Dragons in Heraldry (3)

The Red Dragon of Wales

One of the most well-know dragons of heraldry is the Red Dragon of Wales, now the official flag of Wales. In the Fifth Century, this dragon was used by the Welsh kings of Aberffraw to assert their authority. By the Seventh Century, it became known as the Red Dragon of Cadwallander, after Cadwaladr ap Cadwallon, a famous king of Wales. In the 1500s, the Tudors, who claimed ancestry from Cadwallander, adopted it as their family coat of arms. Henry Tudor, now Henry VII, had the English Royal Navy flying the Red Dragon on a field of white and green (Tudor colors). In 1901, the Red Dragon became the official symbol of Wales.
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Note: Squirrel fur was referred to as vair.

Works Citied:
____., “Circle of the Dragon”, Kylie McCormick, 2009, 6 June 2009, < http://www.blackdrago.com/index.html>.
Fradon, Dana, “Harold, the Herald”, Dutton Children’s Books, U.S., 1990.
Slater, Stephen, “The Complete Book of Heraldry”, Lorenz Books, London, 2002.
____, Somewhere in Tyme, 2009, 10 June 2009, < http://bdweb9271a.bluedomino.com/index.html>.
____, “The Welsh Flag”, BBC, 2009, 11 June 2009,
< http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/history/sites/themes/flag.shtml >.

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Copyright: Virginia Carper, Animal Teachers, 2009

Dragons in Heraldry (2)

Beasts were common in heraldry, with dragons occurring as often as birds. Considered to be valiant, dragons symbolized “fierce protectors of the family.” Also, they often meant “the guardians of treasure”. Some other meanings for dragons were “fierce warrior” and “overcoming one’s enemies”.
Several types of dragons were used on shields. The most common in England was the wyvern. For the English, four-legged dragons were a later development, adopted in the 15 Century. Meanwhile, in the rest of Europe, people interchanged the two types of dragons, using the same meaning for both.

Amphiptere: This dragon was a winged serpent with no legs. The most common meaning for the amphiptere was “the protection of the family name”. In some cases, it also meant “swift justice”.

Amphisbaena: These dragons were winged with two legs, and a head at each end of their bodies. They struck at their enemies with swiftness and cunning. Some knights carried them on their shields to tell everyone how cunning they were.

Cockatrice: This dragon was a wyvern with a rooster’s head. Known for their deadly stare, a cockatrice could only be defeated by a weasel (ermine). This dragon was a terror to all who saw them. A cockatrice on a knight’s shield was a statement that he was a deadly killer.

Hydra: This was the many headed dragon, defeated by Hercules. Rare in heraldry, a hydra usually meant that this was a family who defeated many enemies. For an individual, it also meant “the conquest of a very powerful foe”.

Wyvern: These dragons had two legs, bat wings, scaly bodies, and a spiked tail. Wyverns were thought to have keen eyesight, and hence were keen defenders. They often represented valor and guardianship. Because of those characteristics, wyverns were popular in heraldry.

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Copyright: Virginia Carper, Animal Teachers, 2009

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