In the fess point

Emblem Azure, Saint Michael Argent, vested and nimbed Or, grasping in his dexter hand a spear Or, point downward, and in his sinister hand bearing [ Gules, a chain orlewise, crosswise, and saltirewise Or, charged in the fess point with an emerald Vert, of Navarre ], upon a dragon Vert, armed, langued, fanged, and the eyes Gules.

Emblema de azur, un San Miguel de plata, vestido y nimbado de oro, teniendo en su diestra una lanza de oro, con la punta hacia abajo y en su siniestra trae [ escudo gules, una cadena puesta en orla, en cruz y en sotuer de oro, cargada en el centro de una esmeralda de sinople, de Navarra ], sostenido por un dragón de sinople, armado, lampasado, fierezado y encendido de gules.

Emblem interpreted by me as follows: an oval shape with proportions 5x6, wider than the original; the field illuminated in Azure; its charges outlined in Sable and illuminated in the colours Gules and Vert and the metals Argent and Or; the Archangel Saint Michael vested in Or, unlike others who appear in Argent; his emerald simplified into an area enameled Vert; and the whole emblem has a lightly beaten metal finish.

Due to its special characteristics, the difficulty in complying with the first rule of heraldry concerning metals and colours, and out of prudence, I categorize it as an emblem rather than a shield.

In a relief of the Church of Saint Michael the Archangel in Estella, Saint Michael can be seen fighting a dragon that represents the devil, in a similar but mirrored arrangement to that of this emblem. In that relief, the Archangel Saint Michael bears a pre-heraldic shield with its umbo. According to [Menéndez Pidal de Navascués, F.; 1963], the umbo of the shield is a reinforcing element that is the predecessor of what would later become the pommelly carbuncle of the shield of the Kingdom of Navarre.

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Blazon keywords: Without divisions, Azure, Male figure, Angel, Archangel, Argent, Vested, Nimbed, Or, Grasping, Dexter, Spear, Point downwards, Sinister, Gules, One, Chain, Orlewise, Crosswise, Saltirewise, Charged, In the fess point, Emerald, Vert, Upon, Dragon, Armed, Langued, The fangs and The eyes.

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

Classification: Interpreted, Socioeconomic, Education, Emblem and Kingdom of Navarre.

Bearer: University of Navarra.

Escudo de gules, un carbunclo cerrado, pomelado de oro; cargado en el centro de una esmeralda en forma de losange de sinople.

Original coat of arms of Navarre interpreted with: a semicircular (round) base; the field in flat Gules; the pommetty carbuncle illuminated in Or and outlined in Sable; the emerald illuminated in Vert and also outlined in Sable; and the whole finished with a raised-stroke effect.

In the armorial [Urfé; Siglo XV; indexed on folio 151, but actually written on 142] the arms of Navarre are blazoned in French as «de gueles à l'escarboucle d'or pommelée alumée de sinoble en la moyenne en guise d'esmeraude», it only gives the blazon, since this armorial is not illustrated.

An image of the original French blazon text can be seen in the article Blazon of Navarre in the Urfé armorial.

The interpretation of the arms of Navarre shown here is based on the one illustrated in the armorial [Bosque, J. del; 1540; folio 1 of the 1613 numbering], which is its main plate, with the arms of the king of Navarre surrounded by the coats of arms of the lineages and manors of his «ricoshombres», twelve lineages in total.

In [Menéndez Pidal de Navascués, F.; 1963] one can consult his view on what is, probably, the real origin of the arms of Navarre, which he bases on:

• The existence of a defensive element of the shield called the boss, placed at its center. This element already existed in classical Rome, on the shields of the legionaries and, in addition, it could serve to keep small valuables inside.
• The later reinforcement of this boss with 8 spokes, that is, 4 diameters set vertically, horizontally, bendwise and bendwise sinister, giving rise to a radiated boss to strengthen the shield.
• This radiated boss on rich shields could be very elaborate and even be adorned with gems, thus becoming an ornamental element.
• The evolution of the radiated boss from a defensive and ornamental element to the so-called carbuncle, but now as a heraldic element with a radial structure. Originally the carbuncle was a mystical stone, comparable to the ruby, that emitted an intense light capable of illuminating the knight in the darkness of night. Heraldically the name carbuncle is used to denote a scheme of radial rays and not the marvellous stone that emitted them and from which it borrows its name.
• This eight-rayed carbuncle, joined at the ends forming a closure, like an orle, and decorated with pommels, on a field Gules, and with an emerald overall at its center is what constitutes the arms of Navarre.

