Demi-lion (Period)

Any beast can be cut in half to become a demi-beast, and used as a charge.  The treatment is found in period armory:  demi-lions are found in the arms of Hamme, c.1312 [ANA2 243].  While demi-beasts may, of course, be issuant – e.g., from base, from a fess, or from a line of division – they are frequently found as discrete charges.

A demi-beast is erect by default, even when this is not the default posture of the full beast.  The severed part is couped by default; if the demi-beast is erased, the fact must be blazoned.  The couping is roughly fesswise, and frequently includes a snippet of the tail as well.  The illustration shows a demi-lion.

Katherine Brianna Coldrake Kyven bears:  Argent, three demi-horses rampant to sinister purpure.

Rhianwen ni Dhiarmada bears:  Sable, a demi-unicorn rampant Or crined and horned argent.

Brian mac Tomáis Uí Fhoghladha bears:  Argent, a demi-goat erased gules.

Ivan Geirsson bears:  Sable, three demi-lions Or.