cadency
Sign in to savethumb|300px|Charges used as marks of cadency in English heraldry: 1: label (heraldry)|label of three points; 2: [[crescent; 3: mullet; 4: martlet; 5: annulet; 6: fleur-de-lys; 7: rose; 8: cross moline; 9: octofoil ]]
Article
33 sectionsContents
- Background
- Ways of differencing
- Systems derived from English and Scottish usage
- England
- Adopted children
- Scotland
- Canada
- South Africa
- Ireland
- British royal family
- Continental usages
- France
- The former royal house
- Past usage
- Germany
- Italy
- Former royal house
- Denmark
- Royal family
- Belgium
- Royal family
- The Netherlands
- Royal family
- Portugal
- Noble families
- Royal house
- Spain
- Royal family
- Sweden
- Royal house
- Notes
- References
- Further reading
thumb|300px|Charges used as marks of cadency in English heraldry: 1: label (heraldry)|label of three points; 2: [[crescent; 3: mullet; 4: martlet; 5: annulet; 6: fleur-de-lys; 7: rose; 8: cross moline; 9: octofoil ]]
In heraldry, cadency is any systematic way to distinguish arms displayed by descendants of the holder of a coat of arms when those family members have not been granted arms in their own right. Cadency is necessary in heraldic systems in which a given design may be owned by only one person at any time, generally the head of the senior line of a particular family.