Burgher arms

Burgher arms are coats of arms of commoners (i.e. non-nobles) in heraldry of the European continent. The term is alien to British heraldry.

Although the term "burgher" arms refers to bourgeoisie, it is often extended also to arms of (Protestant) clergy and even to arms of peasants. In continental Europe, the use of armorial bearings has never been restricted to a particular social class (unlike in Britain). Every individual, every family and every community has been free to adopt arms and use it as they please, provided they have not wrongfully assumed the arms of another. [Michel Pastoureau, Heraldry: its origins and meaning (Thames & Hudson 1997), p. 14 ] The exception was Portugal, where king Afonso V restricted burgher arms to the use of colours only and later king Manuel I forbade the use of arms to all but the titled classes. [Stephen Slater: The Complete Book of Heraldry. Lorenz Books 2002, p. 204 ] This restriction against burgher arms in Portugal lasted until 1910. Use of coats of arms by burghers and artisans began during 13th century and in the 14th century some peasants took to using arms. [Carl-Alexander von Volborth. Heraldry: Customs, Rules, and Styles. (Blandford Press, Dorset: 1981), p. 96 ] The arms of commoners bore a far wider variety of charges than the arms of nobility like everyday objects, in particular, tools. In burgher arms are met sometimes also “house marks” () which are not met in arms of nobility. Most widespread burgher heraldry was and still is in Switzerland and in Netherlands. In Netherlands only a small percentage of the existing arms belong to the nobility. [Carl-Alexander von Volborth. Heraldry: Customs, Rules, and Styles. (Blandford Press, Dorset: 1981), p. 106 ]

Crest-coronets in burgher arms are correct only if the arms were granted by a sovereign and the coronet is explicitly mentioned in the grant. [Carl-Alexander von Volborth. The Art of Heraldry. Poole, Dorset, Blandford Press 1984, p. 59 ]

Germany

Although assumption of arms always remained free, the emperors of the Holy Roman Empire since Charles IV began to grant arms without raising people to nobiliary status. In 15th century the authority to grant arms was delegated to “Counts Palatine of the Imperial Court” ( _de. Hofpfalzgrafen), who from then on also granted arms to burghers. This was regarded as luxury everyone was not able to afford.

The tilting helmet was prescribed for arms of non-nobles, while the barred helmet was restricted by the imperial chancellery to the nobility as upholders of the tradition of tourneying. this privilege was also shared by certain people who enjoyed the same standing as the nobility, e.g. those who had a doctor's title in law or theology. [Ottfried Neubecker: A Guide to Heraldry. Cassell, London 1981, p.161. ISBN 0304 30751 3 ] Custom of the use of the barred helmet was also followed by city patricians. [Handbuch der Heraldik: Wappenfibel. (19th expanded edition). Edited by Ludwig Biewer. (Degener & Co, Neustadt an der Aisch 1998), p. 173 ] Although the rule of the use of the tilting helmet by burghers was not always obeyed, it has still become the norm in many countries of the German-Nordic heraldic tradition, e.g. in Swedish heraldry.

After the fall of the Holy Roman Empire, practise of granting arms also to burghers ended, except in the Kingdom of Saxony, where it was still continued from 1911 until 1918 by kings of Saxony. Elsewhere burgher arms were assumed. Such family heraldry is still alive in Germany and burgher arms are protected by law.

France

Burgher arms used to be common in France, but they disappeared in the French Revolution, which was hostile to heraldry. In the end of the 17th century, an attempt was made to list all arms in "Armorial général" as a new invention to increase tax income. When the attempt failed, in order to force people to pay tax, arms were given to many burghers who had never had them. These arms were never used by their recipients. [Michel Pastoureau, Heraldry: its origins and meaning (Thames & Hudson 1997), p. 33-36 ] In France burgher arms are not supposed to have a helmet.

Arms of Peasants

In some regions (Normandy, Flanders) even peasants sometimes bore arms. [Michel Pastoureau, Heraldry: its origins and meaning (Thames & Hudson 1997), p. 20 ] In Switzerland 14th century arms of farmers are known, but they are rare and did not become numerous until the 17th century, [Carl-Alexander von Volborth. Heraldry: Customs, Rules, and Styles. (Blandford Press, Dorset: 1981), p. 108 ] as well as in Lower Saxony, Frisia and Tyrol, where farmers had personal freedom. [Handbuch der Heraldik: Wappenfibel. (19th expanded edition). Edited by Ludwig Biewer. (Degener & Co, Neustadt an der Aisch 1998), p. 173 ] In Denmark arms of farmers are preserved on seals from about 1300. [Carl-Alexander von Volborth. Heraldry: Customs, Rules, and Styles. (Blandford Press, Dorset: 1981), p. 112 ]

References

See also

* Danish heraldry
* Bucket shop
* Patricianship

External links

* [http://www.heraldica.org/topics/right.htm Right to Bear Arms] from François Velde's Heraldica website
* [http://freepages.family.rootsweb.com/~heraldry/aah-german.html Heraldry in Germany] by Michael Waas