Herald 3932687 202876488 2008-04-02T20:14:17Z 83.253.59.130 iw sv: {{otheruse|this=heralds of arms|page1=Herald (disambiguation)}} [[Image:Heralds at Garter Service.jpg|thumb|right|250 px|Heralds, wearing tabards, in procession to [[St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle|St. George's Chapel]], [[Windsor Castle]] for the annual service of the [[Order of the Garter]] in [[2006]]. (l-r) [[Wales Herald Extraordinary|Wales Herald of Arms Extraordinary]] ([[Michael Siddons]]), [[Somerset Herald|Somerset Herald of Arms in Ordinary]] ([[David White (officer of arms)|David White]]), [[Maltravers Herald Extraordinary|Maltravers Herald of Arms Extraordinary]] ([[John Martin Robinson|John Robinson]]), [[York Herald|York Herald of Arms in Ordinary]] ([[Henry Paston-Bedingfeld]]), [[Windsor Herald|Windsor Herald of Arms in Ordinary]] ([[William Hunt (officer of arms)|William Hunt]]). ]] [[Image:Herald Gelre of the Duke of Gueldres.jpg|thumb|250px|Herald Gelre of the [[Duke of Gueldres]] (around 1380).]] A '''herald''', or, more correctly, a '''herald of arms''', is an [[Officer of Arms|officer of arms]], ranking between [[pursuivant]] and [[king of arms]]. The title is often applied erroneously to all officers of arms. Heralds were originally [[messenger]]s sent by [[monarch]]s or [[nobleman|noblemen]] to convey messages or [[proclamation]]s. Like other officers of arms, a herald would often wear a surcoat, called a [[tabard]], decorated with the coat of arms of his master. It was possibly due to their role in managing the [[tournament]]s of the [[Late Middle Ages]] that heralds came to be associated with the regulation of the knights' [[coat of arms|coats of arms]]. This science of [[heraldry]] became increasingly important and further regulated over the years, and in several countries around the world it is still overseen by heralds. Thus the primary job of a herald today is to be an expert in coats of arms. In the [[United Kingdom]] heralds are still called upon at times to read proclamations publicly; for which they still wear [[tabard]]s emblazoned with the [[Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom|royal coat of arms]]. The given name [[Harold]] is also derived from this office of arms. There are active official heralds today in several countries, including the [[United Kingdom|United Kingdom]], the [[Republic of Ireland|Republic of Ireland]], [[Canada]], and the [[Republic of South Africa|Republic of South Africa]]. In [[England]] and [[Scotland]] most heralds are full-time employees of the sovereign and are called "Heralds of Arms in Ordinary". Temporary appointments can be made of "Heralds of Arms Extraordinary". These are often appointed for a specific major state occasions, such as a [[coronation]]. In addition, the Canadian Heraldic Authority has created the position of "Herald of Arms Emeritus", with which to honor long-serving or distinguished heraldists. In Scotland, some [[Scottish clan|Clan Chiefs]], the heads of great [[nobility|noble]] houses, still appoint [[Private Officer of Arms|private officers of arms]] to handle cases of heraldic or genealogical importance of clan members, although these are usually pursuivants. == English Heralds == ===English Heralds of Arms in Ordinary=== *[[Richmond Herald|Richmond Herald of Arms in Ordinary]] *[[Chester Herald|Chester Herald of Arms in Ordinary]] *[[Lancaster Herald|Lancaster Herald of Arms