Military heraldry

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León Unicornio saltante sobre la divisa, criterio.

Within military heraldry, I classify the arms of individuals, institutions, orders, military corps, and entities.

Although the military is an institution of the state, I dedicate a separate category to it in recognition of its special characteristics and history, as well as its particular functions of cohesion and identification, which are rooted in heraldry for the battlefield. The coat of arms of the Central Military Region and the Artillery Combat School of the Swedish Army are examples of military heraldry.

[Cadenas y Vicent, V. de; 1975; page 88] includes military heraldry within his «institutional heraldry».


Categories: Criterion and Military.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Central Military Region

Coat of arms (1984-1997 and 1997-2002) of the former Central Military Region, where I serve. I interpreted now this coat of arms with a pointed shape. This kind of shape for this coat of arms are not usual.

Party per pale: 1 Gules, a castle triple-towered Or, port and windows Azure, and masoned Sable; 2 Argent, a lion rampant Gules, crowned Or.

Coat of arms (1984-1997 and 1997-2002) of the former Central Military Region, where I serve. I interpreted now this coat of arms with a pointed shape. This kind of shape for this coat of arms are not usual.


Blazon keywords: Party per pale, Gules, One, Castle, Or, Port and windows, Azure, Masoned, Sable, Argent, Lion, Rampant and Crowned.

Style keywords: Pointed, Illuminated, Outlined in sable and Metal beaten.

Classification: Interpreted, Military, Army and Navy, Coat of arms and Kingdom of Castile and Leon.

Bearer: Central Military Region.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

BPAC, Roger de Lauria II

Argent, three bendlets sinister Azure. Motto: «BPAC. Roger de Lauria II».

Parachute Light Infantry Unit.

Argent, three bendlets sinister Azure. Motto: «BPAC. Roger de Lauria II».

Escudo de plata, tres barras de azur. Divisa: «BPAC. Roger de Lauria II».

For this interpretation, I have used: a shield with a pointed shape; the angle of the main diagonal of a rectangle with a 5x6 proportion, which is 50.2o; a recreation of the division that I deduce seems to be used by the Spanish Army for this coat of arms; and for the whole, a rough finish.


Blazon keywords: Without divisions, Argent, Azure, Bend sinister and Motto (identification).

Style keywords: Semi-circular, Illuminated, Outlined in sable and Rough.

Classification: Interpreted, Military and Army and Navy.

Bearer: BPAC II.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Robert de Craon

Lozengy Or and Gules. Behind the shield a cross patty Gules.

Lozengy Or and Gules. Behind the shield a cross patty Gules.


Blazon keywords: Lozengy, Or, Gules, Behind the shield, One, Cross patty and Cross couped.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Illuminated, Semi-circular and Freehand.

Classification: Religious, Military, Knights Templar, Interpreted and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Craon, Robert de.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Quartered arms of Bernard de Tremelay

Quarterly: 1 and 4 Argent, a cross patty Gules; 2 and 3 Or, a chief Gules

Quarterly: 1 and 4 Argent, a cross patty Gules; 2 and 3 Or, a chief Gules

Escudo cuartelado: 1o y 4o de plata, una cruz patada de gules; 2o y 3o de de oro, un jefe de gules.


Blazon keywords: Or, Chief, Gules, Quarterly, Argent, One, Cross patty and Cross couped.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Semi-circular, Illuminated and Freehand.

Classification: Religious, Military, Knights Templar, Interpreted and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Tremelay, Bernard de.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Montbard, André de

Azure, two barbels addorsed Argent.

Azure, two barbels addorsed Argent.

Escudo de azur, dos barbos adosados de plata.

Coat of arms emblazoned by me with a semi-circular shape, illuminated, and with a freehand finishing.


Blazon keywords: Azure, Two, Barbel, Addorsed and Argent.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Semi-circular, Illuminated and Freehand.

Classification: Religious, Military, Knights Templar, Interpreted and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Montbard, André de.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Bertrand de Blanchefort with an ogee-ended shape

Barry of four per pale counterchanged Or and Gules.

Barry of four per pale counterchanged Or and Gules.

Escudo contrafajado de cuatro piezas de oro y gules.

