cloth ring like a crown or circlet on the top of the head.
Surcoat – the great big shirt-like thing you wear over your breastplate. A longer one, more like robes, is called a Battle Houpelande. Sometime, the haraldic device would be displayed on the coat of plates itself, but less frequently.
Crested helm - The crested helm (as seen in picture, above) would not be ideal for pitched battle, instead for tournament and show. Though I have read of commanders wearing them into battle to be recognised at a distance. There is actually a little ring in the back of the chain hauberk where which ever helm you were not using would hang from. A totally mobile fashion machine.
Well, that is the absolute basics.
There should be enough here for starters, here is a catalogue of some example heraldric shields to look through.
http://www.farreaches.org/staendebuc...ker/parker.htm
Also, please ask any questions. I am happy to help.
EDIT: Compiled all the sections into one.