CIRCLE OF THE DRAGON > DRAGON TOPICS > DRAGONS IN HERALDRY

Dragon Topics
Dragons in Heraldry

Heraldry utilizes the symbolism of the dragon and many draconic types.
General Terminology and Background
Wyverns
Hydras
Drakes
Amphipteres
Basilisks and Cockatrices
Western Dragons
Other
Closing Notes
Footnotes

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General Terminology and Background

There are some important terms used in heraldry that I will also use on this site. I won't be
reviewing them all, only the necessary ones for explanation.
Augmentation: An addition to a coat of arms, usually granted by a ruler or the like [1]
Dexter: While this part of the 'shield' is on the viewer's left side, it is considered the right
side of the shield. [2]
Ensigned: This term means 'placed above'. [2]
Passant: This describes the creature's position on the shield. It is walking towards dexter
with one fore leg raised. [3]
Segreant: Also known as rampant, this describes the creature's position on the shield. It
stands on its hind foot, with the two forelimbs raised up, as if rearing, and with its third leg
lifted as well. [3]
Sejant: The word for 'sitting'. [2]
Sinister: While this side of the 'shield' is on the viewer's right side, it is considered the left
side of the shield. [3]
Statant: This describes the creature's position on the shield. The creature faces dexter
with all legs on the ground. [3]

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Heraldry began in the Middle Ages of Europe. During battles, most knights wore armor that
covered their bodies, and, while it served to protect them, it also served to hide their identity. To
thwart this, the noble families created designs to wear upon their shields to distinguish each
other in battle. [5]
In some cases, heraldic crests and shields were altered to award people. For instance, when Sir
Francis Drake became the first English man to circle the globe, Queen Elizabeth modified his
family's coat of arms. [6] Occasionally, stories (especially legendary ones) would be reproduced
on a person's coat of arms to recognize a great feat or adventure of a famous family member.
[1]
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Wyverns
Wyverns are the most common of the draconic heraldic symbols. They are seen almost as
commonly as birds, and they are numerous in design. Since most wyverns were depicted as
evil dragons in bestiaries, which were widely circulated at the time of the adoption of coats of
arms, the fact that so many families adopted them as their symbol is not yet fully understood.
[1] However, the wyvern is most notably show as a creature of valor and protection, and, as
most dragons in the past, also believed to have great eyesight. [10] In another light, the wyvern
is also a symbol of vengeance or may have been acquired threw a family member's slaying of a
dragon. [10]

Figure 1 shows a wyvern in statant position as a crest. The

wyvern was, most probably, believed to be a symbol of power
and strength, which was important in battle. However, very
little about wyvern crests and their symbolism have been
recorded.
The crest, however, does represent dragonkind as it was
believed in those times. Scales, a forked tong, a spiked back,
and a whip-like tail make this creature quite formidable.

Figure 1. Wyvern in statant position.

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Hydras
Hydras are far less common in crests than the other
dragons present in heraldry. The hydra, however, is
said to be used on a crest only when a family (or town,
or the like) has defeated a very powerful enemy. [4]
This may be due to Hercules' defeat of the Lerean
Hydra in Greek mythology.
All hydras have at least two heads, but most have
either five or seven heads.
Figure 2 shows a statant, seven-headed hydra,
perhaps one of the more common shapes the hydra
takes in a coat of arms. The creature comes with four
talons, rarely five.
Figure 2. Statant, seven-headed hydra.

Hydras normally stand alone as the only creature on

the coat of arms, but they are usually sighted with

other decorations and such about them.

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Drakes
Drakes are perhaps the rarest of the dragon types found on heraldic crests. The fire-drake,
which is referred to in Beowulf, is usually defined as a Western dragon rather than a drake as it
is known today.
In Figure 3, however, the crest might just be that: a fire-drake. Lacking wings, the dragon is not
a Western dragon, so it could be that fire-drake, at least in this instance, does refer to what we
today know as a 'drake'.

Figure 3. Drake.
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Amphipteres
While there are some amphiptere in crests, they are rarely very large and usually are not the
only creature in the crest. Most are seen at top poles, wrapped around spears, or balanced
upon spears.
Figure 4 shows an amphiptere facing dexter statant. The symbolism for an amphiptere is

unknown, but the symbolism for its misnomer is. The 'winged
snake' is usually worn by someone who swiftly deals justice. [9]
It has also been rumored, although with little confirmation, that this
creature is found on the coats of arms of those who went to Ireland
to 'fight the serpents' there, also called the Draconis Extinctors.

