Note: this page was last modified in October 1997; it needs to be revised.

Heraldry in Byzantium?
The use of heraldic insignia as a symbolic representation of families did not develop in Byzantium. The broad range of images (Christ, the Virgin, the Cross, various saints) found on seals are personal rather than familial. Certain blazons have, however, been interpreted by some scholars as official imperial or familial coats of arms. Not until after the restoration of 1261 and the reign of the Paleologues can one find any trace of heraldry. After that date, the Byzantine court was much more open to importations from the West, for example tournaments. The Paleologues became allied with a number of prominent Western dynasties; this may have also contributed to their adoption of armorial bearings. The use then spread to the Greek nobility. In any case, this Byzantine heraldry of the 14th and 15th centuries remained marginal.

The Arms of Byzantium

Two particular insignia have attracted a lot of attention, namely the double-headed eagle and the "tetragrammatic cross" (cross between 4 B's). First, the eagle: it appears as a decorative motif at the court of the last Comnenoi and the Ange family (12th c.), on the cermonial costumes of members of the imperial family but not on the emperor himself. The same is true of the courtt of the Laskaris in the empire of Nicea (1204-61). The Crusaders have used the double-headed eagle as symbol of the empire, although the arms of the empire itself were: Gules, a cross between four crosslets or inscribed in an annulet each and between four crosslets each, all or. The double-headed eagle was taken back to Western Europe by two daughters of the first Latin emperor, one who struck coins in Flanders with the eagle, the other marrying into the house of Savoy and bringing the eagle in the Savoy achievement. Even after the restoration of the empire and the Paleologue emperors, the eagle is still used by the imperial family but not the emperor. The first known use is in 1301. In the 14th c. the Paleologues used either a single-headed or double-headed eagle as emblem, settling on the double-headed eagle in the 15th c. But it always remained outside of the shield. The exceptions occur in Western documents: Ulrich von Richental's Conciliumbuch describing the arms of the participants in the Constanz council of 1414-18 is one. As for the other, in August 1439 John VIII Palaiologos conferred upon Giacomo de Morellis, a citizen of Florence, the right to place on his banner the imperial blazon (semeion); a painted representation of a shield gules with a double-headed eagle or on the document is probably a posterior addition. Thus the eagle was probably never thought of as a charge, which explains the tradition of the former imperial families (as well as states such as Serbia) of placing their arms on an escutcheon on the breast of the eagle. As for the tetragrammatic cross, even though it was considered at the time by some to be the arms of the Paleologue family, it was in fact the arms of the Byzantine empire. The motif of a croos between four objects is derived from Constantine's labarum and has long figured on Byzantine coins, since the 6th c. The B's of the tetragrammatic cross have been mostly interpreted as flints or firestones (purekbola in Greek), but also as letters. It is possible that they were initially letters, and later assimilated to firestones. The interpretation of the four B's standing for the motto "Basileus Basileon Basileuon

Basileonton" (king of kings, ruling over those who rule) may well be posterior. Main source:

D. Cernovodeanu: contributions ; l'tude de l'hraldique byzantine et post-byzantine, Jahrbuch der sterreichischen Byzantinik 32.2 (1982) 409-22.

Other sources (not consulted):

Babuin, A. 'Standards and insignia of Byzantium.' Byzantion: Revue internationale des tudes byzantines 71:1, (2001), 7-59 G. Gerola: l'aquila bizantina e l'aquila imperiale a due teste, Felix Ravenna 43 (1934) 7-36. A. Fourlas: Adler & Doppeladler, in Phyloxenia (Mnster 1980), 97-120. W.H. Rdt von Collenberg: Byzantinische Prheraldik des 10. & 11. Jhs, recueil du 12e congrs International des Sciences Hraldique et Gnalogique (Stuttgart 1978), 169-81. (also published in Der Herold, Bd. 8, Heft 10, april-june 1977, p. 197-209). A. Soloviev: les emblmes hraldiques de Byzance et les Slaves, Seminarium Kondakovianum 7 (1935) 119-164.

Arms of Some Byzantine Families

These arms all come from Rietstap. The Angelos, Cantacuzene, Comnene, Ducas, Lascaris, Paleologue, Vatatzes families held the imperial throne at some point, and all but one display a double-headed eagle. A branch of the Paleologue family ruled over Montferrat in Northern Italy, when the title passed to the Gonzaga family (who quartered their arms with Paleologue); the latter died out in the early 18th century. As for the Comnene, they were still living in Corsica at the time of the French Revolution.

