Heraldry - C
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Glossary

Medieval Heraldry A to Z - C

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Designs, or coat of arms, were invented to help recognise one person from another. How far back this idea was first put into practice is not known but from the first half of the twelfth century (1100-1150) knights began to use designs on their flags and shields to identify themselves in battle and in tournaments. The designs commonly passed down from one generation to the next and became means of identifying an entire family and not just a single person. The term 'coat of arms' comes the the surcoat, a textile garment, that was worn over the armour and was decorated with the same design as the shield.

Cadency

In medieval heraldry a coat of arms belonged to a single person. To mark a difference between the the head of a family's coat of arms and that of a son, an extra charge was added. The process of adding an extra charge is known as cadency. In English heraldry several specific charges were used to distinguish the sons of a family.

Head of the family

This shield design belongs to the head of the family. If features a lion sejant (sitting) facing to the left (dexter).

First son (Label)

To distinguish the first son of the family, the label is used. The label is a charge usually placed at the top of the field (chief) and consists of a horizontal bar with three vertical bars.

Second son (Crescent)

The crescent is the shape of a half-moon with the horns pointing upwards. this charge is used to distinguish the second son of the family.

Third son (Mullet)

The mullet, a star with five points, is used to distinguish the third son from the head of the family.

Fourth son (Martlet)

The martlet is used to signify the fourth son of the family. The martlet is a bird without legs that is supposed to spend its whole life in the air. It may be based on the swift that does spend much of its life in the air.

Fifth son (Annulet)

The annulet is used to signify the fifth son.

Sixth son (Fleur-des-lis)

The fleur-des-lis is used to distinguish the sixth son of the family.

Seventh son (Rose)

The rose is used to signify the seventh son.

Eighth son (Cross Cercelee)

The cross cercelee is used to signify the eighth son of the family.

Canton

A square located top left of the shield (dexter chief). The Canton is smaller than the Quarter. If the Canton appears on the right it is a Sinister Canton.

Castle

A castle with three towrs. There are many designs. Also single Towers.

Chequy

A grid of alternating colours.

Chevron

An ordinary that is in the form of an inverted V.

Chief

The Chief is an ordinary and occupies the top third of the shield.

Cinquefoil

A charge having five leaves or petals. Can have a hole in the centre and will be called Cinquefoil Pierced.

Crescent

The crescent normally points upwards, but when pointing down it's a crescent reversed, to the right (sinister) it's a decrescant and to the left (dexter), it's an increscent.

Crescent Moon

A crescent Moon.

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Crosses

Cross Jerusalem

Cross Pattee

Cross Pattee Alisee

Cross Potent

Cross Fleury

Cross Fitchy

Cross Hummetty

Cross Celtic

Cross Ankh

Cross Moline

Cross Formee

Cross Formee 2

Cross Templar

Cross Orthodox

Cross Arrowed

Cross Carolingian

Cross Patonce

Cross Bottony

Cross Latin

Cross Cercelee

Cross Clechy

Cross Voided

Cross Patriarchal

Cross Pommy

Cross Maltese

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