Heraldic Cross

Arms of Pope John Paul II

Heraldry is the art form used to identify military and arms bearers. It is also used for non-military purposes, such as the Pope's Coat of Arms (an example of ecclesiastical heraldry), family crests, colleges, Masonic lodges, etc. A Heraldic Cross can be any of the designs shown on our main cross index and crosses on flags, and many more besides.

The original reason for painting or somehow marking a symbol on a shield or clothing was to recognise which side the warrior was on. A single colour and/or shape would suffice (fighting in darkness would have been a bit dodgy). These identification markings were later enhanced to show the rank of the bearer, and it wasn't long before logos became popular.

One such logo was the cross, especially for Christians fighting in the First Crusades, which puts the cross as one of the earliest heraldic ensigns. Military divisions of Christian nations would distinguish themselves with specific variations and/or colours of the cross.

St. James's Cross

There are several terms which can be used in describing differently named crosses. For example fitched, which means the lower arm of the cross is pointed in order to fix the cross in the ground (see example on the right). This cross is named as "St. James's Cross" but could also be described as a Fitched Cross, or for that matter, a Red Cross, which of course would be confused with the emblem of the Red Cross Organisation.

Welcome to the muddled world of heraldry!

Alternative spellings of fitched are fitchy and the French fichée. Many heraldic terms have alternative spellings and this is NOT designed to flummox the uninitiated. There is no secret society of heraldologist boffins who want to keep their subject known to just an elite few. On the contrary, heraldry, by definition, is meant to advertise information about the arms bearers.

Heraldry took off in the Middle Ages in France at a time when there was little consensus of spelling (in French or English). Who knows, maybe fitchy, which means the cross is shaped like a sword so it can be thrust of fixed into the ground as a makeshift shrine or marker, was originally supposed to be fixy and the spelling mistake has stuck ever since.

Most descriptions of crosses are also cross names, for example the Fleur-de-lis Cross. For a complete list (well OK, maybe the list is not complete, but there are over 1,000 entries) see Alphabetical index of crosses.

The number of different heraldic ordinaries and charges fill several volumes of heraldic reference books, some of which no doubt are featured in the random advertisements placed on this page by Google Ads.