Angelos gules, 4 lozenges Or with an angel on each. (Greece) Argyros Or, a cross between 4 stars azure. Barbaro Argent, an annulet gules. Cantacuzene Gules, a double-headed eagle displayed crowned, Or. (Greece) Comnene Or, beneath an imperial crown proper, a two-headed eagle displayed Sable on a sword per pale Argent, the hilt Or. (Corsica, Savoy) Comneno Or, beneath an imperial crown proper, a double-headed eagle displayed Sable, holding in each claw a sword paleways Argent; on its breast an oval escutcheon, Argent 3 bells (?) Azure. (Milan) Comnenos (emperors of Trebizonde): Argent, three bars Sable. (Greece)

Ducas Azure, a cross Argent. (Greece) Koressio (dukes): Sable, beneath an imperial crown proper, a two-headed eagle displayed Or, holding in each claw a sword paleways Argent. (Greece)

Lascaris Or, a double-headed eagle Sable, beaked Gules, beneath an eastern crown Or. (Greece) Lascaris Gules, a double-headed eagle displayed crowned, Or; on its breast an escutcheon:

Gules, a sun Or. (Verona, Dalmatia) Lascaris quartered Azure and Argent, on which an double-headed eagle Sable, membered, beaked, crowned Or; on its breast an escutcheon: Gules, a sun Or. (Verona). Lascaris Gules, a double-headed eagle displayed crowned, Or. (Greece, Provence) Lascaris quartered Gules a chief Or; and Gules, a double-headed eagle displayed crowned, Or. Lascaris-Castellar: Or, a double-headed eagle Sable, membered, beaked Gules. (Italy)

Melissinos Gules, an escutcheon or, 3 bells sable, between six bees 1, 2, 2, 1 of the second.

Melisurgo Azure, on a mound in base three daisies argent, below four bees per fess or, in dexter chief a sun issuant of the last. Micrulaches Gules, three lions passant or. Palaelogos Gules, a Cross and four B's Or. (Greece) Paleologue Gules, a double-headed eagle displayed crowned, Or. (Greece, Piedmont) Phocas Gules, four lozenges conjoined in pale gules. Phouskarnaki Azure, the figure of the Blessed Virgin bearing the Divine Child argent. Phrangopoulos Sable, a fleur-de-lys or. Rhadino Argent, the sun in splendor or. Rhangabe Azure, a cross flory between the letters "e", "n", "t", "n" argent. Rhaoules Azure, a leopard rampant or. Rhodocanakis Gules, a two-headed eagle or, on its breast an escutcheon Azure, a cross argent between ?. Vatatzes Vert, a double-headed eagle displayed Or, above each head an estoile Argent. (Greece) Vlasto Gules, three plates 2 and 1. Vlattera Gules, 4 bends or.

National Heraldry Page | Search Heraldica | Heraldic Glossary | Contact Franois Velde Jan 13, 2005

Heraldry In Byzantium & The Vlasto Family 00-04-1998

The Vlastos being already prominent in Rome by the end of the 2nd Century A.D. and probably long before that, their position was almost certainly augmented by Constantine The Great (c. 274 337 A.D.) who was not only the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity but also mobilised Christian church leaders to reinforce his own position (c.323 325 A.D.). Furthermore, by establishing his new 'Roman' empire in Byzantium (Constantinople), he needed even more the skills, statesmanship and influence of the old, well-

established dynastic Greek families who had already dominated Black Sea and Mediterranean trade for over 1,000 years. By 1092 A.D. the Vlastos were at the centre of events in Constantinople and members of its principal noble families. These families were: Angelos, Argyros, Barbaro, Cantacuzene, Comnene (Comneno), Ducas, Lascaris, Melissinos, Melisurgo, Micrulaches, Palaelogos (Paleologue), Phocas, Phouskarnaki, Phrangopoulos, Rhadino, Rhangabe, Rhaoules (Ralli), Rhodocanakis (Rodocanachi), Vatatzes, Vlasto and Vlattera. With sublime precision, Philip Argenti claims the Vlastos occupied the 6th position among these principal families! I am grateful to Franois R. Velde for this interesting introduction to the orgin of the double-headed eagle 'motif' which appeared in Byzantium in the C12th13th and was adopted by a number of the principal noble families at that time later being assumed by several imperial houses, such as in Russia, and states such as Serbia. The mystery is why the Vlasto family appears to have adopted it as their symbol centuries earlier (see examples below) and what its significance was then long before the arrival of the Empire in Byzantium which looked 'east and west'. See also: Vlasto Arms (1) c.1300-1500 A.D.; Vlasto Arms (2) c.1300-1500 A.D.; Vlasto Arms (3) c.1300-1500 A.D.; Vlasto Arms (4) c.1300-1500 A.D.; Vlasto Arms (5) c.1300-1500 A.D.; Vlasto Arms (6) c.1300-1500 A.D.; Vlasto Eagles (1) c. 300 B.C.; Vlasto Eagles (2) c.50 A.D. See other pages concerning the history of the Vlasto family

