Corse

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Heraldry of the World
Civic heraldry of France - Armorial de France
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CORSE

Origin/meaning

The legend of the moor's head derives from the practice of cutting off the head of a defeated chieftain. This the Genoans did to Sampiero Corso. Pope Boniface VIII, in 1297, who was the lord of the island, gave Corse and Sardinia to Jaime II, King of Aragón. He then placed three moor's heads with bandages over their eyes in his Corsican arms. Sardinia bore four. They were shown sable for heraldic reasons and were not meant to represent negroes heads.

The large arms of Corse show two mermen as supporters:

Corse2.jpg

Literature : Image taken from La banque du blason (with permission); background by Brian Timms; large picture from postcard.