#editorial commentary

[griffinrampant]

Arms of the House of Boncompagni

In use since at least 1572, probably earlier

Blazon: Gules a demi-dragon rampant or

The House of Boncompagni originated in Umbria, but moved to Bologna in the early 14th century. The family produced one Pope, Gregory XIII, who often incorporated the dragon motif into building projects he commissioned. In 1579, he purchased the Duchy of Sora and granted it to his family. They still retain possession of it today, albeit as an honorary title.

You know, there are really not enough dragons in heraldry. It's always lions. I mean, lions are also cool, but just look at this shit! I know absolutely nothing about when or why the Boncompagni family decided to use a dragon in their coat of arms, but I wholeheartedly support their decision. MORE DRAGONS.

[griffinrampant]

Arms of Gaildorf, Germany

Granted 1930; in use since 1434

Blazon: Gules two pike poles in saltire surmounted by a raft argent

The poles and raft reflect a very old local trade that involved floating wood from the local forests downstream to Schwäbisch Hall, which needed large quantities of firewood to boil down brine for the salt trade.

I rolled my eyes a little bit when I saw these arms at first. Like, none of the typical charges are good enough for you? No bears, trees, any of the classic ordinaries? You have to have the super-specific tools of your super-specific trade? I mean, fine, I guess, but you had better not be trying to make yourself stand out by incorporating something that no one actually remembers anym... oh. These have been in use for over five hundred years. And there’s still a raft festival every year. Oh. Okay. Carry on. What the fuck do I know?

[griffinrampant]

Arms of Alhambra, Spain

Granted 1992

Blazon: Per pale argent on a mount in base gules a castle triple-towered or and of the first a cross of Santiago of the second; pointé vert a crescent pendent of the first

The castle on the mount is likely a reference to the nearby Castle of Alhambra, which was built on a nearby hill for defensive purposes. It dates back to around the 12th century, and was granted to the Order of Santiago in 1214. According to local legend, tunnels that connect the castle to the town.

These are fairly average arms - nice to see they're not pulling the "mount proper" dodge, but the castle or on argent is on pretty thin ice - with pretty common charges for the area. The really old stories of secret tunnels are just a great bonus.

[griffinrampant]

Arms of Aldea del Rey, Spain

Granted 1968; in use since the 16th century

Blazon: Argent a cross of Calatrava gules between two keys in base pilewise sable

The arms of the town probably derive from its role as the residence of the clavero of the Order of Calatrava. This role was responsible for keeping the keys of the Order's stronghold in the castle of Calatrava la Nueva.

There are a lot of things I really like about these arms, starting with the simple but striking design. Points for symmetry, sticking to the law of tincture, using a unique positioning of the keys, and minimal use of color. Extra points for having the charges tie into the area's history; it's much more subtle than canting arms, which (to me at least) makes it more interesting. And finally, extra bonus points for teaching me something neat about the structure of the Order of Calatrava.

[griffinrampant]

Arms of John of Scotland, Earl of Huntingdon 1232-1237 (1207-1237)

From p43 of Lacies Nobilitie by Sir John Ferne (1586)

Blazon: Argent three garbs within a tresseure fleury counter-fleury gules

"For that he was created Earl of Chester by H[enry] III... he assumed these three Garbes: and so in the substance of the charge of his coate, he did imitate the ensignes of his mother: but in the cullors, and also in the double trassure, he represented the coat of Galloway, being the Armes of his father, and all this in one Sheeld." (65-66)

(I cannot confirm via other sources that these arms were used by John of Scotland, but honestly, they should’ve been. They’re a nice visual combination of his title and heritage, and garbs gules aren’t very common.)

[griffinrampant]

Arms of Alcoba de los Montes, Spain

Granted 1992

Blazon: Per pale argent an arrow palewise gules and or three ears of wheat tied together vert, pointé of the last a molet of six points of the first

Unfortunately, I cannot find any information on the meaning of these arms. The wheat ears seem an odd choice, as the land does not seem to have been particularly fertile, most of the inhabitants focusing on raising bees, oxen, and goats. However, the town's name seems to derive from the Arabic "al-quiba" or "public weight," possibly indicating that the town was a toll stop.

It's a shame there's not more about these arms out there - I really do like the per-pale-and-pointé combination, and the charges are simple, classic, and the sort of thing that might have some really cool meanings. Arrow for battle? Wheat for symbolic prosperity? WHO KNOWS? Not me, unfortunately.

[griffinrampant]

Arms of Ilshofen, Germany

In use since 1594; granted 1954

Blazon: Argent on a base vert a representation of Justice blindfolded of the field, clad azure, robed gules, crined, shod, and bearing in the dexter hand a sword point in base and in the sinister hand a balance or

The first mention of the town dates to 1288. Around fifty years later, in 1330, it became a city with the right to build walls and establish a weekly market.

Oh man. This shit. Look, I understand wanting the personification of a particular virtue, or a saint or something, on your arms. But they take forEVer to blazon, since the clothes and the hair and the accessories all have to be specified, and how they're holding the sword (there's pretty much always a sword), and if they're standing on something and and and. It's perfectly acceptable armory; it just takes ages to describe properly.

[griffinrampant]

Arms of Breitenbrunn, Austria

Granted 1951

Blazon: Gules on a base proper a tower with pointed roof or

The tower in the arms is a representation of the central tower, a landmark which dates back to the 13th century.

Okay. I know I've talked before about how silly I find the use of local landmarks in arms, and this is a great example. I don't know how else to blazon this, but that's such a vague blazon. It's obvious that it's intended to be a specific tower, but how much detail do I go into? Do I mention the peaked roof? The staircase (I think it's a staircase)? The number, shape, and placement of windows? At some point, the level of complexity defeats the point of blazon, which is to describe arms in a succinct and standardized way. When it gets into this level of petty detail that won't mean anything to anyone who's not familiar with the particular landmark - I confess, I give up. This is heraldry, not architecture.