ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 2996 http://www.s-gabriel.org/2996 ************************************ 11 Mar 2005 From: Josh Mittleman Greetings from the Academy of Saint Gabriel! You asked our help in creating arms typical of 16th century France, using a weapon fesswise and using the tinctures argent and vert, and perhaps also incorporating a raven or falcon. Here is what we have found. We should note that our sources for late-period French armory are fairly sparse. We have a great many more English sources, so we will rely more heavily on them. English and French heraldic style had diverged by the 16th century, but we beleive the designs we are recommending based on examples from England and other countries are also plausible for 16th century France. Weapons fesswise were not at all common in Western European heraldry in our period, but we can suggest some possibilities. Swords were not uncommon in the heraldry of France and the Lowlands (which used a similar style), but they tended to be palewise, bendwise, or in pairs crossed saltirewise [1]. We found a few English designs with three swords fesswise in or close to our period [2]. One possibility for you to consider, therefore, is: Vert, three swords fesswise argent. We don't have a period example of a single sword fesswise. We do have an English example of a scythe fesswise and we think that a sword used similarly is a reasonable extension of period heraldic style [3, 3a]: Argent, a sword fesswise vert. Argent, a fesswise embattled and in chief a sword fesswise vert. Some English arms place charges horizontally on bars [4]. We haven't found an example using weapons, but it doesn't seem implausible: Argent, on two bars vert, two swords fesswise argent. Another way to place a sword fesswise is to have it held that way by an arm or by an animal. For example [5]: Vert, an arm embowed maintaining a sword fesswise in chief argent. In late-period Italian heraldry, we found arms with a leopard rampant holding a spear which lies horizontally across its shoulder [6]. We don't see an easy way to do that with a bird, but you might do it with a leopard: Vert, a leopard argent maintaining across its shoulder a spear fesswise or; and a chief indented argent. One medieval English coat has a lion rampant impaled by a horizontal sword. A single lion rampant is very common, so this design has to be a bit more complex to avoid conflict [7]: Argent, a lion rampant vert impaled by a sword fesswise gules and on a chief vert three falcon's heads argent. The same motif might also be used with a falcon: Argent, a falcon rising vert transfixed by a sword fesswise gules [9]. The sword should be drawn as large as if it were alone on the field. You could equally well use an arrow in place of the sword here. We found quite a few examples of French arms with a sword fesswise on a chief. We do not know whether any of these existed in our period, but it is possible [8]. If we assume that this is a period motif, then you might use: Argent, three falcons close and on a chief vert a sword fesswise argent. We hope this letter has been useful. Please write us again if any part of it has been unclear or if you have other questions. I was assisted in researching and writing this letter by Walraven van Nijmegen, Aryanhwy merch Catmael, Geoffrey of Blesedale, Adelaide de Beaumont, Margaret Makafee, Gunnvor Silfraharr, Kolozsvari Arpadne Julia, Talan Gwynek, Mor inghean Chathail, Barak Raz, and Maridonna Benvenuti. For the Academy, Arval Benicoeur 11 Mar 2005 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - References [1] Walraven van Nijmegen, "Analysis, Armorial, and Ordinary of Armory Recorded in Paul Bergmans' Armorial De Flandre du XVIme Siecle" (WWW: Brian R. Speer, Privately published, 1997). http://www.geocities.com/Athens/1336/bergmans.html [2] Papworth, John W., _Papworth's Ordinary of British Armorials_, reprint (Five Barrows Ltd., 1977), s.v. 3 Swords. * William, brother of Odoneus O'Shee: Gules, three swords fesswise argent hilted or the center sword pointing to the sinister; dated 1382. However another entry gives the same person's arms on the same date as two swords in saltire surmounted by another palewise. * Chowthton: Or, three swords fesswise azure hilted sable, pomels gules, two pointing to sinister and one to dexter; from the Cotton MS of the 16th century Glover's Ordinary. * Rawlins: Sable, three swords fessiwse their points toward the sinister proper. 1610. [3] Rietstap's Armorial Online (WWW: kuruvina.com, 2004). Arms of Espouy "Argent, a sword fesswise gules", undated. http://www.kuruvinda.com/armorial.php. [3a] Woodcock, Thomas, Janet Grant, & Ian Graham, _Dictionary of British Arms_, vol II. (The Society of Antiquaries of London, 1996), p.285, Thekens "Argent, a chevron sable fretty or and in chief a scythe-blade fesswise cutting edge to chief azure and above it in centre chief a crescent gules." [4] Humphrey-Smith, Cecil R., _Anglo-Norman Armory Two_ (Canterbury: Institute for Heraldic and Genealogical Studies, 1984), p.29. [5] A Magyar Orsza/gos Leve/lta/r adatba/zisai (A database of Hungarian arms) (WWW: Arcanum and the National Archives of Hungary, accessed 2005). Arms of Pe/rchy Benedek, 1421: "A dexter arm fesswise embowed contourny maintaining a sword." The sword is between fesswise and bendwise. These particular arms are shown at: http://www.arcanum.hu/mol/lpext.dll/mol_cimer/1/73 A table of contents for the website is at: http://www.arcanum.hu/mol/lpext.dll/mol_cimer/1?f=templates&fn=tools-contents.htm [6] Borgia, L., et. al., eds., _Le Biccherne : tavole dipinte delle magistrature senesi (secoli XIII-XVIII)_ (Roma : Ministero per i beni culturali e ambientali, 1984), plate 127, c.1601. [7] Brault, Gerard J., _Eight Thirteenth-Century Rolls of Arms in French and Anglo-Norman Blazon_ (University Park, PA: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1973), number 284: Tranchelion "Gules a lion rampant argent crowned and langued or holding in its mouth a maunch vair and transfixed by a sword azure pommelled and hilted or." These arms appear in the Bigot Roll and also in a seal from 1540. See also Brault, Gerard J., _Early Blazon: Heraldic Terminology in the Twelfth and Thirteenth Centuries with Special Reference to Arthurian Heraldry_, 2nd ed. (Woodbridge: The Boydell Press, 1997), s.v. tranchier and figure 139. [8] Rietstap Online. Examples of swords fesswise on a chief include: Bodard de la Jacopiere -- Per chevron azure and or, three wolves' heads argent, and on a chief or a sword fesswise sable, point to sinister. Buirette de Verrieres -- Azure, three greyhounds' heads argent and on a chief gules a sword fesswise Or. Chapuys de Montlaville -- Per chevron azure and Or, in base a pelican azure, and on a chief argent, a sword fesswise sable. Julianis du Rouret -- Vert, on a pale Or, a pallet gules, and on a chief argent, a sword fesswise sable. [9] This design is similar to the registered badge of Friedrich Eric Helmut von Rheinhausen: Argent, an eagle displayed vert. There is one difference for the posture of the bird and, if the sword is drawn full-sized, another for adding the sword.