Editing Heraldry (section)

==National styles==
The emergence of heraldry occurred across [[western Europe]] almost simultaneously in the various countries. Originally, heraldic style was very similar from country to country.<ref>Davies, T. R. (Spring 1976). "Did National Heraldry Exist?". ''The Coat of Arms'' '''NS II''' (97): 16.</ref> Over time, heraldic tradition diverged into four broad styles: German-Nordic, Gallo-British, Latin, and Eastern.<ref>{{harvp|von Warnstedt|1970|p=128}}</ref> In addition, it can be argued that newer national heraldic traditions, such as [[South African heraldry|South African]] and [[Canadian heraldry]], have emerged in the 20th century.<ref>Alan Beddoe, revised by Strome Galloway. ''Beddoe's Canadian Heraldry''. (Mika Publishing Company, Belleville: 1981).</ref>

===Germanic heraldries===
====German-Nordic heraldry====

{{anchor|Czech heraldry|Danish heraldry|Finnish heraldry|German heraldry|German-Nordic heraldry|Icelandic heraldry|Norwegian heraldry|Liechtenstein heraldry|Swedish heraldry}}

{{Main|Czech heraldry|Danish heraldry|Finnish heraldry|German heraldry|Icelandic heraldry|Liechtenstein heraldry|Norwegian heraldry|Swedish heraldry}}

[[File:Mikkeli.vaakuna.svg|thumb|upright|The coat of arms of [[Mikkeli]], a city of [[South Savonia]], Finland, has been drawn up in honour of the headquarters of the [[Finnish Defence Forces|Finnish Army]] led by [[Marshal of Finland|Marshal]] [[C. G. E. Mannerheim]]; this was stationed in the city during the [[Winter War]], the [[Continuation War]] and the [[Lapland War]]. The coat of arms was originally used without the [[Mannerheim Cross]], and is the third coat of arms affixed to the city.<ref>{{cite book | author=Jussi Iltanen| title=Suomen kuntavaakunat. Kommunvapnen i Finland | publisher=Karttakeskus | location=Helsinki | year=2013 | isbn=978-952-266-092-3 | pages=133–134|language=fi}}</ref>]]

Coats of arms in [[Germany]], the [[Nordic countries]], [[Estonia]], [[Latvia]], the [[Czech lands]] and northern [[Switzerland]] generally change very little over time. Marks of difference are very rare in this tradition, as are heraldic furs.<ref name="Warnstedt, Christopher 1970">{{harvp|von Warnstedt|1970|p=129}}</ref> One of the most striking characteristics of German-Nordic heraldry is the treatment of the crest. Often, the same design is repeated in the shield and the crest. The use of multiple crests is also common.<ref name="OGH-15">{{harvp|Woodcock|Robinson|1988|p=15}}</ref> The crest is rarely used separately as in British heraldry, but can sometimes serve as a mark of difference between different branches of a family.<ref>{{harvp|Neubecker|1976|p=158}}</ref> [[Torse]] is optional.<ref>{{harvp|Pinches|1994|p= 82}}</ref> Heraldic courtoisie is observed: that is, charges in a composite shield (or two shields displayed together) usually turn to face the centre.<ref>{{harvp|von Volborth|1981|page=88}}</ref>

Coats consisting only of a [[Division of the field|divided field]] are somewhat more frequent in Germany than elsewhere.

====Dutch heraldry====
{{Main|Dutch heraldry|South African heraldry|Belgian heraldry}}
The [[Low Countries]] were great centres of heraldry in medieval times. One of the famous armorials is the [[Gelre Armorial]] or ''Wapenboek'', written between 1370 and 1414. Coats of arms in the [[Netherlands]] were not controlled by an official heraldic system like the two in the United Kingdom, nor were they used solely by [[Nobility|noble families]]. Any person could develop and use a coat of arms if they wished to do so, provided they did not usurp someone else's arms, and historically, this right was enshrined in [[Roman Dutch law]].<ref>{{cite book |first=J. A. |last=de Boo |title=Familiewapens, oud en nieuw. Een inleiding tot de Familieheraldiek |publisher=Centraal Bureau voor Genealogie |location=[[The Hague]] |year=1977 |language=nl |oclc= 	63382927}}</ref> As a result, many merchant families had coats of arms even though they were not members of the nobility. These are sometimes referred to as ''[[burgher arms]],'' and it is thought that most arms of this type were adopted while the Netherlands was a [[Dutch Republic|republic]] (1581–1806).{{citation needed|date=June 2012}} This heraldic tradition was also exported to the erstwhile [[South African heraldry|Dutch colonies]].<ref name="AHS">{{cite web|url = https://www.americanheraldry.org/heraldry-in-the-usa/arms-of-famous-americans/presidents-of-the-united-states/theodore-roosevelt-and-franklin-delano-roosevelt-26th-and-32nd-presidents-of-the-united-states|title = Theodore Roosevelt and Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 26th and 32nd Presidents of the United States|website = American Heraldry Society|first = Joseph |last = McMillan}}</ref> Dutch heraldry is characterised by its simple and rather sober style, and in this sense, is closer to its medieval origins than the elaborate styles which developed in other heraldic traditions.<ref name="CP">Cornelius Pama ''Heraldiek in Suid-Afrika''. (Balkema, Cape Town: 1956).</ref>

