Heraldry has been called the "shorthand of history" and with its own specific rules, symbols and shields in use for over eight hundred years, it is still of value today. Heraldry was first used as identification method in battle, but spread to other spheres of society. Heraldry was always part of the military and is still more visible in use by the military than other parts of society. It is these rules, terminology, and symbolism that influenced the choice of topic to understand the meaning of the emblems. Heraldry is a science that studies the rules and terminology of armorial bearings, as well as the colourful and artistic emblems of individuals, families, communities or nations. In ancient times man used symbols to distinguish and to identify with his world view. Ancient man's symbolic illustrative or carved signs evolved from totems being used as emblems of identification with clan members, to flags, badges and shields used in the army and logos used as trademarks. It grew into a science of heraldry with hereditary and regulating rules and systems. Symbols can mean different things to different people, the construction and reconstruction of meaning rely on the different cultural contexts in which it is used. It is these cultural contexts and the cohesion between them that will unveil the deeper meaning and worth of heraldic emblems. The study aims at compiling a catalogue of South African Army military units by presenting the emblems of the different units to understand the significance of the emblem for its users. To achieve this an exploratory and descriptive investigation on heraldry and South African military heraldry was done, defining esprit de corps, symbolism, identity, traditions, indigenous elements and totemism. The study focuses on the period 1994 to 2014 to give a snapshot of emblems in use during this period. It was mostly the emblems of higher headquarters that changed. The colours of the old flag of orange, white and blue changed to green, gold or yellow, red, blue, black and white. In spite of changes, the unit emblem still forged a strong bond of identity amongst members. / Mini Dissertation (MHCS)--University of Pretoria, 2017. / Historical and Heritage Studies / MHCS / Unrestricted

The Order of the Seraphim is Sweden's foremost order of chivalry and is conferred upon members of the Swedish Royal House, foreign heads of state or individuals of equal merits. Each new knight of the order is expected to submit a proposal for a heraldic coat of arms, a Seraphim Coat of Arms, which is then painted. Heraldry has traditional and often strict rules, and the sole function of a coat of arms is to identify its owner. However, this does not prevent a coat of arms from conveying idea-content, such as specific messages and identities. This essay is a qualitative analysis of the Seraphim Coats of Arms of Finnish and Icelandic presidents, where the aim is to analyze symbols and idea-content, heraldic style as well as style development and national differences. The investigation analyzes the Seraphim Coats of Arms of eight Finnish presidents and five Icelandic presidents between the years 1925 and 2018. The essay employs semiotics as its theoretical framework and iconographic and iconological analysis as method. The results show that the weapons not only identify their owner, but also convey messages and identity – idea-content that can be intentional, but not always obvious. Symbols, idea-content and heraldic style vary. The majority represent the office of president and national symbols, such as the flag or coat of arms of the country. The Seraphim Coats of Arms of the Finnish presidents, with few exceptions, follow the strict tradition of heraldry and are generally archaically simple in their design. Among Finnish presidents, for example, policies and statements are more frequent, where the image of the president as a unifying figure is conveyed in the coats of arms. The coats of arms of the Icelandic presidents are more varied in both idea-content and style. In both countries there are examples of canting arms, arms that represent the bearer's name. The coats of arms of the Finnish and Icelandic heads of state represent a distinct heraldic time frame. The Finnish arms cover a period of just under a century, the Icelandic somewhat shorter. Together they form a unique insight into Nordic heraldry for almost 100 years.

