Triple-towered

Key Characteristics in Castilian Heraldry

Some of the main characteristics of the heraldry of Castile are:

• the rounded shapes, with a semicircle at the base,
• the importance of bordures,
• the inclusion of words and also letters in the coat of arms,
• the 2^nd most common animal, after the lion, is the wolf [Valero de Bernabé, L.; 2010], and, of course,
• our castle triple-towered Or, port and windows Azure, masoned Sable [Valero de Bernabé, L.; 2009a].

The following image shows 4 examples of coats of arms, each of which has some of these characteristics, including one Castilian castle.

Comparing Castilian and English Heraldry

In the United Kingdom, there are several heraldic traditions, one of them being English heraldry.

In the Kingdom of Spain, there are several heraldic traditions, for example, the Castilian tradition.

In my humble opinion, we should compare at the same level, English heraldry with, for example, Castilian heraldry, but not with all Spanish heraldry. We shouldn't do it for the same reason we don't mix Scottish heraldic tradition with English, as they are so different.

In the case of Castilian heraldry, the 8 main differences with English heraldry are:

• The rounded shapes, with a semicircle at the base.
• The importance of bordures and the existence of the diminished bordure, called in Castilian «filiera».
• The inclusion of words and also letters in the coats of arms.
• The wolf is the 2^nd most common animal, after the lion.
• The castle, triple-towered, which is different from the English and French types of castles.
• We can inherit arms from our mother and/or father; for example, the castle in the 1^st quarter of the coat of arms of Castile and the coat of arms of Spain comes from a mother, Queen Berenguela of Castile, mother of King Fernando III, the Saint.
• There are 3 kinds of supporters with their owns heraldic names: «tenantes», human forms; «soportes», animals; and «sostenes», plants and things.
• Our quarterings do not necessarily mean that the arms are marshalled by inheritance. [Williams, N.; 2017; page 135, paragraph 26.02] describing the arms of Éamon de Valera, 1882-1975, President of Ireland, writes «Those arms are Spanish in appearance. The quartering without functions as a means of marshalling, is distinctively Iberian».

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Categories: Criterion, Semi-circular, Bordure, Letter, Lion, Wolf, Castle, Triple-towered, Port and windows, Masoned, Or, Azure, Sable, Diminished bordure, Quarterly, Supporter (human form), Supporter, Supporter (animal) and Supporter (thing).

Party per pale: 1 Gules, in base a castle triple-towered Or, port and windows Azure, and masoned Sable; 2 Argent, in base a lion rampant Gules, crowned Or; overall a psi letter sable; a diminished bordure Or.

Coat of arms of Crepsi, military psychology, former Central Military Region, Kingdom of Spain, emblazoned by me, where I was stationed during my military service. In the image: 1988, the original mold (1) with which the first 6 coats of arms were made; one of them is now in my office (2); the design of the badge for the 1^st meeting of veterans (3), all of which were designed and made by my lieutenant colonel and friend Miguel Angel Nuñez Amador; and finally, the coat of arms of Crepsi emblazoned by me (4).

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Blazon keywords: Gules, Argent, Or, Azure, Sable, Party per pale, In base, Castle, Triple-towered, Port and windows, Masoned, Lion, Rampant, Crowned, Overall, Letter and Diminished bordure.

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

Classification: Military, Interpreted, Compare, Boa and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Crepsi.

Party per pale Azure and Gules, overall a lion rampant Argent, winged Or, grasping in his dexter forepaw a sword erect Or. Crest: Upon a helm lined Gules, its bevor charged with a Latin cross patty and pierced with a Latin cross, and with a wreath Argent and Gules, a dexter winged forepaw Or, grasping an escutcheon quarterly: 1 Azure, a god Garuda sejant Argent; 2 Gules, a castle triple-towered Or, masoned Sable; 3 Argent, six pallets Gules; 4 Azure, five plates. Mantling: Gules doubled Argent.

Arms depicted by me, in flat tinctures, outlined in Sable, displayed as rotated shield, with a semi-circular external shape and with a leather finishing.

Coat of arms of the family of Rui J. Vaz, US, designed by him and emblazoned by me.

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Blazon keywords: Azure, Gules, Argent, Or, One, Six, Five, Party per pale, Overall, Lion, Rampant, Winged, Grasping, Dexter, Forepaw, Sword, Erect, Crest and mantling, Crest, Upon (wreath), Helm, Lined, Bevor, Charged, Latin cross patty, Pierced, Latin cross, Wreath, Escutcheon, Quarterly, Garuda, Sejant, Castle, Triple-towered, Masoned, Pallet, Plate, Mantling and Doubled.

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

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

Bearer: Vaz, Rui J..

