Dictionary of Vexillology: I (Invected – Italian Shield)

Last modified: 2025-01-25 by martin karner
Keywords: vexillological terms |
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On this page:

• INVECTED (INVECKED or INVECQUED)
• INVERTED
• INVERTED CHEVRON
• INVERTED PALL
• INVERTED PILE
• INVERTED TRIANGLE
• IRISH SALTIRE
• IRON CROSS
• ISSUANT (or ISSANT)
• ITALIAN PROVINCIAL CROWN
• ITALIAN SHIELD

INVECTED (INVECKED or INVECQUED)

(adj) The alternative heraldic terms used when a division in the field of a banner of arms or shield, or the edge of an ordinary, is cut into a series of projecting curves or half circles strung together – that is with the half-circles facing outward and the points inward – invecked, envecked, or invecqued – see engrailed (also armorial bearings, banner of arms, coat of arms, ordinary, shield, and scalloped).

Flag of Oberhof, Switzerland; Flag of Vestre Slidre, Norway; Flag of Massagno, Switzerland

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INVERTED

1) On flags a term which may be used when a charge or charges, that are (or that may be) orientated vertically, are shown as being turned upside down (see also ‘chevron’, ‘pall’ and ‘pile’).

2) In heraldry see ‘reversed 2)’.

Flag of Cirkulane, Slovenia

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INVERTED CHEVRON

See ‘chevron 1)’ and ‘chevron 2)’.

Flag of Birżebbuġa, Malta

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INVERTED PALL

See ‘pall 1)’.

Flag of Kråkerøy, Norway

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INVERTED PILE

See ‘pile 1)’.

Flag of Šárovcova Lhota, Czechia

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INVERTED TRIANGLE

See ‘triangle 2)’.

A Gay Triangle Flag

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IRISH SALTIRE

See ‘St. Patrick's Cross’ and its following note.

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IRON CROSS

The term (derived from an originally Prussian later German military decoration) that describes a distinctly Germanic form of the cross pattee – see ‘cross pattée’ and ‘Teutonic cross’ (also ‘balkenkreuz’ and ‘Hanseatic cross’).

Naval Jack 1903–1919, Germany; Iron Cross 1813, Prussia (Wikipedia); Flag of the Defense Minister 1933–1935, Germany

Notes
a) The above term should only be used when the cross pattée being described is black, carries a white or silver border and/or is of Germanic origin.
b) Although based upon a military decoration this cross was ultimately derived from the symbol of the Medieval Teutonic Order as referenced above.

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ISSUANT (or ISSANT)

The alternative heraldic terms used when a charge emerges out of the base of a field or a chief, from an ordinary or from the upper edge of a fess, or from a coronet – issant or rising from –, but see the important note below and ‘naissant 1)’ (also ‘charge 1)’, ‘chief’, ‘coronet 1)’ and ‘fess’).

Flag of Sâles, Switzerland; Flag of Recknitz-Trebeltal, Germany; Flag of Augst, Switzerland

Please note that in modern heraldry the term for a charge or figure emerging from the side of a shield, banner of arms or a flag is naissant – see ‘naissant 1)’.

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ITALIAN PROVINCIAL CROWN

See ‘provincial crown 1)’.

Flag of Alessandria, Italy

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ITALIAN SHIELD

The term sometimes used to describe a shield of the decorative, post-medieval type most often seen in Italian personal and civic heraldry but see note below – a horse-head shield (also Renaissance Shield).

The Arms of Messina, Italy (ita24)

Please note that several of the terms giving shields a national identity, as well as those describing a specific type, are still in the process of standardization, and that no consistent approach has thus far been identified.

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