Coat of arms emblazoned by me with an ogee-ended shape, illuminated, and with a freehand finishing


Blazon keywords: Barry per pale counterchanged, Four, Or and Gules.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Ogee, Illuminated and Freehand.

Classification: Religious, Military, Knights Templar, Interpreted and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Blanchefort, Bertrand de.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Knights Templar, Grand Master number 12

Argent, a cross Azure. Behind the shield a cross patty Gules.

Argent, a cross Azure. Behind the shield a cross patty Gules.


Classification: Religious, Military, Knights Templar, Interpreted, Doctor, Article, Castilian language and Black and white and color illustrations.

Bearer: Hérail, Gilbert.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Richard de Bures hatching

Or, six annulets Gules, 3, 2, and 1.

Or, six annulets Gules, 3, 2, and 1.

Escudo de oro, seis anilletes de gules, ordenados 3, 2 y 1.


Blazon keywords: Or, Six, Annulet, Gules, Ordered, Three, Two and One.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Semi-circular and Hatching.

Classification: Religious, Military, Knights Templar, Interpreted and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Richard, Richard.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Renaud de Vichiers

Vair. Behind the shield an eight-pointed cross patty Gules.

Vair. Behind the shield an eight-pointed cross patty Gules.


Blazon keywords: Vair, Behind the shield, One, Eight-pointed cross, Cross couped and Gules.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Illuminated, Semi-circular and Freehand.

Classification: Religious, Military, Knights Templar, Interpreted and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Vichiers, Renaud de.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Jacques de Molay

Azure, a bend Or. Behind the shield an eight-pointed cross patty Gules.

Azure, a bend Or. Behind the shield an eight-pointed cross patty Gules.


Blazon keywords: Azure, One, Bend, Or, Behind the shield, Eight-pointed cross, Cross couped and Gules.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Illuminated, Semi-circular and Freehand.

Classification: Religious, Military, Knights Templar, Interpreted and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Molay, Jacques de.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Crepsi, comparation

Party per pale: 1 Gules, in base a castle triple-towered Or, port and windows Azure, and masoned Sable; 2 Argent, in base a lion rampant Gules, crowned Or; overall a psi letter sable; a diminished bordure Or.

Party per pale: 1 Gules, in base a castle triple-towered Or, port and windows Azure, and masoned Sable; 2 Argent, in base a lion rampant Gules, crowned Or; overall a psi letter sable; a diminished bordure Or.

Coat of arms of Crepsi, military psychology, former Central Military Region, Kingdom of Spain, emblazoned by me, where I was stationed during my military service. In the image: 1988, the original mold (1) with which the first 6 coats of arms were made; one of them is now in my office (2); the design of the badge for the 1st meeting of veterans (3), all of which were designed and made by my lieutenant colonel and friend Miguel Angel Nuñez Amador; and finally, the coat of arms of Crepsi emblazoned by me (4).


Blazon keywords: Gules, Argent, Or, Azure, Sable, Party per pale, In base, Castle, Triple-towered, Port and windows, Masoned, Lion, Rampant, Crowned, Overall, Letter and Diminished bordure.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Illuminated and Semi-circular.

Classification: Military, Compare, Interpreted, Boa and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Crepsi.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Tercio Great Captain, plain tincture

Gules, a cross of Burgundy Or; an inescutcheon Or, three bars Gules.

Gules, a cross of Burgundy Or; an inescutcheon Or, three bars Gules.

Arms interpreted by me, in plain tinctures, outlined in Sable, with a semi-circular outer contour and with a texturized finish.

Coat of arms of the Tercio Great Captain, 1st of the Spanish Legion, emblazoned by me. The inescutcheon represents the coat of arms of Gonzalo Fernandez de Cordoba, 1453-1515, known as «The Great Captain». It was Gonzalo Fernandez de Cordoba who reorganized the Spanish infantry, laying the foundations for what would later become the Tercios.


Blazon keywords: Gules, Or, One, Three, Cross of Burgundy, Cross couped, Inescutcheon, Bar and Fess.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Plain tincture and Semi-circular.

