marshalling

Marshalling in Heraldry

Marshalling is a style of heraldic design to show familial relationships or alliances.
While such was done in the middle ages, it is not registerable in the SCA.
To assist folks in understanding what is and what is not considered marshalling,
presented here are some guidelines and some pictorial examples:

Guidelines:

1.	A field divided per pale with different charges in each half of the field is not allowed, if there is a plain (straight) line of division. If the per pale line is a complex (fancy) line, then it is allowed.
2.	A field divided per pale with the same charge in each half of the field is allowed, even if the line of division is a plain (straight) line.
3.	A field divided quarterly with one type of charge in the top left and bottom right quarters and a different type of charge in the top right and the bottom left quarters is not allowed if the lines dividing the field into quarters is a plain (straight) line of division. If either the per pale line or the per fess line is a complex (fancy) line, or both the per pale and per fess line is a complex (fancy) line, then it is not considered marshalling...but doing this may create poor style <which could cause a return for non-period style>, so consider such a design carefully .
4.	A field divided quarterly with a different charge in each of the four sections is considered both marshalled arms and to be "slot machine heraldry".
5.	A field divided quarterly with one (same) type of charge in the top left and bottom right quarters and just a tincture (no charges) in the top right and the bottom left quarters is allowed, even if the lines of division are plain (straight) lines. A field divided quarterly with one (same) type of charge in the top right and bottom left quarters and just a tincture (no charges) in the top left and the bottom right quarters is allowed, even if the lines of division are plain (straight) lines.
6.	A field divided quarterly with different types of charge in the top left and bottom right quarters and just a tincture (no charges) in the top right and the bottom left quarters is considered marshalled arms. A field divided quarterly with different types of charge in the top right and bottom left quarters and just a tincture (no charges) in the top left and the bottom right quarters is considered marshalled arms.

Visual Examples:


Marshalling	Not Marshalling	Not Marshalling	Marshalling	Not Marshalling


Marshalling	Not Marshalling	Not Marshalling	Marshalling	Marshalling	Not Marshalling
			[Per last line of RfS XI.3].	[Per last line of RfS XI.3].

RfS XI.3. Marshalling. - Armory that appears to marshall independent arms is considered presumptuous. Period marshalling combined two or more separate designs to indicate descent from noble parents and claim to inheritance. Since members of the Society are all required to earn their status on their own merits, apparent claims to inherited status are presumptuous. Divisions commonly used for marshalling, such as quarterly or per pale, may only be used in contexts that ensure marshalling is not suggested. a. Such fields may be used with identical charges over the entire field, or with complex lines of partition or charges overall that were not used for marshalling in period heraldry. b. Such fields may only be used when no single portion of the field may appear to be an independent piece of armory. No section of the field may contain an ordinary that terminates at the edge of that section, or more than one charge unless those charges are part of a group over the whole field. Charged sections must all contain charges of the same type to avoid the appearance of being different from each other.


Marshalling for Display Purposes


Original Device #1	Original Device #2


Per Pale Marshalling	Quarterly Marshalling	Dimidiation Marshalling

NOTE: Armory designs that appear to marshall independent arms are considered presumptuous and cannot be registered (as per RfS XI.3.). HOWEVER...display of such shows allegiance or marriage and is allowed (and encouraged) in the SCA.

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