From 28009c7e8f983c0f355f5b52569c4b218de9eab4 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: "James P. Howard, II" Date: Sun, 11 Aug 2024 17:11:59 -0400 Subject: [PATCH] formatting fix in blog post --- ...timores-influence-on-marylands-heraldry.md | 114 +++++++++--------- 1 file changed, 54 insertions(+), 60 deletions(-) diff --git a/_posts/2024/2024-03-12-lord-baltimores-influence-on-marylands-heraldry.md b/_posts/2024/2024-03-12-lord-baltimores-influence-on-marylands-heraldry.md index 09570a9..997a537 100644 --- a/_posts/2024/2024-03-12-lord-baltimores-influence-on-marylands-heraldry.md +++ b/_posts/2024/2024-03-12-lord-baltimores-influence-on-marylands-heraldry.md @@ -15,24 +15,22 @@ tags: - semiotics --- -I am taking a course in heraldry and one of the assignments in the course -is to take a local examples of civic, -corporate, and ecclesiastical arms, and blazon them and then describe -the symbolry. Of course, this assignment assumes you are in Great Britain -where coats of arms are commonly used. I live in the United States. -But I also live in Maryland... - -Living in Maryland, far from the shores of England, one might not -expect to encounter much English tradition. But Maryland -sometimes has trouble distancing itself from some of the ancient -English traditions. +I am taking a course in heraldry and one of the assignments in the course is to +take a local examples of civic, corporate, and ecclesiastical arms, and blazon +them and then describe the symbolry. Of course, this assignment assumes you +are in Great Britain where coats of arms are commonly used. I live in the +United States. But I also live in Maryland... + +Living in Maryland, far from the shores of England, one might not expect to +encounter much English tradition. But Maryland sometimes has trouble +distancing itself from some of the ancient English traditions. Our state flag, derived from the arms of [Cecil Calvert, 2nd Baron -Baltimore](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cecil_Calvert,_2nd_Baron_Baltimore), -serves as a vibrant testament to this enduring legacy. -Unlike most American states, Maryland goes a step further by consistently -incorporating coats of arms into the seals of its institutions, -blending old-world symbolism with modern identity. +Baltimore](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cecil_Calvert,_2nd_Baron_Baltimore), +serves as a vibrant testament to this enduring legacy. Unlike most American +states, Maryland goes a step further by consistently incorporating coats of arms +into the seals of its institutions, blending old-world symbolism with modern +identity.
{% include figure.html width="4" @@ -46,21 +44,21 @@ blending old-world symbolism with modern identity. alt="The Seal of Maryland" cap="The Seal of Maryland" %}
-This is all to say that as Marylanders, we will happily die on any -hill over our state's flag. It means more to us than the flag of -the United States, and we claim ownership over that, too (our -national anthem, [was written about it in Maryland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Scott_Key)). -And the examples -will all alude to the Maryland flag, in different ways. It is, to -put it bluntly, the way we roll. +This is all to say that as Marylanders, we will happily die on any hill over our +state's flag. It means more to us than the flag of the United States, and we +claim ownership over that, too (our national anthem, [was written about it in +Maryland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Scott_Key)). And the examples +will all alude to the Maryland flag, in different ways. It is, to put it +bluntly, the way we roll. ## Civic Heraldry: Montgomery County -[Montgomery County](https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/) presents a unique instance within Maryland's -landscape, boasting a civic coat of arms that stands distinct from -its official seal: +[Montgomery County](https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/) presents a unique +instance within Maryland's landscape, boasting a civic coat of arms that stands +distinct from its official seal: -> Quarterly, per fess embattled: 1st and 4th, Azure, a fleur-de-lis Or; 2nd and 3rd, Gules, a ring Or, stoned Azure. +> Quarterly, per fess embattled: 1st and 4th, Azure, a fleur-de-lis Or; 2nd and +> 3rd, Gules, a ring Or, stoned Azure.
