Herald [fr. here, Sax., an army, and heald, a champion; herault, heraut, Fr.; herald, Ger.; araldo, Ital.; because it was part of his office to charge or challenge unto battle or combat], an officer who registers genealogies, adjusts ensigns armorial, regulates funerals, and carries messages between princes, and proclaims war and peace. Heralds were anciently called Dukes at Arms, probably from the Latin ducere ad arma; because the conducting of affairs concerning peace and war devolved upon them, their office being to carry messages to the enemy, and to proclaim war and peace. Hence the persons of heralds were deemed sacred by the law of nations, and were received and protected by belligerent powers, as flags of truce are in the present day. The three chief heralds are called Kings of Arms; of whom (1) Garter is the principal, instituted by Henry V. His office is to attend the Knights of the Garter at their solemnities, and to marshal the funerals of the nobility. (2) Clarencieux King of Arms, ordained by Edward IV., so called from the Duke of Clarence. He is to marshal and dispose of the funerals of the inferior nobility on the south side of the Trent. (3) Norroy (North Roy) King of Arms holds a similar department on the north side of the river Trent. These two last are denominated provincial heralds, because they divide the kingdom between them into provinces. Besides the Kings of Arms, there are six subordinate heralds, according to their origin, as they were created to attend dukes and great lords in martial expeditions, i.e., York, Lancaster, Chester, Windsor, Richmond, and Somerset; the four former were instituted by Edward III, and the two latter by Edward IV. and Henry VIII. To these upon the accession of George I. to the crown, on account of his Hanoverian dominions, a new heralds was added, called Hanover herald, an another styled Gloucester King of Arms.
To the superior and inferior heralds are added four others, called Marshals or Pursuivants of Arms, who commonly succeed in the places of such heralds as die or are promoted; they are denominated Blue-mantle, Rouge-croix, Rouge-dragon and Portcullis. See POURSUIVANT and HERALDS'COLLEGE.
Lord Lyon's Office in Scotland and Ulster King of Arms in Ireland are distinct and independent. As to Scotland, see Stevenson's Heraldy in Scotland.
In England & Scotland, one of several officers res-ponsible for keeping genealogical lists and tables, adjusting armorial hearings and funerals, Black's Law Dictionary, 7th Edn., p. 729.