Symbolism - cross couped

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Symbolism > cross couped

cross couped

The cross is a common heraldic device that signifies the Christian faith of the bearer. It was a popular symbol during the crusades and it is said that during the first Crusades the principle nations of Christendom were distinguished by different coloured crosses. A couped cross has arms of equal length that do not extend to the very edges of the shield. The couped cross is often decorated with either the upper portion of a fleur-de-lis at the end of each arm, in which case the cross is termed fleuretty, or the arms grow into the three petals at the each extremity, in which case it is termed flory. A cross patonce is another, ancient, cross that has arms spreading outwards gradually from a small center and terminate somewhat like a cross flory but more sharply. And the cross botonny, derived from the French word bouton, meaning bud or knob, has arms that terminate in three knobs like a portion of a four leafed clover. It is thought to be the early form of a cross crosslet and was granted in arms as early as 1407.

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Last Updated: Sunday, November 22, 2009