Women in heraldry

The woman was a coat of arms in heraldry reserved especially for ladies form to lead a coat of arms.

The preferred shield shape is called Ladies shield in heraldry. This shield shape has never been used for battle or in a tournament. Was Preferably, the diamond shape in the English and French heraldry. The diamond shape can also be ornamental expire in eight corners. The German heraldry has not settled on a form, but women took in the early days of heraldry an oval - pointed plate the model, as did the clergy. All plate shapes of women's shield took its origin in the Sigillography.

Woman coat of arms can be traced to the 12th century. Either the women led the paternal coat of arms or of the husband. Also, the association of coat of arms of the father with the mother's was in use. Single women led emblem rare. Exceptions were asked for higher ladies. From the 16th century, single women live a coat of arms.

In the UK, a bound loop over the shield indicates an unmarried woman. However, this loop is not necessarily present, because the arms can also be seen to without, whether the woman is married or not. Is she married, the loop falls off and the shield is " split " by a vertical line. The front half is reserved for the coat of arms of the husband.

Also you can lean two shields together, to arms of alliance. In each plate, a spouse has brought along his own coat of arms in the marriage. Here then rejects the arms of the woman against the father of the spouse. In the German-speaking areas, rare in other countries, both corresponding helmets are represented with helmet Gracing the arms of the woman.

The love ropes with love knot underline the partner togetherness.

The remarriage of women often leads to a three- number of coats of arms. In this case, the right rejects the label of the new partner, the center is the coat of arms of the woman 's father and left of the deceased spouse.