International Heraldry Day falls on June 10th each year. The day is dedicated to the vibrant and multifaceted world of heraldry – the art and science of coat‐of‐arms design rooted in a 900-year-old graphic tradition. It is the day when heraldists draw attention to and share knowledge about heraldry’s history and practice. The idea for the day originated within a Polish heraldry community and was first celebrated in 2013. June 10th was chosen because on that date in 1128, King Henry I of England presented a blue shield bearing six golden lions to his son-in-law Geoffrey of Anjou – an event often regarded as the birth of heraldry. The emblem of International Heraldry Day is a blue shield with a silver oak tree, across which lies a recumbent golden lion.
Historical background
On June 10, 1128, in the city of Rouen in Normandy, an event took place that is often cited as heraldry’s “birth.” The young Geoffrey Plantagenet (Godfrey of Anjou) was knighted by his future father-in-law, King Henry I of England. During the ceremony, he received a gift: a blue shield adorned with six golden lions. This is considered the first heraldic coat of arms in Western European tradition. Since then, coats of arms – or “arms” – have been used by royal families, nobility, and chivalric orders, and later by cities, universities, and other institutions (and today even by private individuals).
Heraldry’s roots, however, extend even further back to ancient emblematic and symbolic traditions. In the Middle Ages, a formal system emerged with specific rules governing how colors, metals, and patterned furs (known as the “tinctures” of heraldry) could be combined. The poses in which figures on a shield are depicted were also codified, as was the specialized language (blazon) used to describe a coat of arms in text so that an artist could accurately recreate it.
The right to a coat of arms
According to established Swedish heraldic practice, every individual in Sweden has the right to bear a coat of arms and its accompanying helm decoration, regardless of whether they belong to the nobility or are non-noble (civilian). Traditionally, arms were inherited from parent to child through agnatic descent (inherited through the male line), but in modern times it has become increasingly common for children to inherit arms from their mother’s side (cognatic descent), or even a combination of both parents’ arms if both have a historical family coat of arms.
Anyone interested in adopting a coat of arms can consult a heraldist – there are several skilled practitioners in the country. The process often begins with a reflection on family history, identifying symbols or professions that have carried through the generations, and deciding what one wishes to represent moving forward.
A parallel tradition to heraldry is that of emblemata – a freer, more literary symbol tradition combining an image with a motto, often in a puzzling or clever way. Unlike a coat of arms, which usually signals membership in some kind of collective, an emblem is a personal image that elegantly encapsulates the bearer’s life philosophy. It’s something you might have fun experimenting with on your own!
