Cross

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Scheme with a fess and a cross

SaboyaD 23 Esquema Cruz Faja jpg

Proportions of the cross and its similarity with the fess.


Blazon keywords: Without divisions, Fess and Cross.

Style keywords: Semi-circular.

Classification: Schema and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Saboya, Ducado de.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Arithmetic

Quarterly: 1 Azure, a cross Or; 2 Vert, a saltire Or; 3 Vert, a bend sinister Or; 4 Azure, a fess Or.

Quarterly: 1 Azure, a cross Or; 2 Vert, a saltire Or; 3 Vert, a bend sinister Or; 4 Azure, a fess Or.

Escudo cuartelado: 1o de azur, una cruz de oro; 2o de sinople, un sotuer de oro; 3o de sinople, una barra de oro; 4o de azur, una faja de oro.

Imaginary coat of arms that I have created featuring: a semicircular external shape; a field enamelled with flat azure and green inks; all pieces in metal Or, outlined in Sable and illuminated; and the entire design finished with a watercolor effect.

This coat of arms symbolizes the fundamental area of mathematical science, whose object of study is numbers and the elementary operations that can be performed with them: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.


Blazon keywords: Quarterly, Azure, Vert, Or, Cross, Saltire, Bend sinister and Fess.

Style keywords: Illuminated, Outlined in sable and Watercolor.

Classification: Created, Imaginary and Coat of arms.

Imaginary bearer: Arithmetic.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

John Stuart, schema 2x3

Or, a fess chequey Argent, charged with an ermine spot, and Azure, between in chief two cross patty Gules, in base a thistle proper; a diminished bordure Azure.

Or, a fess chequey Argent, charged with an ermine spot, and Azure, between in chief two cross patty Gules, in base a thistle proper; a diminished bordure Azure.

The coat of arms of Reverend John Stuart, XVIII century, emblazoned by me in 3 approaches: 1) Classic bordure: Using a bordure with a width equal to 1/6 of the coat of arms' base. In the image, this is marked with texts and lines in Vert. Notice that the squares in columns 2 and 8 are split by the inner border of the bordure, which is unfortunate as it disrupts the design. 2) Diminished bordure: Using a narrower bordure with a width equal to 2/3 of the classic bordure, corresponding to 1 square of the fess chequey. In the image, this is marked with texts and lines in Gules. This approach avoids splitting any squares, allows for larger figures, and is my preferred solution. In England, diminished bordures, often simply blazoned as bordure, are more common than in Castile. 3) Without squares splitted: Retaining the classic bordure but shifting the fess chequey 1/2 square to either dexter or sinister to prevent splitting squares. However, this sacrifices the symmetry of the design. This last adjustment was used in the hatchment of Reverend John Stuart in St. George's Cathedral, Kingston, Ontario, 1785.


Blazon keywords: Or, Argent, Azure, One, Three, Nine, Two, Fess, Chequey, Charged, Ermine spot, Between, In chief, Cross, Patty, In base, Thistle, Proper and Diminished bordure.

Style keywords: Ratio, Outlined in sable, Illuminated, Semi-circular and Freehand.

Classification: Personal, Interpreted, Schema, Boa and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Stuart, John.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Hérail, Gilbert

Argent, a cross Azure.

Argent, a cross Azure.

Escudo de plata, una cruz de azur.

Coat of arms emblazoned by me with a semi-circular shape, illuminated, and with a freehand finishing.


Blazon keywords: Argent, One, Cross and Azure.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Illuminated, Semi-circular and Freehand.

Classification: Religious, Military, Knights Templar, Interpreted and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Hérail, Gilbert.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Carlos Vidriales, his arms in my Exhibition at the International Lab

VidrialesC 35 InternationalLab 048_a jpg

Credits: Pablo Plaza is the author of the photograph and Antonio Salmerón y Cabañas is the author of the heraldic art of the coats of arms photographed.

Categories: Photographic, Coat of arms, Interpreted, Personal, Semi-circular, Illuminated, Outlined in sable, Party per pale, Argent, Cross, Sable, Bordure, Motto, Or, Thirteen, Hurt, Hurt, torteau, pellet, pomme and golpe, Azure, Three, In pale, Four, Five, Chief, Fleur de lis, Lineage, Conjoined in fess, Decoration, Suspended and Base (lower 1/3).

Root: Vidriales García y Bustamante, Carlos.

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Escudo de Castilla y León

Vidriales, C. M.

Interpreted coat of arms: with a semi-circular shape; illuminated with metals argent and or and colors sable and azure; outlined with sable; and a freehand finish.

Interpreted coat of arms: with a semi-circular shape; illuminated with metals argent and or and colors sable and azure; outlined with sable; and a freehand finish.


