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An example is the arms of the [[Duchy of Lorraine]] ([[Or (heraldry)|Or]], on a Bend [[Gules]], 3 Alerions Abaisé [[Argent (heraldry)|Argent]]). It supposedly had been inspired by the assumed arms of crusader [[Geoffrey de Bouillon]], who supposedly killed three white eaglets with a bow and arrow when out hunting.<ref>Rothery, Guy Cadogan. ''Concise Encyclopedia of Heraldry''. pp.50</ref> It is far more likely to be Canting arms that are a pun based on Lorraine / Erne. (''alerion'' is a partial [[anagram]] of ''Lorraine'').
An example is the arms of the [[Duchy of Lorraine]] ([[Or (heraldry)|Or]], on a Bend [[Gules]], 3 Alerions Abaisé [[Argent (heraldry)|Argent]]). It supposedly had been inspired by the assumed arms of crusader [[Geoffrey de Bouillon]], who supposedly killed three white eaglets with a bow and arrow when out hunting.<ref>Rothery, Guy Cadogan. ''Concise Encyclopedia of Heraldry''. pp.50</ref> It is far more likely to be Canting arms that are a pun based on Lorraine / Erne. (''alerion'' is a partial [[anagram]] of ''Lorraine'').


Medieval [[bestiary|bestiaries]] use ''alerion'' for a mythological bird described as somewhat larger than an eagle of which only a single pair was said to live at any time. A pair of eggs was laid every 60 years; after hatching, the parents drowned themselves. The term ''avalerion'' is used on the [[Hereford Map]] near the [[Hydaspes]] and the [[Indus]], possibly based on a description by [[Pliny the Elder|Pliny]].<ref name="bevan">{{cite book |author=[[William Latham Bevan]]; Henry Wright Phillott |title=Mediæval Geography: An Essay in Illustration of the Hereford Mappa Mundi |publisher=E. Stanford |location=London |year=1873 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/medivalgeograph00unkngoog/page/n99 30]–31|url= https://archive.org/details/medivalgeograph00unkngoog |quote=Avalerion. }} </ref>
Medieval [[bestiary|bestiaries]] use ''alerion'' for a mythological bird described as somewhat larger than an eagle of which only a single pair was said to live at any time. A pair of eggs was laid every 60 years; after hatching, the parents drowned themselves. The term ''avalerion'' is used on the [[Hereford Map]] near the [[Hydaspes]] and the [[Indus]], possibly based on a description by [[Pliny the Elder|Pliny]].<ref name="bevan">{{cite book |author=William Latham Bevan |author-link=William Latham Bevan |author2=Henry Wright Phillott|title=Mediæval Geography: An Essay in Illustration of the Hereford Mappa Mundi |publisher=E. Stanford |location=London |year=1873 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/medivalgeograph00unkngoog/page/n99 30]–31|url= https://archive.org/details/medivalgeograph00unkngoog |quote=Avalerion. }} </ref>


The word's ultimate origin is unclear, possibly adapted from the German ''{{lang|de|{{linktext|Adler}}}}'' or ''{{lang|de|{{linktext|Adelar}}}}'' ("eagle"). It is found in 12th-century French as ''{{lang|fr|alérion}}'' and in [[medieval Latin]] as ''{{lang|la|alariōnem}}'' (a large eagle-like bird).<ref>{{OED|alerion}}</ref>
The word's ultimate origin is unclear, possibly adapted from the German ''{{lang|de|{{linktext|Adler}}}}'' or ''{{lang|de|{{linktext|Adelar}}}}'' ("eagle"). It is found in 12th-century French as ''{{lang|fr|alérion}}'' and in [[medieval Latin]] as ''{{lang|la|alariōnem}}'' (a large eagle-like bird).<ref>{{OED|alerion}}</ref>
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==References==
==References==
{{commonscat|Alerions in heraldry}}
{{Commons category|Alerions in heraldry}}
*{{cite book |author=[[Guillaume de Machaut]] |translator= Minnette Gaudet and Constance B. Hieatt |title=The Tale of the Alerion |publisher=University of Toronto Press |location=Toronto |year=1994}}
*{{cite book |author=Guillaume de Machaut |author-link=Guillaume de Machaut |translator= Minnette Gaudet |translator2= Constance B. Hieatt |name-list-style=amp |title=The Tale of the Alerion |publisher=University of Toronto Press |location=Toronto |year=1994}}


{{legendary-creature-stub}}
{{legendary-creature-stub}}

Revision as of 00:40, 30 October 2020

This article is about the legendary creature. For the airplane control surface, see Aileron.
Heraldic representation
Seal of Bouchard de Marly (1225) with the coat of arms of the lords of Montmorency, or a cross gules, quarterly four alerions azure[1]
three alerions on Lorraine's arms

Avalerion or alerion (also erne[clarification needed]) is a term for a heraldic bird. Historically, it referred to the regular heraldic eagle. Later[year needed] heralds used the term alerion to refer to "baby eagles" or "eaglets". To differentiate them from mature Eagles, Alerions were shown as an Eagle Displayed Inverted without a beak or claws (disarmed). To difference it from a decapitate (headless) eagle, the Alerion has a bulb-shaped head with an eye staring towards the Dexter (left-hand side) of the field. This was later simplified in modern heraldry as an abstract winged oval.

An example is the arms of the Duchy of Lorraine (Or, on a Bend Gules, 3 Alerions Abaisé Argent). It supposedly had been inspired by the assumed arms of crusader Geoffrey de Bouillon, who supposedly killed three white eaglets with a bow and arrow when out hunting.[2] It is far more likely to be Canting arms that are a pun based on Lorraine / Erne. (alerion is a partial anagram of Lorraine).

Medieval bestiaries use alerion for a mythological bird described as somewhat larger than an eagle of which only a single pair was said to live at any time. A pair of eggs was laid every 60 years; after hatching, the parents drowned themselves. The term avalerion is used on the Hereford Map near the Hydaspes and the Indus, possibly based on a description by Pliny.[3]

The word's ultimate origin is unclear, possibly adapted from the German Adler or Adelar ("eagle"). It is found in 12th-century French as alérion and in medieval Latin as alariōnem (a large eagle-like bird).[4]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ A. Maquet, Les seigneurs de Marly, recherches historiques et archéologiques sur la ville et seigneurie de Marly-le-Roi avec notes, armoiries et sceaux... préface de Victorien Sardou. Paris, Imprimerie et librairie universelle, 1882. fr:Armorial des Montmorency: or à la croix de gueules cantonnée de quatre alérions d'azur, Bouchard II de Marly: d'or à la croix de gueules frettée d'argent cantonnée de quatre alérions d'azur. The seal of Mathieu II does not indicate the fretty variation.
  2. ^ Rothery, Guy Cadogan. Concise Encyclopedia of Heraldry. pp.50
  3. ^ William Latham Bevan; Henry Wright Phillott (1873). Mediæval Geography: An Essay in Illustration of the Hereford Mappa Mundi. London: E. Stanford. pp. 30–31. Avalerion.
  4. ^ "alerion". Oxford English Dictionary (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. (Subscription or participating institution membership required.)

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alerions in heraldry.
  • Guillaume de Machaut (1994). The Tale of the Alerion. Translated by Minnette Gaudet & Constance B. Hieatt. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.
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