====Gallo-British heraldry====
{{anchor|American heraldry|Australian heraldry|Belgian heraldry|Canadian heraldry|Cornish heraldry|Devon heraldry|English heraldry|French heraldry|Irish heraldry|New Zealand heraldry|Northern Irish heraldry|Scottish heraldry|Welsh heraldry}}
{{Main|American heraldry|Australian heraldry|Belgian heraldry|Canadian heraldry|Cornish heraldry|Devon heraldry|English heraldry|French heraldry|Irish heraldry|New Zealand heraldry|Northern Irish heraldry|Scottish heraldry|Welsh heraldry}}
The use of cadency marks to difference arms within the same family and the use of [[semy]] fields are distinctive features of Gallo-British heraldry (in Scotland the most significant mark of cadency being the bordure, the small brisures playing a very minor role). Marks of cadency are mandatory in Scotland, where no two persons can own identical arms at a time. It is common to see heraldic furs used.<ref name="Warnstedt, Christopher 1970"/> In the United Kingdom, the style is notably still controlled by royal officers of arms.<ref>[[Carl-Alexander von Volborth]]. ''Heraldry of the World''. (Blandford Press, Dorset: 1979), 192.</ref> French heraldry experienced a period of strict rules of construction under [[Napoleon I of France|Napoleon]].<ref>{{harvp|Woodcock|Robinson|1988|p=21}}</ref> English and Scots heraldries make greater use of supporters than other European countries.<ref name="OGH-15"/>

===Latin heraldry===
{{anchor|Brazilian heraldry|Ecclesiastical heraldry|Mexican heraldry|Monegasque heraldry|Portuguese heraldry|Spanish heraldry|Vatican heraldry}}
{{Main|Brazilian heraldry|Ecclesiastical heraldry|Mexican heraldry|Monegasque heraldry|Portuguese heraldry|Spanish heraldry|Vatican heraldry}}
The heraldry of [[Romance languages|Latin]] countries, namely [[southern France]], [[Andorra]], [[Spain]], and [[Italy]], and except for northern [[France]] (using the Gallo-British style), [[Portugal]] (which does use crests), and [[Romania]] (using the Eastern European style), is characterized by a lack of crests, and uniquely shaped shields.<ref name="Warnstedt, Christopher 1970"/> Portuguese and Spanish heraldry, which together form a larger Iberian tradition of heraldry, occasionally introduce words to the shield of arms, a practice usually avoided in British heraldry. Latin heraldry is known for extensive use of quartering, because of armorial inheritance via the male and the female lines. Moreover, Italian heraldry is dominated by the Roman Catholic Church, featuring many shields and achievements, most bearing some reference to the Church.<ref>{{harvp|Woodcock|Robinson|1988|pp=24-30}}</ref>

Trees are frequent charges in Latin arms. Charged bordures, including bordures inscribed with words, are seen often in Spain.

===Eastern European heraldry===

{{anchor|Belarusian heraldry|Croatian heraldry|Hungarian heraldry|Polish heraldry|Romanian heraldry|Albanian heraldry|Russian heraldry|Serbian heraldry|Slovak heraldry}}

{{Main|Belarusian heraldry|Croatian heraldry|Hungarian heraldry|Albanian heraldry|Polish heraldry|Romanian heraldry|Russian heraldry|Serbian heraldry|Slovak heraldry}}

[[File:Turiec.jpg|thumb|upright|Coat of arms of the [[Turiec]] county in [[Slovakia]]]]

Eastern European heraldry is in the traditions developed in Eastern Europe and the Balkans, which includes all [[Slavic languages|Slavic]] countries (except for [[Czech Republic|Czechia]], which uses the German-Nordic style), [[Albania]], [[Hungary]], [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania|Lithuania]] and [[Romania]], and excludes [[Greece]], [[Cyprus]] and [[Turkey]]. Eastern coats of arms are characterized by a pronounced, territorial, [[clan]] system—often, entire villages or military groups were granted the same coat of arms irrespective of family relationships. In Poland, nearly six hundred unrelated families are known to bear the same [[Jastrzębiec coat of arms]]. Marks of cadency are almost unknown, and shields are generally very simple, with only one charge. Many heraldic shields derive from ancient [[house mark]]s. At least fifteen per cent of all Hungarian personal arms bear a severed [[Turk head (heraldry)|Turk's head]], referring to their wars against the [[Ottoman Empire]].<ref>{{harvp|von Warnstedt|1970|pp=129-30}}</ref><ref>{{harvp|Woodcock|Robinson|1988|pp=28-32}}</ref>