Byzantine heraldry

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For most of its history, the Byzantine Empire did not know or use heraldry in the West European sense. Various emblems were used in official occasions and for military purposes, such as banners or shields displaying motifs such as the cross, the labarum, images of saints, the imperial eagle and geometric patterns, but, unlike the Western feudal lords, Byzantine aristocratic families did not, as far as is known, use specific symbols to designate themselves and their followers. Only from the 12th century onwards, when the Empire came in increased contact with Westerners because of the Crusades, did heraldry begin to be used among Byzantines. Even then however, the thematology was largely derived from the symbols employed in earlier ages, and its use was limited to the major families of the Empire.

[edit] Dynastic Arms

Date	Individual rulers or Families	Description
c. 1000	Argyros [Argyrus]	Or, a cross between four stars Azure.
1204-1359	Doukas [Ducas]	Azure, a cross Argent.
c. 1300	Fouskarnaki [Phouskarnaki]	Azure, the figure of the Blessed Virgin bearing the Divine Child Argent.
c. 1300	Frangopoulos [Phrangopoulos]	Sable, a fleur-de-lys Or.
c. 1350	Kantakouzenos [Cantacuzene, Kantakouzinos]	Gules, a double-headed eagle displayed crowned, Or.
c. 1057	Isaac I Komnenos [Comnenus, Comneno]	Or, a double-headed eagle Sable.
1184-1195	Isaac Komnenos of Cyprus [Comnenus, Comneno]	Azure, an estoile above a crescent moon Or.
1204-1461	Megalokomnenoi of Trebizond [Comnenus, Comneno]	Argent, three bars Sable.
c. 1300	Koressio	Sable, beneath an imperial crown proper, a two-headed eagle displayed Or, holding in each claw a sword paleways Argent.
c. 1210	Lascaris [Laskaris]	Or, a double-headed eagle Sable, beaked Gules, beneath an eastern crown Or.
1080-1259	Palaiologos [Palaeologus]	Gules, a cross Or.
1259-1453	Palaiologos [Palaeologus]	Gules, a cross and four Bs Or.
1262-1453	Palaiologos [Palaeologus]	Gules, a double-headed eagle displayed crowned, Or.
c. 800	Rangabe [Rhangabe]	Azure, a cross flory between the letters "E", "N", "T", "N" Argent.
c. 1400	Raoulis [Rallis, Rhaoules]	Azure, a leopard rampant Or.
c. 1225	John III Doukas Vatatzes [Vatatzis]	Vert, a double-headed eagle displayed Or, above each head an estoile Argent.

[edit] Other Arms, Flags, and Emblems

Date	Use	Description
667 BC-330 AD	City of Byzantium	The city of Byzantium was dedicated to the Greek goddess Artemis in 667 BC, whose symbol, the crescent moon, was used as the symbol of the city for nearly 1000 years between 667 BC and 330 AD.
330-1453	City of Constantinople	When the city of Byzantium became Christian in 330 AD, a star was added to the Crescent of Artemis emblem as it assumed the significance of an attribute of the Virgin Mary.
c. 1400	Byzantine Empire	The only attested flag of the Byzantine Empire under the Palaeologi, early 15th century. It depicts St George's Cross and the Arms of the Palaiologos family.
1261-1453	Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople	Likely flag of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople after the restoration of the Empire in 1261. This derivative depicts the double-headed eagle holding a cross and orb.