Seals

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Credits: Carlos Vidriales commissioned this wax seal from my interpretation of his arms.

Category: Seal.

Root: Vidriales García y Bustamante, Carlos.

Fernando II, King of León, «Carta Puebla de Benavente», Historical Archive of the City Council of Benavente, dated November 1167.

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It is a document in which King Fernando II of León grants privileges to Benavente with the aim of repopulating this town.

The original document is a parchment measuring 60 x 43 centimeters, adorned in the upper right corner, right according to the heraldic criterion, with a Chi Rho from which hang an alpha and an omega. In what could be considered the navel of the charter is a rolled seal of the king formed by a lion, which I consider closer to rampant than passant, surrounded by a circular motto that reads «Signum Fernandi Regis Hispanorum» ~ «Sign of Fernando, King of the Spains». Additionally, this rolled seal is accompanied by the names of members of the chancery and prelates of the Kingdom of León, to confirm the grants recorded in the «Carta Puebla de Benavente».

This charter, also called the «Fuero de Benavente», is a beautiful example of local law and, since its promulgation in 1167, served as a model for other towns. In the following years, similar charters to that of Benavente were adopted in other towns of León, Asturias, and Galicia, with the one in La Coruña being a notable example.

The objective of the provisions of this charter was to favor the repopulation and settlement of new settlers in the town of Benavente, and its successful operation in this aspect led to its application in other places.

The original document is kept in the Municipal Archive of Benavente, forming part of its collection of royal privileges of Benavente. There is also a «facsimile» edition, like the one that illustrates this bibliographic reference, published in 2002 by the Benavente City Council on the occasion of the Commemoration of the VIII Centenary of the Benavente Courts.

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Bibliographical reference of century XII.

Author: Fernando II de León.

External resources:

• Benavente remembers Fernando II of León.
• Churches in the parish of Renueva.
• Facsimile of the Carta Puebla de Benavente.
• Carta Puebla in PDF.

Internal resources: FernandoII.24.Facsimil.CartaPueblaBenavente.pdf in armorial, Fernando II of León, key 104..

Registered by The International Register of Arms, 1^st of December of 2022, Registration number 0690, Volume 4.

In Spanish heraldry, there are three terms for supporters: «sostenes» for objects or plants, «tenantes» for human figures, and «soportes» for animal forms. The following applies to sostenes, tenantes, and soportes. Unlike other heraldic traditions such as English heraldry, in Spanish heraldry there are no rules for the use of supporters; their use is at the armiger's discretion, without specific restrictions. Supporters are not reserved only for nobility; their use is free for all.

In the words of [Cadenas y Vicent, V. de; 1975; page 173] «there is no rule that determines the use of tenantes, soportes, and sostenes».

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Categories: Armorial roll, Party per fess, Azure, One, Book, Open, Or, Leaved, Argent, Charged, Mullet, Gules, Tree, Eradicated, Between, Two, Apple, Diminished bordure, Embattled, Crest, Helm, Fimbriated, Wreath, Mantling, Dexter, Sinister, Crest, Pegasus, Rampant, Nascent, Flame, Supporter (animal), Lion, Langued, Quill, Paw, Parchment, Rolled, Seal, Letter, War cry and Motto (motivation).

External resource:

• Fernando Marán Bié at The Armorial Register.

Root: The Armorial Register.