NS
Vol 6 No 2 (New Year 2000-2001)
The heraldic
provinces of Europe[1]
by
Baron Christopher von Warnstedt
A VERY important but hitherto almost totally neglected phenomenon is the heraldic provinces of Europe in the Middle Ages. It is apparent that the heraldry of the various parts of Europe differed already from the beginning in several important aspects. During the early part of the Middle Ages our continent was divided into a larger number of distinctive heraldic areas. Considering the matter on a larger scale several of those minor areas might be brought together into larger groups, which have certain distinctions in common.
I.
The
German-Nordic Province
Territory:
Characteristics:
(1) Change of arms: very rare.
(2) Change of crests within the family: usual, e.g. mark of cadency.
(3) Marks of difference on the shield: usually absent
(4) Change of tinctures: very rare
(5) Furs: extremely rare.
II.
The
French-British Province
Territory:
North and Middle
Characteristics:
(1)
Change of arms: common.
(2)
Change of crests: very rare.
(3)
Arms frequently patterned and semé.
(4)
Marks of difference on the shield, such as marks of cadency, extremely usual within
the family.
(5)
Change of tinctures: very common. (6)
Furs: very common. (7)
The heraldry of the Scottish [i.e. Highland]
clans has certain distinctions besides those already mentioned. III.
The
Latin Province Territory:
The South of France, Spain, Portugal and Italy.
Characteristics:
(1)
The shapes of the shields differ greatly
from that of the other provinces.
(2)
For other characteristics see Province II:
1-5.
IV.
The East European Province
Territory: Croatia, Hungary, Poland, Lithuania, Russia and Romania.
Characteristics:
(1) Pronounced territorial heraldic clan system, i.e. a whole country, hundred, parish or village have the same coat of arms, irrespective of families.
(2) The province is totally dominated by a large number of inescutcheons (with the paternal arms) which are called by different names.
(3) Owners’ marks or figures similar to owners’ marks are usual as coats of arms.
(4) Negative charges are a characteristic feature.
(5) The tinctures Argent on Gules or Azure dominate.
(6) Marks of cadency are practically unknown.
V. Border districts.
(a) Flanders-Brabant-Holland
(b) The Rhineland and Alsace-Lorraine.
(c) South Switzerland and South Austria.
(d) Bohemia-Moravia.
(e) Silesia, which mainly belongs to Province I; the East European coats of arms which appear have often been altered in the German fashion.
(f) West and East Prussia, showing a strong mixture of both East European and German heraldry.
(g) Hinter [Further] Pomerania shows nearly the same mixture as the eastern border countries.
In conclusion it might be said that the heraldic system reached its most perfect form – or, if one prefers, its greatest exaggerations – within the French-British Province (II) and the border district of Flanders-Brabant-Holland. The Provinces I and III reached rather high in their development and can be classed as an intermediate stage. The East European Province (IV) on the other hand is characterised by its primitive heraldry.
We have reasons to regret that the existence of these heraldic provinces, as far as is known, has not been considered by any European author of guides. What these authors present in their heraldic guides is a European heraldic mixture blended according to each author’s own likes and dislikes. It is important that in the future we study each heraldic province separately. That would also have the advantage that we could more easily grasp the proper heraldic usages throughout the centuries.
