A Pictorial Heraldry Dictionary

Coats of Arms

by CoatofArmsHQ | Oct 6, 2017 | Coats of Arms, General

Here’s a very useful heraldry dictionary. It is the Pictorial Dictionary of Heraldry by Bruce Draconarius of Mistholme, Batonvert Herald Extraordinary of the Society for Creative Anachronism. The Dictionary has 762 entries, is illustrated, (most have sources...

Grant of Arms to a French Tutor in 1522

Coats of Arms

by CoatofArmsHQ | Sep 16, 2017 | Coats of Arms

The earliest grants of arms in England were thought to be around 1390 when coats of arms were discovered in various documents and court records as being granted by the Crown. Some of these earliest grants actually proclaim that the recipients are being proclaimed...

The Symbolism of the Montréal Coat of Arms Explained

Coats of Arms

by CoatofArmsHQ | Sep 14, 2017 | Coats of Arms

The coat of arms of Montréal is a good example of the use of symbolism in heraldry and coats of arms. Read about the symbols on the Montréal coat of arms and what they represent. The Montréal coat of arms was adopted in 1833 by the city councillors of the time. It was...

What is a Coat of Arms?

Coats of Arms

by CoatofArmsHQ | Sep 4, 2017 | Coats of Arms

A coat of arms, in its most basic form, consists of heraldic colors, symbols and shapes positioned on a shield or escutcheon. The coat of arms was originally developed to distinguish knights in battle. By the Middle Ages, Knights were fully encased in armor and wore a...

The Unappreciated Salamander in Heraldry

Coats of Arms

by CoatofArmsHQ | Sep 3, 2017 | Coats of Arms

Salamanders may seem unlikely creatures to be found on coats of arms but they appear on the arms of many families, both Royal and noble, throughout Europe. Salamanders were generally shown as in flames and sometimes with a human head. A green salamander surrounded by...

Should You Decorate your Yard with a Coat of Arms?

Coats of Arms

by CoatofArmsHQ | Jul 23, 2017 | Coats of Arms

If you can, why not. But not all of us have the skills to accomplish this. I have always relied on displaying the flag when I want to express my patriotism. The lion and unicorn are the supporters for the Canadian coat of arms seen below. Oro-Medonte man put together...