5. What are marks of cadency?:
- Marks of cadency are simple, small charges placed on an established Coat of Arms to denote the son or daughter of the original bearer. When a son or a daughter is awarded a Coats of Arms and that Arms is based on the one owned by the father, then they must difference their Arms in order to have a different design from their parent. In England the practice is widespread and they have a standardized chart of charges used to denote the order of siblings that may inherat a Coat of Arms. The small charge or Mark of Cadency is usually placed in the Center Chief position of the shield. Modern Herealdry uses the well established English system when applying marks of cadency on designs for our clients. Here are the male desendent marks of cadency used throughout England and the British Common Wealth: like England, France and Spain.
- Not to have the ladies left out there are marks of cadency for women. In England Peers of the royal house sometimes use the cadency for men or a variation thereof. In Canada there is an entirely differnet set of charges used for ladies. In Canada women have the full right to inheret the Coat of Arms borne by there Father's. Modern Heraldry will use the system that the client feels most comfortable with...
