View source for Supporter

{{short description|Figures usually placed on either side of an heraldic shield and depicted holding it up}}
{{About|the heraldic element|sport team proponents|Fan (person)|other uses in sports|Athletic supporter (disambiguation)}}
{{Heraldic achievement}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2016}}{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}
[[File:Seal Berlin 1280.png|thumb|upright|Seal of the city of [[Berlin]] (1280), showing the [[Brandenburg]] coat of arms flanked by two [[bear (heraldry)|bears]]]]
[[File:OrbisSaloduripagorumI.jpg|thumb|upright|{{Lang|de|[[Standesscheibe]]}} of [[Solothurn]], {{Circa|1520}}, with two [[lion (heraldry)|lions]] as supporters]]
[[File:Coa HenryVI MasterJohn.jpg|thumb|upright|Early example of the [[Royal Arms of England]] with lion and [[dragon]] as supporters, from a painting of [[Edward VI]] dated {{Circa|1547}}]]

In [[heraldry]], '''supporters''', sometimes referred to as ''attendants'', are figures or objects usually placed on either side of the [[Escutcheon (heraldry)|shield]] and depicted holding it up.

Historically, supporters were left to an individual's free choice and were assumed and changed at will, not always having any meaning whatsoever.<ref name="volborth">{{cite book |title=Heraldry Customs, Rules, and Styles |last=von Volborth |first=Carl-Alexander |author-link=Carl-Alexander von Volborth |publisher=Blandford Press |location=Poole, Dorset |date=1981 |isbn=0713709405}}</ref> In more modern times, restrictions have been put in place in certain countries and nowhere more prevalent than in the [[United Kingdom]].<ref name="volborth" />

Early forms of supporters are found in medieval seals. However, unlike the [[coronet]] or [[helmet (heraldry)|helmet]] and [[crest (heraldry)|crest]], supporters were not part of early medieval heraldry. As part of the heraldic [[achievement (heraldry)|achievement]], they first become fashionable towards the end of the 15th century, but even in the 17th century were not necessarily part of the full heraldic achievement (being absent, for example, in ''[[Siebmachers Wappenbuch]]'' of 1605).

The figures used as supporters may be based on real or imaginary animals, human figures, and in rare cases plants or other inanimate objects, such as the [[pillars of Hercules]] of the [[coat of arms of Spain]]. Often, as in other elements of heraldry, these can have local significance, such as the [[fisherman]] and the [[tin mine]]r granted to [[Cornwall County Council]], or a historical link; such as the lion of [[England]] and unicorn of [[Scotland]] in the two variations of the [[Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom|coat of arms of the United Kingdom]]. The arms of nutritionist [[John Boyd Orr, 1st Baron Boyd-Orr|John Boyd-Orr]] use two 'garbs' ([[wheat]] [[Sheaf (agriculture)|sheave]]s) as supporters; the arms of {{USS|Donald Cook|DDG-75|6}}, [[missile]]s; the arms of the state of [[Rio Grande do Norte]] in [[Brazil]], [[tree]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ngw.nl/heraldrywiki/index.php?title=Rio_Grande_do_Norte|title=Rio Grande do Norte - Brasão de Rio Grande do Norte (coat of arms, crest)|website=www.ngw.nl|access-date=18 March 2018|archive-date=20 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181120021010/http://www.ngw.nl/heraldrywiki/index.php?title=Rio_Grande_do_Norte|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Grapheme|Letter]]s of the [[alphabet]] are used as supporters in the arms of [[Valencia]], Spain. Human supporters can also be [[Allegorical sculpture|allegorical figures]], or, more rarely, specifically named individuals.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fotw.info/flags/br-sc-bl.html|title=Flags of the World — Blumenau, Santa Catarina(Brazil)|website=fotw.net|access-date=18 March 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725143342/https://www.fotw.info/flags/br-sc-bl.html|archive-date=25 July 2008|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

