Editing Heraldry (section)

====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.