Coat of arms of Kernev

Coat of arms of Kernev   Arwodhik Kernev
Greater coat of arms of Kernev
Versions
Version without supporters and wreath
Lesser coat of arms
Armiger	Corentyn, Prince of Kernev (greater) Government of Kernev (lesser)
Adopted	before 1361
Blazon	Argent, charged with a sable skoos knot within an orle of the first, all within a bordure argent charged with a torc and triquetra sable.
Supporters	Two rams rampant
Motto	Sevel r'an moryow (Jackian: Risen from the seas)
Other elements	Wreath of two sprigs oak vert and brunâtre and rowan vert and gules

The coat of arms of Kernev (Kernevic:  , transliteration: Arwodhik Kernev) is the coat of arms used as arms of dominion by the Prince of Kernev and therefore the Principality of Kernev . It has a greater and a lesser version, the greater version being used in matters of state, and by the monarchy, and the lesser being used by the Senedh Kernev, the government and the Prime Minister.

The lesser coat of arms is formed by a white round-shield with a black skoos knot, surrounded by a black ring. The greater coat of arms centres on the lesser coat of arms surrounded by a black torc and triquetra. The skoos knot, also known as a shield knot, represents the Prydenic round shields, common to Kernev and the Arcraibh Isles; the torc surrounding the shield is the Torc of the Isles, worn by the Princes of Kernev and the triquetra represents the Kernevic druidic faith.

Use of the coat of arms of Kernev depends on the part of government, and is legally restricted to the government and members of the House of Arthyen. The symbol enjoys wide use on the national currency, state decorations and on official documents. Although not formally legal, it is often used to symbolise Kernev in public usage.

History

Use of the skoos knot as a heraldic symbol in the Arcraibh Isles dates back to at least the 6th century. The symbol has been found in rock carvings in Kernev dating back to the 8th century but there is little evidence that it functioned as a heraldic symbol in this period.

The earliest evidence of the use of the skoos knot as a coat of arms is in the blazon of the House of Arthyen of 1361. This early version of the Arthyen blazon made no mention of the colours within the coat of arms, and excluded supporters, and the outer division of the escutcheon.

Carving of the Arthyen crest in Yskynna Palace

The earliest surviving confirmed visual representation of the Arthyen crest is from the central section of Yskynna Palace constructed in the late 14th century, where there are a number of carvings including the skoos knot and the four surrounding sections. Separately, there are surviving carvings of the Torc of the Isles, but these designs are not incorporated.

With the arrival of Kivuian colonists in the 16th century, the heraldic traditions of Ecros gained traction amongst the Kernevic nobility. The addition of both a wreath and supporters took place in this period - Henri Morthau, an early settler, provided one of the earliest illustrations of the coat of arms of the House of Arthyen in 1533, in his accompanying blazon, he used the Ecrosian tinctures to describe the coat of arms, providing the first confirmation of the modern colours argent and sable. At this point there was little Kernevic heraldic tradition, and Morthau noted the lack of a formal escutcheon, or any supporters beyond the central emblem. Through the course of the century, Kernevic heraldic tradition developed substantially, the round-shield form of escutcheon became formalised in a number of blazons and by 1561, the Arthyen coat of arms included a wreath of Kernevic oak and a stag and sea-griffin as supporters.

After the ascession of Princess Iona to the throne in 1583, the coat of arms of the House of Arthyen was dualled with the House of Tiaredh when Iona married Fferferdyn mab Tewdyr. Under most Ecrosian tradition, the coats of arms were not impaled, but maintained in parallel. Due to the ambiguity as to which house was therefore pre-eminent in ruling Kernev, the symbol of the Torc of the Isles was imposed around the shield of Arthyen. Although the dual coat of arms was not maintained on succession, the Torc of the Isles was maintained on the Arthyen crest. Aeden mab Fferferdyn replaced the right-hand sprig in the coat of arms with a rowan sprig to acknowledge his descent from the House of Tiaredh.

By the late 16th century, increased transoceanic passage by Ecrosian ships saw the prevalence of ensigned ships increase substantially. In 1592, the first Kernevic ensigns were established - initially just the coat of arms of the House of Arthyen on a white pale. By the end of the century, this was replaced with a white cross on a black pale charged with a golden torc, for easier identification at long distances establishing the earliest form of the Flag of Kernev. This process formalised the coat of arms as a national, as well as dynastic, symbol.