There is usually one supporter on each side of the shield, though there are some examples of single supporters placed behind the shield, such as the [[Reichsadler|imperial eagle]] of the [[coat of arms of the Holy Roman Empire]]. The [[coat of arms of the Republic of the Congo]] provide an extremely unusual example of two supporters issuing from behind the shield.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ngw.nl/int/afr/cg-nat.htm|title=Heraldry of the world - Congo_(Brazzaville)|website=www.ngw.nl|access-date=18 March 2018|archive-date=4 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101204021146/http://www.ngw.nl/int/afr/cg-nat.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> While such single supporters are generally eagles<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-07 |title=Coat of arms (crest) of Perth and Kinross |url=https://www.heraldry-wiki.com/wiki/Perth_and_Kinross |access-date=2024-07-12 |website=Heraldry of the World |language=en}}</ref> with one or two heads, there are other examples, including the [[cathedra]] in the case of some Canadian [[cathedral]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.gg.ca/heraldry/pub-reg/project-pic.asp?lang=e&ProjectID=582&ProjectElementID=2051|title=Saint Paul's Cathedral [Civil Institution]|first=The Office of the Secretary to the Governor|last=General|website=archive.gg.ca|access-date=18 March 2018|archive-date=6 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306165740/http://reg.gg.ca/heraldry/pub-reg/project-pic.asp?lang=e&ProjectID=582&ProjectElementID=2051|url-status=live}}</ref> At the other extreme and even rarer, the Scottish chief [[Clan Dundas|Dundas of that Ilk]] had three supporters: two conventional red lions and the whole supported by a salamander.  The [[coat of arms of Iceland]] even has four supporters.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ngw.nl/heraldrywiki/index.php?title=Iceland |title=Iceland |date=15 October 2023 |publisher=Heraldry of the World |access-date=14 June 2012 |archive-date=20 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181120021424/http://www.ngw.nl/heraldrywiki/index.php?title=Iceland |url-status=live }}</ref>

The context of the application of supporters may vary, although entitlement may be considered conditioned by grant of a type of [[augmentation of honour]] by admission in [[orders of chivalry]] or by [[heraldic authorities]], such as in the case of traditional [[British heraldry]].

==Attitude==
{{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 [[Coat of arms of Zaanstad|Zaanstad]].<ref>{{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 }}</ref>

==Regional development and entitlement==
{{expand section|date=May 2016}}
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 II of France|John, Duke of Normandy]], eldest son of the [[Philip VI of France|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.

===Australia===
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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

===Canada===
In [[Canada]], Companions of the [[Order of Canada]], [[Commander (order)|Commander]]s of the [[Order of Military Merit (Canada)|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.<ref>{{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 }}</ref><ref name="McCreery">{{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}}</ref> Further, on his retirement from office as [[Chief Herald of Canada|Chief Herald]], [[Robert Watt (officer of arms)|Robert Watt]] was granted supporters as an honour.<ref>{{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}}</ref><!--Are they hereditary?-->

===France===
In [[Kingdom of France|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''.

===New Zealand===
Knights Grand Companion and Principal Companions of the [[New Zealand Order of Merit]] are granted the use of heraldic supporters.<ref name="nz">{{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 }}</ref>

===Spain===
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.<ref name="cadenas">{{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}}</ref> There aren't any rules governing the use, position, or whether they face the viewer or not.<ref name="cadenas" /> 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."<ref name="cadenas" /> 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.<ref name="cadenas" />

===United Kingdom===
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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> Hereditary supporters are normally limited to [[hereditary peer]]s, certain members of the [[Royal Family]], and to some chiefs of [[Scottish clan]]s.{{Citation needed|date=July 2022}}  Non-hereditary supporters are granted to [[life peer]]s; 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 [[Venerable Order of St John|Order of St John]].{{Citation needed|date=July 2022}}  [[Knight banneret|Knights banneret]] were also granted non-hereditary supporters, but no such knight has been created since the time of [[Charles I of England|Charles I]].

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

==Examples==
{{cleanup section|reason=replace random selection by chronological exposition of the development of the feature, with references|date=March 2016}} 
<gallery class="center">
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|carnauba palm]] as supporters in the coat of arms of [[Rio Grande do Norte]].<ref>{{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 }}</ref>
File:Escut de València.svg|The two Ls in the coat of arms of [[Valencia, Spain|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 [[Coat of arms of Poland|arms of Poland]].
File:Zaanstad.svg|'Falling' whales support the [[Coat of arms of Zaanstad|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|[[European badger|Badger]]s 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 (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.
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[Confronted animals]]

==References==
{{Commons category|Heraldic supporters}}
{{Wiktionary}}
{{Reflist}}

{{heraldry}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:External devices in achievements]]