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Inheraldry,supporters, sometimes referred to asattendants, are figures or objects usually placed on either side of theshield and depicted holding it up.
Historically, supporters were left to an individual's free choice and were assumed and changed at will, not always having any meaning whatsoever.[1] In more modern times, restrictions have been put in place in certain countries and nowhere more prevalent than in theUnited Kingdom.[1]
Early forms of supporters are found in medieval seals. However, unlike thecoronet orhelmet andcrest, supporters were not part of early medieval heraldry. As part of the heraldicachievement, they first become fashionable towards the end of the 15th century, but even in the 17th century were not necessarily part of the full heraldic achievement (being absent, for example, inSiebmachers Wappenbuch of 1605).
The figures used as supporters may be based on real or imaginary animals, human figures, and in rare cases plants or other inanimate objects, such as thepillars of Hercules of thecoat of arms of Spain. Often, as in other elements of heraldry, these can have local significance, such as thefisherman and thetin miner granted toCornwall County Council, or a historical link; such as the lion ofEngland and unicorn ofScotland in the two variations of thecoat of arms of the United Kingdom. The arms of nutritionistJohn Boyd-Orr use two 'garbs' (wheatsheaves) as supporters; the arms ofUSS Donald Cook,missiles; the arms of the state ofRio Grande do Norte inBrazil,trees.[2]Letters of thealphabet are used as supporters in the arms ofValencia, Spain. Human supporters can also beallegorical figures, or, more rarely, specifically named individuals.[3]
There is usually one supporter on each side of the shield, though there are some examples of single supporters placed behind the shield, such as theimperial eagle of thecoat of arms of the Holy Roman Empire. Thecoat of arms of the Republic of the Congo provide an extremely unusual example of two supporters issuing from behind the shield.[4] While such single supporters are generally eagles[5] with one or two heads, there are other examples, including thecathedra in the case of some Canadiancathedrals.[6] At the other extreme and even rarer, the Scottish chiefDundas of that Ilk had three supporters: two conventional red lions and the whole supported by a salamander. Thecoat of arms of Iceland even has four supporters.[7]
The context of the application of supporters may vary, although entitlement may be considered conditioned by grant of a type ofaugmentation of honour by admission inorders of chivalry or byheraldic authorities, such as in the case of traditionalBritish heraldry.
Animal supporters are, by default, as close torampant as possible, if the nature of the supporter allows it (this does not need to be mentioned in theblazon), though there are some blazoned exceptions. An example of whales 'non-rampant' is the arms of the Dutch municipality ofZaanstad.[8]
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Older writers trace origins of supporters to their usages in tournaments, where the shields of the combatants were exposed for inspection, and guarded by their servants or pages disguised in fanciful attire. However, medieval Scottish seals afford numerous examples in which the 13th and 14th century shields were placed between two creatures resembling lizards or dragons. Also, the seal ofJohn, Duke of Normandy, eldest son of theKing of France, before 1316 bears his arms as; France ancient, a borduregules, between two lions rampant away from the shield, and an eagle with expanded wings standing above it.
InAustralia, Knights or Dames of theOrder of Australia may be granted supporters. It is unclear whether supporters may only be used on arms granted byGarter Principal King of Arms, or whether other heraldic authority suffices.[9] Further, as arms may be legitimately adopted upon an armiger's whim, there may be nothing limiting the adoption of supporters by any person, should they so choose.[10]
InCanada, Companions of theOrder of Canada,Commanders of theOrder of Military Merit, Commanders of theRoyal Victorian Order, people granted the stylethe Right Honourable, and corporations are granted the use of supporters on their coats of arms.[11][12] Further, on his retirement from office asChief Herald,Robert Watt was granted supporters as an honour.[13]
InFrance, writers made a distinctive difference on the subject of supporters, giving the name ofSupports to animals, real or imaginary, thus employed; while human figures or angels similarly used are calledTenants (i.e. 'holders'). Trees and other inanimate objects which are sometimes used are calledSoutiens.
Knights Grand Companion and Principal Companions of theNew Zealand Order of Merit are granted the use of heraldic supporters.[14]
InSpain, there is a difference betweentenantes, used for human figures,soportes, used for beasts, andsosténes, used for anything other than humans or beasts.[15] There aren't any rules governing the use, position, or whether they face the viewer or not.[15] As a matter of fact,Vicente de Cadenas y Vicent says "There are no rules that determine the use of [supporters] and it can be considered that their use are complete capriciousness or fantasy, without any precedent, in almost the totality of cases, with documented justification for the inclusion of these ornaments with the arms of a House or individual."[15] The only generally accepted rule is that female and ecclesiastical arms should not have supporters, with the only exception for ecclesiastical the use of angels or when it comes to the arms of saints or monasteries.[15]
Originally, in England, supporters were regarded as little more than mere decorative and artistic appendages.
In theUnited Kingdom, supporters are typically an example of special royal favour, granted at the behest of the sovereign.[16] Hereditary supporters are normally limited tohereditary peers, certain members of theRoyal Family, and to some chiefs ofScottish clans.[citation needed] Non-hereditary supporters are granted tolife peers; Knights and Ladies Companion of theOrder of the Garter; Knights and Ladies of theOrder of the Thistle; Knights and Dames Grand Cross of theOrder of the Bath, theOrder of St Michael and St George, theRoyal Victorian Order and theOrder of the British Empire; and Bailiffs and Dames Grand Cross of theOrder of St John.[citation needed]Knights banneret were also granted non-hereditary supporters, but no such knight has been created since the time ofCharles I.
Supporters may also be granted to corporations which have aroyal charter.[citation needed]
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![A coconut palm and a carnauba palm as supporters in the coat of arms of Rio Grande do Norte.[15]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aBras%25C3%25A3o_do_Rio_Grande_do_Norte.svg)
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