Heraldry in Byzantium? The use of heraldic insignia as a symbolic representation of families did not develop in Byzantium. The broad range of images (Christ, the Virgin, the Cross, various saints) found on seals are personal rather than familial. Certain blazons have, however, been interpreted by some scholars as official imperial or familial coats of arms. Not until after the restoration of 1261 and the reign of

the Paleologues can one find any trace of heraldry. After that date, the Byzantine court was much more open to importations from the West, for example tournaments. The Paleologues became allied with a number of prominent Western dynasties; this may have also contributed to their adoption of armorial bearings. The use then spread to the Greek nobility. In any case, this Byzantine heraldry of the C14th and C15th remained marginal. The Arms of Byzantium Two particular insignia have attracted a lot of attention, namely the doubleheaded eagle and the "tetragrammatic cross" (cross between 4 B's). First, the eagle: it appears as a decorative motif at the court of the last Comnenoi and the Ange family (C12th), on the ceremonial costumes of members of the imperial family but not on the emperor himself. The same is true of the court of the Laskaris in the empire of Nicea (1204-61). The Crusaders have used the double-headed eagle as symbol of the empire, although the arms of the empire itself were: Gules, a cross between four crosslets or inscribed in an annulet each and between four crosslets each, all or. The double-headed eagle was taken back to Western Europe by two daughters of the first Latin emperor, one who struck coins in Flanders with the eagle, the other marrying into the house of Savoy and bringing the eagle in the Savoy achievement. Even after the restoration of the empire and the Paleologue emperors, the eagle is still used by the imperial family but not the emperor. The first known use is in 1301. [N.B. While no doubt true in terms of formal court heraldry, the double-headed eagle (e.g. as adopted by the Vlasto family) appears to have a much earlier provenance see: Eagles 1 and Eagles 2 C.A.L.] In the C14th the Paleologues used either a single-headed or double-headed eagle as an emblem, settling on the double-headed eagle in the C15th. But it always remained outside the shield. The exceptions occur in Western documents: Ulrich von Richental's Conciliumbuch describing the arms of the participants in the Constanz council of 1414-18 is one. As for the other, in August 1439 John VIII Palaiologos conferred upon Giacomo de Morellis, a citizen of Florence, the right to place on his banner the imperial blazon (semeion); a painted representation of a shield gules with a 'double-headed eagle or' on the document is probably a posterior addition. Thus the eagle was probably never thought of as a charge, which explains the tradition of the former imperial families (as well as states such as Serbia) of placing their arms on an escutcheon on the breast of the eagle. As for the tetragrammatic cross, even though it was considered at the time by some to be the arms of the Paleologue family, it was in fact the arms of the Byzantine empire. The motif of a croos between four objects is derived from

Constantine's labarum and has long figured on Byzantine coins, since the C6th. The B's of the tetragrammatic cross have been mostly interpreted as flints or firestones (purekbola in Greek), but also as letters. It is possible that they were initially letters, and later assimilated to firestones. The interpretation of the four B's standing for the motto "Basileus Basileon Basileuon Basileonton" (king of kings, ruling over those who rule) may well be posterior.
Main source: o D. Cernovodeanu: Contributions ; l'tude de l'Hraldique Byzantine et postByzantine, Jahrbuch der sterreichischen Byzantinik 32.2 (1982) 409-22.

