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Quiz about Heraldry of Great Britain and the Commonwealth 1
Quiz about Heraldry of Great Britain and the Commonwealth 1

Heraldry of Great Britain and the Commonwealth 1 Quiz


This is the first quiz in an ongoing series which will look at the heraldry of Great Britain and of the Commonwealth. I hope that you enjoy it and find it informative.

A multiple-choice quiz by SisterSeagull. Estimated time: 5 mins.
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Time
5 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
338,335
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
15
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
10 / 15
Plays
857
Awards
Top 20% Quiz
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Question 1 of 15
1. When Heralds first began appearing in around the 12th century, their original and primary duty was what exactly? Hint


Question 2 of 15
2. True heraldry has been defined as "The systematic use of hereditary devices centered on the shield". The earliest known decorated shield that satisfies this definition was presented to Geoffrey of Anjou in 1127 when he was knighted by whom? Hint


Question 3 of 15
3. Simple coloured bands adorning the face of a shield are known as what? Hint


Question 4 of 15
4. The undifferenced Arms of the Scottish family 'Menzies' consists of a simple shield coloured silver with a thick red band across the top. How would a Herald describe these Arms using the correct terminology? Hint


Question 5 of 15
5. On some Arms, toward the top edge of the shield, we see the form of a riband with three ribands pendant in silver. What is the correct name given to this addition? Hint


Question 6 of 15
6. The colours, or tinctures used in heraldry consist of two metals and seven colours only. What colours are represented in the following list?

Argent, Azure, Vert, Gules
Hint


Question 7 of 15
7. What is the correct name given to the process of decorating a shield? Hint


Question 8 of 15
8. What is the name given to the upper edge and the area immediately below this edge on the shield? Hint


Question 9 of 15
9. When an individual is granted armorial bearings, the right to bear these arms is granted through which document? Hint


Question 10 of 15
10. A narrow border inset from the edge of the shield is known as what? Hint


Question 11 of 15
11. A lion depicted on a shield, standing on all four legs, looking backwards over its shoulder might be described in heraldic language as being? Hint


Question 12 of 15
12. The Most Noble Order of the Garter, which is Great Britain's premier Order of Chivalry, was founded by which English King in 1348? Hint


Question 13 of 15
13. The Arms of which nations are emblazoned on the Arms of the Dominion of Canada? Hint


Question 14 of 15
14. Which creature occupies the pre-eminent position among animals used in Heraldry? Hint


Question 15 of 15
15. The English translation of The Royal Motto reads 'God And My Right'. How does this Motto appear on the Royal Arms? Hint



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Feb 14 2024 : Guest 85: 6/15
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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. When Heralds first began appearing in around the 12th century, their original and primary duty was what exactly?

Answer: The proclamation and conduct of tournaments

Heralds first appeared in the 12th Century as Officers connected with Tournaments. Over time, this function developed into what we now often understand as the duties of the Herald. The incorrect answers above were the additional duties that had developed by around the 14th Century. To enable the Herald to perform his duty effectively, he had to be able to recognise men from the devices displayed on their shields and flags.

In the modern world, Heralds still appear at State Occasions, but their role has now taken on a more genealogical function.

Heralds were recently involved in the designing of the new Arms for Kate Middleton's family prior to her recent marriage to Prince William, now the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
2. True heraldry has been defined as "The systematic use of hereditary devices centered on the shield". The earliest known decorated shield that satisfies this definition was presented to Geoffrey of Anjou in 1127 when he was knighted by whom?

Answer: King Henry I of England

This shield was described by Geoffrey's biographer, John of Marmoutier, as a shield figured with golden lions. An enamelled plate, that was at one time, fixed on Geoffrey's tomb shows his shield as blue in colour bearing these golden lions. These later became the Arms of William Longespee, Earl of Salisbury, who was Geoffrey's grandson and an illegitimate son of King Henry II.
3. Simple coloured bands adorning the face of a shield are known as what?

Answer: Ordinaries

These coloured bands became known as 'ordinaries' on account of their usage becoming so common and, in ancient heraldry, they varied in width and depth both by design and by the whim of the artist painting them.
4. The undifferenced Arms of the Scottish family 'Menzies' consists of a simple shield coloured silver with a thick red band across the top. How would a Herald describe these Arms using the correct terminology?

Answer: Argent, a chief gules

In heraldry Silver, or Argent, is usually represented with white. The term 'undifferenced' means that we are looking at the basic shield with no further adornments. The incorrect answer 'Or, a saltire and chief gules', describes the Arms of the Scottish Bruce family, a shield in gold emblazoned with a red saltire cross and a red band at the top.
The incorrect answer 'Gyronny of eight, or and sable' describes the Arms of another Scottish family, the Campbells, a shield of gold cut vertically, horizontally and diagonally into eight sections, each section alternately coloured gold and black.
The incorrect answer 'Checky gules and argent' describes the Arms of the Irish Mooney family, a shield painted like a chessboard with each alternate square coloured red or silver.
5. On some Arms, toward the top edge of the shield, we see the form of a riband with three ribands pendant in silver. What is the correct name given to this addition?