{% include figure.html width="4" @@ -74,21 +72,20 @@ its official seal: alt="The Seal of Montgomery County" cap="The Seal of Montgomery County" %}
-Montgomery County was named for Richard Montgomery. Accordingly, -the arms are a reference to him. They include the fleur-de-lis and -the ring, both used on Richard Montgomery's coat of arms. But they are organized differently. -Instead, the arms are quartered to present these charged, as a -subtle nod to the Maryland coat of arms. Also, like with the State -of Maryland, Montgomery County uses these arms for its flag. Another -interesting aspect is the embattling of the fess division. I have -seen this described as being about the jagged lines of county -boundaries. But I think, instead, this is due to Richard Montgomery's +Montgomery County was named for Richard Montgomery. Accordingly, the arms are a +reference to him. They include the fleur-de-lis and the ring, both used on +Richard Montgomery's coat of arms. But they are organized differently. Instead, +the arms are quartered to present these charged, as a subtle nod to the Maryland +coat of arms. Also, like with the State of Maryland, Montgomery County uses +these arms for its flag. Another interesting aspect is the embattling of the +fess division. I have seen this described as being about the jagged lines of +county boundaries. But I think, instead, this is due to Richard Montgomery's position as a soldier and general. -Interestingly, the arms find their primary manifestation not in -traditional uses but through modern adaptations, like the county's -seals, which vary in design for different purposes, demonstrating -the flexibility of heraldic traditions in public symbolism. +Interestingly, the arms find their primary manifestation not in traditional uses +but through modern adaptations, like the county's seals, which vary in design +for different purposes, demonstrating the flexibility of heraldic traditions in +public symbolism. ## Corporate Heraldry: Johns Hopkins University @@ -110,18 +107,17 @@ state and to its educational mission: alt="The Logo of the Johns Hopkins University" cap="The Logo of the Johns Hopkins University" %} -The university's seal features the Lord Baltimore's arms, untouched, -but adds symbols of learning and science to signify its purpose and -aspirations. While the seal remains important for formal occasions -like diplomas, the university has also adopted a more simplified -emblem for everyday use, showcasing the adaptability of heraldic -symbols in a digital age. +The university's seal features the Lord Baltimore's arms, untouched, but adds +symbols of learning and science to signify its purpose and aspirations. While +the seal remains important for formal occasions like diplomas, the university +has also adopted a more simplified emblem for everyday use, showcasing the +adaptability of heraldic symbols in a digital age. ## Ecclesiastical Heraldry: The Archdiocese of Baltimore -The [Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore](https://www.archbalt.org/)'s -arms offer a distinct interpretation of heraldic traditions, reflecting its -position within the ecclesiastical hierarchy of the United States: +The [Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore](https://www.archbalt.org/)'s arms +offer a distinct interpretation of heraldic traditions, reflecting its position +within the ecclesiastical hierarchy of the United States: > Quarterly, Azure and Argent, in dexter chief a star of the Second, a cross > botonny quarterly, Second and Gules. @@ -136,17 +132,15 @@ position within the ecclesiastical hierarchy of the United States: alt="The Arms of Crossland" cap="The Arms of Crossland" %} -By adopting a variation of the Crossland arms and incorporating a -singular star, the Archdiocese's heraldry underscores its primacy -in the nation's Catholic Church, an elegant merger of tradition and -symbolism that resonates with the faithful and the broader community -alike. +By adopting a variation of the Crossland arms and incorporating a singular star, +the Archdiocese's heraldry underscores its primacy in the nation's Catholic +Church, an elegant merger of tradition and symbolism that resonates with the +faithful and the broader community alike. ## Conclusion -Maryland's embrace of heraldry offers a fascinating glimpse into -how ancient symbols can find new life in modern identities. From -civic to ecclesiastical, these emblems tell stories of valor, faith, -and learning, connecting the past to the present in a language of -colors and shapes that is as meaningful today as it was centuries -ago. +Maryland's embrace of heraldry offers a fascinating glimpse into how ancient +symbols can find new life in modern identities. From civic to ecclesiastical, +these emblems tell stories of valor, faith, and learning, connecting the past to +the present in a language of colors and shapes that is as meaningful today as it +was centuries ago.