Portal:Heraldry

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The Heraldry and Vexillology Portal

Heraldry encompasses all of the duties of a herald. More technically, it is 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.

The word "crest" is commonly used to refer to a coat-of-arms. However, in heraldry, a crest is just one component of a complete achievement of arms. The crest sits atop a helmet, which itself sits on the main and most recognizable part of the arms, the shield or escutcheon. Other elements may include supporters holding up the shield and a motto beneath.

Vexillology (from the Latin vexillum, a flag or banner) is the scholarly study of flags. More technically, it is 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.

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The coat of arms of Slovakia is composed of a silver (argent) double cross, elevated on the middle peak of a dark blue mountain consisting of three peaks. It is situated on a red (gules) early gothic shield. Extremities of the cross are amplificated, and its ends are concaved. (more...)

The same symbol (with other colours and minor changes) is in the right portion of the Hungarian coat of arms.

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The town hall of Gouda, a city in the Netherlands, displaying heraldic banners of the arms of (left to right) the Dutch Republic (1650–1815), the County of Holland (1198–) and the Kingdom of the Netherlands (1815–).

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Did you know...

From the newest articles in Heraldry and Vexillology:

...that the ordinances of the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania define a civic flag (pictured), an ensign, a pennant and a streamer?
...that the Canadian Heraldic Authority has recently appointed three new Heralds Extraordinary – Red Hill, Capilano and Rouge?
...that the "four moors" which appear on the Flag of Sardinia have been associated with the island since the 14th century?
...that the Alphyn, a rare heraldic creature, was the badge of the Barons de La Warr?

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History	War

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Sir John Bernard Burke (January 5, 1814 - December 12, 1892) was a British officer of arms and genealogist. He was born in London, and was educated in London and in France. His father, John Burke (1787-1848), was also a genealogist, and in 1826 issued a Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Peerage and Baronetage of the United Kingdom. This work, generally known as Burke's Peerage, has been issued annually starting in 1847. While practising as a barrister Bernard Burke assisted his father in his genealogical work, and in 1848 took control of his publications. (more...)

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Things you can do

Here are some heraldry and vexillology related things you can do:

Featured Article Candidates (FAC|FAR): none
Good Article Candidates: Ottoman Flag
Peer Review: National Emblem of Belarus
Improvement: Scottish heraldry, War flag, Coats of arms of Africa More...
Requests: Cronista de Armas, Alexander Brodie, Fur (heraldry) More...
Image Requests: Grand Duchy of the Lower Rhine, Royal Standard of Norway More...

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Major topics and categories

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Galleries

National flags	National coats of arms
Flags of sovereign states	Coats of arms of sovereign states
Flags of dependent territories	Coats of arms of dependent territories
Flags of unrecognized states	Coats of arms of unrecognized states
Flags of micronations	Coats of arms of micronations
Flags of formerly independent states

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Lists of flags

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By country	Argentina • Australia • Austria • Barbados • Belgium • Bosnia and Herzegovina • Brazil • Canada • China • Colombia • England • France • Germany • Greece • India • Ireland • Italy • Jamaica • Kenya • Netherlands • New Zealand • Norway • Pakistan • Poland • Puerto Rico • Rhodesia • Russia • Scotland • Serbia • South Africa • South Korea • Soviet Republics • Spain • Switzerland • Ukraine • United Kingdom • United States • Wales
By region of the world	Africa • North America • South America • Antarctica • Asia • Europe • Oceania