Le 25 octobre 1415, avec la disparition des derniers représentants du groupe par filiation directe, s’éteignait au combat le lignage de Craon dont la renommée et la fortune avaient été acquises, entre autres, sur les champs de bataille. Notre travail s’inscrit dans une perspective chronologique : la genèse du lignage des Craon au XIe siècle puis son fonctionnement jusqu’à sa disparition à Azincourt. À partir de l’étude sur la famille de Craon, nous proposons une réflexion sur le concept lignager. Pouvons-nous d’ailleurs parler sans nuance de lignage ? Le lignage du XIIe siècle ne ressemble pas à celui des siècles suivants : il s’agit d’une structure de parenté complexe recouvrant des réalités multiples. Si la nécessité d’une terminologie commune nous apparaît évidente, il convient cependant de rester prudent sur l’usage de « lignage ». Son emploi abusif en a appauvri le sens à tel point que nous avons l’impression que ce terme pose aujourd’hui un problème sémantique : peut-on opposer systématiquement deux structures de parenté – « carolingienne » et lignagère ? Le corpus documentaire des Craon nous met dans une position inconfortable puisqu’il nous oriente sur une structure de parenté particulière : le lignage. L’enjeu de ce travail consiste donc à formuler un questionnement sur le lignage à travers une documentation partielle et orientée qui en postule l'existence. L’emploi de ce terme ne nous offre qu’une vision simpliste de la parenté et ne prend pas assez en compte d’autres formes qui coexistent au même moment : sur une structure patrilinéaire de transmission des biens et des pouvoirs se plaque un système de filiation indifférenciée. Le monument funéraire des Craon, dans la chapelle des Cordeliers à Angers, réalisé par Maurice V de Craon à la fin du XIIIe siècle, est un document essentiel : il illustre une conception de la famille telle qu’elle se manifeste dans les actes de la pratique accordant une place essentielle aux alliances, au moins autant qu’à la filiation et dans laquelle la notion de lignage est difficile à cerner. Or, une telle représentation peut coexister avec d’autres, répondant à d’autres besoins et véhiculant d’autres messages : le lignage n’oblitère pas d’autres formes de parenté. Notre travail nous invite à remettre en cause les schémas modèles et à voir la parenté comme une intrication de systèmes diversement opératoires, par effet de sources ou selon le contexte, soumis au poids des normes canoniques omniprésentes à l’époque. / On October 25th 1415, the last direct descendents of the Craon lineage, founded in the 11th Century by Robert of Burgundy, died on the battlefield. A great part of their renown and fortune had been acquired through their feats of arms. Hence the chronologically-based approach of our work: from the genesis of this lineage, we probe into the way they lived and evolved, until they vanished in Agincourt. The study of the Craon family leads us to consider the concept of lineage. The term itself seems impossible to handle without bringing out various shades of its meaning. Lineage is a complex, multifaceted parental structure, and our work intends to mirror these intricacies and evolving features. Indeed, the lineage in the 12th Century is very different from that of the previous centuries. Although it seems essential to use a term common to all History researchers, we believe the word “lineage” needs to be qualified: a great part of its meaning has been sucked out from the lexeme itself by an abusive usage, so much so that we are now faced with a semantic issue: can we consistently oppose these two parental structures – caroligian pattern and lineage? The corpus of documents relevant to the Craons seems to be pointing to lineage, which places us in a puzzling situation. The aim of our work is thus to raise questions about lineage, relying on incomplete documentation. But we should bear in mind that the term lineage allows only an oversimplified approach to kinship, which does not take into account other forms of patterns coexisting at the same moment: indeed, a system of undifferenciated filiation is superimposing itself over a patrilinear structure of the transmission of wealth. The Craons’ funerary monument, in the chapel of the Cordeliers in Angers, and built by Maurice V of Craon at the end of the 13th Century, is an essential document: it reveals a conception of the family which takes into consideration filiation as much as alliances, therefore blurring the outlines of the notion of lineage. However, this representation can stand side by side with others, fulfilling other needs and conveying other messages: lineage does not annihilate other forms of kinship. Henceforth, our work leads us to put into question the traditional patterns and to view kinship as an intricacy of systems with various levels of functioning, and following the constraining and yet unabiding canonic norms of the time.