Blazon keywords: Party per pale, Argent, Cross, Sable, Bordure, Motto, Or, Thirteen, Hurt, Hurt, torteau, pellet, pomme and golpe, Azure, Three, In pale, Four, Five, Chief, Fleur de lis, Label and Suspended.

Style keywords: Freehand, Semi-circular, Illuminated and Outlined in sable.

Classification: Coat of arms, Interpreted and Personal.

Bearer: Vidriales, C. M..

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Vidriales, M. P.

Interpreted coat of arms: with a semi-circular shape; illuminated with metals argent and or and colors sable and azure; outlined with sable; and a freehand finish.

Interpreted coat of arms: with a semi-circular shape; illuminated with metals argent and or and colors sable and azure; outlined with sable; and a freehand finish.


Blazon keywords: Party per pale, Argent, Cross, Sable, Bordure, Motto, Or, Thirteen, Hurt, Hurt, torteau, pellet, pomme and golpe, Azure, Three, In pale, Four, Five, Chief, Fleur de lis, Cantoned and Martlet.

Style keywords: Freehand, Semi-circular, Illuminated and Outlined in sable.

Classification: Coat of arms, Interpreted and Personal.

Bearer: Vidriales, M. P..

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Cross potent, cross moline, and cross of Jerusalem, comparison

Sketch366 16 Cruz Potenzada Ancorada Jerusalen jpg

A Gules and Or comparison between cross potent, cross moline, and cross of Jerusalem


Blazon keywords: Gules, Or, Cross potent, Cross couped, Cross moline, Cross of Jerusalem and Cross.

Style keywords: Freehand, Outlined in sable and Illuminated.

Classification: Schema.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Five hurts and five pommes

Riddle369 32 Hurts Pommes Question jpg

Transform the blazon «Or» into «Or, five Pommes in saltire» and the blazon «Argent» into «Argent, five Hurts in saltire» moving the pommes and hurts through both metals, without breaking the rule of tinctures.

You can change one charge by another one, but only once.

For example, if you change «Sable, a Bend Argent» by «Sable, a Pale Argent», then the Pommes can arrive to «Or» blazon. However, this is not a solution, because the Hurts cannot walk to «Argent» blazon.

Think before you move the cursor or click on the following link and see the solution.


Categories: Riddle, Pointed and rounded, Outlined in sable, Freehand, Or, Argent, Vert, Azure, Gules, Sable, Hurt, torteau, pellet, pomme and golpe, Hurt, Pomme, In saltire, Fess, Saltire, Bend sinister, Cross, Pale and Bend.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Five hurts and five pommes, solution

Riddle369 33 Hurts Pommes Answer jpg

For example, if you change «Azure, a Cross Argent» by «Azure, a Pall Argent», then the Pommes can arrive to «Or» blazon and the Hurts can arrive to «Argent» blazon. You can view both paths azure and vert in the following image.

Riddle369 35 Hurts Pommes Path Arrows jpg

Other solution is to change «Azure, a Cross Argent» by «Azure, a Bordure Argent».


Categories: Riddle solution, Pointed and rounded, Outlined in sable, Freehand, Or, Argent, Vert, Azure, Gules, Sable, Hurt, torteau, pellet, pomme and golpe, Hurt, Pomme, In saltire, Fess, Saltire, Bend sinister, Cross, Pale, Bend and Pall.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

9 coats of arms in the ballroom

Riddle369 22 Fleurdelisee 9CoatsOfArms jpg

There is a series of nine coats of arms in the ballroom of the castle:

  • Or, three Fleurs de lis Azure.
  • Azure, a Bendsinister Or.
  • Or, a Fleur de lis Azure.
  • Azure, a Cross Or.
  • Or, five Fleur de lis Azure in saltire.
  • Azure, a Fess Or.
  • Or, two Fleur de lis Azure in bend.
  • Azure, a Saltire Or.
  • Or, four Fleur de lis Azure.

There are so many Fleurs de lis that everyone, except the joker, calls it the «fleurdelisée» room. Nobody knows the reason why the joker says there is none, do you?

Think before you move the cursor or click on the following link and see the solution.


Categories: Riddle, Or, Azure, Fleur de lis, One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Bend sinister, Cross, Fess and Saltire.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

9 coats of arms in the ballroom, solution

Riddle369 24 Zero Fleurdelis 9CoatsOfArms jpg

Categories: Riddle solution, Pointed and rounded, Outlined in sable, Freehand, Or, Azure, Fleur de lis, One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Bend sinister, Cross, Fess and Saltire.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Crest of Nick Allen Rica II

Or, on a chevron, between three crosses flory Gules, three crescents Argent. Crest: Upon a helm, with a wreath Or and Gules, a pomegranate Proper, seeded Gules, slipped and leaved Vert. Mantling: Gules doubled Or.