Other sources (not consulted): 1. G. Gerola: L'Aquila Bizantina e l'Aquila Imperiale a Due Teste Felix Ravenna 43 (1934) 7-36. 2. A. Fourlas: Adler & Doppeladler, in Phyloxenia Mnster 1980), 97-120. 3. W.H. Rdt von Collenberg: Byzantinische Prheraldik des 10. & 11. Jhs, Recueil du 12e Congrs International des Sciences Hraldique et Gnalogique (Stuttgart 1978), 169-81. (also published in Der Herold, Bd. 8, Heft 10, april-june 1977, p. 197-209). 4. A. Soloviev: Les Emblmes Hraldiques de Byzance et les Slaves Seminarium Kondakovianum 7 (1935) 119-164.

Arms of Some Byzantine Families These arms all come from Rietstap. The Angelos, Cantacuzene, Comnene, Ducas, Lascaris, Paleologue and Vatatzes families held the imperial throne at some point and all but one display a double-headed eagle. A branch of the Paleologue family ruled over Montferrat in Northern Italy when the title passed to the Gonzaga family (who quartered their arms with Paleologue); the latter died out in the early 18th Century. As for the Comnene, they were still living in Corsica at the time of the French Revolution. 1. 2. 3. 4. Angelos gules, 4 lozenges Or with an angel on each. (Greece) Argyros Or, a cross between 4 stars azure. Barbaro Argent, an annulet gules. Cantacuzene Gules, a double-headed eagle displayed crowned, Or. (Greece) 5. Comnene Or, beneath an imperial crown proper, a two-headed eagle displayed Sable on a sword per pale Argent, the hilt Or. (Corsica, Savoy) [See references to Anne Comnene and her references to the Vlastos] 6. Comneno Or, beneath an imperial crown proper, a double-headed eagle displayed Sable, holding in each claw a sword paleways Argent; on its breast an oval escutcheon, Argent 3 bells (?) Azure. (Milan) Comnenos (emperors of Trebizonde): Argent, three bars Sable. (Greece) 7. Ducas Azure, a cross Argent. (Greece) Koressio (dukes): Sable, beneath an imperial crown proper, a two-headed eagle displayed Or,

holding in each claw a sword paleways Argent. (Greece) [See reference to Grand Duke Jean Ducas, Crete & the Vlasto family, AD 1089] 8. Lascaris Or, a double-headed eagle Sable, beaked Gules, beneath an eastern crown Or. (Greece) 9. Lascaris Gules, a double-headed eagle displayed crowned, Or; on its breast an escutcheon: Gules, a sun Or. (Verona, Dalmatia) 10. Lascaris quartered Azure and Argent, on which an double-headed eagle Sable, membered, beaked, crowned Or; on its breast an escutcheon: Gules, a sun Or. (Verona). 11. Lascaris Gules, a double-headed eagle displayed crowned, Or. (Greece, Provence) 12. Lascaris quartered Gules a chief Or; and Gules, a double-headed eagle displayed crowned, Or. Lascaris-Castellar: Or, a double-headed eagle Sable, membered, beaked Gules. (Italy) 13. Melissinos Gules, an escutcheon or, 3 bells sable, between six bees 1, 2, 2, 1 of the second. 14. Melisurgo Azure, on a mound in base three daisies argent, below four bees per fess or, in dexter chief a sun issuant of the last. 15. Micrulaches Gules, three lions passant or. 16. Palaelogos Gules, a Cross and four B's Or. (Greece) 17. Paleologue Gules, a double-headed eagle displayed crowned, Or. (Greece, Piedmont) 18. Phocas Gules, four lozenges conjoined in pale gules. 19. Phouskarnaki Azure, the figure of the Blessed Virgin bearing the Divine Child argent. 20. Phrangopoulos Sable, a fleur-de-lys or. 21. Rhadino Argent, the sun in splendor or. 22. Rhangabe Azure, a cross flory between the letters "e", "n", "t", "n" argent. 23. Rhaoules (Ralli) Azure, a leopard rampant or. 24. Rhodocanakis (Rodocanachi) Gules, a two-headed eagle or, on its breast an escutcheon Azure, a cross argent between ?. 25. Vatatzes Vert, a double-headed eagle displayed Or, above each head an estoile Argent. (Greece) 26. Vlasto Gules, three plates 2 and 1. 27. Vlattera Gules, 4 bends or. Franois R. Velde

Vlasto Arms Armoiries de droite: Ecartel, aux 1 er et 4 me d'argent l'aigle bicphale ploye de sable, lampasse de gueules, pose sur un sceptre, surmonte d'une couronne royale du champ. Aux 2 me et 3 me de gueules, charg de trois boutons de sinople, fleuris d'argent, poss en pal, rangs en fasce. Casque: de profile a cinq grilles Lambrequins: d'or et de sable Devise: BLASTANW Armoiries de gauche:

