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Scanned From The Pages Of J.B Rietsap's Armorial General
The Peetz Arms.
These arms have been drawn and painted by hand and are shown in traditioial style with the helmet displayed above the shield to show the rank of the bearer. The arms are painted in a German style with the helmet being that of a German Ritter.
For hundreds of years it has been traditional to surround the helmet with mantling. The mantle originated at the time of the crusades; the Crusaders copying the Saracens in wearing flowing robes which they found not only protected them from the heat of the sun but easily entangled with the weapons of their enemies. However they preferred to use the colours of their own livery as opposed to the black of the Saracens. The lines in the mantle represent sword slashes.
The arms associated with the Peetz name are taken from Rietstap’s Armorial Gèneral which reads:— ‘Peetz— Esthonie. D’or un triangle vidd’ d’azur, et trois étoiles mal— ordonndes d’argent., posses dans le triangle. Cimier— le triangle renfermant une dtoile d’argent et some’ d’une toile pareille. Lambrequins— d’or et d’azur.’
The translation of the blazon is:— Or, a triangle azure containing three mullets argent. Crest— The triangle in which is a mullet argent, the same as in the arms. Mantling— Or and azure.
Gold, yellow in heraldry, is thought by some to have represented the first gift given to Christ at his birth and that silver, white in heraldry, was a sign of purity. The true symbolic meaning of the triangle has most probably been lost in the mists of time but it was obviously very important to the bearer. A mullet represented a spur rowel and the bearer was demonstrating that he was a good horseman. Three may have been placed on the shield to represent the Holy Trinity. I believe the original arms are old and could date from the 12th or 13th century.
I do hope you obtain great pleasure from these arms.
D J Tassell 23rd January, 1996
Heraldic Arts
142 St. Johns Road
Golchester, Essex, United Kingdom
Last Updated: November 30, 2008