Figure 4. Amphiptere statant.

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Basilisks and Cockatrices

Basilisks Both of these creatures are quite similar in shape
and thus in heraldry. Cockatrices were greatly feared of in
the fifteenth century, such that a rooster was put on trial
for laying an egg, thus possibly creating a cockatrice. [7]
Baskilisks and cockatrices were both known for their
deadly nature, namely their deadly stare and their venom.
[7] It is safe to assume, therefore, that similar symbolism
would be found in heraldry. Therefore, those who chose a
baskilisk or a cockatrice as a symbol would probably wish
to represent themselves as deadly warriors.

Figure 5. Basilisk statant.

Figure 5 shows a baskilisk facing dexter statant. The

creature is a baskilisk, as revealed by its rooster-shaped
head and draconic-body.
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Figure 6. Western dragon passant.

Western Dragons
While many viewed dragons as a symbol of the Devil, the
Western dragon, four-legged and winged, is a very common
symbol on crests. This can be explained by history, for Uther
Pendragon, the father of legendary King Arthur, had the symbol
of the dragon on his crest. [7]
Keen sight, power, and fearsomeness are usually connected to
dragons. [8] Treasure is also thought of when Western dragons
are imagined. Thus, dragons obviously symbolized powerful,
wealthy people who guarded their wealth keenly. [8]
Figure 6 shows a Western dragon facing dexter in passant
position, while Figure 7 shows a Western dragon sejant facing
dexter.
Figure 7. Western dragon sejant.

Dragons were quite common in heraldry, only second to the

wyvern. Some of these have been given to those who have slain a dragon. For instance, Sir
Moris Berkeley's coat of arms was changed after he slew the Bistern Dragon.
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Other
Slain Dragons were not just chosen to stand alone on crests, they were
often there to accompany other things. In most cases, these other
objects are dwarfed by the dragon on the crest. However, especially in
cases of augmentation and alteration, dragons were used as symbols of
stories.
Figure 8, for example, shows a lion toppling a dragon. This may be in
reference to the slaying of a dragon by a member of a family whose
coat of arms was a lion before; however, it is also quite possible that its
symbolism is deeper. Perhaps the lion is a symbol of a victorious family
over another family whose symbol was a Western dragon.

Figure 10. Western

dragon impaled by sword.

Figure 9 holds both a bird and wyvern, which could be an example of

two powerful families marrying together. Then again, since the crests were chosen such a long
time ago, both figures above could simply have been chosen by a family for their own reasons.
Finally, Figure 10 shows a dragon being slain by a sword, which is probably due to a family
member's legend. Again, it could be more of an allegory; they could have defeated an enemy
family who held the symbol of the dragon.

Figure 8. Lion toppling a dragon.

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Closing Notes
Dragons of all kinds play a role in Heraldry, especially in Great Britain, where the Pendragon
has left his mark, literally, and the various families have adopted dragons as their symbols. [7]
While the dragon played a role in heraldry, however, it is also important to know that it did not
change the symbolism of the dragon very much; a dragon in the real world versus a dragon a
shield were two very different things in the minds of those in the Middle Ages, and perhaps even
today.

Figure 9. Bird and wyvern.

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Figures 1-10 were provided by James Fairbairn's Heraldic Crests and are not to be removed from this site.

Footnotes
1. Meaning of Coats of Arms
2. Heraldry Terms & Designs. Link Defunct: <http://home.kc.rr.com/gemstone/heraldry.html>
3. Dragon Stone - Heraldry: Basic Terminology. Link defunct:
<http://www.polenth.com/myth/basic.html>
4. Symbolisms of Heraldry
5. Bagnall Village: Heraldry

6. Sir Francis Drake History. Link Defunct: <http://www.sirfrancisdrakehistory.net/>

7. The Dragon and its Relatives. Link Defunct:
<http://www.heraldryunlimited.com/world/monsters/dragon.htm>
8. Coat of Arms - Charges D-F
9. Coat of Arms - Charges O-Q
10. Coat of Arms - Charges T-Z
For more information on footnotes and references, please see the bibliography.
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Kylie 'drago' McCormick

Last updated: 18 November 2012