D'azur l'aigle d'argent sur une champagne d'or charge d'un rameau de sinople pos en fasce; au chef d'argent charg d'une croix patte de gueules. Cimier: deux ailes d'argent sortant de chaque ct dur casque Casque: de face quatre grilles Lambrequins: d'or et de sinople Devise: BLASTANW (See: Archivo Antico Biblioteca Universitaria, Padova, Consiglieri, Nazione Ultramarina, No. 482)

Tapestry versions of the arms described above. See other pages concerning the history of the Vlasto family Having sought and failed to obtain the permission of the author to reproduce this extract (published on the WWW), I gratefully acknowledge his work and contribution to this subject CAL Christopher Long (1998). Copyright, Syndication & All Rights Reserved Worldwide.
The text and graphical content of this and linked documents are the copyright of their author and or creator and site designer, Christopher Long, unless otherwise stated. No publication, reproduction or exploitation of this material may be made in any form prior to clear written agreement of terms with the author or his agents. Christopher Long

Hellenic Heraldry's roots are lost in the mists of time. It is believed by many that the ancient Greeks were the first to use symbols consistenly and over many generations to identify a warrior, clan or city state. In Aescylus' tragedy "Seven Against Thebes" we have the first record of a shield blazon. ANCIENT PERIOD Aeschylus describes with detail the devices found on each general's battle shields and how they were recognized more easily with those devices in battle while wearing their classical Greek hoplite helmets. Armour was very expensive and the arms of each warrior were almost always passed down to his eldest son along with the devices painted on them. Soon each family was easily identified with its coat of arms. Thus, some have credited the ancient Greeks with the first hereditary use of familial arms. In addition, Greek city states are the first recorded use of state heraldry. Each city state in Ancient Greece had its own coat of arms. Athens had the Owl, symbol of the city's protector goddess Athena, and of wisdom. The island of Aegina, where the first coins ever used in the world were struck, had the sea turtle and so on and so forth. These emblems were placed on the coins of each city and were prominently featured at the entrance gates and ports of each city. The fearsome armies of Sparta marched into battle in formation carrying identical shields with a red Lambda painted on them which stood for Lakedaimon, the original name of Sparta, which serves as another example of well established military and state heraldry. The Roman occupation continued the tradition of state heraldry in the roman armies, who marched under the Roman eagle, but familial heraldry in Greece waned and all but dissapeared during this period because the Greeks no longer had arms to pass down to their sons. They were now citizens of the Roman empire and Greek Hoplite citizen armies ceased to exist. BYZANTINE PERIOD When Constantine the Great moved the capital of the empire from Rome to the ancient Greek colony of Byzantium, which later was named Constantinople, he started a new period in Greek history. The Roman empire was Hellenized and its religion officially changed to christianity. This era ushered Heraldry back into the Hellenic world. The first few hundred years retained roman characteristics and thus not much use of coats of arms. However, interaction with the west and the introduction of the feudal system in Byzantium brought back the use of familial heraldry. The noble families, initially, of the empire began using heraldic devices to identify their families. There are many records of Byzantine heraldry which have survived, with modifications, to the modern era, still in use by Greek families. Byzantine heraldry flourished during the last two centuries of the empire. The empire was most commonly known by the double headed eagle crowned holding an orb on one claw and a sword on the other. This symbolized that the empire ruled the east and the west. The Imperial arms born by the emperor in battle consisted of a shield divided in four quadrangles by a cross, each quadrant containing and outward facing beta "B". This stood for "Basileus Basileon Basilevein Basilevonton" which means in ancient Greek: "King of Kings Ruling over Rulers". The double headed eagle made its way into many family arms. Initially it was only allowed to be used by families that at some point had given an emperor to the empire, but eventually other smaller branches of those families used a version of the eagle in their arms. The Byzantine empire inspired awe to the medieval world and the other rulers of the time. Even when its lands were slowly disappearing its ammassed wealth, its court ceremony, huge churches and buildings left visiting dignitaries and diplomats awe struck. Byzantine princesses that would marry other kings would bring a piece of that pomp and ceremony with them to their new courts. The combination of these two would introduce elements of Greco-Byzantine heraldry into the western world and the medieval kingdoms of Europe. Russian Tsars outright took the double