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Heraldry and Vexillology Series #1: Introduction
A few months back, one of our Ricochet conversations veered off into an abstruse subject. Now, I know what you’re thinking: “Only one? Well, which one are you thinking of?” Truth to tell, I couldn’t point to the conversation at the moment, but what I do know is that it involved a flag. And the subject that started to be discussed was vexillology. “What is vexillology?” you may or may not be asking.1 The short version is it’s the study of flags, looking at the colors, the symbols, the history, and how the flags are used. Those in the conversation suggested it might be nice to have a series on the subject.
Vexillology is either a branch of heraldry or an overlapping field, depending on whether the person being asked is a herald or vexillologist. It’s difficult to talk about vexillology without also at least dabbling our toes into the deep waters of heraldry, and specifically into the sub-branch of heraldry known as armory. Armory is the part dealing with coats-of-arms and the full heraldic achievement.
There are a number of ways to approach the subject. My inclination would be to start in this order taking the subject of vexillology first:
- Types of flags
- Parts of flags
- Common symbols and designs
- Specific examples (good and bad) and what makes for good flag design. (This could be multiple installments.)
What do you all think? Are there particular questions about flags or flag design that you have? Are there other topics you would like covered in such a series?
I expect that Percival will be chipping in his seven cents worth.2 If anyone else also has experience in the topic of vexillology or heraldry, I am sure all who read this will welcome your contributions within the conversations, as well.
- On most social media sites I know of, if people were not asking, it’s because they are incurious. On Ricochet, I suspect plenty of people are not asking because they already know the answer. Feel free to add your knowledge to any of these posts.
- Let’s face it, if we’re going to discuss a topic related to heraldry, we’d better invite in the guy who wears the tin pajamas, or he’ll be busting down the door with a battle ax.
@percival, I forgot to go back and replace that with a call out, so here it is for you.
Sounds like fun. A piece of trivia I learned from living in Ohio for a few years. Ohio is the only state without a state flag. It is a pennant.
Nepal’s flag design is laid out in their constitution.
Catholic priests choose a coat of arms when raised to bishop by the pope.
Here is Bishop Robert Barron explaining his.
And here is an explication of the coat of arms for my own bishop, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo.
Not quite true. It is a flag, just a non-rectangular one, referred to as a burgee.
The worst state flags are the ones with the state seal on a solid (typically blue) background. Yes, I am looking at you, my birth state of Michigan. Now my now home state of Texas has a flag to be proud of.
As a joke decided to design a family crest.
Blue and Yellow for our Ukrainian heritage
The Bear for our family name.
The motto because it fits most of us to a T.
Opps. Forgot
“Rest And Digest”
I find the subject of vexillology very vexing.
I know almost nothing about this subject, so this will be great fun!
A family crest is a great idea @kozak – may need to consider that one.
Thanks for the correction. The piece of trivia I read years ago called it a pennant.
The fess chequey of argent and azure is a charge on the coat of arms of one of my family branches, although their primary field color is not green.
Oh, we’re coming in, but axes take too long.
Flags, or something serving as a standard such as the Roman aquilae, predate heraldry. The initial Roman standard seems to have been a bundle of straw or hay surmounted on a spear. Heraldry seems to have arisen during the reign of Charlemagne, mainly to answer the vital battlefield question “just who the hell is that?” Flags, banners, and pennants were carried to make one’s position more clear for the purposes of rallying one’s own supporters. The flags, banners, etc. usually depicted the part of the coat-of-arms known as the field — the shield in other words.
Some states (yeah, I’m looking at you, New York and New Jersey) just slapped the entire state coat-of-arms on a flag and called it done.
Wouldn’t know about that.
Or one could just use the great seal of the state.
Well the Texas, Ohio, Tennessee, Arkansas, Maryland. and New Mexico regiments will know where they are supposed to rally.
The Kansas, Idaho, Kentucky, Montana, Michigan, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, and a few others? Not so much.
Illinois’ flag is just plain squirrelly. They need to start over. Maybe work in an image of a guy with his pockets pulled out.
Wait, is that one ours?
Actually, that was the problem with the First National Flag of the Confederacy, sometimes known as the Stars and Bars:
Especially were there no wind, it was difficult to distinguish from the Yankee flag.
I’m in the same boat as you. I was born in Kansas and am now living in New Mexico (69 out of 72 and 1 of 72, respectively, in a 2001 poll of state and provincial flags).
Every time I see the Arizona flag, I think what is that, Vietnam?
The Arizona state flag was adopted in 1917. Vietnam did not even have a flag until after WWII.
Chicago’s unofficial logo.
“Where’s Mine?”
And this one’s got the advantage of having a great picture of Sasquatch.
I guess I should have shaven before posing for the portrait.
Somewhat Sheldonic a topic, no?
Fun with Flags.
So I am told.
Hmm. I didn’t get a nudge to see new comments for some reason.
Never Mind….
Illinois’ flag makes perfect sense to me. Chicago (as represented by the wheezing eagle) farts on our founding (as represented by Plymouth Rock) while making off with America and breaking the peace.
I should mention that I will have the next installment next Thursday.
For the next 52 weeks, right?
Plenty of time for SnarkPrep!