Regarding the importance of the radiated boss and the carbuncle, not only in the arms of Navarre but in heraldry in general, [Menéndez Pidal de Navascués, F.; 1963] goes a step further when he writes «although it has never been pointed out, it seems evident to us the influence of this piece on the classic partitions of the shield, contained in the four diametral lines that compose it». He makes us see that «cortado, partido, tronchado y tajado» and, therefore also, «cuartelado, en sotuer y jironado», do not have their origin in the different ways of striking a shield with a sword, as illustrated, for example, in [Avilés, J.; 1725a; plate 18, illustrations 23, 24, 25 and 25], but in different ways of selecting, as delimiters, the four diameters of the carbuncle.

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Blazon keywords: Without divisions, Gules, One, Carbuncle, Pommelled, Or, Charged, In the fess point, Emerald, Vert and Lozenge.

Style keywords: Freehand, Illuminated and Outlined in sable.

Classification: Interpreted, Civic and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Navarre.

Gules, a chain orlewise, crosswise, and saltirewise Or, charged in the fess point with an emerald Vert.

Escudo gules, una cadena puesta en orla, en cruz y en sotuer de oro, cargada en el centro de una esmeralda de sinople.

Coat of arms interpreted with: a semicircular (round) base; the field in flat Gules; the chains and the emerald illuminated in Or and Vert and outlined in Sable; and the whole executed with a raised-stroke finish.

This coat of arms, except for the emerald, corresponds to the blazon written in [Avilés, J.; 1780a; page 412 and figure 260] which says «Gules, a chain placed in orle, cross, and saltire Or, which some blazon differently», leaving me, as a reader, curious to know what that other way he refers to might be.

Then, [Avilés, J.; 1780a; pages 412–413] writes his version of the origin of the arms, saying that «...it was borne by Sancho VIII, called the Strong, and twenty-first King of Navarre, in the year 1212, for the battle of Las Navas de Tolosa in Sierra Morena ...given to him by the King of Castile, Don Alfonso IX, whose aid he had joined...», which we would say Alfonso VIII of Castile, «the one of Las Navas».

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Blazon keywords: Without divisions, Gules, One, Chain, Orlewise, Crosswise, Saltirewise, Or, Charged, In the fess point, Emerald and Vert.

Style keywords: Freehand, Illuminated and Outlined in sable.

Classification: Interpreted, Civic and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Navarre.

Quarterly: 1 Gules, a castle triple-towered Or, port and windows Azure, masoned Sable [for Castile]; 2 Argent, a lion rampant Purple, armed and langued Gules, crowned Or [for Leon]; 3 Or, four pallets Gules [for Aragon]; 4 Gules, a chain orlewise, crosswise, and saltirewise Or, charged in the fess point with an emerald Vert [for Navarre]; enté en point Argent, a pomegranate proper, seeded Gules, slipped and leaved Vert [for Granada]; an inescutcheon Azure, three fleurs de lis Or, 2 and 1, a bordure Gules [for Bourbon]; the whole debruised by a label of three points Azure.

Escudo cuartelado: 1^o de gules, un castillo de oro, aclarado de azur, mazonado de sable [de Castilla]; 2^o de plata, un león rampante de púrpura, lampasado y armado de gules, coronado de oro [de León]; 3^o de oro, con cuatro palos de gules [de Aragón]; 4^o de gules, una cadena puesta en orla, en cruz y en sotuer de oro, cargada en el centro de una esmeralda de sinople [de Navarra]; entado en punta de plata, una granada al natural, tajada de gules, tallada y hojada de sinople [de Granada]; un escusón de azur, tres flores de lis de oro, 2 y 1, una bordura de gules [de Borbón]; brisado de un lambel de tres pendientes de azur.

Coat of arms painted by me, highlighted with lights and shadows, outlined in Sable, with a semi-circular external shape and with a freehand finish.

This is the coat of arms of Her Royal Highness Doña Leonor Princess of Asturias, Princess of Girona, and Princess of Viana, heiress of the throne of Spain as the elder daughter of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia. This version of her coat of arms has been emblazoned by me.

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Blazon keywords: Gules, Azure, Purpure, Vert, Or, Argent, One, Three, Four, Quarterly, Castle, Triple-towered, Port and windows, Masoned, Lion, Rampant, Crowned, Pallet, Chain, Orlewise, Crosswise, Saltirewise, Charged, In the fess point, Emerald, Enté en point, Pomegranate, Proper, Slipped, Leaved, Inescutcheon, Fleur de lis, Ordered, Bordure, Cadency and Label of three points.

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

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

Bearer: Leonor Princess of Asturias.

Quarterly: 1 Gules, a castle triple-towered Or, port and windows Azure, masoned Sable [for Castile]; 2 Argent, a lion rampant Purple, armed and langued Gules, crowned Or [for Leon]; 3 Or, four pallets Gules [for Aragon]; 4 Gules, a chain orlewise, crosswise, and saltirewise Or, charged in the fess point with an emerald Vert [for Navarre]; enté en point Argent, a pomegranate proper, seeded Gules, slipped and leaved Vert [for Granada]; an inescutcheon Azure, three fleurs de lis Or, 2 and 1, a bordure Gules [for Bourbon]; and the whole debruised by a label of three points Azure. Crest: A Crown of Prince. The shield is surrounded by the Golden Fleece.

