#(( wow I don't shut up about heraldry ))

[bleudied]

IV. Heraldry

Heraldry is as much an artform as it is a nom de guerre for a knight when on the battlefield, indicating the identity and pedigree of one's lineage and the pride they carry as they gallop across war in the name of honor and glory. Better understood as one's coat of arms, the science that goes into heraldry is surprisingly in-depth and the symbolism that is carried through with each element lends itself to describing the character and values an individual is expected to uphold. Heraldry is popularly understood in the context of Arthuriana, in the Middle Ages, where knighthood and chivalry was best understood and conveyed in its most accessible variety. Conveniently, Faerghus is situated with countless references to this time period and region. The symbolism of the coat of arms Faerghus and the Blue Lions carry for their banners establishes a constant theme expressed not only by those who fight in its name but for Dimitri himself.

When looking at the coat of arms for Faerghus, it's azure, chevalier on gryphon statant argent, Crest of Blaiddyd argent, pallets argent; the breakdown will be organized following the elements as listed.

Firstly, the color azure. Azure is actually a fairly uncommon tincture used in heraldry, but it can be seen in the coats of arms for King Arthur and Sir Kay. The tincture azure chiefly represents chastity, strength, sincerity, loyalty, and piety ( in terms of planetary governance, azure is associated with Jupiter ). As one might assume, these ideals hold steadfast to those that are admired by the knights of Faerghus, known to uphold chivalry and the kingdom itself having an intimate connection to the church ever since it offered authority to Lugh as the first king of the newly-established Holy Kingdom of Faerghus, then permitted to proselytize throughout the area to spread the influence of the Church of Seiros. Dimitri himself is someone who values sincerity and loyalty, preferring to trust others before casting distrust. While he hides more than he leads on, Dimitri is a man of genuine intent, wearing his heart on his sleeve and incapable of hiding the kindness instilled within him for too long; that being said, he is also a remarkably strong individual in all but his willpower, carrying an imposing figure five years later and being a king that inspires others to follow him even if they believe his kindness to be a place of weakness, admitting its strengths and appealing optimism. Azure’s governance over the planet Jupiter suggests also a theme of kingship, hence why King Arthur’s most well-known coat of arms displays an azure field; in a way, its presence then lends itself to Dimitri’s path in claiming his right to kingship.

The image of a mounted creature is another uncommon sight, rarer than the azure tincture, and depicts a knight riding a griffin. Perhaps the existence of the griffin is a nod to the former union of the Adrestian empire and the newly-formed Kingdom of Faerghus, as the griffin is a mythical creature with parts bird and parts lion. As a result, it is twofold symbol of bravery and strength, of courage and boldness, military leadership, intelligence, and vigilance. The color argent, or silver/white, represents peace, sincerity, innocence, purity, and the Moon. While the moon itself carries far too many meanings and warrants its own meta due to Dimitri being the Azure Moon, the other values represent the very ideals that knighthood is ideally meant to protect as per chivalric code ( thou shalt respect all weaknesses, and shalt constitute thyself the defender of them; thou shalt be generous, and give largesse to everyone; thou shalt be everywhere and always the champion of the Right and the Good against Injustice and Evil. ). As one who upholds much of these values, Dimitri is someone who is naturally predisposed to want to protect the weak, going so far as to sully his own hands and become unclean himself so that others may live on in peace.

I will venture into the Crest of Blaiddyd another time as it deserves its own meta, but the pallets ( the two lines of argent ) represent military strength and fortitude. This imagery, coupled with the griffin highlights the utter ruthlessness and value of strength in Faerghus, where children are taught to fight before learning to write their own name. Dimitri himself embodies this concept in spades due to his unusual gift of strength and his comfort zone being in the battlefield, wherein he is able to cast aside his limiters and permit his viciousness to unveil itself before his foes. But to say that this is all there is to this concept would do it an injustice as Dimitri is also an excellent general who values the lives of those around him ( outside of his dark period ), caring for the lives and lamenting the deaths of his soldiers and comrades as if he lost another member of his kin. That being said, he is an enduring individual, who contradicts his care for others by discarding care for himself, wielding valor in his right hand and daring all dangers, even death itself if it means delivering peace. For five years Dimitri wandered alone and survived alone; his strength is just shy of being inhuman.

We finally find ourselves with the coat of arms for the Blue Lions. Due to the design for the Blue Lions being irregular and not easily applicable to standard rules for heraldry, certain liberties will be taken.

The coat of arms for the Blue Lions is party per fess argent and azure, lion's face affronté azure. As expressed earlier in this meta, azure and argent represent ideals of sincerity, loyalty, piety, innocence, peace, etc. In stark contrast, however, bleu celeste is a considerably newer ticture and therefore does not hold similar significance compared to the aforementioned; therefore, one can inject meaning in this featureless tincture as something apropos for the Blue Lions, being a class in the Officer’s Academy where students are enrolled to learn about themselves and find their strengths so that they may grow into a brighter tomorrow.

The fess stands for military honor, a readiness for battle in order to stand for the people should danger arise. With the Blue Lions standing as knights-to-be destined to fend their homeland from threatening forces, it stands to reason that they would require the fess as a reminder of their duty to the people, most of all Dimitri whose very nature and aspirations involve helping those who cannot help themselves. For Dimitri, to become a shield for the weak is what a knight of Faerghus ought to aspire, and for as lofty and unrealistic as it may sound—because it is—these are the values that allow him to continue pursuing his campaign to bring the Adrestian Empire to its knees. He believes that if his gifted strength and talents for bloodshed only have their place on the battlefield, they might as well be utilized towards a just cause, lest he abuse his station and become the very ideal he wished to eliminate.

Finally we arrive at the lion. The lion alone is another topic deserving of a meta. Its azure hue strengthens the ideals of the Faeghus coat of arms for a new generation to uphold. While the breadth of animals used in heraldry is extensive, none capture as strong of a presence as the lion. Unlike the common lion rampant, the Blue Lions depict a lion’s face affronté, yet the symbolic importance of it remains the same: courage, nobility, royalty, strength, stateliness and valour. Lions are a common symbol for royalty to use in their coat of arms ( e.g. King John, Richard the Lionheart, etc. ) and Dimitri is no exception to this, having lion imagery employed in his personal battalions as well as his own demeanor as Lugh reincarnated. In addition to the aforementioned qualities, the lion is seen as a symbol of chivalry, contrasting the eagle which is used as a symbol of imperialism, the dichotomy of which does not go ignored with the dynamic between the Holy Kingdom and the Empire.

The coat of arms for the Holy Kingdom and Blue Lions houses within it a testament to its history, the values it still fights to uphold since the days of Lugh during the War of the Eagle and Lion, and the hope of a future that continues to maintain these lofty traditions for the good of all.