Or, on a chevron, between three crosses flory Gules, three crescents Argent. Crest: Upon a helm, with a wreath Or and Gules, a pomegranate Proper, seeded Gules, slipped and leaved Vert. Mantling: Gules doubled Or.


Blazon keywords: Or, One, Chevron, Gules, Charged, Three, Crescent, Argent, Between, Cross, Flory, Crest and mantling, Helm, Mantling, Wreath, Crest, Pomegranate, Proper, Slipped, Leaved and Vert.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Pointed, Illuminated and Rough.

Classification: Personal, Created and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Rica II, Nick Allen.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

ISCH Certification for Tomasz Arkadiusz Grzeszkowiak

GrzeszkowiakTA 36 Isch Certification 254 jpg

The Commoners' Certification of Arms for Tomasz Arkadiusz Grzeszkowiak, arms designed by Tomasz Steifer and emblazoned by me.

Gules, a base enarched Vert, overall a cross patty fitchy Or, piercing in base the head of a serpent nowed and facing sinister Sable, langued Gules. Crest: Upon a helm affronty, with a wreath Sable and Gules, in a front of three ostrich feathers alternately Sable and Gules a paschal lamb Argent, haloed Or and Gules, supporting a staff Or, flying a banner Argent charged with a cross Gules. Mantling: Gules doubled Sable. Motto: «Amor vincit omnia»

In the blazon of this certification, I wrote the expression «a Base enarched Vert», it is correct. But the expression «a Mount Vert» it is also possible. In the original expression in the Polish blazon is «na zielonym wzgórkuon» ~ «the green hill».


Blazon keywords: Without divisions, Gules, One, Mount, Vert, Issuant from base, Overall, Cross patty fitchy, Cross couped, Piercing, Head, Serpent, Nowed, Facing sinister, Sable, Langued, Helm, Affronty, Two, Mantling, Doubled, Wreath, Three, Quill, Alternately, Debruised, Paschal lamb, Argent, Nimbed, Or, Grasping, Shafted, Charged, Cross and Motto.

Classification: Interpreted, Personal, Certification and Flag.

Bearer: Grzeszkowiak, Tomasz Arkadiusz.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Commoners' certification Brady Brim-DeForest

BrimDeForestB 38 Isch Certification 263 jpg

The Commoners' Certification of Arms for Brady Brim-DeForest arms granted by Lord Lyon and with his arms, his standard, and his badge emblazoned by me.


Blazon keywords: Gules, Or, Argent, Azure, Two, One, Party per chevron, Acorn, Slipped, Base, Fleur de lis, Crest, Wreath, Demi, Lion, Armed, Langued, Grasping, Paw, Charged, Cross, Patty, Motto, Oak and Branch.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable and Illuminated.

Classification: Personal, Interpreted, Boa, Certification, Pennon and Flag.

Bearer: Brim-DeForest, Brady.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Sánchez de Perella, Alfonso

Azure, a cross flory voided Argent; a bordure Gules charged with sixteen saltires couped Or.

Azure, a cross flory voided Argent; a bordure Gules charged with sixteen saltires couped Or.

Escudo de azur, una cruz hueca flordelisada de plata; una bordura de gules cargada de dieciséis sotueres cortados de oro.

Coat of arms depicted by me, illuminated with lights and shadows, contoured in Sable, with a semi-circular outer contour and with a leather finish.

Coat of arms of Alfonso Sánchez de Perella, 1st Mayor of Burgos, emblazoned by me.


Blazon keywords: Azure, Argent, Gules, Or, One, Sixteen, Cross, Flory, Voided, Bordure, Saltire and Couped.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Illuminated, Semi-circular and Leather.

Classification: Personal, Interpreted, Boa and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Sánchez de Perella, Alfonso.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Standard of Tim Wilkins

WilkinsT 37 SwallowTail Rough jpg

Structure of this standard:

  • Argent, a cross gules.
  • The 1st line of his motto.
  • His coat of arms.
  • The 2nd line of his motto.
  • His badge.

Blazon keywords: Cross, Gules, Motto, Party per bend sinister, Or, Surmounted, Gauntlet, Sable, Palewise, Peacock, In his splendour and Proper.

Classification: Personal, Interpreted, Standard and Flag.

Bearer: Wilkins, Tim.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Trading Pro School

Illuminated and a rough finishing.

Illuminated and a rough finishing.


Blazon keywords: Gules, Cross, Or, Lily, Slipped, Seeded, Argent, Azure, Vert, In chief, Charged, Trimount, Counterchanged, Torch, In base and Two hands clasped.

