In "Going Postal" (and other books before that, mainly Watch books) it says
Which got me thinking a little, because on all the pictures I could find - for example in the Discworld companion - you could vaguely see something, black on black, so to say.

I am referring to this pic:


It may be coincidence, but I can make out a diagonal bar, which, in heraldry, could mean that you were a bastard acknowledged by the father, allowed to carry the name and step in as an heir, and the diagonal line was just added to the usual coat of arms.

It happened quite often - the historical Leonardo da Vinci was such a case, I seem to remember.

Do any of you more detailed or different description of the coat of arms? Or other pics?

"Hoher Sinn liegt oft im kindischen Spiel." (Friedrich Schiller)

I'm surprised, from what we learn of youthful Vetinari in Night Watch, that the shield is not green. But then, that would be revealing his invisibility secret, I guess.

It's only a comparatively small one, but there's a picture of the Vetinari coat of arms near the front in Feet of Clay. Not sure if there's any mention of it later on in the book as I only noticed it this morning when starting to re-read that one. Will let you know if I find anything

It occurs to me also that a green shield would be one of those bad sort of puns the coat of arms vampire loves.....the Vet of Vetinari punned in the Vert or Verdi of a green shield... although the noir of a black shield puns just as well with the nar[i] so perhaps the shield should be green and black...?

Gee, I have too much time on my hands...

In the Corgi paperback version of Feet of Clay it seems to me that there is something of a dagger or something hidden in the coat of arms of the Vetinari family.
It also has a motto: "Si Non Confectus, Non Reficiat" ("If it ain't broke, don't fix it")

Appearantly Vetinari isn't using the family coat of arms...

_Light moves faster than sound. That is why some people appear bright, until you hear them speak._

If there is something hidden in the shield, it's probably green...
hidden, covered = co-vert, couvert, vetrir...

Lord_vimes001, maybe you should let the heraldry books reat for a few hours and take a short walk...

"Hoher Sinn liegt oft im kindischen Spiel." (Friedrich Schiller)

In swedish this diagonal bar is called "ginbalk", in english "bend sinister". I've found no information that this means an acknowledged bastard in Swedish heraldry. The meaning of different heraldic concepts varies from country to country.

Finished it on the way to work and sadly didnt notice any mention of the Vetinari coat of arms in the rest of the book, sorry.

It does apply to huge parts of Middle Europe, France, and a few countries I don't remember from the top of my head...
Not every diagonal line did mean something along those lines, mind you. Sometimes the colour made the difference, sometimes you could only tell when you compared it to the original.
It just stuck when I stumbled upon it.

"Hoher Sinn liegt oft im kindischen Spiel." (Friedrich Schiller)

I'm sure you know more about this than me. :-) I'm totally lost when it comes to european heraldry and a haystraw from clueless in Swedish heraldry.

Anyone know a good site for british heraldry? I cant find anything.
*wants to make up a coat of arms*
lol

What is his motto in english? Someting like "if _____ then dont____

"No, a proof is a proof. What kind of a proof? It's a proof. A proof is a proof, and when you have a good proof, it's because it's proven." - Actual quote by Jean Chretien, former Canadian Prime Minister.

Also somebody tell KaptenKaries its constable not constaple. This is a very stupid post made when I was a very stupid newbit. Please disregard it.

Edit:

"No, a proof is a proof. What kind of a proof? It's a proof. A proof is a proof, and when you have a good proof, it's because it's proven." - Actual quote by Jean Chretien, former Canadian Prime Minister.

Sorry, I didn't notice that post earlier about the motto

"No, a proof is a proof. What kind of a proof? It's a proof. A proof is a proof, and when you have a good proof, it's because it's proven." - Actual quote by Jean Chretien, former Canadian Prime Minister.