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Heraldic Council of the Holy Roman Empire - HREA
Heraldic Council of the H.R.E.
The Heraldic Council of the Holy Roman Empire - HREA is a Corporation and Heraldic Authority, consisting of professional officers of arms, with sole Heraldic jurisdiction over the whole of the territory and lands of the Holy Roman Empire. The Heraldic Council was created in 1963, Its prime task is to supervise the granting of Coats of Arms and the protection of the usage of all Imperial Armorial Bearings and Heraldic devices of the Holy Roman Empire. The Chief Herald of the Heraldic Council of the Holy Roman Empire is the Reichsherold or Imperial Herald, The Chief Herald authorises the granting of arms and the right to use arms in the whole of the territory and lands of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation.
The Process of Petition for Grant of Arms
An application for a grant of arms should be made to the Chief Herald, by formal petition, setting out, in the case of a personal application, basic personal information and accompanied by supporting certificates or other appropriate documents. If an application appears to be in order the matter is considered in detail by a Herald of Arms who will consult with the applicant about possible designs. A preliminary painting is then made for the approval of the applicant who will also be shown a draft of the Letters Patent. The final document is issued on vellum and includes a hand-painted exemplification of the arms. The grant of arms will be recorded and listed in the Imperial Register of Arms of the Holy Roman Empire.
The Imperial Court of Chivalry
The Imperial Court of Chivalry or the Chief Heralds Court, is presided over by the Chief Herald of the Heraldic Council of the Holy Roman Empire. The court has jurisdiction over all matters relating to heraldry as it legalises and enforce decisions of the Imperial Court of Chivalry. The court considers all cases relating to questions of status, including disputes over heraldic matters and the law of arms, for example complaints on the infringement of the use of another individual's coat of arms, without due permission and or rights held and pertained.