cross masculy

No other symbol appearing in heraldry is subject to as much variation as the cross Boutell’s Heraldry, J.P. Brooke-Little, Warne, (revised Edition) London 1970, P 47. Mediaeval Europe was a deeply religious and Christian and many of the nobility wanted to show their devotion by adopting the symbol of the cross as part of the arms. Since no two arms could be identical there arose many variants of the cross, the cross masculy is a particularly interesting variant. The mascle is a diamond shaped charge, actually a lozenge voided (with the background showing through). Hence the cross masculy is a cross made up of a number of mascles, touching at the outer points. A striking and effective charge in whatever colour is chosen.