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-15T19:42:31Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Monica Borja Bonilha Moraes.pdf: 4604319 bytes, checksum: ebc61e4ac78ad03ad83d910a405d5174 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-08-19 / Instituto Presbiteriano Mackenzie / This research presents a study of identity through a reflexion towards coats of arms and brands of important higher learning institutions in Europe, North America and Brazil, their stories and cultures using the semiotic theory as the field of science.The methodology used is hybrid because it reconciles a research model that contemplates the biographic review and comprehends an investment in the field of visibility - characteristic of the visual semiotic in its structuring nature - thus prioritizing attention to identity codes that unveil the various symbols present in the coats of arms and brands of the universities, objects of this research. Its interdisciplinary dimension is present in its convergence between the methodology of a visual study and the cultural sphere that frames this look for the universities. Its objective is to accomplish an analysis of large university brands and through a structured study of its many forms of presentation, verify how these institutions establish communication with society through the symbols and in what way they have evidenced their brands throughout the years thus contributing with own their traditions, beliefs and behavior. The significant alterations to the shapes of the coats of arms and brands are highlighted in this research that dialogs with with the period's communication comprehended by the XX and XXI centuries and their distinct subjects. The results show that the brands transmit the regional and institutional culture and are in constant change. Minimal alterations in their visual identities give signs of the university's evolution and the history of their conquests and conflicts. Some brands present a strong tendency to advance to contemporary society's imagery, bringing to the brands languages that incorporate new production technologies and placement of images to accompany the continually updated visual codes while others remains with coats of arms that date back to the XIX century and continue to use the heraldry for the maintenance of institutional values determined since its origins. / Esta pesquisa apresenta um estudo de identidade visual através de uma reflexão voltada aos brasões e marcas de importantes Instituições de Ensino Superior europeias, norte americanas e brasileiras, suas histórias e culturas tendo como campo de ciência o estudo da teoria semiótica. A metodologia utilizada é híbrida justamente porque concilia um modelo de pesquisa que contempla a revisão bibliográfica e compreende um investimento no campo da visualidade própria da semiótica visual, em sua natureza estruturante priorizando, assim, atenção aos códigos identitários que desvelam os feixes simbólicos presentes nos brasões e marcas das universidades, objetos desta pesquisa. Sua dimensão interdisciplinar se dá na convergência entre a metodologia própria de um estudo visual e a esfera cultural que emoldura este olhar para as universidades. Seu objetivo é o de realizar uma análise das grandes marcas universitárias e por meio de um estudo estruturante de suas diversificadas formas de se apresentar, verificar como essas instituições estabelecem comunicação com a sociedade através de símbolos e de que maneira vem evidenciando suas marcas ao longo dos anos contribuindo assim com suas tradições crenças e costumes. As significativas alterações nas formas de seus brasões e marcas são realçadas nesta pesquisa que dialoga com as comunicações no periodo compreendio pelos séculos XX e XXI e seus distintos sujeitos. O resultado aponta que as marcas transmitem a cultura regional e instituicional e estão em constante mudança. As alterações mínimas em suas identidades visuais dão sinais das evoluções das universidades e as histórias de suas conquistas ou conflitos. Algumas marcas apresentam a forte tendência de avançar para a sociedade imagética contemporâena, trazendo para si linguagens que incorporam novas tecnologias de produção e veiculação de imagens para acompanhar os códigos visuais continuamente atualizados enquanto outras permanecem com brasões datados desde o século XIX e continuam a usar da heráldica para manutenção de valores institucionais determinados desde as suas origens.

Aim of this diploma thesis is both a comparison of three manuscripts which are copies of paintings of coats of arms of officials of the Land Court, which decorate spaces at Prague Castle, where Land Court met. Furthermore identification of the individual persons and coats of arms and their perception in the context of self-presentation of the nobility of Early Modern and finally prosopography of officials whose coats of arms are shown in the manuscripts.

