- ARMORIAL BANNER
- 1) In heraldry see ‘banner of arms’.
- 2) A term that may also be used when the banner concerned contains all or some of the elements
from a coat of arms, but where that flag and those arms differ in their layout, and/or in the
detail/quantity of any such charges – but see ‘armorial flag 2)’
(also ‘coat of arms 2)’.
![[Aleksandrów Kujawski]](../images/v/vxt-d015.gif)
![[Aleksandrów Kujawski]](../images/v/vxt-d015a.gif)
![[Černotín]](../images/v/vxt-d1985b.gif)
![[Černotín]](../images/v/vxt-d1985a.gif)
Armorial Banner and Arms of Aleksandrów Kujawski Rural District according to def 1), Poland (fotw);
Flag and Arms of Černotín, Czechia according
to def 2) (fotw)
Please note that the extension of this term, as given in definition 2), has been introduced by the
Editors as no established alternative could be found.
- ARMORIAL BEARINGS
- The heraldic term for all the armorial insignia to which an individual or family, a corporate
institution such as a nation, province or municipality, or a commercial
enterprise are entitled – an achievement of arms or complete (armorial)
achievement or establishment of arms –
but see note below for further details (also ‘greater arms’ and
‘state arms 2)’ under ‘arms’,
‘blazon’,
‘coat of arms 1’),
‘quarters’,
‘quartering’ and
‘quarterly’).
Armorial Bearings, UK (Graham Bartram);
Flag of Nottingham, UK (fotw); Armorial Bearings of The Bahamas (fotw)
Please note, however, that (as is shown above) a full set of
armorial bearings can include (for
example) shield, supporters, helmet, torse, crest, collar, mantling, compartment,
motto etc., and whilst many of the terms used are illustrated in
Appendix IV and/or briefly defined herein,
it is suggested that a suitable glossary or heraldic dictionary
be consulted for full details.
- ARMORIAL ENSIGN
- 1) The term that is used to describe a historical naval ensign which displays a full set of
armorial bearings, usually (but not invariably) against a plain field (see also
‘armorial bearings’,
‘armorial flag 1)’,
‘armorial flag 2’ and
‘naval ensign’ under
‘ensign’
2) A newly extended term that is intended to cover a British or British-style ensign
(or a canton flag) whose fly is defaced with a set of armorial bearings or the escutcheon therefrom
(see also
‘armorial bearings’,
‘blue ensign’,
‘canton flag’,
‘escutcheon’,
‘government ensign’ under
‘ensign’ and
‘red ensign’).
State and War Ensign, Spain 1701-1759 (fotw);
Flag of British Antarctic Territories (fotw);
War Ensign of Fiji (fotw)
- ARMORIAL FLAG
- 1) Generically, a term that covers any flag showing all or part of an entity’s armorial
bearings against a field of any description (see also
‘armorial bearings’, ‘banner of arms’ and
‘coat of arms 2)’).
- 2) Specifically, a term that may also cover any flag whose main charge is a set of armorial
bearings or a part thereof, and which is set against either livery colours or a plain
field – but see ‘armorial banner 2)’
and ‘ensign-banner’ (also
‘banner of arms’,
‘charge 2)’,
‘livery colours’,
‘plain 2)’
and ‘seal flag’).
![[New Jersey]](../images/v/vxt-d4446.gif)
![[New Jersey]](../images/v/vxt-d4446a.gif)
![[Białogard Rural District]](../images/v/vxt-d1987.gif)
Flag and Arms of New Jersey, USA (fotw); Flag of Białogard Rural District,
Poland (fotw)
Please note that this term has been introduced by the
Editors since no established alternative could be found.
- ARMORIAL SAIL
- A term for the largely (but not entirely) obsolete practice of having all or a part of a coat
of arms displayed on a vessel’s sail (see also
‘armorial bearings’,
‘coat of arms’
and ‘flag sail’).
NCO Naval School, Colombia (fotw)
- ARMOURED
- 1) In vexillology a term that may be used when a human figure, or any part thereof, is clad in armour
- but see below.
