Label (heraldry)

As a mark of difference

In European heraldry in general, the label was used to mark the elder son, generally by the princes of the royal house. Differencing, or cadency, are the distinctions used to indicate the junior branches (cadets) of a family.

In British heraldry, a system of specific brisures or "marks of cadency" developed: The eldest son, during the lifetime of his father, bears the family arms with the addition of a label; the second son, a crescent; the third, a mullet; the fourth, a martlet; the fifth, an annulet; the sixth, a fleur-de-lis; the seventh, a rose; the eighth, a cross moline; the ninth, a double quatrefoil. On the death of his father, the eldest son would remove the label from his coat of arms and assume the unmodified arms.

The label's number of points did not necessarily mean anything, although the label of three points was supposed to represent the heir during the lifetime of his father; five points, during the lifetime of his grandfather; seven points, while the great-grandfather still lived, etc.

According to some sources, the elder son of an elder son places a label upon a label. However, A. C. Fox-Davies states that in the case of the heir-apparent of the heir-apparent "one label of five points is used, and to place a label upon a label is not correct when both are marks of cadency, and not charges".

As a charge

The label appears as a charge in the coats of arms of several families and municipalities, often having begun as a mark of difference and been perpetuated. It has also been used in canting arms. The number of pendants varies from three to seven (see examples below). There are also several examples of the pendants bearing charges, notably in the cadency labels of the British royal family.

File:Arms of the Prince of Wales.svg|A label of three points argent, Coat of Arms of the Prince of Wales File:Arms of Edward, Prince of Wales (1301-1307).svg|Arms of King Edward II whilst Prince of Wales File:Sahir de Quincy Coat of Arms.jpg|Arms of Saer de Quincy, 1st Earl of Winchester: Argent, a fess azure, a label of seven points gules File:Armoiries de Fontois 2.svg|Arms of the lords of Fontois (or Fontoy): Or, an eagle gules surmounted by a label of four points azure File:Arms of Andrew, Duke of York.svg|Arms of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, showing an anchor in the central pendant of the label. File:Viscount Linley.svg|Arms of David Armstrong-Jones, 2nd Earl of Snowdon whilst Viscount Linley: Quarterly 1st & 4th, the arms of his father The Earl of Snowdon with a label vert, 2nd & 3rd the arms of his mother The Princess Margaret whose label argent is charged with roses and a thistle File:Blason Olivier IV de Rohan seigneur de Montauban (selon Gelre).svg|Arms of Olivier IV de Rohan seigneur de Montauban, showing three pendants beginning at the chief line of the shield File:Blason Beaufort (Luxembourg).svg|Arms of Beaufort, Luxembourg, an example of a truncated label File:Pas de Calais Arms.svg|Arms of the département of Pas-de-Calais, based on the arms of the county of Artois. The label terminates at the bordure and is charged with castles Or. File:Arms of Richard, Duke of Gloucester.svg|Arms of the Duke of Gloucester File:Duke of Norfolk Arms.svg|Arms of the Duke of Norfolk File:Arms of Sir Hugh de Courtenay, KG.png|Arms of Courtenay File:Mowbray3.svg|Arms of Lord Mowbray, Segrave & Stourton File:Image-Blason Sicile Péninsulaire.svg|Arms of the Count of Anjou

References

• A. C. Fox-Davies, revised by J. P. Brooke-Little, Richmond Herald (1969). A Complete Guide to Heraldry. London: Thomas Nelson and Sons.

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