Classification: Military, Interpreted, Boa and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Tercio Great Captain.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Tercio Alessandro Farnese

Azure, a cross of Burgundy Or; an inescutcheon Or, six fleurs de lis in orle Azure.

Azure, a cross of Burgundy Or; an inescutcheon Or, six fleurs de lis in orle Azure.

Escudo de azur, una cruz de Borgoña de oro; un escusón de oro, seis flores de lis en orla de azur.

Coat of arms interpreted by me, illuminated with lights and shadows, contoured in Sable, with a semi-circular external shape and with a freehand finishing.

Coat of arms of the Tercio Alessandro Farnese, 4th of the Spanish Legion, emblazoned by me. In honor of Alessandro Farnese, the central inescutcheon bears in orle the 6 fleurs de lis of the Farnese family.


Blazon keywords: Azure, Or, One, Six, Cross of Burgundy, Cross couped, Inescutcheon, Fleur de lis and In orle.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Illuminated, Semi-circular and Freehand.

Classification: Military, Interpreted, Boa and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Tercio Alessandro Farnese.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Artillery Combat School of the Swedish Army

Gules, a grenade Or.

Kingdom of Sweden.

Gules, a grenade Or.

Escudo de gules, una bomba de oro.

Illuminated with lights and shadows and with a iridescent and metallic finish.


Blazon keywords: Without divisions, Gules, One, Grenade and Or.

Style keywords: Metal beaten, Iridescent (nacar), Outlined in sable, Illuminated and Pointed.

Classification: Interpreted, Military and Kingdom of Sweden.

Bearer: Artillery Combat School of the Swedish Army.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León Fortaleza de oro y mazonada de sable.

Santiago, Order of

Order of Santiago, emblem

The Order of Chivalry of Santiago is both military and religious. It was founded in the Kingdom of León during the 12th century, although there is a difference of opinion regarding its exact year of foundation. It is named after the patron saint of Spain, James the Greater.

The purpose of its foundation was the protection of the Way of Saint James and the pilgrims who traveled it, and to participate militarily in the advancement of the reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula.

Of the Military Order of Santiago of the Sword, of its origin, and antiquity, as well as the form of its Commandery

[Avilés, J.; 1780b; treatise IV, chapter II, page 325] writes «The oldest authentic instrument that is found regarding the origin of the Order of Chivalry of Santiago of the Sword», observe how José de Avilés e Iturbide refers to the order in the masculine form, «is the donation made in the years of 848», note how the Marquess of Avilés does not doubt the antiquity of this order and even in other subsequent paragraphs, he dates it even earlier than currently believed, «made to the Church of Santiago by the King of León Don Ramiro in memory of the famous victory he achieved against the Moors in the battle of Clavijo (two leagues from Logroño), as evidenced by its Privilege, for having seen this Holy Apostle armed and mounted on a Horse, fighting in defense of the Christians; to whose devotion, and in this recognition, the said Order was instituted, taking from it its origin and name, as well as the same Cross that the Saint bore on his chest, and Shield, represented in the form of a Sword, of red color», gules ~ red, «for the blood shed of the Infidels, of whom Don Rodrigo Ximenez, Archbishop of Toledo, in his Chronicle Book VII says»: «Kubet ensis sanguine Arabum».

Drawing with a single stroke

Cross of Saint James the Greater drawing by me with a single stroke. This is the reason why it is asymmetrical, it has the base tip crooked, there are some sides higher than others, and it shows the failure of my pulse in a certains turns.

It is by far my most downloaded and copied painting, the most used on websites, citing me or not, the most used in hotels advertising, parish sheets... and even on T-shirts.


Categories: Institution, Interpreted, Religious, Military, Illuminated, Outlined in sable, Freehand, Emblem, Cross of Saint James, Cross couped and Cross.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León Fortaleza de oro y mazonada de sable.

Calatrava, Order of

Order of Calatrava, emblem

The Order of Chivalry of Calatrava is both military and religious, founded in the Kingdom of Castile during the 12th century by Abbot Raymond of Fitero.

The purpose of its foundation was the protection of the town of Calatrava la Vieja, which currently belongs to the municipality of Carrión de Calatrava in Ciudad Real. At the time of the order's foundation, it was an important city, in the middle valley of the river Guadiana and with a strategic position, as it was a necessary passage on the road from Toledo to Córdoba to Toledo and between the west and east of the Iberian Peninsula.

