Dragons in Heraldry (1)

Introduction

Heraldry began as a way to identify armored knights. Like fingerprints, each shield design was unique to that knight. Eventually, heraldry became a symbol of family identify. Every coat of arms handed down through each generation told the story of that family’s deeds and attributes.

To that end, heraldry developed a complex language of symbols, colors, and placement to convey specific meanings. The colors were red (fortitude), blue (loyalty), black (constancy), green (joy), and purple (sovereignty). Gold and silver were the metals symbolizing generosity and peace respectively. The two decorative patterns were ermine (purity) fur and squirrel (resourcefulness). Furthermore, the shield was divided from top to bottom – chief, fess, and base; and from right to left – dexter, pale, and sinister. Placement of symbols on the shield determined the bearer’s status.

Stances of Dragons on a Shield
Depending on what the animal is doing, every position of the animal on the shield has a specific term. There are some sixty different positions depending on the animal’s attitude (posture).

Statant: standing erect, all feet on the ground.
Guardant: statant with dragon facing out.
Reguardant: statant with dragon facing away.

Passant: standing erect, one foot off the ground.
Salient: standing erect, two feet off the ground.

Rampant: standing erect, with only one foot on the ground.
Guardant: rampant with dragon facing out.
Reguardant: rampant with dragon facing away.

Combatant: rampant face to face.
Addosse: rampant back to back.
Couchant: Lying down, with head raised.
Dormant: Lying down with head down.
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Copyright: Virginia Carper, Animal Teachers, 2009