CONCLUSION
The seven chapters of this guide describe heraldry as a highly significant component of Western civilization. They also provide paths to follow for those wishing to delve more deeply into the subject. Heraldry serves a number of purposes. It is above all a mode of identification, but also acts as a powerful motivating force and a means of encapsulating significant ideas or events relating to individuals, society and institutions. To be effective as a means of identification, heraldry is required to be unique and easily recognized. As a motivating force, it needs to be meaningful and to inspire by its striking beauty.
Many considerations flow from the purpose and nature of heraldry. The property or exclusive use of arms granted to a person and descendants must be respected if heraldry is to serve as a means of identification of individuals and family lineages. It is as the specific emblems of a person and descendants that heraldry comes to the aid of genealogy and serves to identify armorial artefacts. It is because heraldry summarizes significant information in an effective way that it constitutes a good didactic medium. Only when skillfully designed and rendered, do heraldic emblems embellish our surroundings and elevate the mind. Both the designer and artist should approach the art with knowledge and great care if it is to fulfill its intended purpose.
Those that begin studying heraldry in earnest usually make it a lifetime pursuit. The first attraction to the field may well stem from a romanticized view of colourful medieval knights at a tournament or of knights upholding the good, saving the widow and orphan from evildoers or rescuing fair maidens. The initial impulse may be a feeling of doing something mysterious such as the search for unusual and exotic knowledge, a quest that it shares with most other sciences. It may be that one becomes involved in the field during the process acquiring arms for a municipality, a corporation or an institution. Be that as it may, what eventually retains the interest of scholars is the great depth and possibilities of the discipline. The history of heraldry, including its birth and survival, is vast and fascinating. Examining the numerous manifestations of heraldic art and looking for new possibilities can become a lifetime vocation.
It is undeniable that heraldry has survived and remains a powerful force with highly diversified applications that warrant investigation. For instance, studying the use of heraldry in such a medium as caricature would no doubt provide great insight into the nature and the workings of symbolism within a given culture. Analyzing the types of armorial bearings that appear on geographical maps would lead to new insights into the relation between symbols of sovereignty or prestige and territorial occupation. The psychological motivation that leads someone to acquire a family emblem in modern times deserves further study. In designing a coat of arms, one is always brought to look more of less deeply into one’s own or another person’s make-up with a view to creating an image of an individual’s quintessence in the broad sense of ancestry, values and hopes for one’s self and descendants. Looking at heraldry as a medium that expresses the most essential aspects of having been, being and becoming is a worthwhile and noble pursuit.
Heraldry could benefit greatly from being investigated in the light of psychology and of other modern disciplines such as sociology and ethnology. Just like writing an economic history implies training in both economy and history, there are many aspects of heraldry that require the knowledge of more than one discipline. Some interdisciplinary analyses have already occurred. Conrad Swan’s background as an historian was surely of great help when undertaking the complex task of explaining the nature of arms, seals and flags as symbols of public and sovereign authority; something he did in his scholarly work Canada: Symbols of Sovereignty. Likewise Carl-Alexander Von Volborth’s background as an art historian gave him a fresh and scientific approach to the study of some artistic aspects of heraldry. In the article “Heraldry through the lens of C.G. Jung” [Heraldry in Canada / L’Héraldique au Canada 44 (2010] from which I have quoted several times in chapter VII, Robert Merrill Black brings up themes that warrant further development.
It is clear that we have just begun to explore the many possibilities of heraldic science and art. There are, for instance, many legal questions relating to heraldry that only a person having a specialized legal background in a specific country would be comfortable with. Throughout this work, I have proposed a number of projects and areas of investigation that I hope some enthusiastic reader will tackle. While such subjects are generally vast, they constitute spheres of serious and worthwhile investigation that could shed new light on facets of the discipline and help remove some of the misconceptions that still tend to trivialize it.
At its inception in 1988, the Canadian Heraldic Authority was faced with a number of daunting tasks. It had to gain acceptance in a society that was not used to regulated heraldry. It had to respect many of the heraldic traditions inherited from Europe while, at the same time, breaking away from the traditional male-oriented approach to the inheritance of arms and from some of the distinctions that have applied to male as opposed to female arms for centuries. To do otherwise would have contravened the spirit of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms which specifically prohibits any discrimination relating to a person’s gender. Rather than imagining a Canadian heraldic system on paper that would have taken months and would inevitably have proven inadequate in many respects, the heralds led by the Chief Herald chose to build a system progressively based on the hindsight that experience would in time provide. Having been part of the process from the start, I am convinced that the decision to build upon experience, rather than trying to establish a written coded Canadian heraldic system at the outset, was crucial to the survival of the Canadian Heraldic Authority. From the very start, the authority received an avalanche of petitions for arms. It could not afford to tell petitioners six months down the road, even a year or more: “Sorry, but our committee is still working on the development of a Canadian heraldic system.” As the authority approaches thirty years of existence, its policies and practices are evolving into patterns that respect sound heraldry while meeting the needs of Canadian society.