Argent, a cross Gules; a bordure compony of fifteen sections: 1, 6, and 11 Argent, a pomegranate seeded, slipped and leaved proper; 2, 7, and 12 Or, an eagle displayed Sable; 3, 8, and 13 Gules, a castle triple-towered Or, port and windows Gules, masoned Sable; 4, 9, and 14 Argent, a lion rampant Gules, crowned Or; 5, 10, and 15 Or, four pallets Gules. Crest: A closed royal crown. Motto: «Muy noble, muy leal y decidida por la libertad» Sable, with initial letters Gules, over a scroll Argent.

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

Coat of arms of the city of Almeria, Andalusia, emblazoned by me. The motto of the official coat of arms includes the text «Ciudad de Almería», which I have chosen not to include in my rendition, as it is redundant given that the city is already represented by the coat of arms itself.

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Blazon keywords: Argent, Gules, Or, Sable, Vert, One, Four, Fifteen, Cross, Bordure, Compony, Pomegranate, Slipped, Leaved, Proper, Eagle, Castle, Triple-towered, Port and windows, Masoned, Lion, Rampant, Crowned, Pallet, Closed royal crown, Crown, Motto and Scroll.

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

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

Bearer: Almeria, city of.

Party per pale: 1 Gules, a castle triple-towered Or, port and windows Azure, masoned Sable; 2 Argent. Crest: A closed royal crown Or.

Coat of arms emblazoned by me, highlighted with lights and shadows, contoured in Sable, with an ogee external shape and with a freehand finishing.

Design rationale

The coat of arms of Castilla-La Mancha was adopted in 1983, it is a recent design. This coat of arms is equal to the flag of Castilla-La Mancha officially approved in 1980 and designed by Ramón José Maldonado y Cocat. The 1^st quarter represents Castilla and the 2^nd quarter the great plane of La Mancha.

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Blazon keywords: Gules, Argent, Or, Azure, Sable, One, Party per pale, Castle, Triple-towered, Port and windows, Masoned, Crest, Closed royal crown and Crown.

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

Classification: Civic, Interpreted, Design rationale, Boa and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Castilla-La Mancha.

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.

Quarterly: 1 and 4 Gules, a castle triple-towered Or, port and windows Azure, and masoned Sable; 2 and 3 Argent, a lion rampant Purpure, armed and langued Gules; a bordure compony of sixteen sections: eight Gules, a castle triple-towered Or, port and windows Azure, and masoned Sable, eight Or, an eagle displayed Sable. Crest: An open royal crown.

Arms emblazoned by me, illuminated with lights and shadows, contoured in Sable, with an ogee external shape and with a metal beaten finish.

Coat of arms of the Infanta Berenguela of Castile, 1228–1279, 5^th daughter of the King Ferdinand III of Castile, 1199-1252, and the Queen Beatrice of Swabia, 1205–1235. The coat of arms of Infanta Berenguela of Castile, besides being beautiful, has always seemed to me the epitome of the Castilian arms: quartered, bearing Leon and Castile, and surrounded by a bordure compony with castles. This coat of arms has been emblazoned by me.

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Blazon keywords: Gules, Or, Azure, Sable, Argent, Purpure, One, Sixteen, Eight, Quarterly, Castle, Triple-towered, Port and windows, Masoned, Lion, Rampant, Armed, Langued, Bordure, Compony, Eagle, Crest, Open royal crown and Crown.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Illuminated, Ogee and Metal beaten.

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

Bearer: Berenguela of Castile, Infanta.

Azure, a chevron engrailed Or between three lozenges Argent, each charged with a fleur de lis Gules; a bordure compony of eight sections, four Vert each charged with a castle triple-towered Or, port and windows Azure, masoned Sable, and four Argent each charged with a bull's head caboshed Sable.

Escudo de azur, un cabrio angrelado de oro acompañado de tres losanges de plata, cada uno cargado de una flor de lis de gules; una bordura componada de ocho compones, cuatro de sinople, cargados cada uno de un castillo de oro, aclarado de azur, mazonado de sable, y cuatro de plata, cargados cada uno de un rencuentro de toro de sable.

Arms devised by me, illuminated with lights and shadows, contoured in Sable, with a semi-circular outer contour and with a rough finish.

This is the coat of arms of Jose Manuel Gutierrez Benitez designed by him and me and emblazoned by me.

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Blazon keywords: Azure, Or, Argent, Gules, Vert, Sable, One, Three, Four, Eight, Chevron, Engrailed, Lozenge, Fleur de lis, Bordure, Compony, Castle, Triple-towered, Port and windows, Masoned, Bull, Head and Caboshed.

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

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

Bearer: Gutiérrez Benítez, Jose Manuel.

Quarterly: 1 and 4 Gules, a castle triple-towered Or, port and windows Azure, and masoned Sable; 2 and 3 Argent, a cross flory Purpure.

