NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Officer of Arms

An officer of arms is a person appointed by a sovereign or state with authority to perform one or more of the following functions: Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1600x1200, 417 KB) Banners bearing heraldic badges of several officers of arms at the College of Arms in London. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1600x1200, 417 KB) Banners bearing heraldic badges of several officers of arms at the College of Arms in London. ... Heraldic badges were common in the Middle Ages particularly in England. ... The Colleges own coat of arms was granted in 1484. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... Sovereignty is the exclusive right to exercise supreme political (e. ... For other uses, see State (disambiguation). ...

Traditionally, officers of arms are of three ranks: kings of arms, heralds of arms, and pursuivants of arms. Officers of arms whose appointments are of a permanent nature are known as officers of arms in ordinary; those whose appointments are of a temporary or occasional nature are known as officers of arms extraordinary. Armory is the study of coats of arms. ... Heraldry in its most general sense encompasses all matters relating to the duties and responsibilities of officers of arms. ... Genealogy is the study and tracing of family pedigrees. ... King of Arms is the title given to a kingdoms chief heralds. ... Henry Edgar Paston-Bedingfeld, Her Majestys York Herald of Arms in Ordinary at the College of Arms. ... A Pursuivant is a minor herald. ...

The medieval practice of appointing heralds or pursuivants to the establishment of a noble household is still common in European countries, particularly those in which there is no official heraldic control or authority. Such appointments are also still made in Scotland, where four private officers of arms exist. These appointments are all purely advisory. // Nobility is a traditional hereditary status (see hereditary titles) that exists today in many countries (mainly present or former monarchies). ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... Motto: (Latin for No one provokes me with impunity)1 Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official language(s) English, Gaelic, Scots 2 Government Constitutional monarchy - Queen Queen Elizabeth II - Prime Minister of the UK Tony Blair MP - First Minister Jack McConnell MSP Unification - by Kenneth I... The Honourable Adam Bruce (far right) at his installation as Finlaggan Pursuivant of Arms of Clan Donald. ...

In England, the authority of the thirteen officers of arms in ordinary who form the corporation of the Kings, Heralds, and Pusuivants of Arms extends throughout the Commonwealth, with the exception of Scotland, Canada and South Africa. In Scotland, the Lord Lyon King of Arms, three heralds, and three pursuivants control matters armorial within a strict legal framework not enjoyed by their brother officers of arms in London. Lord Lyon is appointed by the crown, and, with the Crown's authority, himself appoints the other Scottish officers. The officers of arms in ordinary who form the College of Arms are members of the royal household and receive a nominal salary. Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Capital London Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification - by Athelstan AD 927 Area - Total 130,395 kmÂ² (1st in UK) 50,346 sq mi Population - 2005 est. ... The Commonwealth of Nations (CN), usually known as the Commonwealth, is a voluntary association of 53 independent sovereign states, the majority of which are former colonies of the United Kingdom. ... Motto: (Latin for No one provokes me with impunity)1 Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official language(s) English, Gaelic, Scots 2 Government Constitutional monarchy - Queen Queen Elizabeth II - Prime Minister of the UK Tony Blair MP - First Minister Jack McConnell MSP Unification - by Kenneth I... Arms of the Office of the Lord Lyon The Lord Lyon King of Arms, the head of Lyon Court, is the most junior of the Great Officers of State in Scotland and is the Scottish official with responsibility for regulating heraldry in that kingdom, issuing new grants of arms, and... The Colleges own coat of arms was granted in 1484. ...

In the Republic of Ireland, matters armorial and genealogical come within the authority of an officer designated the Chief Herald of Ireland. The legal basis for Ireland's heraldic authority, and therefore all grants since 1943, has been questioned by the Attorney General[1], therefore, on May 8th 2006 Senator Brendan Ryan introduced the Genealogy & Heraldry Bill, 2006, [2] in Seanad Éireann (Irish Senate) to remedy this situation and legitimise actions since the transfer of power from the Ulster King of Arms. The office of the Chief Herald of Ireland, (sometimes, though incorrectly, called the Office of Arms) is the Republic of Irelands authority on all heraldic matters relating to Ireland and is located at the National Library of Ireland. ... Year 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1943 calendar). ... The office of the Chief Herald of Ireland, (sometimes, though incorrectly, called the Office of Arms) is the Republic of Irelands authority on all heraldic matters relating to Ireland and is located at the National Library of Ireland. ...

See also

Heraldry in its most general sense encompasses all matters relating to the duties and responsibilities of officers of arms. ... King of Arms is the title given to a kingdoms chief heralds. ... Henry Edgar Paston-Bedingfeld, Her Majestys York Herald of Arms in Ordinary at the College of Arms. ... A Pursuivant is a minor herald. ... The Honourable Adam Bruce (far right) at his installation as Finlaggan Pursuivant of Arms of Clan Donald. ... The Colleges own coat of arms was granted in 1484. ... The Court of the Lord Lyon, also know as Lyon Court, is the institution which regulates heraldry in Scotland. ... Badge of the Canadian Heraldic Authority The Canadian Heraldic Authority is an agency of the Government of Canada responsible for heraldry in Canada. ... The office of the Chief Herald of Ireland, (sometimes, though incorrectly, called the Office of Arms) is the Republic of Irelands authority on all heraldic matters relating to Ireland and is located at the National Library of Ireland. ...

External links

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The Heraldry Series

Blazon • Cadency • Canting arms • Coat of arms • Officers of Arms
Badge • Crest • Compartment • Mantling • Mon • Quartering • Shield • Supporters Heraldry in its most general sense encompasses all matters relating to the duties and responsibilities of officers of arms. ... This is an article about Heraldry. ... See also Cadency (name) and cadency name Cadency is any systematic way of distinguishing similar coats of arms belonging to members of the same family. ... Queen Mothers funerary hatchment, showing the canting bows and lions of Bowes-Lyon Canting arms is a technique used in European heraldry whereby the name of the individual or community represented in a coat of arms is translated into a visual pun. ... A modern coat of arms is derived from the medi val practice of painting designs onto the shield and outer clothing of knights to enable them to be identified in battle, and later in tournaments. ... Heraldic badges were common in the Middle Ages particularly in England. ... In heraldry, a crest is a component of a coat of arms. ... In heraldry, a compartment is a design placed under the shield, usually rocks, a grassy mount, or some sort of other landscape upon which the supporters are depicted as standing (a compartment without supporters is possible but practically unknown, with the exception of South Australia[1]). It is sometimes said... In heraldry, mantling is drapery depicted tied to the helmet above the shield. ... The chrysanthemum (kiku), seen in gold between the four bursts of this Breast Star of the Order of Chrysanthemum (a medal), is the mon of the Japanese Emperor. ... Quartering in heraldry is a method of joining several different coats of arms together in one shield by dividing the shield into not more than four equal parts and placing different coats of arms in each division. ... The Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom displayed an inescutcheon of the arms of Hanover between 1801 and 1837 when the British monarch held the title of King of Hanover. ... In heraldry, supporters are figures placed on either side of the shield and depicted holding it up. ...