New situations prompt new initiatives and the approach of the Canadian Heraldic Authority reflects this. For example, its decision to create a Public Register of Arms available to the world on the internet, rather than as a series of bound volumes to be consulted individually in one place, make it a leader in putting modern technology at the service of heraldry. Allowing equal inheritance of arms by both the male and female line has raised some eyebrows, particularly because the original arms could eventually be used by descendants with a name different from that of the original grantee. Sooner or later, other states will face similar problems as the idea of male and female equality prevails. If Canada can find workable solutions to confront these modern realities, it will again have proven its heraldic leadership.
With the work of the authority, Canadian heraldry is developing its own distinct character by bringing into its grants striking symbols belonging to the native cultures and to the numerous other cultural groups that make up the Canadian mosaic. Tapping into these abundant resources represents a source of renewal for heraldry. When traveling abroad, one inevitably encounters striking symbols that can fit very well on the heraldic shield. For instance, while heraldic works will describe some 35 crosses that are more or less frequent in the field, there are throughout the world hundreds of other crosses that are beautiful, meaningful, can elegantly grace a shield of arms, and already have specific names. Sometimes these specific names can replace several terms of blazonry. The heraldic quadrate cross pierced is analogous to the chakana or Inca cross.
This work has focused on providing answers to heraldic questions or concerns generally found in the public, but it also tackles more specific situations that may confront a scholar or an administrator who becomes involved in obtaining arms for some form of enterprise. It has also attempted to fan out into the numerous facets of heraldry, at times leading into its unexplored corners and untapped potential such as its place within the realm of symbols on a universal plane. By reading these pages, the beginner should have acquired a feeling for the scope of heraldry and may have found an area of particular interest for further study and specialization. Even the seasoned heraldist is likely to have discovered avenues for further reflection, and perhaps a fresh approach to certain questions.
There is great hope for heraldry in Canada at this stage of its development. The Royal Heraldry Society of Canada has been in existence since 1966 and has been renewing itself with younger enthusiastic members. One senses new beginnings, a kind of renaissance, as the innovative work of the Canadian Heraldic Authority continues to enrich the Canadian scene and as Canadians learn to appreciate the power and beauty of good heraldry. It is hoped that the readers of this work will feel the vibrancy of this heraldic moment, and armed with new knowledge, will participate in the unfolding of these exciting times.
One huge challenge remains in modern times, that of finding ways to renew heraldry without destroying it. Designing armorial emblems along the lines of logos does not seem to present a solution. If it has not already been done, the renewal of heraldry without diminishment, indeed with betterment, would seem an appropriate theme for an international congress.
Many considerations flow from the purpose and nature of heraldry. The property or exclusive use of arms granted to a person and descendants must be respected if heraldry is to serve as a means of identification of individuals and family lineages. It is as the specific emblems of a person and descendants that heraldry comes to the aid of genealogy and serves to identify armorial artefacts. It is because heraldry summarizes significant information in an effective way that it constitutes a good didactic medium. Only when skillfully designed and rendered, do heraldic emblems embellish our surroundings and elevate the mind. Both the designer and artist should approach the art with knowledge and great care if it is to fulfill its intended purpose.
Those that begin studying heraldry in earnest usually make it a lifetime pursuit. The first attraction to the field may well stem from a romanticized view of colourful medieval knights at a tournament or of knights upholding the good, saving the widow and orphan from evildoers or rescuing fair maidens. The initial impulse may be a feeling of doing something mysterious such as the search for unusual and exotic knowledge, a quest that it shares with most other sciences. It may be that one becomes involved in the field during the process acquiring arms for a municipality, a corporation or an institution. Be that as it may, what eventually retains the interest of scholars is the great depth and possibilities of the discipline. The history of heraldry, including its birth and survival, is vast and fascinating. Examining the numerous manifestations of heraldic art and looking for new possibilities can become a lifetime vocation.
It is undeniable that heraldry has survived and remains a powerful force with highly diversified applications that warrant investigation. For instance, studying the use of heraldry in such a medium as caricature would no doubt provide great insight into the nature and the workings of symbolism within a given culture. Analyzing the types of armorial bearings that appear on geographical maps would lead to new insights into the relation between symbols of sovereignty or prestige and territorial occupation. The psychological motivation that leads someone to acquire a family emblem in modern times deserves further study. In designing a coat of arms, one is always brought to look more of less deeply into one’s own or another person’s make-up with a view to creating an image of an individual’s quintessence in the broad sense of ancestry, values and hopes for one’s self and descendants. Looking at heraldry as a medium that expresses the most essential aspects of having been, being and becoming is a worthwhile and noble pursuit.