Style keywords: Rough, Outlined in sable, Illuminated and Pointed.

Classification: Socioeconomic, Created and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Trading Pro School.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Crest, mantling and motto of Julio Hector Aspe

Azure, a trumpet bend sinisterwise Or, debruised by a fish haurient Argent, debruised by a sword bendwise point downwards Or, all between two fleurs de lis in fess Argent. Crest: Upon a helm lined Gules with a wreath Or and Azure, a paschal lamb regardant Argent, nimbed Or, supporting a staff Or, flying a flag Argent charged with a cross Gules. Mantling: Azure doubled Or. Motto: «Quis ut Deus».

Azure, a trumpet bend sinisterwise Or, debruised by a fish haurient Argent, debruised by a sword bendwise point downwards Or, all between two fleurs de lis in fess Argent. Crest: Upon a helm lined Gules with a wreath Or and Azure, a paschal lamb regardant Argent, nimbed Or, supporting a staff Or, flying a flag Argent charged with a cross Gules. Mantling: Azure doubled Or. Motto: «Quis ut Deus».

Coat of arms designed by me, highlighted with lights and shadows, contoured in Sable, with an ogee triple-pointed outer contour and with a watercolor finishing.


Blazon keywords: Azure, Argent, Or, Gules, Sable, One, Two, Trumpet, Bend sinisterwise, Debruised, Fish, Haurient, Sword, Point downwards, Between, Fleur de lis, In fess, Crest and mantling, Crest, Upon (wreath), Helm, Wreath, Paschal lamb, Regardant, Nimbed, Grasping, Shafted, Charged, Cross, Mantling and Motto.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Illuminated, Ogee Triple-Pointed and Watercolor.

Classification: Personal, Created, Boa, Coat of arms and Flag.

Bearer: Aspe, Julio Hector.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Robert George Alexander Balchin

Quarterly: 1 and 4 Vert, a crescent within eight mullets in lozenge Or; 2 and 3 Azure, a chain fesswise throughout between three fleurs de lis, 2 and 1, all the links and fleurs de lis per pale Or and Argent; an inescutcheon Azure, bearing a crown of count, charged with an eagle displayed within a bordure Or. Crest: A crown of Baron. Behind the shield the cross of a Knight of Justice of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem.

Quarterly: 1 and 4 Vert, a crescent within eight mullets in lozenge Or; 2 and 3 Azure, a chain fesswise throughout between three fleurs de lis, 2 and 1, all the links and fleurs de lis per pale Or and Argent; an inescutcheon Azure, bearing a crown of count, charged with an eagle displayed within a bordure Or. Crest: A crown of Baron. Behind the shield the cross of a Knight of Justice of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem.

Coat of arms emblazoned by me with a pointed shape, illuminated, and with a watercolor finishing.

G0067, Chief Herald of Malta's grant of Robert George Alexander Balchin's arms, whose full achievement has been emblazoned by me for such grant.


Blazon keywords: Quarterly, Vert, One, Crescent, Eight, Mullet, In lozenge, Or, Azure, Chain, Fesswise, Throughout, Between, Three, Fleur de lis, Ordered, Party per pale, Argent, Inescutcheon, Crest and mantling, Crown of Count, Crown, Charged, Eagle, Bordure, Crown of Baron, Behind the shield and Cross.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Illuminated, Watercolor and Pointed.

Classification: Personal, Interpreted, Coat of arms and Doctor.

Bearer: Balchin, Robert George Alexander.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Heikki Halkosaari, plain tincture

Argent, an apple tree, the base of its trunk forming a cross crosslet Azure, fructed Gules.

Argent, an apple tree, the base of its trunk forming a cross crosslet Azure, fructed Gules.

Arms interpreted by me, in flat tinctures, outlined in Sable, with a semi-circular outer contour and with a texturized finishing.

The coat of arms of Heikki Halkosaari, Finland, emblazoned by me.


Blazon keywords: Argent, Azure, Gules, One, Apple tree, Base, Trunk, Cross, Crosslet, Cross couped and Fructed.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Plain tincture and Semi-circular.

Classification: Personal, Interpreted, Boa and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Halkosaari, Heikki.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Crest, mantling and motto of the Lord of South Clifton

Sable, a tyger rampant Argent; a bordure Argent charged with eight crosses crosslet fitchy Sable. Crest: Upon a helm affronty lined Gules, issuant from a crown of Knight, a cross patty Gules. Mantling: Sable doubled Argent. Motto: «Acta Non Verba» over a scroll Argent doubled Gules.

Sable, a tyger rampant Argent; a bordure Argent charged with eight crosses crosslet fitchy Sable. Crest: Upon a helm affronty lined Gules, issuant from a crown of Knight, a cross patty Gules. Mantling: Sable doubled Argent. Motto: «Acta Non Verba» over a scroll Argent doubled Gules.

