Assorted Lessons in SCA Heraldry

Charge Groups

what is and is not a group 

The definition given in the Glossary of the Rules for Submission is:

“A set of charges used together in a design as a single unit. The charges in groups in heraldry usually fall into standard arrangements depending on their number and what other items are involved in the design. A collection of charges that are arranged in such a standard arrangement are considered a single group, even if they are of different types.”

A key phrase is “standard arrangement ”. What arrangements are standard? The rules do not provide explicit guidance; however, the following are standard arrangements:

• any arrangement of three objects
• four items in cross or saltire or three and one
• five items in cross or saltire
• charges on a charge or group of charges 

In Sable, three bezants , the three bezants are a charge group. 

In Sable, on a bend between two lozenges argent, four crosses crosslet gules, the two lozenges form a charge group and the four crosses crosslet form a charge group.

In Gules, a cross between four crescents Or and on a chief argent a lymphad between two cinquefoils gules , the four crescents form one charge group, and the lymphad and the two cinquefoils together form a second charge group.

In Per chevron gules and Or, two lions rampant and a fleam counterchanged , there is one charge group, being the two lions and the fleam. 

In the last two examples, there are charge groups that are not all the same charge. One herald, when shown something similar to the last example and asked how many charge groups there were, said “Two.” When told that it was a single charge group, she replied, “Why? What do they have to do with each other?” This brings up a point about period style. Period armory has coherence; a unity about the design. A charge group such as the two lions and the fleam does not present a coherent picture. It looks like it should be two independent groups. It is however, only one charge group. It is a group of three items in a standard arrangement. This is a hint that the design does not resemble the Middle Ages as much as we might like; however, that does not mean you should reject the design; it is registerable. If you can explain to the submitter how it could be improved, by all means do so, but if the submitter is intent on such a design, do accept it. 

More examples:

Consider Azure crusily argent, a chief Or . The semy of crosses crosslet (crusily) is a charge group. 

In Per bend sinister sable and argent, a plate and a cinquefoil counterchanged, the plate and the cinquefoil form one charge group. This is very poor style but is registerable so long as the field division is not Per pale. If it was per pale it would be returned for breaking our rules on marshaled armory. 

Try your hand at some exercises. 

Identify the charge groups in the following blazons? 
[write down your answers, and check them by clicking the link below.]
 

1. Sable, a bend between five billets in chief and three hammers in base.

2. Azure, on a fess between three eagles displayed in chief and an open book in base argent a pike naiant azure.

3. Per fess raguly sable and gules, two swords in saltire and an anvil argent.

4. Gules, a saltire vair between three bees in chief and flanks and a tower Or.

5. Purpure, a pale argent between a tower and a lion rampant Or, on a chief argent three drakkars gules.

6. Per bend azure mulletty argent and argent crusily azure, three lozenges counterchanged argent and azure.

7. Vert semy of hearts argent, a lion rampant to sinister Or, a bordure argent.

8. Gules, three lions passant in pale Or.

9. Quarterly indented vert and Or, in bend two harps argent and in bend sinister two wolves statant guardant vert.

10. Per pale sable and Or, a two towered bridge and a laurel wreath in pale counterchanged.