MODERN HERALDRY

Many heraldic societies exist around the globe. People view heraldry as part of their heritage and as a way to show pride in their origins. Nations, provinces, states, counties and cities continue to add to the traditions of civic heraldry.

Modern heraldry is not usually an expression of aristocracy but simply a form of identification. The military and many churches continue to use a coat of arms to represent themselves, especially in printed materials.  

Heraldry continues to flourish in the modern world. Institutions, companies, and individuals continue to use coats of arms as forms of pictorial identification. In the British Isles, the Kings of Arms and the Chief Herald of Ireland continue to make grants of arms. There are also heraldic authorities in Spain, Canada and South Africa that grant or register coats of arms. Heraldic societies abound in the world today in Africa, Asia, Australia, the Americas, and in Europe. Some people who have interests in heraldry as a hobby participate in the Society for Creative Anachronism and other medieval revivals or in micro nationalism.

Many more people see heraldry as a part of their national, and even personal, heritage, as well as a manifestation of civic and national pride. Today, heraldry has ceased to be an expression of aristocracy throughout the world and is simply a form of identification. Military heraldry continues to develop, incorporating blazons unknown to the medieval world. Nations and their subdivisions—provinces, states, counties, cities, and more—continue to build on traditions of civic heraldry. The Roman Catholic Church, the Church of England, and other faiths maintain a tradition of heraldry known as ecclesiastical heraldry for its highest ranking prelates, holy orders, universities and schools.

HERALDIC SERVICE -CONSULTATIONS

Web sites: http://www.kingofarms.webs.com

FERNANDO MUÑOZ ALTEA, was born in Madrid, Spain on November 22^nd 1925.

• 1951 Degree in History Hermanos Maristas de Madrid

• Appointed Chronicler King of Arms of the Royal House of Borbon Two Sicilies since 1962

• Commander with plaque of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George

• Grand Officer of The Order of the Star of Ethiopia

• Heraldic Advisor to the Cuban Association

• The Sovereign Military and Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and Malta

• Grand Cross America’s Order of Saint John the Baptist

• Comander OSMTJ

• Knight Mozárabe, decorated with Lábaro Ecuménico

• Knight of the Mexican Legion of Honor in the eminent grade

• Member of the Russian (Moscow’s) College of Heraldry

• Member of the Visigoth Studies Institute of Toledo Spain

• Orbe Hispánico in the Ibero American Association

• Consultant for the Mexican Mint House, Numismatic Division, for the commemorative emission of “Coins of the Federation” (2003)

• Member of the International Academy Our Lady of Montecarmelo (2004)

• President “Ad Vitam” and founder of the Mexican Academy for Genealogic and Heraldic Studies

• Maestranza de Caballería with the Patronage of  H.H.I.R. Don Andrés Salvador de Habsburgo-Lorena and Salm-Salm, ArchDuke of Austria, in the Rank Master Grand Cross and the position of Principal Judge of Arms
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• Member of the Collegiate Body of the Historic  Nobility of the Iberian kingdoms
  
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• Member of the Society for the Study of San Gregorio Magno
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• Knight of Saint Antony of Lisboa of Arronches

       Member of the History Academies and History Institutes in the following countries:

REGISTRATION OF ARMS SERVICE

Registration of Arms Service - Please note that these services do not confer any rank or title of nobility.  Don Fernando can act as a consultant in order to initiate legal procedures to rehabilitate nobility titles.

The restorations of titles handled by Don Fernando are limited to the sixth degree of consanguinity to the last legal owner. As for the recognition of titles, he is not authorized to mention them unless such titles are official used or they are officially recognized by a trusted Institution such as it take place in Italy.

To have nobility titles recognized in Italy, it can be done by Lawyers through an International Arbitration Tribunal Court. The International Arbitration Tribunal, established under Italian and International law, issues a sentence ascertaining the right to noble titles, predicates and legitimacy of the noble coat of arms.

The sentence issued by the International Arbitration Tribunal is a first-degree sentence under Italian law, once an execution decree has been issued by the President of an ordinary tribunal, pursuant to art. 825 of the Italian Civil Procedure Code. The extract of the sentence and the decree by the president of the ordinary tribunal are published in the Official Gazette.

This sentence is irrevocable under Italian Law, and can be executed, within the limits established by international law, within those States that signed the New York Convention on 10th June 1958. Likewise the sentence establishes that on the confirmation and baptism certificates, the title and predicate can be included.

COMPETENCE

Don Fernando is the appointed officer of the Royal House of Bourbon Two Sicily to grant Letters Patent recognizing the right to arms. His functions include to record and keep a registry of coats of arms and pedigrees of a petitioner’s families and their descendants.

1. By delegation, granting of letters Patent to applicants who had submitted a petition and completed successfully the process for new arms. There are no fixed criteria of eligibility for a grant of arms but tradition, honorability of the petitioner, personal achievements in the arts, science or public and military services are usually considered

2. Registry of marks of cadency and augmentations in granted arms

3. He as a Herald specializes in genealogical and research being able to registry a family pedigree to establish a right to arms by descent or for the satisfaction of knowing that the pedigree is registered within the king of arms. (Sample)

4. Memorials as proof of gentry required for the application to Chivalric Orders

5. Civic heraldry (Sample)

As heraldic artist Don Fernando can execute a wide variety of heraldic artwork, including but not limited to:

1. Fine paintings on vellum for display(Sample)
2. Black and white line drawings for use by engravers on metal and glass
3. seal, flag, and bookplate designs
4. Family trees

Over years of practice and study, he has specialized in genealogical and heraldic research being able to investigate and reconstruct a family pedigree either to establish a right to arms by showing direct male line descent from an ancestor already appearing as entitled to arms or genealogical search for other purposes. He will be able to prepare:

1. To write a Dossier containing a family’s history with biographical, genealogical and heraldic notes and records.

2. To research and reconstruction of family trees in Spain, Mexico, Latin America and the United States.

FOR SERVICE PLEASE CONTACT DIRECTLY DON FERNANDO MUÑOZ ALTEA

Fees will be determined depending on the extension of the certification, art work as well as the complexity and size of the achievement to be certified.

NOTE: CERTIFICATES ISSUED BEFORE JANUARY 01, 2010 ARE NOT RECOGNIZED BY OUR ROYAL PATRONS.  THEREFORE ALL REGISTERS DATING FROM BEFORE THE ABOVE DATE ARE HEREBY ABROGATED.