Arms emblazoned by me, highlighted with lights and shadows, outlined in Sable, with a semi-circular outer contour and with a iridescent finish.

This is my interpretation of the coat of arms of Her Royal Highness Doña Leonor Princess of Asturias (as heiress to the Crown of Castile), Princess of Girona (as heiress to the Crown of Aragon), and Princess of Viana (as heiress to the Kingdom of Navarre), with the Collar of the Distinguished Order of the Golden Fleece. Her coat of arms is that of her father, the King, charged with a label Azure and surmounted by the crown of a princess with four pearl diadems, three visible.

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Blazon keywords: Gules, Azure, Purpure, Vert, Or, Argent, One, Three, Four, Quarterly, Castle, Triple-towered, Port and windows, Masoned, Lion, Rampant, Crowned, Pallet, Chain, Orlewise, Crosswise, Saltirewise, Charged, In the fess point, Emerald, Enté en point, Pomegranate, Proper, Slipped, Leaved, Inescutcheon, Fleur de lis, Ordered, Bordure, Cadency, Label of three points, Crown of Prince, Crown, Surrounded and Collar.

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

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

Bearer: Leonor Princess of Asturias.

Juan del Bosque, «Libro de Armería del Reino de Navarra», which is currently missing and whose subsequent copy, commissioned in 1572, is kept in the Royal and General Archive of Navarre, estimated year of creation 1540.

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The origin of this armorial dates back to 1527, when the Navarrese Courts requested that the Royal Council and the Chamber of Comptos ~ Chamber of Accounts and Fiscal Control, record in a book the coats of arms of the kingdom of Navarre starting with that of the king of Navarre and the houses and lineages of the so-called «ricoshombres», Almorrabides, Guebara, Aybar, Baztanes, Urroz, Lete, Subiça, Rada, Vidaurre, Qasqante, Monteagudo, and Mauleón, also including the coats of arms of other manors, houses, valleys, towns, and nobles [Valverde Ogallar, P. B.; 2001; page 326].

According to [Martinena Ruiz, J. J.; 1982; page 35] the book was compiled around the year 1540, and this is the date I use for referencing this armorial.

This first manuscript created by Juan del Bosque was taken by the royal visitor Hernán Suárez de Toledo, under the pretext of taking it to Emperor Charles V, despite being requested back by the Navarrese Courts, it was never returned and was definitively lost. The armorial that has come down to us is a recreation commissioned in 1572 [Valverde Ogallar, P. B.; 2001; page 327].

According to [Menéndez Pidal de Navascués, F.; 1974; page 19] the recreation of this armorial was carried out based on certifications, such as those from the herald Azcárraga, and notes and partial copies of the stolen book, like the copy kept in the monastery of Leyre.

Another noteworthy bibliographic reference about this armorial, in addition to those previously mentioned, is [Martinena Ruiz, J. J.; Menéndez Pidal de Navascués, F.; 2001].

The image illustrating this bibliographic reference is the coat of arms of the king of Navarre, which I recreated based on the illustration in this armorial, on its first folio according to the numbering given to it in 1613.

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Bibliographical reference of century XVI.

Author: Bosque, Juan del.

The following articles cite this bibliographic reference:

• Almorrabides of Navarre
• Aybar of Navarre
• Baztanes of Navarre
• Guebara of Navarre
• Lete of Navarre
• Martinena Ruiz, J. J.; 1982
• Martinena Ruiz, J. J.; Menéndez Pidal de Navascués, F.; 2001
• Mauleón of Navarre
• Menéndez Pidal de Navascués, F.; 1974
• Menéndez Pidal de Navascués, F.; 1985
• Menéndez Pidal de Navascués, F.; Martínez de Aguirre, J.; 2000
• Monteagudo of Navarra
• Navarra, closed carbuncle
• Navarre
• Noblemen of Navarre
• Qasqante of Navarre
• Rada of Navarre
• Subiça of Navarre
• Urroz of Navarre
• Vidaurre of Navarre

The Heraldry Society, «Education Pack, A brief explanation of Heraldry for teachers together with explanatory sheets and templates for students», Baldock, Hertfordshire, 2013.

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This bibliographical reference is illustrated with the quartered coat of arms of The Heraldry Society.

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Bibliographical reference of century XXI.

The author is The Heraldry Society.

Bibliographic reference mentioned in the following articles:

• Balaguer, municipality of
• Chequey, chequy or checky
• Drawing the arcs of a pointed coat of arms
• Geoffrey Plantagenet
• Savoy, Duchy of

External link:

• The Heraldry Society.

Internal resources: TheHeraldrySociety2013.EducationPack.pdf.