Coat of arms painted by me, highlighted with lights and shadows, contoured in Sable, with a pointed external shape and with a watercolor finishing.


Blazon keywords: Sable, Argent, Gules, One, Eight, Tyger, Rampant, Bordure, Charged, Cross crosslet fitchy, Crest, Upon (wreath), Helm, Affronty, Lined, Issuant, Crown of Knight, Crown, Cross, Patty, Mantling, Motto, Scroll and Doubled.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Illuminated, Pointed and Watercolor.

Classification: Personal, Interpreted, Boa and Coat of arms.

Bearer: South Clifton, Lord of.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Full achievement of Jean-Yves de Sainte Croix de la Sabliere

Azure, a cross ermine fimbriated Or, between four fleurs de lis Argent, each enfiled in a crown Or. Crest: Upon a helm befitting his degree, issuant from a crown of Baron, with a wreath Or and Azure, a falcon displayed, belled Azure, crowned Or, holding in its dexter talon an hourglass Or and in its sinister talon a fleur de lis Argent. Mantling: Azure doubled Or. Motto: «Per Crucem Triumphans» Sable, over a scroll Argent, doubled Gules. Supporters: Two lions rampant Or, langued Gules.

Azure, a cross ermine fimbriated Or, between four fleurs de lis Argent, each enfiled in a crown Or. Crest: Upon a helm befitting his degree, issuant from a crown of Baron, with a wreath Or and Azure, a falcon displayed, belled Azure, crowned Or, holding in its dexter talon an hourglass Or and in its sinister talon a fleur de lis Argent. Mantling: Azure doubled Or. Motto: «Per Crucem Triumphans» Sable, over a scroll Argent, doubled Gules. Supporters: Two lions rampant Or, langued Gules.

Arms emblazoned by me, highlighted with lights and shadows, contoured in Sable, with a pointed outer contour and with a freehand finishing.

G0128, Chief Herald of Arms of Malta's grant for the arms of Jean-Yves, de Sainte Croix de la Sabliere, UK. These arms have been emblazoned by me for such grant.


Blazon keywords: Azure, Or, Argent, Gules, One, Four, Cross, Ermine, Fimbriated, Between, Fleur de lis, Enfiled, Crown, Crest, Upon (wreath), Helm, Issuant, Crown of Baron, Above the shield, Wreath, Falcon, Belled, Crowned, Dexter, Talon, Hourglass, Sinister, Mantling, Doubled, Motto, Scroll, Supporter (animal), Lion, Rampant and Langued.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Illuminated, Pointed and Freehand.

Classification: Personal, Interpreted, Boa and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Sainte Croix de la Sabliere, Jean-Yves de.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

YouTube

Heraldry videos

Heraldic channel

Antonio Salmeron SHA FGSI, YouTube

My heraldic channel at YouTube is youtube.com/user/ASalmeronTube.

Dr. Antonio Salmeron, YouTube

Categories: Technology, Social networks, Cross, Argent, Pomegranate, Bridge, Tower, Escutcheon, Tree, Fish, Bordure, Compony, Eagle, Lion, Pale, Castle, Bell tower, Plough share, Ship, Semé and Fleur de lis.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

o-XI, heraldic document

SalmeronA 27 o11 DocumentoHeraldico jpg

Heraldic document, 2 pages.

The pages have a heraldic frame with the elements of his coat of arms.

The motto, which is the beginning of the Gospel of Saint John, can be seen in [Cnut Gospels; 1020; folio 111].


Blazon keywords: Quarterly, Sable, Or, One, Letter, Two, Wolf, Passant, In pale, Number, Gules, Argent, Azure, Crest and mantling, Helm, Mantling, Wreath, Crest, On, Charged, Disordered, Cross, Cross of Burgundy, Cross couped, Book, Open, Motto, Scroll and Fimbriated.

Classification: Created, Personal, Catalogue and Frame.

Bearer: Salmerón Cabañas, Antonio.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León Fortaleza de oro y mazonada de sable.

Royal Council of the Orders of Chivalry

Royal Council of the Orders of Chivalry

In 1523, the Order of Santiago, the Order of Calatrava, and the Order of Alcantara were definitively incorporated into the Crown of Castile, which marked the consolidation of the Royal Council of the Orders of Chivalry of Santiago, Calatrava, Alcantara, and Montesa. However, it is known that this Royal Council already existed at the beginning of the same 16th century, or even earlier, although there are no foundational documents available to date its inception.