Heraldry could benefit greatly from being investigated in the light of psychology and of other modern disciplines such as sociology and ethnology. Just like writing an economic history implies training in both economy and history, there are many aspects of heraldry that require the knowledge of more than one discipline. Some interdisciplinary analyses have already occurred. Conrad Swan’s background as an historian was surely of great help when undertaking the complex task of explaining the nature of arms, seals and flags as symbols of public and sovereign authority; something he did in his scholarly work Canada: Symbols of Sovereignty. Likewise Carl-Alexander Von Volborth’s background as an art historian gave him a fresh and scientific approach to the study of some artistic aspects of heraldry. In the article “Heraldry through the lens of C.G. Jung” [Heraldry in Canada / L’Héraldique au Canada 44 (2010] from which I have quoted several times in chapter VII, Robert Merrill Black brings up themes that warrant further development.
It is clear that we have just begun to explore the many possibilities of heraldic science and art. There are, for instance, many legal questions relating to heraldry that only a person having a specialized legal background in a specific country would be comfortable with. Throughout this work, I have proposed a number of projects and areas of investigation that I hope some enthusiastic reader will tackle. While such subjects are generally vast, they constitute spheres of serious and worthwhile investigation that could shed new light on facets of the discipline and help remove some of the misconceptions that still tend to trivialize it.
At its inception in 1988, the Canadian Heraldic Authority was faced with a number of daunting tasks. It had to gain acceptance in a society that was not used to regulated heraldry. It had to respect many of the heraldic traditions inherited from Europe while, at the same time, breaking away from the traditional male-oriented approach to the inheritance of arms and from some of the distinctions that have applied to male as opposed to female arms for centuries. To do otherwise would have contravened the spirit of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms which specifically prohibits any discrimination relating to a person’s gender. Rather than imagining a Canadian heraldic system on paper that would have taken months and would inevitably have proven inadequate in many respects, the heralds led by the Chief Herald chose to build a system progressively based on the hindsight that experience would in time provide. Having been part of the process from the start, I am convinced that the decision to build upon experience, rather than trying to establish a written coded Canadian heraldic system at the outset, was crucial to the survival of the Canadian Heraldic Authority. From the very start, the authority received an avalanche of petitions for arms. It could not afford to tell petitioners six months down the road, even a year or more: “Sorry, but our committee is still working on the development of a Canadian heraldic system.” As the authority approaches thirty years of existence, its policies and practices are evolving into patterns that respect sound heraldry while meeting the needs of Canadian society.
New situations prompt new initiatives and the approach of the Canadian Heraldic Authority reflects this. For example, its decision to create a Public Register of Arms available to the world on the internet, rather than as a series of bound volumes to be consulted individually in one place, make it a leader in putting modern technology at the service of heraldry. Allowing equal inheritance of arms by both the male and female line has raised some eyebrows, particularly because the original arms could eventually be used by descendants with a name different from that of the original grantee. Sooner or later, other states will face similar problems as the idea of male and female equality prevails. If Canada can find workable solutions to confront these modern realities, it will again have proven its heraldic leadership.
With the work of the authority, Canadian heraldry is developing its own distinct character by bringing into its grants striking symbols belonging to the native cultures and to the numerous other cultural groups that make up the Canadian mosaic. Tapping into these abundant resources represents a source of renewal for heraldry. When traveling abroad, one inevitably encounters striking symbols that can fit very well on the heraldic shield. For instance, while heraldic works will describe some 35 crosses that are more or less frequent in the field, there are throughout the world hundreds of other crosses that are beautiful, meaningful, can elegantly grace a shield of arms, and already have specific names. Sometimes these specific names can replace several terms of blazonry. The heraldic quadrate cross pierced is analogous to the chakana or Inca cross.
This work has focused on providing answers to heraldic questions or concerns generally found in the public, but it also tackles more specific situations that may confront a scholar or an administrator who becomes involved in obtaining arms for some form of enterprise. It has also attempted to fan out into the numerous facets of heraldry, at times leading into its unexplored corners and untapped potential such as its place within the realm of symbols on a universal plane. By reading these pages, the beginner should have acquired a feeling for the scope of heraldry and may have found an area of particular interest for further study and specialization. Even the seasoned heraldist is likely to have discovered avenues for further reflection, and perhaps a fresh approach to certain questions.
There is great hope for heraldry in Canada at this stage of its development. The Royal Heraldry Society of Canada has been in existence since 1966 and has been renewing itself with younger enthusiastic members. One senses new beginnings, a kind of renaissance, as the innovative work of the Canadian Heraldic Authority continues to enrich the Canadian scene and as Canadians learn to appreciate the power and beauty of good heraldry. It is hoped that the readers of this work will feel the vibrancy of this heraldic moment, and armed with new knowledge, will participate in the unfolding of these exciting times.
One huge challenge remains in modern times, that of finding ways to renew heraldry without destroying it. Designing armorial emblems along the lines of logos does not seem to present a solution. If it has not already been done, the renewal of heraldry without diminishment, indeed with betterment, would seem an appropriate theme for an international congress.