Augmentation of Honour

In heraldry, an augmentation is a modification or addition to a coat of arms, typically given by a monarch as either a mere mark of favour, or a reward or recognition for some meritorious act. The grants of entire new coats by monarchs as a reward are not augmentations, and (in theory) an augmentation mistakenly given to someone who did not have a right to a coat would be nugatory.

Examples

The Emperor Charles V, who was also King of Spain, granted to Juan Sebastian Elcano, the surviving commander of the Ferdinand Magellan expedition which first circumnavigated the world, an augmentation of arms consisting a world globe with the words "Primus circumdedisti me" (Latin: "You first encircled me").

References