Escudo cuartelado: 1^o y 4^o de gules, un castillo de oro, aclarado de azur, mazonado de sable; 2^o y 3^o de plata, una cruz flordelisada de púrpura.

Arms depicted by me, highlighted with lights and shadows, outlined in Sable, with an ogee external shape and with a freehand finishing.

Coat of arms of the Infante Henry of Castile, 1230–1303, 6^th offspring of the King Ferdinand III of Castile, 1199-1252, and the Queen Beatrice of Swabia, 1205–1235. He bore his father's arms, replacing the lion Purpure of the Kingdom of León with a cross flory Purpure, likely due to his close association with the Order of Calatrava, whose emblem is a cross flory Gules. However, he retained the metal Argent field in the 2^nd and 3^rd quarters and the lion's purple color, suggesting this was more of a conceptual change than a quartering by alliance with the Order of Calatrava.

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Blazon keywords: Gules, Or, Azure, Sable, Argent, Purpure, One, Quarterly, Castle, Triple-towered, Port and windows, Masoned, Cross flory and Cross couped.

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

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

Bearer: Henry of Castile, Infante.

In Castile, a coat of arms quarterly does not necessarily signify inheritance. This schema illustrates two practices: a) Quarterings can represent the mother in the 1^st and 4^th quarters and the father in the 2^nd and 3^rd, highlighting the prominence given to the maternal line by placing it in the most visible quarters. b) Quarterings can also include personal symbols and concepts, like canting arms, for example, «Manuel» =«mano» + «ala» = «hand» + «wing», combined with ancestral arms. This flexibility reflects Castilian heraldic traditions, where arms are not strictly marshalled by inheritance. The inclusion of maternal arms in the 1^st and 4^th quarters highlights how Castilian heraldry often elevates maternal heritage, differing from some other heraldic traditions. The previous commentary emphasizes the creative freedom in Castile, where quartering could incorporate personal symbols or canting arms without the constraints of inheritance or dominium. This flexibility aligns with Castilian culture, allowing heraldry to reflect personal identity, not just dynastic ties. Notably, the arms of Infante Enrique's use of a cross flory demonstrates this creative freedom, showcasing the ability to innovate within heraldry even in royal contexts. While this might seem unconventional compared to other heraldic systems, it is deeply rooted in Castilian tradition. All coats of arms in this schema have been emblazoned by me.

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Blazon keywords: Argent, Purpure, Gules, Or, Azure, Sable, One, Quarterly, Lion, Rampant, Armed, Langued, Castle, Triple-towered, Port and windows, Masoned, Bordure, Compony, Eagle, Cross flory, Cross couped, Party per pale, Hand, Arm, Vambraced, Embowed, Winged, Sword, Point upwards and Hilted.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Illuminated and Ogee.

Classification: Personal, Kingdom of Castile and Leon, Interpreted, Design rationale, Schema, Boa and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Manuel of Castile, Infante.

Gules, a castle triple-towered Or, masoned Sable, issuant from its port a dragon passant Vert, in chief a pelican in her piety Argent, vulned Gules.

Escudo de gules, un castillo de oro, mazonado de sable y saliendo por su puerta un dragón pasante de sinople, en jefe un pelícano desplegado de plata, la piedad de gules.

Coat of arms interpreted by me, highlighted with lights and shadows, outlined in Sable, with a semi-circular outer contour and with a freehand finishing.

Ancient arms of the lineage Lazaro of Aragon emblazoned by me.

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Blazon keywords: Gules, Or, Vert, Argent, One, Castle, Triple-towered, Masoned, Issuant (port), Dragon, Passant, In chief, Pelican in her piety and Pelican.

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

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

Bearer: Lazaro of Aragon, lineage.

Vert, on a fess Argent, between in chief a castle triple-towered Or, port and windows Gules, masoned Sable, between four mullets Argent, 2 and 2, and in base a Merino ram's head caboshed Or, between three mullets Argent, 2 and 1, two wolves passant Sable.

Escudo de sinople, una faja de plata, cargada de dos lobos pasantes de sable, acompañada en jefe de un castillo de oro, aclarado de gules, mazonado de sable, acompañado de cuatro estrellas de plata, 2 y 2, y en punta de un rencuentro de carnero merino de oro, acompañado de tres estrellas de plata, 2 y 1.

Arms devised by me, highlighted with lights and shadows, contoured in Sable, with a semi-circular outer contour and with a watercolor finishing.

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Blazon keywords: Vert, Argent, Or, Gules, Sable, One, Two, Seven, Fess, Between, In chief, Castle, Triple-towered, Port and windows, Masoned, Mullet, In base, Merino ram, Head, Caboshed, Wolf and Passant.

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

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

Bearer: Luchoro and Darryn Carlo, Roberto.

