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Dictionary of Vexillology: H (Head - Hissflagge)

On this page:

HEAD
HEAD, FLAGSTAFF
HEADING (or HEADER)
HEADQUARTERS FLAG
HEADSTICK
HEAD OF STATE'S COLOUR (or COLOR)
HEAD OF STATE'S STANDARD (or FLAG)
HEIGHT
HELM (or HELMET)
HERALDICALLY BASED (or HERALDICALLY DERIVED)
HERALDIC BANNER
HERALDIC BEASTS
HERALDIC LILY
HERALDIC BADGE
HERALDIC STANDARD
HERALDRY
HILTED (or HILT)
HINOMARU (or HI-NO-MARU)
HIS MAJESTY’S JACK
HISSFLAGGE (or HISSFAHNE)

HEAD

See ‘hoist 1)’ (also ‘heading’ and ‘masthead’).

HEAD, FLAGSTAFF

The topmost point of a flagstaff from which a flag can be flown, and which lies below the cap or finial - see ‘finial’.

HEADING (or HEADER)

A piece of heavy material, usually canvas or double-ply bunting, along the hoist edge of a flag, into which a rope is sewn as the hoistline, or into which grommets are inserted to facilitate the hoisting of a flag - a hoist strip (see also ‘sleeve 2)’, ‘hoistline’, ‘grommet 1)’ and ‘hoist 1)’).

Please note that the increasingly (but by no means entirely) obsolete practice of fixing a flag to its pole or staff by a series of attached loops is almost certainly based on the earlier use of ties – see ‘loops’ (also ‘ring 4)’ and ‘ties’).

HEADQUARTERS FLAG

1) See ‘camp flag’.

2) In US military, naval and some other usage, the rank flag of a commanding officer when flown from their headquarters ashore – a designating (of headquarters) flag (see also ‘rank flag 1)’ and ‘flag of command’).

Camp/Headquarters Flag, Training and Development Branch, Canada (fotw); Rank/Headquarters Flag, Vice Admiral USN (fotw)

HEADSTICK

In largely naval usage a short piece of wood sewn into the top of a flag’s heading to allow the Inglefield clip to be attached about five cm from the top, thus permitting the flag to be hoisted right up to the truck, while enabling the top hoist corner of the flag to remain straight and upright – but see ‘frame 2)’ (also ‘Appendix I’, ‘Inglefield clip’ and ‘truck’).

HEAD OF STATE'S COLOUR (or COLOR)

That flag presented to a military formation by a country’s ruler – see ‘colour 2)’ and ‘colours 2)’.

Presidential Colour of Kenya (fotw); Queen’s Colour of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (fotw); King’s Colour RAF 1947 – 1952, UK (fotw)

HEAD OF STATE'S STANDARD (or FLAG)

A Royal, Imperial or Presidential standard – see ‘royal standard 1)’, ‘imperial standard 1)’ and ‘presidential standard’.

Royal Standard of The Netherlands (fotw); Imperial Standard of Germany 1871 – 1918 (fotw); Presidential Flag of Czechoslovakia 1920 – 1960 (fotw

HEIGHT

1) The vertical measurement of an emblem, shield, charge or badge when detailing the dimensions - but see ‘width 3)’ (also ‘dimensions’ and ‘width across’)

2) see ‘width 1)’

HELM (or HELMET)

The metal headpiece from a suit of armour usually ensigned above the shield in a coat of arms or set of armorial bearings, but sometimes seen as a separate charge – a helmet or casque (see also ‘Appendix IV’, ‘armorial bearings’, ‘coat of arms’, ‘crest 1)’, ‘ensigned’, ‘shield’ and ‘wreath 2)’).

Please note that in English heraldry the style and positioning of a helm varies according to the rank of the bearer, and it is suggested that a suitable glossary or dictionary of heraldry be consulted for full details.

Arms of the late Sir Winston Churchill KG., UK (Official Website); Flag and arms of Josipdol, Croatia (fotw and CS); Flag of Ozerna, Ukraine (fotw); Arms and Flag of Hejtmánkovice, Czech Republic (ICH & fotw)

Helmet of a Knight in English Heraldry (Wikipedia)

HERALDICALLY BASED

See ‘armorial banner 2)’ and ‘livery colours’.

Flag and Arms of Lanškroun, Czech Republic (fotw); Flag and Arms of Galanta, Slovakia (fotw)

HERALDIC BANNER

A banner of arms - see ‘banner of arms’ (also ‘armorial banner 2)’).

