Heraldic courtesy

For the grape Courtoisie, see Roussanne.

Arms in courtoisie

Heraldic courtesy or courtoisie (French) is a term used in heraldry when two coats of arms are depicted next to each other with the dexter shield (the male's arms) being shown as a reflected image (flipped horizontally) so its charges are turned to face the sinister shield (the female's arms) out of courtesy. Thus no charge or figure on the male's shield has its back facing the female's shield, which might be deemed discourteous. This practice is almost entirely restricted to Continental European usage and does not feature in English heraldry. It is usually done when the arms show an alliance. The practice can cause confusion to the uninitiated observer.

Such placement of two shields next to each other is often used in German heraldry to indicate alliances and marriages, which in English heraldry are indicated by impalement.

See also

• Arms of alliance