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Dictionary of Vexillology: R (Rod of Asclepius – Rowel)

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ROD OF ASCLEPIUS

See ‘Staff of Asclepius’.

Flag and Emblem of the 52nd Field Ambulance, Canada

ROD OF HERMES (or MERCURY)

Alternative heraldic terms for a caduceus – see ‘caduceus’.

Flag and Arms of Holwerd, Netherlands

ROGACINA

In Middle European heraldic usage, the Polish term for a charge in the form of a stylized arrowhead or spear point, often with a decorated shaft and generally (but not invariably) pointing upward (see also ‘arrow cross’, ‘shafted’, ‘barbed’).

Flag of Baranów, Poland; Flag of Górno, Poland; Flag of Tlumačov, Czechia

ROPE GROMMET

In naval heraldry the rope decoration that often surrounds a ship’s badge – traditionally but incorrectly referred to as a ship’s crest – see ‘ship’s crest’ (also ‘badge 3)’ and ‘ropework border’).

Flag showing the Ship’s Badge/Crest of HMS Gloucester 1975

ROPED CROSS

1) A cross of any type, but one whose arms appear fastened together with rope – a cable, cabled or corded cross (see also ‘cross 2)’).
2) The term may also be used to describe a cross that is made entirely from rope, cord or cabling.

Example; Flag of Svatý Jan pod Skalou, Czechia; Example (Seiyaku.com)

ROPED HEADING

See ‘running eye and toggle’.

ROPEWORK BORDER

A term used to describe the border of those shields that appear on the Italian civil and naval ensigns – see ‘civil ensign’ and ‘naval ensign’ under ‘ensign’ (also ‘rope grommet’ and ‘tricolore, la’).

Naval Ensign and Arms, plus Civil Ensign Italy (fotw and wiki)

ROSETTE

In Norwegian heraldic usage an alternative term to in annulo – see ‘inannulo’.

Flag of Tingvoll, Norway; Flag of Selbu, Norway; Flag of Yvoir, Belgium

ROTATED

The term used when an emblem, badge, set of armorial bearings or any part thereof is turned so that it appears upright in a flag intended for vertical (or occasionally oblique) display – but see ‘slanted display design’ (also ‘armorial bearings’, ‘badge’, ‘emblem’, ‘hanging flag’).

Flags for vertical and horizontal display, Montserrat (fotw and CS)

ROTATED SQUARE

See ‘square lozenge’.

Flag of Tremelo, Belgium

ROTATIONAL POSITION

See ‘radial orientation’.

Flag of Johore, Malaysia

Please note that the moon and star on the flag of Johore are orientated on an imaginary line running downward from 1/3 below the top to 1/3 above the base of the canton, and that the star has its outward point centred on that line.

ROUND-BOTTOMED SHIELD

1) The term to be used for a shield whose base is semi-circular but whose sides are not parallel.
2) See ‘Spanish-style shield’.

Flag of Gospić, Croatia; Arms of Čebín, Czechia; Flag of Gornji Kneginec, Croatia

ROUNDED CROSS

A form of the cross pattée in which the outer ends are in the form of a convex arc (as if the charge was created from a circle) – an orbicular cross, a Cross of the Portuguese Knights Templar, a Templar Cross, a cross pattée/formy rounded or a consecration cross – see ‘cross pattée’ (also ‘bauceant’).

Flag of Mogadouro, Portugal; Flag of Paços de Ferreira, Portugal; Flag of Penamaior, Portugal

ROUNDED FLY

See ‘lanceolate’

Flag of Leśna, Poland

ROUNDED SWALLOWTAIL

1) See ‘descate’.

2) A variation of the swallow-tail in which the cut in the fly of the flag is shaped by a single curve – but see ‘hussar cut’ (also ‘swallow-tail(ed)’).

Guidon of the Blues and Royals, UK (Graham Bartram); Guidon of the 2nd Dragoon Regiment, Prussia c1740

ROUNDEL

1) A circular emblem of nationality employed on the fuselage and wings of military aircraft and on some Air Force flags – generally (but not exclusively) consisting of concentric rings of the national colours and based on the cockade (see also aircraft marking(s), cockade 2), fin flash and national colours 2). ^{See supplemental note}

2) See fuselage markings 1) and wing marking(s) 1).

3) The heraldic term for a disc (see bezant, hurt, plates, pomme(s), torteau).

Aircraft roundel: Romania; Flag of Apples, Switzerland ; Aircraft Roundel Spain

ROUNDEL ARGENT

An alternative heraldic term for a plate – see ‘plates’.

Flag of Ichtegem, Belgium

ROUNDEL AZURE

An alternative heraldic term for a hurt – see ‘hurt’.

Flag of Lenzburg, Switzerland

ROUNDEL BARRY WAVY

An alternative heraldic term for a fountain – see ‘fountain 1)’.

Flag of Il-Fontana, Malta

ROUNDEL GULES

An alternative heraldic term for a torteau – ‘torteau’.

Flag of Asendorf, Germany

ROUNDEL OR

An alternate heraldic term for a bezant – see ‘bezant’.

Flag of Gáfete, Portugal

ROUNDEL VERT

An alternate heraldic term for a pomme – see ‘pomme(s)’.

Flag of Uelsen, Germany

ROWEL

The heraldic term for a mullet or star-like charge that usually (but not exclusively) has with five or six radiating points, but which is pierced in its centre and is meant to represent the rowel of a spur – a spur rowel or pierced mullet – but see mullet (also ‘pierced 2)’ and ‘star 1)’.

Flag of Norden, Germany; Flag and Arms of Severin, Croatia; Flag of Heinenoord, The Netherlands

Please note, we suggest that a glossary or dictionary of heraldry be consulted regarding use of the terms given above.

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