Heraldic Banner and Arms of Kyiv, Ukraine (fotw)

HERALDIC BEASTS

The animals, birds and mythological creatures used as supporters and/or charges in a set of armorial bearings, or on a banner of arms or a flag - but see note below (also 'armorial bearings', ‘banner of arms’, ‘griffin’, ‘phoenix’and 'supporters').

Banner of Arms of Balzers, Liechtenstein (fotw); Arms and Flag of Udbina, Croatia (fotw); Flag of DGF 21, Germany (Klaus-Michael Schneider); Presidential Flag of Lithuania (fotw)

Please note that it is beyond the scope of this work to list all the animals traditionally used in heraldry, and for these a suitable glossary or heraldic dictionary should be consulted, however, the basic attitudes in which all such animals may be found (or presented) on a shield or banner of arms are listed in Appendix V.

HERALDIC BADGE

See ‘badge in heraldry’ under ‘badge’.

Badge of the Royal House of Tudor 1486 – 1603, England (wiki)

HERALDIC LILY

See ‘fleur-de-lis’.

Flag of Mesen, Belgium (fotw)

HERALDIC STANDARD

1) In English usage, a flag of heraldic design, long and tapering, possibly with a rounded or double-rounded (lanceolate or double-tailed descate) fly carrying the owner’s badge and motto (sometimes also a national symbol or personal arms), and bordered in his livery colours. Originally used as an identifying symbol by medieval noblemen, and still occasionally flown by those entitled to it (see also ‘badge in heraldry’, ‘banner of arms’, ‘double-tailed descate’, ‘lance pennon 1)’, ‘lanceolate’ and ‘motto’).
2) The headquarters flag of a Scottish nobleman or clan chief (and a standard as defined above), it is between 3.5 and 7.5m long (dependent upon rank) and tapers from 120 cm to 80 cm. The hoist carries either the national flag or owner’s arms, whilst the tail is in the main livery colours and has the motto (usually on diagonal bands) separated by the owner’s crest and other badges. The tail is generally split into two rounded (double-tailed descate) ends (except for those chiefs who do not hold a title of nobility, baronetcy or knighthood whose standards have a simple rounded or lanceolate end), and the whole is edged or fringed with alternating livery colours (see also ‘battle standard’, ‘double-tailed descate’, ‘great standard’, ‘lanceolate’, and ‘pageant standard’).

Heraldic standard of the Master Gunner St James’ Park UK (Graham Bartram); Heraldic Standard of King Henry VI c1450, England (fotw)

Notes
a) With regard to 1), in English heraldry the entitlement to a heraldic standard is consequent upon the granting or possession of a badge, but is not dependent upon rank (see also ‘badge in heraldry’).
b) Regarding 2) in Scottish heraldry the entitlement to a standard (and to heraldic flags other than a banner of arms) is consequent upon a separate grant by the Lord Lyon King of Arms (see also ‘pinsel’ and ‘guidon 3)’).

HERALDRY

The science concerned with the designing, interpretation, recording and blazoning of those armorial bearings and/or heraldic insignia that pertain to an individual, an institution or to a corporate entity (see also ‘anti-heraldry’, ‘armorial bearings’, ‘blazon’, ‘coat of arms 2)’, ‘insignia’ and ‘pre-heraldic’).

HILTED (or HILT)

The heraldic term used when the grip, pommel and cross/hand guard of a sword or dagger are of a different tincture to its blade – but see note below and ‘hafted’ (also ‘barbed’, ‘garnished’, ‘pommeled’, ‘shafted’ and ‘tincture’).

Flag of Karelia, Finland (fotw); Arms and Flag of Barilovic, Croatia (fotw); Arms and Flag of Fabianki, Poland (fotw)

Please note that heraldic writers will sometimes blazon the hilt and the pommel (of a sword or dagger) separately when describing the charges on a coat of arms – hilted and pommeled.

(Parker)

HINOMARU (or HI-NO-MARU)

Literally “sun-disk” and the civil ensign/national flag of Japan since 1870 (see also ‘daimyo flags’ ‘disc’, and ‘mon’).

National Flag of Japan (fotw)

Please note that, whilst acting in that role for many years, the Hinomaru was only formally adopted as the National Flag in 1999.

HIS MAJESTY’S JACK

In English RN usage now obsolete, an official term for the 1606 pattern union flag when flown as a naval jack, and in use from c1640 – c1690 – the king’s jack or the jack – but see ‘British flag’ (also ‘interlaced’, ‘naval jack’ under ‘jack’, ‘James Union’ and ‘union jack 2)’).

Union Flag 1601 - 1801, UK (CS)

HISSFLAGGE (or HISSFAHNE)

See ‘hoisted flag’.

Hissflagge and Banner of Albisheim, Germany (fotw)

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