Supporter

{{main|Attitude (heraldry)}}

Animal supporters are, by default, as close to rampant as possible, if the nature of the supporter allows it (this does not need to be mentioned in the blazon), though there are some blazoned exceptions. An example of whales 'non-rampant' is the arms of the Dutch municipality of Zaanstad.{{cite web |url=http://www.ngw.nl/heraldrywiki/index.php?title=Zaanstad |title=Zaanstad |date=September 2023 |publisher=Heraldry of the World |access-date=14 June 2012 |archive-date=20 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181120021453/http://www.ngw.nl/heraldrywiki/index.php?title=Zaanstad |url-status=live }}

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Older writers trace origins of supporters to their usages in tournaments, where the shields of the combatants were exposed for inspection, and guarded by their servants or pages disguised in fanciful attire. However, medieval Scottish seals afford numerous examples in which the 13th and 14th century shields were placed between two creatures resembling lizards or dragons. Also, the seal of John, Duke of Normandy, eldest son of the King of France, before 1316 bears his arms as; France ancient, a bordure gules, between two lions rampant away from the shield, and an eagle with expanded wings standing above it.

In Australia, Knights or Dames of the Order of Australia may be granted supporters. It is unclear whether supporters may only be used on arms granted by Garter Principal King of Arms, or whether other heraldic authority suffices.{{cite web|url=https://www.gg.gov.au/australian-honours-and-awardsorder-australiaconstitution-order-australia/insignia-ordinance|title=Insignia Ordinance|website=www.gg.gov.au|access-date=8 July 2020|archive-date=6 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210306120753/https://www.gg.gov.au/australian-honours-and-awardsorder-australiaconstitution-order-australia/insignia-ordinance|url-status=live}} Further, as arms may be legitimately adopted upon an armiger's whim, there may be nothing limiting the adoption of supporters by any person, should they so choose.{{cite web|url=https://www.heraldryaustralia.org/heraldic-authority|title=Australian Heraldic Authority|website=heraldryaustralia.org|access-date=8 July 2020|archive-date=8 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220308014038/http://www.heraldryaustralia.org/heraldic-authority|url-status=live}}

In Canada, Companions of the Order of Canada, Commanders of the Order of Military Merit, Commanders of the Royal Victorian Order, people granted the style the Right Honourable, and corporations are granted the use of supporters on their coats of arms.{{cite book |url=http://www.heraldry.ca/resources/rhsc_stuff/primer/primer_chap2.pdf |title=A Canadian Heraldric Primer |page=9 |publisher=The Royal Heraldry Society of Canada |last=Greaves |first=Kevin |date=1994 |isbn=0969306342 |access-date=5 April 2011 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304055953/http://www.heraldry.ca/resources/rhsc_stuff/primer/primer_chap2.pdf |url-status=live }}{{cite book|title=On Her Majesty's Service: Royal Honours and Recognition in Canada|last=McCreery|first=Christopher|author-link=Christopher McCreery|year=2008|publisher=Dundurn Press|location=Toronto|page=[https://archive.org/details/onhermajestysser0000mccr/page/76 76]|isbn=9781550027426 |url=https://archive.org/details/onhermajestysser0000mccr|url-access=registration|access-date=28 April 2012}} Further, on his retirement from office as Chief Herald, Robert Watt was granted supporters as an honour.{{cite web|url=http://www.scotsheraldry.com/?p=70|title=Organizing The Term Paper – mbmpl|website=www.scotsheraldry.com|access-date=18 March 2018|archive-date=13 October 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013000110/http://www.scotsheraldry.com/?p=70|url-status=usurped}}

In France, writers made a distinctive difference on the subject of supporters, giving the name of Supports to animals, real or imaginary, thus employed; while human figures or angels similarly used are called Tenants (i.e. 'holders'). Trees and other inanimate objects which are sometimes used are called Soutiens.

Knights Grand Companion and Principal Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit are granted the use of heraldic supporters.{{Cite web |url=http://www.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/1996/0205/latest/whole.html |title=Statutes of the New Zealand Order of Merit (1996), article 50 |publisher=legislation.govt.nz |access-date=8 December 2016 |archive-date=11 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411110726/https://www.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/1996/0205/latest/whole.html |url-status=live }}

In Spain, there is a difference between tenantes, used for human figures, soportes, used for beasts, and sosténes, used for anything other than humans or beasts.{{cite book |title=Fundamentos de Heráldica (Ciencia del Blasón) |last=Cadenas y Vicent |first=Vicente de |author-link=Vicente de Cadenas y Vicent |date=1994 |location=Madrid |publisher=Hidalguia |pages=172–173 |isbn=8487204643}} There aren't any rules governing the use, position, or whether they face the viewer or not. As a matter of fact, Vicente de Cadenas y Vicent says "There are no rules that determine the use of [supporters] and it can be considered that their use are complete capriciousness or fantasy, without any precedent, in almost the totality of cases, with documented justification for the inclusion of these ornaments with the arms of a House or individual." The only generally accepted rule is that female and ecclesiastical arms should not have supporters, with the only exception for ecclesiastical the use of angels or when it comes to the arms of saints or monasteries.

