Dictionary of Vexillology: C (Cross Patence (original) (raw)

CROSS PATENCE

An early heraldic form of cross resembling a cross fleury with expanded arms - see �cross fleury� (also the note below and �cross potent�)

Flag of Abingdon-on-Thames, UK (fotw)

Please note that this is not to be confused with a cross potence/potent as referenced above.

CROSS PATRIARCHAL

A heraldic term for the cross of Lorraine - see ‘cross of Lorraine’.

Flag of Roeselare, Belgium (fotw)

CROSS PATTÉE (PATÉE, PATTY or PATY)

The alternative heraldic terms for a cross that may or may not extend to the outer edges of a shield, flag, canton or panel, whose arms are generally (but not exclusively) flat-ended but which are wider at their outer ends than they are in the centre. These arms can be straight-sided or curved throughout their length, or they can be straight-sided and parallel until being flared at their outer end � a cross form�e, form� or formy, a pat�e, patty or paty cross, a form�e, form� or formy cross, or an iron or Hanseatic, Hansa, cavalier or cavalier’s cross � but see ‘Maltese cross 2)’ and ‘rounded cross’ (also ‘cross 2)’ and ‘Cross of the Order of the Knights of Christ’).

House Flag of Christoph Lamprecht, Germany (fotw); Flag of Oensingen, Switzerland (fotw); Flag of Elbląg city, Poland (fotw)

CROSS PATT�E FOURCHÉ

In strict heraldic usage the correct term for a type of Maltese cross � see �Maltese cross 2)� and �cross fourché� with their following notes (also �cross pattée�).

Flag of Pont�vel, Portugal (fotw); Flag ofPortel, Portugal (fotw); Flag of Reiden, Switzerland (fotw)

CROSS PATT�E ROUNDED

A heraldic term for a rounded cross - see ‘rounded cross’.

Flag of Outeiro Major, Portugal (fotw)

CROSS PATT�E VOIDED

In heraldry see �cross patt�e� and �voided�.
A term sometimes (incorrectly) applied to the cross on (for example) the air force roundel of Portugal � see �Cross of the Order of the Knights of Christ� and its following note a).

Flag of Canan�ia, Brazil (fotw); Air Force Roundel of Portugal showing a Cross of the Knights of Christ (fotw)

CROSS POMEL (POM�E, POMMY, POMMETTY or POMMELLY)

The alternative heraldic terms for a cross which does not usually extend to the edges of a shield, flag, canton or panel, but whose arms finish in a roundel (see also ‘cross 2)’, ‘pommeled’ and ‘roundel 3))’

Flag of Lagoa, Portugal (fotw); Arms of Santa Cruz, Portugal (fotw); Flag of V�troz, Switzerland (fotw)

CROSS POTENT (or POTENCE)

The alternative heraldic terms for a cross which does not usually extend to the edges of a shield, flag, canton or panel, but whose arms terminate in a transverse bar � a cross potence, or a crutch or Teutonic Cross � but see the note below, and �cross patence� with its following note (also ‘cross 2)’, ‘cross-cantonée’ and ‘potent 2)’).

Flag of the Nationalist Party, Puerto Rico (fotw); Flag of Wielka Nieszawka, Poland (fotw); Flag of Russian Action (fotw)

Pease note that this cross has been adopted by several neo-fascist groups in Continental Europe as is (partly) illustrated above.

CROSS POTENT CANTONÉE

The heraldic term for a ‘Jerusalem cross’ � see ‘cross potent’ and ‘cross-cantonée’.

Flag of Niawier, The Netherlands (fotw)

CROSS POTENT REBATED

The heraldic term for a swastika - see ‘swastika’ (also ‘cross potent’).

Flag of Hirosaki, Japan (fotw)

CROSS QUARTERED

A translation of the Spanish term cruz cuartelada, and German "geviertes Kreuz" sometimes used in place of their (English) heraldic equivalents - see ‘cross counterchanged’ and ‘cross gyronny’ (also ‘cross counter-quartered 2)’).

Flag of Bormujos, Spain (fotw); Flag ofPalomares del R�o, Spain (fotw)

CROSS QUARTER-PIERCED

In heraldry see ‘equipollé’ and its following note.

Flag of Ħ'Attard, Malta (fotw)

CROSS RAGULY

See ‘ragged cross’ and ‘raguly’.
The heraldic term also used for an upright cross (as opposed to a saltire) whose arms have any number of small regular projections set at an angle on both sides � see �raguly�.

Flag and Arms of Poshekhon-Volodarsk, Russia (fotw & Wikipedia); Flag of Gloucester, Canada (fotw)

CROSS TAU

The heraldic term for a cross that may or may not extend to the edges of a shield, flag, canton or panel, but in which the vertical arm does not extend above the horizontal thus creating a letter ‘T’ - a Cross of St Anthony or St Anthony’s Cross, and in some Christian denominations, an advent cross (see also �acorn cross�).

Flag of Trubschachen, Switzerland (fotw); Flag of Lagoa�a, Portugal (fotw); Flag of St. Ant�nien-Ascharina, Switzerland (fotw)

CROSS THROUGHOUT

A heraldic term that covers a standard cross - ‘cross 1)’.

Flag of Chamb�ry, France (fotw)

CROSS TREFOIL (or TREFLEE)

Alternate heraldic terms for a cross botonny - see ‘cross botonny’.

Flag of the Order of St Maurice, Italy (fotw)

CROSS-VOIDED

The heraldic term for a cross that may or may not reach the edges of a shield, banner of arms or flag and may be either closed or open-ended, but from which the centre is removed so that the field may be seen through it – but see note b) below (also ‘cross of athletics’ and ‘voided’).

House Flag of Law, Leslie & Co., c1912 (fotw); Earlier Viking Flag of Vend�e, France (fotw)

Notes a) Unless referring to a plain cross, this term is always accompanied by a further description, for example "a cross patt�e voided". b) This term is sometimes (incorrectly) used to describe a Cross of the Order of the Knights of Christ as illustrated below � see ‘cross of the Order of the Knights of Christ’.

A banner of the Order of the Knights of Christ (fotw)

CROSSBOW

The image of a medieval weapon used (particularly in Continental Europe) for both war and hunting (see also �pavisade� and its following note)..

Flags of Oleyres, Immensee, and Hildisrieden, Switzerland (fotw)

CROSSED BRANCHES

Short lengths of (occasionally differing) foliage, sometimes with flowers/fruit etc., and sometimes without, which intersect at their lowest point.
A phrase occasionally used in place of the more precise terms �garland� and �wreath� � see ‘garland 2)’ and ‘wreath 1)’.

Flag of 1848, Hungary (fotw); Arms of Pennsylvania, US (fotw); Detail from the National Flag of Turkmenistan (fotw)

CROSSLET

The heraldic term used when two or more miniature crosses appear on the same coat of arms � see ‘cross crosslet’ (also ‘coat of arms 2)’).

Official Flag and Arms of Galicia, Spain (fotw); Flag of �dena, Spain (fotw)

CROSSTREE

In largely US usage, a yard if fitted to a flag mast ashore (see also ‘yard’).
A cross bar attached near the top of an unstayed flagpole for the purpose of providing additional halyards to the one reeved at the truck (see also ‘reeve’, 'yard' and 'stayed mast').