The internet address of its website is ordenesmilitares.es where it also hosts the pages dedicated to each of its four orders:

After the Crusades ended and following the model of the military orders created in the Holy Land, European kings established Orders of Chivalry, many of which were military and religious institutions, like the four grouped under this Royal Council.


Categories: Institution, Interpreted, Socioeconomic, Illuminated, Outlined in sable, Freehand, Emblem, Cross, Quarterly per saltire, Cross of Saint James, Cross couped, Cross of Calatrava, Cross of Alcantara and Cross of Montesa.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Order of Santiago, emblem

A cross of Saint James.

Order of Chivalry of Santiago

A cross of Saint James.

Una cruz de Santiago.

Interpretation of the emblem of the order with: its cross outlined in Sable, illuminated in Gules; and a heavily hammered metal finish.

The Royal Council of the Orders of Chivalry of Santiago, Calatrava, Alcantara, and Montesa, in its historical account of the foundation of the Order of Santiago, describes three different points of view:

  • The one presented by tradition, which establishes it in 844, after the battle of Clavijo, when fourteen knights led by the Field Master Don Sancho Martínez de Tejada requested permission from Don Ramiro I, king of Asturias between the years 842 and 850, to found it. This traditional view is the one recorded in [Avilés, J.; 1780b; treatise IV, chapter II, page 325] when discussing the origin of the «Military Order of Santiago of the Sword».
  • The perspective of historians like Claudio Sánchez Albornoz or Américo Castro, who question the earlier date. Furthermore, [Sánchez Albornoz, C.; 1965; pages 94-136], as cited in [Domínguez García, J.; 2008; pages 69-70], proposes that the actual battle of Clavijo occurred later, in the year 859, and that Ramiro I did not participate, but rather it was a conflict between King Ordoño I and the Moor Muza.
  • The view of historians who, based on the statutes of the order found in the Monastery of Uclés, which was the residence of the Master of the Order of Santiago, and the Latin in which they are written, believe that the foundation could indeed date back to the reign of Don Ramiro I.

Emblem

Regarding the emblem of the Order of Chivalry of Santiago, [Avilés, J.; 1780b; treatise IV, chapter II, page 328, plate 25, figure 100] states «the Commandery of this Order was always a red Sword» (gules ~ red), «in the form of a Cross, just as the guards of the ancient Swords that its Knights and Commanders carried on their white Mantles, and today also on the chest in the same manner, hanging from a red ribbon on a gold medal; that is, in a field of Or, a Cross of Gules».


Blazon keywords: Cross of Saint James, Cross couped and Cross.

Style keywords: Illuminated, Outlined in sable and Soft metal.

Classification: Interpreted, Religious, Military and Emblem.

Bearer: Santiago, Order of.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León Fortaleza de oro y mazonada de sable.

Calatrava, Order of

Order of Calatrava, emblem

The Order of Chivalry of Calatrava is both military and religious, founded in the Kingdom of Castile during the 12th century by Abbot Raymond of Fitero.

The purpose of its foundation was the protection of the town of Calatrava la Vieja, which currently belongs to the municipality of Carrión de Calatrava in Ciudad Real. At the time of the order's foundation, it was an important city, in the middle valley of the river Guadiana and with a strategic position, as it was a necessary passage on the road from Toledo to Córdoba to Toledo and between the west and east of the Iberian Peninsula.

On the origin and antiquity of the Military Order of Calatrava, and the form of its Commandery

[Avilés, J.; 1780b; treatise IV, chapter IV, pages 334] writes «The Military Order of Calatrava was instituted by Don Sancho III, King of Castile (called the Desired), in the year 1158, while he was visiting his Kingdom; and being in Toledo with news of the great army that the Moors were gathering to besiege Calatrava la Vieja (which is called so today to distinguish it from the new one, which was founded later); and as the Templars, to whom this Fortress belonged, did not have sufficient power to resist such a large multitude, they handed it over to King Don Sancho himself so that he could take charge of it, as he did».

[Avilés, J.; 1780b; treatise IV, chapter IV, page 335] continues by telling us «The Abbot of Santa María de Fitero», near the river Pisuerga as he will indicate next, «of the Congregation of Cistercian, in the Bishopric of Palencia (which is a Monastery of St. Bernard, located on the river Pisuerga), named Don Raymond, and Friar Diego Velazquez, his subject Monk, who followed the Court, despite the difficulty of the enterprise, requested it from the King to defend it, which was granted, trusting in the virtue of the Abbot, and the strength of the Monk, who had previously been a great Knight in deeds of Arms, and very practiced in war».