2) In
heraldry
see ‘harnysed’ and
‘vambraced’.
Flag of Menziken, Switzerland (fotw);
National Arms of Lithuania (fotw);
Flag of Riva San Vitale, Switzerland (fotw)
- ARMS
- See ‘armorial bearings’,
‘coat of arms’ and
‘shield’ , together with
‘greater arms’,
‘lesser arms’,
‘middle arms’ and
‘state arms’ below
(also ‘civic arms’ and
‘flag arms’).
- Greater Arms
- In largely northern European usage, an official description for the full set of armorial
bearings of a nation or province – big arms or big coat of arms – but see
‘middle arms’,
‘lesser arms’ and
‘state arms 2)’
(also ‘armorial bearings’,
‘coat of arms 1)’
and ‘coat of arms 2)’).
Greater Arms of Sweden and of Hamburg, Germany (fotw)
- Lesser Arms
- In largely northern European usage, the most simplified form in which the set of armorial
bearings of a nation or province may be officially shown – small arms or small coat of arms – but see
‘greater arms’,
‘middle arms’ and
‘state arms 1)’
(also ‘armorial bearings’,
‘coat of arms 1)’
and ‘coat of arms 2)’)
Lesser Arms of Czechia and Hamburg,
Germany (fotw)
- Middle Arms
- In largely northern European usage, a simplified form in which the set of armorial bearings
of a nation or province may be officially shown – but see
‘greater arms’,
‘lesser arms’ and
‘state arms 1)’
(also ‘armorial bearings’,
‘coat of arms 1)’
and ‘coat of arms 2)’)
Middle Arms of Bremen
and of Hamburg, Germany (fotw)
- State Arms (or Coat of Arms)
- 1) Generically any coat of arms or emblem that is considered representative of a nation or of
a nation state – the national arms (see also
‘lesser arms’ and
‘middle arms’,
‘coat of arms 1)’
and ‘coat of arms 2)’,
‘emblem, state or national’
and ‘sash 1)’).
- 2) Specifically the establishment of arms that officially represents a nation state, as opposed
to any part (or parts) therefrom, or those of the relevant head of state or of any variation which
may appear on a flag (see also
‘establishment of arms’,
‘flag arms’,
‘greater arms’,
‘imperial arms’,
‘presidential arms’ and
‘royal arms’).
- 3) The term may also be used to describe the arms of a sub-national division within a
nation when any such division is called a “state”, however,
the phrase “arms of the state of” is more precise and to be preferred (see also ‘flag
of the state of ’).
State/National Arms of Ecuador and Arms of the State of
New Jersey, US (fotw)
- ARMY ENSIGN
- In British Army usage and some others, the term for an ensign (different from the branch of service
flag) that is flown at sea by vessels manned by military (as opposed to naval) personnel (see also
‘branch of service flag’ and
‘government ensign’ under
‘ensign’).
Army Ensign, UK (fotw);
Ensign (in abeyance) of an Army Vessel Commanded by a Commissioned Officer (fotw);
Army Ensign, Malawi (fotw)
- ARMY FLAG
- See ‘branch of service flag’
(also ‘armed services flag’).
Army Flag, Canada (fotw);
Army Flag, Georgia (fotw);
Army Flag, Kenya (fotw)
- ARRONDISSEMENT FLAGS/PENNANTS
- See ‘registration flags’.
Arrondissement Flag and Pennant, Department of Lorient, France (fotw)
- ARROW CROSS
- A reputedly early Medieval symbol in the form of four connected arrowheads, that
became (1940 - 1945) the emblem of the Hungarian Nazi Party (the Nyilaskeresztes Párt) and occasionally used elsewhere –
a cross barbed – see ‘swastika’
(also ‘rogacina’ and
‘sun cross’).
Flags of the Nyilaskeresztes Párt, Hungary 1940-1945; Former Flag of the
Falange Venezolana, Venezuela (fotw)
