COATS OF ARMS

Heraldry of Medieval Flanders

 

Below are the arms (blazon) of various lords in Flanders related to the House of Harnes in the Middle Ages. These do not "belong", as such, to the families, as arms were passed down from father to the eldest son, or to the eldest daughter in the absence of a male heir. Thus, second sons had to differentiate their arms from those of their eldest brother by the use of a device, such as a double tail on a lion displayed by the second son, versus a single tail on the lion displayed by the first son. Alternatively, the second son could display the arms of his wife, if she represented her father's heir.

 

 

Ailly	Antoing	Bethune	Boelare
Boulogne	Enghien	Flanders	Gavere
Ghent	Ghistelle	Harnes	Lens
Liederkerke	Melun	Rasseghem	Reyghersvliet
Towns and Monasteries were also free to choose Coats of Arms. Below are the arms for the Abbey of St. Peter at Ghent, which are the same arms as those displayed today by the town of Harnes, a former fief of the Abbey.

 

 

revised January 1, 2017

 

 

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