[Avilés, J.; 1780b; treatise IV, chapter IV, page 336] continues «Seeing themselves in such an obligation, and that by themselves they could not fulfill it, they turned to Archbishop Don Juan (who was the fourth of Toledo) for help; and he, granting many indulgences in all his Archbishopric to those who, for themselves and for others, supplied the Place with provisions, in the same way as those who, unable to go due to old age or illness, helped with weapons, horses, and men; and having spread this news, so much help came to them, that when the Moors learned that the number of people exceeded twenty thousand men, they abandoned the conquest, returning to their homes: for this reason, the King ceded the Town of Calatrava to the Abbot of Fitero, and his successors, to defend it from the Moors from then on, confirmed later by King Alfonso IX, his son».

[Avilés, J.; 1780b; treatise IV, chapter IV, page 337] concludes «Having obtained this grace, Abbot Don Raymond brought the most suitable Monks from Fitero to Calatrava, and everything else that was necessary for living and for the defense of the Town and its land, which with the people inclined to war who remained, formed the Order of Chivalry of Calatrava, taking this name from the place where the institution was made, which in Arabic Calatrava means Castle».


Categories: Institution, Interpreted, Religious, Military, Illuminated, Outlined in sable, Freehand, Emblem, Cross of Calatrava, Cross couped and Cross.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Jamilena, province of Jaen

Or, a cross of Calatrava. Crest: An open royal crown Or.

Or, a cross of Calatrava. Crest: An open royal crown Or.

Escudo de oro, una cruz de Calatrava. Timbrado de una corona real abierta.

Coat of arms interpreted as follows: the shield's shape is a semicircular arch; the field is illuminated in metal Or; the cross of Calatrava is outlined in Sable and illuminated in Gules; the royal crown is open, outlined in Sable and illuminated in metal Or, pearls in Argent, gemstones in Gules and Vert, and the visible base hollow in Sable; and the entire piece has a slightly hammered metal finish.

The municipality of Jamilena belongs to the La Campiña region and is the smallest in the province of Jaén. I have depicted its coat of arms with an open royal crown, but representations with a closed royal crown can also be found.

The origin of the cross of Calatrava in its heraldic coat of arms dates back to the year 1525 when Emperor Charles V issued several decrees from Toledo to build a convent for nuns in Jamilena. For the construction of this convent, stones from the Muslim castle, which was reformed and occupied by the Order of Calatrava, were used.


Blazon keywords: Without divisions, Or, Cross of Calatrava, Cross couped, Cross, Crest, Open royal crown and Crown.

Style keywords: Semi-circular, Illuminated, Outlined in sable and Soft metal.

Classification: Interpreted, Civic and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Jamilena.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Order of Alcantara, emblem

A cross of Alcantara.

Order of Cavalry of Alcantara

A cross of Alcantara.

Una cruz de Alcántara.

Interpretation of the emblem of the order with: its cross outlined in Sable, illuminated in Vert; and a heavily beaten metal finish.

The Royal Council of the Orders of Chivalry of Santiago, Calatrava, Alcantara, and Montesa, in its historical account of the foundation of the Order of Alcantara, states that, according to Alonso de Torres y Tapia, Prior of Alcantara and a 17th-century chronicler, it was founded in 1156, by Don Suero Fernández Barrientos along with other knights from Salamanca, in Pereiro near the River Coa, under the name of the Order of Saint Julian of Pereiro and during the reign of Ferdinand II of León.

Emblem

Regarding the emblem of the Order of Cavalry of Alcantara, [Avilés, J.; 1780b; treatise IV, chapter V, page 340, figure 102], reusing the same figure 102 as for the Order of Calatrava, says «In the past, the Order of Alcantara displayed on its Standard the Gules Straps of Calatrava», remember that due to the commandery of the city of Alcantara, they had to assume some dependency on that of Calatrava, «next to a Pear tree in Vert on a field of Or, which was the insignia of the Order of Pereiro, due to the conformity with which these two Orders lived; but upon changing their Habit, the Pope» Eugene IV «granted them the green Cross», Vert, «in the manner they wear it today, differing from that of Calatrava only in color».


Blazon keywords: Cross of Alcantara, Cross couped and Cross.

Style keywords: Illuminated, Outlined in sable and Soft metal.

Classification: Interpreted, Religious, Military and Emblem.

Bearer: Alcantara, Order of.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Cavalry Regiment Alcantara, royal crown

Argent, a cross of Alcantara. Crest: A closed royal crown Or, with eight arches, visible five. Motto: «Hoec nubila tollunt obstantia sicut sol».

Disperse like the sun clears the clouds in your path.

Argent, a cross of Alcantara. Crest: A closed royal crown Or, with eight arches, visible five. Motto: «Hoec nubila tollunt obstantia sicut sol».

Escudo de plata, una cruz de Alcántara. Timbrado de una corona real cerrada. Lema: «Hoec nubila tollunt obstantia sicut sol».