Chequey of fifteen Or and Azure; a bordure compony of sixteen sections, eight gules, a castle triple-towered Or, port and windows Azure, masoned Sable, eight Argent, a lion rampant Purpure, crowned Or, armed and langued Gules.

Escudo ajedrezado de quince piezas de oro y azur; una bordura componada de dieciséis compones, ocho de gules, un castillo de oro, aclarado de azur, mazonado de sable, ocho de plata, un león rampante de púrpura, coronado de oro, armado y lampasado de gules.

Coat of arms emblazoned by me, highlighted with lights and shadows, outlined in Sable, with a semi-circular outer contour and with a watercolor finish.

Coat of arm of the municipality of Moguer, Andalusia, emblazoned by me.

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Blazon keywords: Or, Azure, Gules, Argent, One, Fifteen, Sixteen, Eight, Chequey, Bordure, Compony, Section, Charged, Castle, Triple-towered, Port and windows, Masoned, Lion, Rampant, Crowned, Armed and Langued.

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

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

Bearer: Moguer, municipality of.

Quarterly: 1 and 4 Gules, a castle triple-towered Or, port and windows Azure, and masoned Sable; 2 and 3 Or, an eagle displayed Sable.

Escudo cuartelado: 1^o y 4^o de gules, un castillo de oro, aclarado de azur, mazonado de sable; 2^o y 3^o de oro, un águila de sable.

Arms painted by me, illuminated with lights and shadows, outlined in Sable, with an ogee external shape and with a freehand finish.

Coat of arms of the Infante Philip of Castile, 1231–1274, 7^th offspring of the King Ferdinand III of Castile, 1199-1252, and the Queen Beatrice of Swabia, 1205–1235. This coat of arms has been emblazoned by me and can be consulted in [Messía de la Cerda y Pita, L.; 1990; page 146] with the field Or in the 2^nd and 3^rd quarters. He bears a quarterly shield combining the first quarter of his father’s arms, Castile, with his mother’s arms. Among all his siblings, he is the one who most closely combines the arms of both parents.

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Blazon keywords: Gules, Or, Azure, Sable, One, Quarterly, Castle, Triple-towered, Port and windows, Masoned and Eagle.

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

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

Bearer: Philip of Castile, Infante.

Party per pale: 1 Gules, a castle triple-towered Or, port and windows Azure, and masoned Sable; 2 Argent, a lion rampant Purpure, armed and langued Gules.

Escudo partido: 1^o de gules, un castillo de oro, aclarado de azur, mazonado de sable; 2^o de plata, un león rampante de púrpura, armado y lampasado de gules.

Arms emblazoned by me, highlighted with lights and shadows, contoured in Sable, with an ogee outer contour and with a freehand finish.

Coat of arms of the Infante Sancho of Castile, 1233–1261, 8^th offspring of the King Ferdinand III of Castile, 1199-1252, and the Queen Beatrice of Swabia, 1205–1235. Unlike his siblings, he does not use a quarterly shield but rather impaled arms of Castile and Leon.

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Blazon keywords: Gules, Or, Azure, Sable, Argent, Purpure, One, Party per pale, Castle, Triple-towered, Port and windows, Masoned, Lion, Rampant, Armed and Langued.

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

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

Bearer: Sancho of Castile, Infante.

Azure, a castle triple-towered per pale Argent and Or, masoned Sable, port and windows Azure, between in chief two bars wavy Argent, in base two bars wavy Argent. Motto: «Fortificado por el Sol».

Heraldic device designed by me, illuminated with lights and shadows, contoured in Sable, with a semi-circular external shape and with a sealed finishing.

The arms of Kevin Larkin from Ireland and Spain, designed, emblazoned, and sealed by me.

Design rationale

The creation of these arms has been guided by Kevin Larkin's life journey, connecting Ballinasloe, Dublin, London, and Alicante. Drawing inspiration from the heraldry of Ballinasloe, the armiger's hometown, and Alicante, his current residence, the design reflects significant elements from both places. Ballinasloe's arms feature a triple-towered castle, symbolizing the O Ceallaigh's historic stronghold and the area's legal traditions. Similarly, Alicante's arms prominently display a triple-towered castle, making it a natural unifying element for the design. The wavy lines represent the River Suck and River Shannon in Ireland above, and the Mediterranean Sea below. Adopting a traditional Spanish style for the arms aligns with Mr. Larkin's life in Spain, embracing its rich heraldic heritage and distinctive artistic symbolism.

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Blazon keywords: Azure, Argent, Or, One, Two, Castle, Triple-towered, Party per pale, Masoned, Port and windows, Between, In chief, Bar, Wavy, In base and Motto.

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

Classification: Personal, Created, Design rationale, Boa, Sealed arms and Heraldic document.

Bearer: Larkin, Kevin.