Answer: A Label

This label is a charge or 'Mark of Cadency', used by the eldest son on his Arms during the lifetime of his father. On the succession of the eldest son, he will then adopt the Arms and Title of his father. The label will then be passed on to the eldest son of the new holder of the Title. These labels do not apply to Arms concerned with Royal Heraldry however.
6. The colours, or tinctures used in heraldry consist of two metals and seven colours only. What colours are represented in the following list? Argent, Azure, Vert, Gules

Answer: Silver, Blue, Green, Red

Within heraldry the colours silver and gold ('argent' and 'or') are represented by white and yellow respectively. The other seven colours used are blue (azure), red (gules), black (sable), green (vert), orange/tawny (tenne), blood red (sanguine) and purpley red (murrey).
7. What is the correct name given to the process of decorating a shield?

Answer: Emblazoning

Blazoning is the term used when verbally describing the arms on the shield; emblazoning is actually carrying out the process.
8. What is the name given to the upper edge and the area immediately below this edge on the shield?

Answer: The Chief

The shield is divided into a number of areas known as parts and points, with each part and point having a name. The top edge of the shield is known as the 'Chief' and the point at the bottom is known as the 'Base'. The point centrally and a third of the way up the face of the shield from the base is known as the 'Nombril or Navel Point'.
9. When an individual is granted armorial bearings, the right to bear these arms is granted through which document?

Answer: Letters Patent

Letters Patent are granted by an Officer of the Crown known as 'Kings of Arms'. It has been impossible to acquire a legal title to bear Arms through any other route than by inheritance according to the Law of Arms, or by a grant or confirmation of Arms from the authorities since 1481. To be granted the right through inheritance, the applicant must be able to prove a legitimate male descent from a person that received a grant of arms.

It would be advisable to avoid companies offering such Arms based on a surname alone as these devices are not legal Coats of Arms!
10. A narrow border inset from the edge of the shield is known as what?

Answer: A Tressure

An example of a tressure may be seen displayed on the Royal Arms of Scotland: 'Or, a lion rampant gules armed and langued azure, within a double tressure flory counter-flory gules'. The tressure is the framework that encloses the lion within.
11. A lion depicted on a shield, standing on all four legs, looking backwards over its shoulder might be described in heraldic language as being?

Answer: Statant Reguardant

We are now getting into the more complex ways of describing how charges on a shield are depicted. As a general rule, any beast (a Lion in the following examples) described as 'Rampant' will be stood erect, have one hind paw on the ground, the other three raised, the Lion looking forward with its tail also erect.

A Lion 'Statant' will be depicted standing with all four paws on the ground, looking forward and the tail curved over the back. A Lion 'Sejant Erect' will be seen seated, looking forward with the tail passing between the hind legs and its end erect with its forepaws raised.

The term 'Queue Fourche' applies to a beast that possesses a forked tail.
12. The Most Noble Order of the Garter, which is Great Britain's premier Order of Chivalry, was founded by which English King in 1348?

Answer: King Edward III

The insignia of this order consists of a garter of blue velvet and is worn below the left knee, buckled and looped, by the male members of The Order. Ladies of The Order wear the garter above the left elbow. A Collar, similar to a Mayoral Chain of Office, is made from gold and enamel and has a pendant of St. George from it.

A Star of chipped silver, gold and enamel is also present as is a pendant of gold known as 'The Lesser George'. The Star and the Lesser George are never worn with the Collar. Membership of the Order is limited to the Sovereign, the Prince of Wales and no more than 24 Knights known as Companions.
13. The Arms of which nations are emblazoned on the Arms of the Dominion of Canada?

Answer: England, Scotland, Ireland and France

The Arms of Canada are based on the Royal Arms. The shield is quartered with the Coats of England, Scotland, Ireland and France - the four nations from which Canada's population is mainly drawn - with a 'sprig of three maple leaves proper on argent in the base'.
14. Which creature occupies the pre-eminent position among animals used in Heraldry?

Answer: The lion

The lion has been used as a charge since armorial insignia first appeared and has been used by both Kings of England and Scotland. The lion also appears within the Arms of The Prince of Wales and the Kings of Norway and Denmark. Among the lesser noble families in Britain, the lion has been used within the Arms of the Bohun, FitzAlan and Lacy families.
The deer appears as a charge on the Arms of the Dogherty family, the cat appears in the Arms of the Catton family and the bear appears as the badge for the Earls of Warwick.
15. The English translation of The Royal Motto reads 'God And My Right'. How does this Motto appear on the Royal Arms?

Answer: Dieu et mon Droit

The Royal Motto is considered to have evolved from a war-cry. 'Templa quam dilecta' (How dear are the Temples) is the motto of the Temple family, 'Adhuc hic hesterna (The things of yesterday are still here) is the motto of Chichester Rural District Council and is also a play on words as the name 'Chichester' appears as a word within the motto and 'Ne vile velis' (Form no mean wish) is the motto of the Neville family.
Source: Author SisterSeagull

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor stedman before going online.
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