Coat of arms interpreted in the following manner: the shape of the shield is of a semicircular arch; the field is illuminated in metal Argent; the cross of Alcantara is outlined in Sable and illuminated in Vert; the royal crown is closed, outlined in Sable and illuminated with the metal Or, Argent for the pearls, Azure and Or for the orb, Gules and Vert for the gems, Gules for the inner cloth, and Sable for the visible hollow at its base; and the whole has a slightly hammered metal finish.

Regiment's Motto

The Latin motto «Hoec nubila tollunt obstantia sicut sol» is often translated as «Ride like the sun, disperses the clouds in its path». I would like to offer the following observations on this translation:

  • Instead of «disperse», I prefer the verb «scatter» which is more aligned with a cavalry regiment, [Royal Spanish Academy; 2001] «scatter, 3rd meaning, transitive verb, military term: To break up, rout the enemy, causing them to flee and scatter in complete disorder».
  • On the other hand, even though it is about cavalry, I do not find that the Latin motto makes reference to riding, a verb that is also not needed to understand the motto's meaning, and adding an extra word lengthens the motto, reducing its impact.
  • Finally, I use «your», instead of «its», so that the motto is a direct and personal rallying cry and not a phrase directed at a third person.

Blazon keywords: Without divisions, Argent, Cross of Alcantara, Cross couped, Cross, Crest, Closed royal crown, Crown and Motto.

Style keywords: Semi-circular, Illuminated, Outlined in sable and Soft metal.

Classification: Interpreted, Military, Army and Navy and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Alcantara, Cavalry Regiment.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Order of Montesa, emblem

A cross of Montesa.

Order of Chivalry of Saint Mary of Montesa and Saint George of Alfama.

A cross of Montesa.

Una cruz de Montesa.

Interpretation of the emblem of the order with: its cross outlined in Sable, illuminated in Gules; and a highly hammered metal finish.

The Royal Council of the Orders of Chivalry of Santiago, Calatrava, Alcantara, and Montesa, in its historical review of the founding of the Order of Montesa, states that it was created in 1317, at the request of James II, King of Aragon, through a bull issued by Pope John XXII.

Emblem

About the emblem of the Order of Chivalry of Montesa [Avilés, J.; 1780b; treatise IV, chapter VI, page 342, figure 103], it states that «the Ensign of the Knights of Montesa is a plain red Cross», gules, «plain, which they wear on their Capitular Mantles, or hanging from a red ribbon on the chest over a gold oval; that is, on a field of gold a plain cross of gules (different from how the Masters wore it)» and, therefore, it describes the first emblem of the Order of Montesa and not the one they wear now, which is that same plain cross of gules charged on a cross like that of the Order of Calatrava or like that of the Order of Alcantara, but in Sable instead of Gules or Vert.


Blazon keywords: Cross of Montesa, Cross couped and Cross.

Style keywords: Illuminated, Outlined in sable and Soft metal.

Classification: Interpreted, Religious, Military and Emblem.

Bearer: Montesa, Order of.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Cavalry Regiment Montesa, royal crown

Argent, a cross of Montesa. Crest: A closed royal crown Or, with eight arches, visible five. Motto: «In hoc signo vinces».

In this sign, you shall conquer.

Argent, a cross of Montesa. Crest: A closed royal crown Or, with eight arches, visible five. Motto: «In hoc signo vinces».

Escudo de oro, una cruz de Montesa. Timbrado de una corona real cerrada. Lema: «In hoc signo vinces».

Coat of arms interpreted as follows: the shape of the shield is a semi-circular arch; the field has been illuminated in metal Or; the cross of Montesa is outlined in Sable and illuminated in Sable and Gules; the royal crown is closed, outlined in Sable and illuminated the metal in Or, the pearls in Argent, the orb in Azure and Or, the gemstones in Gules and Vert, the inner cloth in Gules, and the visible hollow at its base in Sable; and the whole has a slightly beaten metal finish.

Regimental Motto

The Latin motto «In hoc signo vinces» is translated as «In this sign, you shall conquer».

Globus cruciger ~ Orb

It is called orb ~ «globus cruciger», the first in Spanish and the second in Latin, referring to the part of the royal crown, a jewel, or a jewel itself that recreates the shape of the globe topped with a cross.


Blazon keywords: Without divisions, Or, Cross of Montesa, Cross couped, Cross, Crest, Closed royal crown, Crown and Motto.

Style keywords: Semi-circular, Illuminated, Outlined in sable and Soft metal.

Classification: Interpreted, Military, Army and Navy and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Montesa, Cavalry Regiment.

 

Dr. Antonio Salmerón y Cabañas,
,
Paseo de la Castellana 135, 7th floor,
28046 Madrid, Spain.