On the origin and antiquity of the Military Order of Calatrava, and the form of its Commandery

[Avilés, J.; 1780b; treatise IV, chapter IV, pages 334] writes «The Military Order of Calatrava was instituted by Don Sancho III, King of Castile (called the Desired), in the year 1158, while he was visiting his Kingdom; and being in Toledo with news of the great army that the Moors were gathering to besiege Calatrava la Vieja (which is called so today to distinguish it from the new one, which was founded later); and as the Templars, to whom this Fortress belonged, did not have sufficient power to resist such a large multitude, they handed it over to King Don Sancho himself so that he could take charge of it, as he did».

[Avilés, J.; 1780b; treatise IV, chapter IV, page 335] continues by telling us «The Abbot of Santa María de Fitero», near the river Pisuerga as he will indicate next, «of the Congregation of Cistercian, in the Bishopric of Palencia (which is a Monastery of St. Bernard, located on the river Pisuerga), named Don Raymond, and Friar Diego Velazquez, his subject Monk, who followed the Court, despite the difficulty of the enterprise, requested it from the King to defend it, which was granted, trusting in the virtue of the Abbot, and the strength of the Monk, who had previously been a great Knight in deeds of Arms, and very practiced in war».

[Avilés, J.; 1780b; treatise IV, chapter IV, page 336] continues «Seeing themselves in such an obligation, and that by themselves they could not fulfill it, they turned to Archbishop Don Juan (who was the fourth of Toledo) for help; and he, granting many indulgences in all his Archbishopric to those who, for themselves and for others, supplied the Place with provisions, in the same way as those who, unable to go due to old age or illness, helped with weapons, horses, and men; and having spread this news, so much help came to them, that when the Moors learned that the number of people exceeded twenty thousand men, they abandoned the conquest, returning to their homes: for this reason, the King ceded the Town of Calatrava to the Abbot of Fitero, and his successors, to defend it from the Moors from then on, confirmed later by King Alfonso IX, his son».

[Avilés, J.; 1780b; treatise IV, chapter IV, page 337] concludes «Having obtained this grace, Abbot Don Raymond brought the most suitable Monks from Fitero to Calatrava, and everything else that was necessary for living and for the defense of the Town and its land, which with the people inclined to war who remained, formed the Order of Chivalry of Calatrava, taking this name from the place where the institution was made, which in Arabic Calatrava means Castle».


Categories: Institution, Interpreted, Religious, Military, Illuminated, Outlined in sable, Freehand, Emblem, Cross of Calatrava, Cross couped and Cross.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Order of Alcantara, emblem

A cross of Alcantara.

Order of Cavalry of Alcantara

A cross of Alcantara.

Una cruz de Alcántara.

Interpretation of the emblem of the order with: its cross outlined in Sable, illuminated in Vert; and a heavily beaten metal finish.

The Royal Council of the Orders of Chivalry of Santiago, Calatrava, Alcantara, and Montesa, in its historical account of the foundation of the Order of Alcantara, states that, according to Alonso de Torres y Tapia, Prior of Alcantara and a 17th-century chronicler, it was founded in 1156, by Don Suero Fernández Barrientos along with other knights from Salamanca, in Pereiro near the River Coa, under the name of the Order of Saint Julian of Pereiro and during the reign of Ferdinand II of León.

Emblem

Regarding the emblem of the Order of Cavalry of Alcantara, [Avilés, J.; 1780b; treatise IV, chapter V, page 340, figure 102], reusing the same figure 102 as for the Order of Calatrava, says «In the past, the Order of Alcantara displayed on its Standard the Gules Straps of Calatrava», remember that due to the commandery of the city of Alcantara, they had to assume some dependency on that of Calatrava, «next to a Pear tree in Vert on a field of Or, which was the insignia of the Order of Pereiro, due to the conformity with which these two Orders lived; but upon changing their Habit, the Pope» Eugene IV «granted them the green Cross», Vert, «in the manner they wear it today, differing from that of Calatrava only in color».