in Ordinary]] *[[York Herald|York Herald of Arms in Ordinary]] *[[Somerset Herald|Somerset Herald of Arms in Ordinary]] *[[Windsor Herald|Windsor Herald of Arms in Ordinary]] ===English Heralds of Arms Extraordinary=== *[[Arundel Herald Extraordinary|Arundel Herald of Arms Extraordinary]] *[[Beaumont Herald Extraordinary|Beaumont Herald of Arms Extraordinary]] *[[Maltravers Herald Extraordinary|Maltravers Herald of Arms Extraordinary]] *[[New Zealand Herald Extraordinary|New Zealand Herald of Arms Extraordinary]] *[[Norfolk Herald Extraordinary|Norfolk Herald of Arms Extraordinary]] *[[Surrey Herald Extraordinary|Surrey Herald of Arms Extraordinary]] *[[Wales Herald Extraordinary|Wales Herald of Arms Extraordinary]] ==Scottish Heralds== ===Scottish Heralds of Arms in Ordinary=== *[[Albany Herald|Albany Herald of Arms in Ordinary]] *[[Islay Herald|Islay Herald of Arms in Ordinary]] *[[Marchmont Herald|Marchmont Herald of Arms in Ordinary]] *[[Rothesay Herald|Rothesay Herald of Arms in Ordinary]] *[[Ross Herald|Ross Herald of Arms in Ordinary]] *[[Snowdoun Herald|Snowdoun Herald of Arms in Ordinary]] ===Scottish Heralds of Arms Extraordinary=== *[[Orkney Herald Extraordinary|Orkney Herald of Arms Extraordinary]] ==Canadian Heralds== ===Canadian Heralds of Arms In Ordinary=== *[[Chief Herald of Canada]] *[[Assiniboine Herald|Assiniboine Herald of Arms in Ordinary]] *[[Athabaska Herald|Athabaska Herald of Arms in Ordinary]] *[[Coppermine Herald|Coppermine Herald of Arms in Ordinary]] *[[Fraser Herald|Fraser Herald of Arms in Ordinary]] *[[Miramichi Herald|Miramichi Herald of Arms in Ordinary]] *[[Saguenay Herald|Saguenay Herald of Arms in Ordinary]] *[[Saint-Laurent Herald|Saint-Laurent Herald of Arms in Ordinary]] ===Canadian Heralds of Arms Extraordinary=== *[[Albion Herald Extraordinary|Albion Herald of Arms Extraordinary]] *[[Capilano Herald Extraordinary|Capilano Herald of Arms Extraordinary]] *[[Cowichan Herald Extraordinary|Cowichan Herald of Arms Extraordinary]] *[[Dauphin Herald Extraordinary|Dauphin Herald of Arms Extraordinary]] *[[Niagara Herald Extraordinary|Niagara Herald of Arms Extraordinary]] *[[Rouge Herald Extraordinary|Rouge Herald of Arms Extraordinary]] ===Canadian Heralds of Arms Emeritus=== *[[Outaouais Herald of Arms Emeritus]] *[[Rideau Herald of Arms Emeritus]] ==Indian Empire Herald of Arms Extraordinary== *[[Delhi Herald Extraordinary|Delhi Herald of Arms Extraordinary]] ==See also== * [[Heraldry]] * [[Officer of Arms]] * [[College of Arms|The College of Arms]] * [[Court of the Lord Lyon|The Court of the Lord Lyon]] * [[Canadian Heraldic Authority|The Canadian Heraldic Authority]] ==External links== *[http://www.lyon-court.com The Court of the Lord Lyon] *[http://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk The College of Arms] *[http://www.gg.ca/heraldry/index_e.asp The Canadian Heraldic Authority] *[http://www.nli.ie/fr_offi2.htm The Office of the Chief Herald of Ireland] *[http://www.oireachtas.ie/documents/bills28/bills/2006/2306/b2306s.pdf Genealogy & Heraldry Bill, 2006] Introduced in the Irish Senate to provide a sound legislative basis for Ireland's heraldic authority. [[Category:Heraldry]] [[Category:Legal occupations]] [[cs:Herold]] [[da:Herold]] [[de:Herold]] [[es:Heraldo]] [[fr:Héraut]] [[it:Araldo]] [[he:כרוז]] [[lt:Heroldas]] [[hu:Herold]] [[nl:Heraut]] [[no:Herold]] [[pl:Herold]] [[pt:Arauto]] [[ru:Герольд]] [[sv:Härold]]