In the early 19th century increasing antipathy towards the predominantly Kivuian pagan colonial population saw an increase in the usage of druidic symbols by the Kernevic monarchy and government. The Senedh Kernev pushed for the addition of the Triskelion to the coat of arms. This was opposed by the contemporary prince Caradoc mab Brethoc, who instated the triquetra, a less explicitly religious symbol as the triquetra had been increasingly used by the settler and the indigenous population. This has been credited by some historians in Kernev as facilitating the Aberfal Accords which resolved many of tensions between the different linguistic communities in Kernev.

Whilst the escutcheon of the coat of arms was firmly recognised as a Kernevic symbol, the supporters maintained a distinctly dynastic reputation. When the powers of the Senedh Kernev were expanded in 1956. Along with the change in the national flag, the supporters of the coat of arms were replaced with the national animal of Kernev the Auric sheep in the form of two Auric rams.

Armorial evolution

• 

  c.1390–1561

• 

  1561–1583

• 

  1583–1607

• 

  1607–c. 1810

• 

  c. 1810–1956

Use

Designs derived from the arms

The banner of arms is often used as the flag of the Prince, for use by the monarch when acting in a representative capacity.

The flag of Kernev is derivative from the design of the coat of arms, as a more clearly visible and expanded version of the lesser coat of arms.

The logos of the Government of Kernev and the Senedh Kernev use a version of the lesser coat of arms as their centrepiece, and the lesser coat of arms has been used to represent both institutions since the late 19th century.

Blazon

The heraldic blazon of Kernev's coat of arms, updated in 1951 is:

Argent, charged with a sable skoos knot within an orle of the first, all within a bordure argent charged with a torc and triquetra sable. And for mantling sprigs on the dexter oak Vert and Brunâtre and on the sinister rowan Vert and Gules. And for supporters on the dexter and sinister rams rampant Argent gorged with torcs Or.

The blazon is traditionally only used in conjunction with the greater version of the coat of arms, with the lesser version being described in plain language.

Symbolism

Element	Description	Image
Escutcheon	The escutcheon is divided into two main sections. As is traditional in Prydenic heraldry the escutcheon is rounded, and in this case circular. This reflects the lack of kite shields and prevalence of round-shields throughout the medieval period in Kernev. The inner division, which is present on both the lesser and greater versions of the Kernevic coat of arms consists of a skoos knot. The knot is a common heraldic component in Prydenic heraldry, also known as the shield knot. The shield is derivative from the round-shields common to all Gallaetic nations. The kroos knot is the antecedent of the cross on the Flag of Kernev. The outer division is composed of the Torc of the Isles and a triquetra. The beast-headed Torc of the Isles is the torc used in all official engagements by the Prince of Kernev, it is the central symbol of the monarchy and the sovereignty of the Principality of Kernev. The triquetra is one of the core symbols of druidism, the national faith of Kernev, representing the trinity of the elements.
Wreath	The wreath surrounding the escutcheon consists of two branches - on the left a branch of Kernevic oak, a symbol of the strength and longevity; on the right a branch of rowan or mountain ash, the national tree of Kernev, often used in folklore as a ward against evil.
Supporters	The two supporters are horned auric rams, although the modern breed is universally polled. The breed was a major part of the Kernevic wool industry in the medieval period and the rams were bred to protect the herd. The rams each wear princely torcs of the standard type.

Guidelines

According to legislation, the use of the coat of arms is restricted to the government. Without explicit permission from the Secretary of State for Culture or the estate of the Prince, no person or group is permitted to physically print, manufacture, display or sell anything depicting the coat of arms, or to allow such actions to happen. It is also forbidden to use any symbol that can be easily mistaken for the coat of arms.

Usage of the Torc of the Isles from the coat of arms in the logo of the National Survey

Organisations with the princely endorsement are permitted to utilise elements from the coat of arms, or display the entire coat of arms on their products, provided it is clear they are not representative of the government of Kernev. Prominent examples include the National Survey and Pennwydh Bakers.

See also

• Armorial of sovereign states
• Coat of arms of Bronel
• Coat of arms of Fawy
• Coat of arms of Keryer
• Coat of arms of Lysnowydh
• Coat of arms of Manahek
• Coat of arms of Pedera
• Coat of arms of Pennwydh
• Coat of arms of Pow Ereder
  • Coat of arms of Truru
• Coat of arms of Rostorrmel
• Coat of arms of Ryslegh
  • Coat of arms of Lannstevan
• Coat of arms of Stradnedh
• Coat of arms of Trigor
• National symbols of Kernev