Markéta Hrdličková, Ennoblement and it's process in Czech lands during the reign of emperor Leopold I., based on acts of Bohemian Court Chancellery Abstract This thesis is based on the research of files of Bohemian Court Chancellery during the reign of emperor Leopold I. (1657-1705). It resolves about the emperor Leopold and the events and affairs of his time, and those which preceded it and had a significant influence on the reasonings mentioned in the files and acts of ennoblement. It also contains chapters about nobility of the Lands of the Bohemian Crown, the process of ennoblements and its files. Addendum contains a list of ennoblement acts in alphabetical order regarding both persons and families.

Text in Afrikaans / This research describes the coats of arms and emblems of hospitals and nursing colleges in the Republic of South Africa, an aspect of nursing's heritage and history have not yet been described. Data were collected by means of questionnaires. An extensive literature review on heraldics and an analysis of the meanings contained in the symbols appearing on these devices were done. The analysis resulted in the following; the uniqueness of the individual devices, the development of nursing and nursing education, the influence of values, norms, ideals, culture, religion and history on the selection of symbols. The heraldic meanings of symbols and the meanings indicated in the questionnaires were compared with the identified core concepts for nursing. The overall finding was that any congruence was purely circumstantial. / Hierdie navorsing beskryf die wapens en embleme van hospitale en verpleegkolleges in die Republiek van Suid-Afrika, 'n aspek van die erfenis en geskiedenis van verpleging wat nog nie vantevore beskryf is nie. Inligting was deur middel van vraelyste ingesamel. 'n Uitgebreide literatuuroorsig oor die heraldiek en 'n ontleding van die betekenisse van die simbole soos aangetref op die wapens/embleme, is gedoen.Uit die analisering is die volgende bevind; die uniekheid van die individuele wapens/embleme, die ontwikkeling van verpleging en verpleegonderrig, die invloed van waardes, norme, ideale, kultuur, godsdiens en geskiedenis op die keuse van simbole. Die heraldiese betekenis van simbole en die betekenis wat in die vraelyste daaroor aangedui is, is met die geidentifiseerde kembegrippe vir verpleging, vergelyk. Die algemene bevinding is dat enige ooreenkoms bloot toevallig is. / Health Studies / M.A. (Verpleegkunde)

Text in Afrikaans / This research describes the coats of arms and emblems of hospitals and nursing colleges in the Republic of South Africa, an aspect of nursing's heritage and history have not yet been described. Data were collected by means of questionnaires. An extensive literature review on heraldics and an analysis of the meanings contained in the symbols appearing on these devices were done. The analysis resulted in the following; the uniqueness of the individual devices, the development of nursing and nursing education, the influence of values, norms, ideals, culture, religion and history on the selection of symbols. The heraldic meanings of symbols and the meanings indicated in the questionnaires were compared with the identified core concepts for nursing. The overall finding was that any congruence was purely circumstantial. / Hierdie navorsing beskryf die wapens en embleme van hospitale en verpleegkolleges in die Republiek van Suid-Afrika, 'n aspek van die erfenis en geskiedenis van verpleging wat nog nie vantevore beskryf is nie. Inligting was deur middel van vraelyste ingesamel. 'n Uitgebreide literatuuroorsig oor die heraldiek en 'n ontleding van die betekenisse van die simbole soos aangetref op die wapens/embleme, is gedoen.Uit die analisering is die volgende bevind; die uniekheid van die individuele wapens/embleme, die ontwikkeling van verpleging en verpleegonderrig, die invloed van waardes, norme, ideale, kultuur, godsdiens en geskiedenis op die keuse van simbole. Die heraldiese betekenis van simbole en die betekenis wat in die vraelyste daaroor aangedui is, is met die geidentifiseerde kembegrippe vir verpleging, vergelyk. Die algemene bevinding is dat enige ooreenkoms bloot toevallig is. / Health Studies / M.A. (Verpleegkunde)