Blazon keywords: Cross of Alcantara, Cross couped and Cross.

Style keywords: Illuminated, Outlined in sable and Soft metal.

Classification: Interpreted, Religious, Military and Emblem.

Bearer: Alcantara, Order of.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Alcantara, Cavalry Regiment

Argent, a cross of Alcantara.

Coat of arms of the Armored Cavalry Regiment Alcantara No. 10, RCAC-10, in 2016.

Argent, a cross of Alcantara.

Escudo de plata, una cruz de Alcántara.

Coat of arms interpreted in the following manner: the shape of the shield is of a semicircular arch; the field is illuminated in the metal Argent; the cross of Alcantara is outlined in Sable and illuminated in Vert; and the whole has a raised stroke finish.


Blazon keywords: Without divisions, Argent, Cross of Alcantara, Cross couped and Cross.

Style keywords: Semi-circular, Illuminated, Outlined in sable and Freehand.

Classification: Interpreted, Military, Army and Navy and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Alcantara, Cavalry Regiment.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León Fortaleza de oro y mazonada de sable.

Montesa, Order of

Order of Montesa, emblem

The Order of Saint Mary of Montesa and Saint George of Alfama, known as the Order of Montesa, was founded in the 14th century by the King of Aragon, James, as a military and religious order, to which he donated a castle in Valencia from which they took their name.

To endow the new Order of Montesa, the assets of the Order of the Templars, dissolved by Pope Clement V, were used. This is recounted by [Avilés, J.; 1780b; page 342] writing that Montesa was created «from the incomes and ruin of the Templars; as their Order was being extinguished, at the request of the Kings, so that said incomes would not leave the Kingdom.».

The order established within the Castle of Montesa, which previously belonged to the Templars, their convent and church of the Order, the palace of their Master, their barracks for fighting men, being able to form up to a couple of thousand of them in their parade ground. Their first Master, for 70 days since he died just over two months after his appointment, was Guillermo de Eril.

The origin and antiquity of the Military Order of Montesa, and the form of its Encomienda.

[Avilés, J.; 1780b; treatise IV, chapter VI, page 341] describes it as follows «The Military Order of Montesa was instituted in the year 1317 by the King of Aragon, Don Jaime II, and confirmed in the same year by Pope John XXII.».


Categories: Institution, Interpreted, Religious, Military, Illuminated, Outlined in sable, Freehand, Emblem, Cross of Montesa, Cross couped and Cross.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Cavalry Regiment Montesa, royal crown

Argent, a cross of Montesa. Crest: A closed royal crown Or, with eight arches, visible five. Motto: «In hoc signo vinces».

In this sign, you shall conquer.

Argent, a cross of Montesa. Crest: A closed royal crown Or, with eight arches, visible five. Motto: «In hoc signo vinces».

Escudo de oro, una cruz de Montesa. Timbrado de una corona real cerrada. Lema: «In hoc signo vinces».

Coat of arms interpreted as follows: the shape of the shield is a semi-circular arch; the field has been illuminated in metal Or; the cross of Montesa is outlined in Sable and illuminated in Sable and Gules; the royal crown is closed, outlined in Sable and illuminated the metal in Or, the pearls in Argent, the orb in Azure and Or, the gemstones in Gules and Vert, the inner cloth in Gules, and the visible hollow at its base in Sable; and the whole has a slightly beaten metal finish.

Regimental Motto

The Latin motto «In hoc signo vinces» is translated as «In this sign, you shall conquer».

Globus cruciger ~ Orb

It is called orb ~ «globus cruciger», the first in Spanish and the second in Latin, referring to the part of the royal crown, a jewel, or a jewel itself that recreates the shape of the globe topped with a cross.


Blazon keywords: Without divisions, Or, Cross of Montesa, Cross couped, Cross, Crest, Closed royal crown, Crown and Motto.

Style keywords: Semi-circular, Illuminated, Outlined in sable and Soft metal.

Classification: Interpreted, Military, Army and Navy and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Montesa, Cavalry Regiment.

 

Dr. Antonio Salmerón y Cabañas,
,
Paseo de la Castellana 135, 7th floor,
28046 Madrid, Spain.