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Inheraldry, anachievement,armorial achievement orheraldic achievement (historical:hatchment) is a full display or depiction of all the heraldic components to which the bearer of acoat of arms is entitled.[2] An achievement comprises not only the arms displayed on theescutcheon, the central element, but also the following elements surrounding it (from top to bottom):
Sometimes the term "coat of arms" is used to refer to the full achievement, but this usage is incorrect in the strict sense of heraldic terminology, as a coat of arms refers to a garment with theescutcheon or armorial achievement embroidered on it.[3][4]
The ancient term used in place of "achievement" was "hatchment", deriving (through such historic forms asatcheament, achement, hathement, etc.) from the Frenchachèvement,[5] from the French verbachever, a contraction ofà chef venir ("to come to a head"), ultimately from Latinad caput venire, "to come to a head",[6] thus: "to reach a conclusion, accomplish, achieve". The word "hatchment" in its historical usage is thus identical in meaning and origin to the English heraldic term "achievement". In modern English, however, the term "hatchment" has come to be used almost exclusively to denote afunerary hatchment,[7] while the word "achievement", now archaic in that sense,[8] is used in place of "hatchment" in non-funereal contexts.[9] An example of the historic use of "hatchment" in a non-funerary context to denote what is now termed "achievement" appears in the statute of theOrder of the Garter laid down by KingHenry VIII (r. 1509–1547) concerning the regulation ofGarter stall plates:[10]
It is agreed that every knyght within the yere of his stallation shall cause to be made ascauchon of his armes andhachementis in a plate of metall suche as shall please him and that it shall be surely sett upon the back of his stall.
Achievement, or Achievement of Arms. Any complete composition of Arms.
This 'achievement' or 'hatchment' is an escutcheon or coat of arms erected when a person of distinction has died; originally so called from its being granted in memory of some 'achievement' or distinguished feat. In the Heralds' College there are 'achievements' still, as there were for Milton two centuries ago; but in our common language we call them 'hatchments,' and have let any such employment of 'achievement' go.
An 'achievement' is a full formal display of a coat of arms.
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