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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.
If we get into heraldry more than just for the purpose of vexillology? Certainly, maybe even for the next 104. You see, there are all the variations: Scottish vs. English vs. French vs. German, etc.
For all of us, including me.
As @exjon likes to point out, it was the National Guard rifle team’s flag.
It truly is. It seems to be dominated by people who think they should have the last word on the value of art and design. For instance, they would say that a blue flag with state seal on it is the worst, but I know that Virginians are very proud of their “Sic Semper Tyranis” flag.
Every once in a while someone will resurrect a collection of state flags redesigned according to someone’s vexillologic tastes. These designs might comply with their set of rules, but over all I find their suggestions to be comical and often really bad.
Sure, there are badly designed flags out there, but most aren’t as bad as vexollologists think they are.
I remember seeing one such set of ratings of the state flags. They had New Jersey ranked much higher than those typical coat-of-arms on blue state flags. Why? Because the field isn’t blue:
I assure you that I have no plans to rate flags or complain about them, just go into the technicalities and history of design, and the things that can cause problems.
Are you planning on going into jockey silks?
I don’t think they make them in my size.
Unless they are racing elephants.
Will you be including jockey silks as one part of the series. They are an outgrowth of heraldry.
I have no objection to doing so. I was definitely thinking about including regimental uniform differences as an example of how colors and other cues were used for recognition not only on battlefields, but in day-to-day practice.
The colors are not a problem. I think Washington assigned flag colors early on in the Revolution for the purposes of identification and unit cohesion. Buff and blue was New Jersey. I don’t think he assigned devices, though.
Perhaps they are complaining about the plethora of plain blue fields and that it means that the flag cannot be easily pegged from a distance. If, for example, hordes of people under the Virginia flag invaded your state, you might easily and perhaps regrettably nuke Minnesota in response.
In related news, the Arizona flag makes memorable boxers.
That falls under the “things that can cause problems” along with things like the Confederacy’s First National being easily mistaken for the Stars and Stripes in a low-wind situation, or the Confederacy’s Second National’s looking like a truce flag in a low-wind situation.
Ohio has the best flag.
It is certainly unique among the fifty states.
I’d only regret it if I only had the one nuke.
Pictures, people!
Pics or it i’n’t flappin’.
Part 3 is available:
http://ricochet.com/690732/vexillology-and-heraldry-series-3-parts-of-flags-and-related-terms/