Originally, in England, supporters were regarded as little more than mere decorative and artistic appendages.

In the United Kingdom, supporters are typically an example of special royal favour, granted at the behest of the sovereign.{{cite book|author1=Charles Boutell|author2=Arthur Charles Fox-Davies|title=English Heraldry|year=2003|publisher=Kessinger|isbn=0-7661-4917-X|pages=238|url=https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/23186|access-date=28 August 2020|archive-date=23 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423141644/https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/23186|url-status=live}} Hereditary supporters are normally limited to hereditary peers, certain members of the Royal Family, and to some chiefs of Scottish clans.{{Citation needed|date=July 2022}} Non-hereditary supporters are granted to life peers; Knights and Ladies Companion of the Order of the Garter; Knights and Ladies of the Order of the Thistle; Knights and Dames Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath, the Order of St Michael and St George, the Royal Victorian Order and the Order of the British Empire; and Bailiffs and Dames Grand Cross of the Order of St John.{{Citation needed|date=July 2022}} Knights banneret were also granted non-hereditary supporters, but no such knight has been created since the time of Charles I.

Supporters may also be granted to corporations which have a royal charter.{{Citation needed|date=March 2009}}

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File:Brasão do Rio Grande do Norte.svg|alt=A coconut palm and a carnauba palm as supporters in the coat of arms of Rio Grande do Norte.[15]|A coconut palm and a carnauba palm as supporters in the coat of arms of Rio Grande do Norte.{{Cite web |title=Rio Grande do Norte (Brazil) |url=https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/br-rn.html |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=www.crwflags.com |archive-date=30 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230130083614/https://www.crwflags.com/FOTW/Flags/br-rn.html |url-status=live }}

File:Escut de València.svg|The two Ls in the coat of arms of Valencia (city) mark it as 'doubly loyal'.

File:Kraków - Kościół św. Barbary - Wspornik.JPG|An angel is the single supporter of this Kraków sculpture of the arms of Poland.

File:Zaanstad.svg|'Falling' whales support the arms of Zaanstad

File:Greater coat of arms of Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (1982–1999).svg|Flags are the supporters in the arms of Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe

File:Nałęcz Kaziemierza Raczyńskiego.JPG|Flags and cannons are the supporters in the arms of Kazimierz Raczyński

File:Escudo de España (mazonado).svg|The coat of arms of Spain is supported by columns representing the Pillars of Hercules.

File:Austria Bundesadler.svg|The coat of arms of Austria has one supporter, an eagle, which bears the escutcheon on its breast. This arrangement is common where eagles and other birds are used as supporters, as in the Great Seal of the United States and the coat of arms of Russia.

File:State Arms of New York.svg|The allegorical figures Liberty and blindfolded Justice support a shield on the flag of the State of New York

File:COA Novi Beograd (big).jpeg|The coat of arms of the Municipality of New Belgrade is supported by two swallows.

File:Ferm arms.png|Badgers on the arms of County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.

File:Coat of arms of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.svg|The arms of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands feature a fur seal and macaroni penguin as supporters.

File:Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (2022).svg|Royal arms of the United Kingdom (as used in England, Northern Ireland, and Wales) has lion supporter (for England) in the dexter and unicorn supporter (for Scotland) in the sinister.

File:Coat of arms of Malaysia.svg|Coat of Arms of Malaysia which has two tigers as the supporters.

File:Coat of Arms of Margaret Thatcher, The Baroness Thatcher (1995–2013).svg|Arms of Margaret Thatcher, with Isaac Newton and a Royal Navy Admiral as supporters.

File:Coat of arms of Iceland.svg|The coat of arms of Iceland is the only Nation to feature 4 supporters. Each supporter represents a protector and intercardinal direction. The bull is the protector of northwestern Iceland. The eagle or griffin is the protector of northeastern Iceland. The dragon is the protector of southeastern Iceland. The rock-giant is the protector of southwestern Iceland.

• Confronted animals

{{Commons category|Heraldic supporters}}

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Category:External devices in achievements