Slogan (heraldry)

A slogan is used in Scottish heraldry as a heraldic motto or a secondary motto. They usually appear above the crest on a coat of arms, though sometimes they appear as a secondary motto beneath the shield. The word "slogan" dates as far back as 1513, though it is variant of an the earlier "slogorn" which was an Anglicisation of the Scottish Gaelic "sluagh-ghairm".

logans, mottoes and heraldry

The word "slogan" dates as far back as 1513. It is variant of an the earlier "slogorn" which was an Anglicisation of the Scottish Gaelic "sluagh-ghairm" ("sluagh" "army", "host" + "gairm" "cry").Merriam-Webster (2003), p. 1174.] Slogans are used in heraldry, most notably in Scottish heraldry. In Scottish heraldry slogans are used as mottoes, or secondary mottoes. Slogans usually appear above the crest on a coat of arms, though sometimes they appear as a secondary motto beneath the shield. There may be several possible origins for mottoes used in heraldry, however slogans are considered to have originated from battle cries or war cries. There are several notable heraldic mottoes which are thought to originate from a war cries. For example, the Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom contains the motto "DIEU ET MON DROIT" ("God and my right") which has been thought to originated as a war cry. As has the motto "MONTJOYE SAINT-DENIS" which appeared on the former French coat of arms (this motto is refers to the "oriflamme", the royal standard of the kings of France, which was kept in the Basilique Saint-Denis). Several mottoes found in Irish heraldry, which end in "a boo", are also thought to have originated as war cries. Examples of such Irish mottoes are "CROM A BOO" of the Fitzgerald earls of Leinster; and "SHANET A BOO" of the Fitzgerald earls of Desmond.Woodcock; Robinson (1988), p. 112.] Fox-Davies; Johnston (2007), p. 449–450.]

Not all slogans are actually authentic war cries though. Many slogans pertaining to Scottish clan chiefs have been registered relatively recently at the Court of the Lord Lyon. Sometimes slogans are merely a name, such as "A HOME A HOME A HOME" of the Homes, others refer to a rallying point for the clan, like "CRUACHAN" of the Campbells, some slogans refer to a prominent clansman like the Maclean "Fear eile airson Eachuinn" ("Another for Hector"). In at least one case, a patron saint is used as a slogan, as in "St Bennet and Set On" of the Setons.Innes of Learney (1971), pp. 60–61.] The arms of Grant use two slogans (or mottoes): "CRAIG ELACHAIDH" (which appears above the crest), and "STANDFAST" (which appears beneath on a scroll beneath the shield). Sometimes a clan chief's slogan appears on his crest badge and in consequence on the crest badges worn by his clan members. In some cases the chief's slogan also appears on his or her standard, guidon and pinsel. [cite web |url=http://www.lyon-court.com/lordlyon/375.html |title=Further Guidance on Flags |accessdate=2008-07-30 |work=The Court of the Lord Lyon (lyon-court.com)]

List of slogans pertaining to Scottish clans

Notes

References

*cite book|author=Adam, Frank; Innes of Learney, Thomas|title=The Clans, Septs & Regiments of the Scottish Highlands|edition=8th edition|date=1970|publisher=Johnston and Bacon|location=Edinburgh
*cite book|author=Campbell of Airds, Alastair|authorlink=Alastair Campbell of Airds|title=A History of Clan Campbell: Volume 2: From Flodden to the Restoration|publisher=Edinburgh University Press|location=Edinburgh|year=2002|isbn=1-902930-18-5
*cite book|author=Fox-Davies, Arthur Charles; Johnston, Graham |title=A Complete Guide to Heraldry|publisher=Skyhorse Publishing Inc |year=2007|isbn=1602390010
*cite book |last=Innes of Learney |first=Thomas |authorlink=Thomas Innes of Learney |coauthors= |editor= |others= |title=The Tartans of the Clans and Families of Scotland |edition=8th Edition (1975 reprint) |year=1971 |publisher=Johnston and Bacon Publishers |location=Edinburgh |isbn=7179 4501 4
*cite book|author=MacKinnon, Charles |title=Scottish Highlanders|publisher=Barnes & Noble Publishing |year=1995|isbn=0880299509
*cite book |author=Merriam-Webster|authorlink=Merriam-Webster |title=Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary |edition=11th Edition |year=2003 |publisher=Merriam-Webster |isbn=0877798095
*cite book|author=Woodcock, Thomas; Robinson, John Martin|title=The Oxford Guide to Heraldry|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=1988|isbn=0-19-280226-7