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Rules of Heraldry Trivia Quiz

A quiz on the science of heraldry.

A multiple-choice quiz by durry. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
durry

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
78,417

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
841

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Which of these is NOT a tincture in heraldry? Hint

tenne

vermillion

purpure

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Question 2 of 10

2. Which of these is NOT a heraldic fur? Hint

vair

pean

ermine

pally

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Question 3 of 10

3. Which of the following is NOT a position for a lion (or other similar beast) to be represented? Hint

sejant

naitant

rampant

couchant

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Question 4 of 10

4. Which of the following is NOT a type of cross used in heraldry? Hint

cross of calvary

cross moline

cross of Christine

Maltese cross

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Question 5 of 10

5. In English heraldry, what is the sign of cadence (mark displayed on top of an existing coat of arms) to signify the eldest son? Hint

an increscent

a label

a martlet

a fleur-de-lys

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Question 6 of 10

6. Which of the following is NOT a field division (partition of the background)? Hint

chevronelly

gyrony

per pale

chief

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Question 7 of 10

7. Which of the following terms may be used to describe a complex line? Hint

engrailed

dovetailed

bretessed

they all are

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Question 8 of 10

8. You should only put a metallic tincture on top of a coloured tincture.

True

False

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Question 9 of 10

9. Which of these is significantly different from the others? Hint

mascle

fusil

rondell

lozenge

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Question 10 of 10

10. Which of the following words would you NOT see used to describe a human arm in heraldry? Hint

vambraced

couped

caparisoned

vested

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Which of these is NOT a tincture in heraldry?

Answer: vermillion

"Or" is gold or yellow, "purpure" is purple and "tenne" has been used to describe orange.

2. Which of these is NOT a heraldic fur?

Answer: pally

Vair is a blue and white pattern representing squirrel skins, ermine is a black on white winter fur, pean is yellow on black fur.

3. Which of the following is NOT a position for a lion (or other similar beast) to be represented?

Answer: naitant

"Naitant" is a position for fish. "Sejant" is a sitting position, "rampant" means a rearing position and "couchant" describes a seated position.

4. Which of the following is NOT a type of cross used in heraldry?

Answer: cross of Christine

Heraldry as a systematic science began to be used around the thirteenth century AD (in other words, from about 1200 onwards). The use of a cross to signify allegience at a distance (one of the primary uses of heraldry) predates this to the time of the first crusade, when soldiers and pilgrims alike wore two strips of red fabric in the shape of a latin cross to show to friend and foe alike that they were on the side of Christianity.

5. In English heraldry, what is the sign of cadence (mark displayed on top of an existing coat of arms) to signify the eldest son?

Answer: a label

The second son gets a crescent, the third a mullet, the fourth a martlet, the fifth an annulet, the sixth gets the fleur-de-lys, the seventh a rose, the eighth a cross moline and finally a ninth son gets a double quatrefoil. No system has been broadly incorporated for the eventuality of a tenth son.

6. Which of the following is NOT a field division (partition of the background)?

Answer: chief

A "chief" is an ORDINARY or a charge placed upon the background. "Chevronelly" is a background split into arrow shapes, "per pale" is a background split into a left and right section, and "gyrony" is a field split into eight parts.

7. Which of the following terms may be used to describe a complex line?

Answer: they all are

A line of division in heraldry need not be a simple straight line. As more people began devising family arms and whatnot, of neccessity more complex rules needed to be invented so as to insure all heraldry was unique. An engrailed line appears like a child might draw a choppy sea, a bretessed line is similar to a sillouette of castle crenelations, and dovetailed looks just like the woodwork joint.

Other lines include dancetty, embattled, enarched, invected, flory, indented, nebuly, potenty, raguly, rayonne, wany, urdy and wreathed.

8. You should only put a metallic tincture on top of a coloured tincture.

Answer: True

However, a colour may be placed NEXT to another colour and so forth.

9. Which of these is significantly different from the others?

Answer: rondell

A "rondell" is a circle, whereas the others are all variations on a diamond shape.

10. Which of the following words would you NOT see used to describe a human arm in heraldry?

Answer: caparisoned

This term describes how a horse is outfitted. :)

Source: Author durry

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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