Lord Baltimore's Influence on Maryland's Heraldry
Tuesday March 12, 2024
I am taking a course in heraldry and one of the assignments in the course is to take a local examples of civic, corporate, and ecclesiastical arms, and blazon them and then describe the symbolry. Of course, this assignment assumes you are in Great Britain where coats of arms are commonly used. I live in the United States. But I also live in Maryland…
Living in Maryland, far from the shores of England, one might not expect to encounter much English tradition. But Maryland sometimes has trouble distancing itself from some of the ancient English traditions.
Our state flag, derived from the arms of Cecil Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore, serves as a vibrant testament to this enduring legacy. Unlike most American states, Maryland goes a step further by consistently incorporating coats of arms into the seals of its institutions, blending old-world symbolism with modern identity.
This is all to say that as Marylanders, we will happily die on any hill over our state’s flag. It means more to us than the flag of the United States, and we claim ownership over that, too (our national anthem, was written about it in Maryland). And the examples will all alude to the Maryland flag, in different ways. It is, to put it bluntly, the way we roll.
Montgomery County presents a unique instance within Maryland’s landscape, boasting a civic coat of arms that stands distinct from its official seal:
Quarterly, per fess embattled: 1st and 4th, Azure, a fleur-de-lis Or; 2nd and 3rd, Gules, a ring Or, stoned Azure.
Montgomery County was named for Richard Montgomery. Accordingly, the arms are a reference to him. They include the fleur-de-lis and the ring, both used on Richard Montgomery’s coat of arms. But they are organized differently. Instead, the arms are quartered to present these charged, as a subtle nod to the Maryland coat of arms. Also, like with the State of Maryland, Montgomery County uses these arms for its flag. Another interesting aspect is the embattling of the fess division. I have seen this described as being about the jagged lines of county boundaries. But I think, instead, this is due to Richard Montgomery’s position as a soldier and general.
Interestingly, the arms find their primary manifestation not in traditional uses but through modern adaptations, like the county’s seals, which vary in design for different purposes, demonstrating the flexibility of heraldic traditions in public symbolism.
The Johns Hopkins University, situated in Baltimore, incorporates heraldic traditions into its identity, linking itself both to the state and to its educational mission:
Quarterly: 1st and 4th, Paly Or and Sable, a bend counterchanged; 2nd and 3rd, quarterly argent and gules, a cross bottony counterchanged; over all an armillary sphere Or between two books Argent on a chief Azure.
The university’s seal features the Lord Baltimore’s arms, untouched, but adds symbols of learning and science to signify its purpose and aspirations. While the seal remains important for formal occasions like diplomas, the university has also adopted a more simplified emblem for everyday use, showcasing the adaptability of heraldic symbols in a digital age.
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore’s arms offer a distinct interpretation of heraldic traditions, reflecting its position within the ecclesiastical hierarchy of the United States:
Quarterly, Azure and Argent, in dexter chief a star of the Second, a cross botonny quarterly, Second and Gules.
By adopting a variation of the Crossland arms and incorporating a singular star, the Archdiocese’s heraldry underscores its primacy in the nation’s Catholic Church, an elegant merger of tradition and symbolism that resonates with the faithful and the broader community alike.
Maryland’s embrace of heraldry offers a fascinating glimpse into how ancient symbols can find new life in modern identities. From civic to ecclesiastical, these emblems tell stories of valor, faith, and learning, connecting the past to the present in a language of colors and shapes that is as meaningful today as it was centuries ago.