# Achievement (heraldry)

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Full display of coat of arms

Part of a series on Heraldic achievement External devices in addition to the central coat of arms Escutcheon Field Supporter Crest Torse Mantling Helmet Crown Compartment Charge Motto (or slogan) Coat of arms Heraldry portal v t e

Heraldic achievement forming the [Garter stall plate](/source/Garter_stall_plate) of [John Beaufort, 1st Duke of Somerset](/source/John_Beaufort%2C_1st_Duke_of_Somerset) (d. 1444), [KG](/source/Knight_of_the_Garter), St. George's Chapel, Windsor. The earliest garter plate with supporters.[1] It includes the [badge](/source/Badge_(heraldry)) of an ostrich feather, here shown as a pair,  blazoned: *feather argent pen [gobonne](/source/Compone) argent and azure*

For other uses, see [Achievement (disambiguation)](/source/Achievement_(disambiguation)).

In [heraldry](/source/Heraldry), an **achievement**, **armorial achievement** or **heraldic achievement** (historical: **hatchment**) is a full display or depiction of all the heraldic components to which the bearer of a [coat of arms](/source/Coat_of_arms) is [entitled](/source/Grant_of_arms).[2] An achievement comprises not only the arms displayed on the [escutcheon](/source/Escutcheon_(heraldry)), the central element, but also the following elements surrounding it (from top to bottom):

- [Slogan](/source/Slogan_(heraldry)) or [war-cry](/source/War-cry), if possessed

- [Mantle and pavilion](/source/Mantle_and_pavilion_(heraldry))

- [Crest](/source/Crest_(heraldry)) placed atop a:

- [Torse](/source/Torse) (or [cap of maintenance](/source/Cap_of_maintenance) as a special honour)

- [Mantling](/source/Mantling)

- [Helm](/source/Helmet_(heraldry)) of appropriate variety; if holder of higher rank than a [baronet](/source/Baronet), issuing from a:

- [Coronet](/source/Coronet) or [crown](/source/Crown_(heraldry)) (not used by baronets), of appropriate variety.

- [Console](/source/Console_(heraldry)) (decorative or aesthetic in purpose, and not officially part of the armorial grant)

- [Supporters](/source/Supporters) (if the bearer is entitled to them, generally in modern usage not baronets), which may stand on a [compartment](/source/Compartment_(heraldry))

- [Motto](/source/Motto_(heraldry)), if possessed

- [Order](/source/Order_(distinction)), if possessed

- [Badge](/source/Badge_(heraldry)), if possessed

## Coat of arms

Sometimes the term "[coat of arms](/source/Coat_of_arms)" is used to refer to the full achievement, but this usage is incorrect in the strict sense of heraldic terminology, as a coat of arms refers to a garment with the [escutcheon](/source/Escutcheon_(heraldry)) or armorial achievement embroidered on it.[3][4]

## Hatchment

[Garter stall plate](/source/Garter_stall_plate) of [John Russell, 1st Earl of Bedford](/source/John_Russell%2C_1st_Earl_of_Bedford) (c. 1485–1554/5), installed as a [Knight of the Garter](/source/Knight_of_the_Garter) 18 May 1539, showing his "achievement", at that time  termed "hatchment"

The ancient term used in place of "achievement" was "hatchment", deriving (through such historic forms as *atcheament, achement, hathement*, etc.) from the French *achèvement*,[5] from the French verb *achever*, a contraction of *à chef venir* ("to come to a head"), ultimately from Latin *ad caput venire*, "to come to a head",[6] thus: "to reach a conclusion, accomplish, achieve". The word "hatchment" in its historical usage is thus identical in meaning and origin to the English heraldic term "achievement". In modern English, however, the term "hatchment" has come to be used almost exclusively to denote a [funerary hatchment](/source/Funerary_hatchment),[7] while the word "achievement", now archaic in that sense,[8] is used in place of "hatchment" in non-funereal contexts.[9] An example of the historic use of "hatchment" in a non-funerary context to denote what is now termed "achievement" appears in the statute of the [Order of the Garter](/source/Order_of_the_Garter) laid down by King [Henry VIII](/source/Henry_VIII) (r. 1509–1547) concerning the regulation of [Garter stall plates](/source/Garter_stall_plate):[10]

It is agreed that every knyght within the yere of his stallation shall cause to be made a [scauchon](/source/Escutcheon_(heraldry)) of his armes and *hachementis* in a plate of metall suche as shall please him and that it shall be surely sett upon the back of his stall.

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Planche, J. R., *Pursuivant of Arms*, 1851, p. xx

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Boutell, Charles & Charles Fox-Davies, Arthur (1914). [*The handbook to English heraldry*](https://books.google.com/books?id=_xdMAAAAMAAJ&q=achievement). Reeves & Turner. p. 100. Achievement, or Achievement of Arms. Any complete composition of Arms.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** A. G. Puttock, *A Dictionary of Heraldry and Related Subjects*, Exeter 1985. Blaketon Hall. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0907854931](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0907854931). p. 40

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Stephen Friar (ed.), *A New Dictionary of Heraldry*, London 1987. Alphabooks/A&C Black. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0906670446](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0906670446). p. 96.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** *Collins Dictionary of the English Language*, London, 1986.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** *Larousse Dictionnaire de la Langue Française*, Paris, 1979: "lat. pop. *capum*, class. *caput*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["hatchment"](https://www.oed.com/search/dictionary/?q=hatchment). *[Oxford English Dictionary](/source/Oxford_English_Dictionary)* (online ed.). Oxford University Press. (Subscription or [participating institution membership](https://www.oed.com/public/login/loggingin#withyourlibrary) required.)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["achievement"](https://www.oed.com/search/dictionary/?q=achievement). *[Oxford English Dictionary](/source/Oxford_English_Dictionary)* (online ed.). Oxford University Press. (Subscription or [participating institution membership](https://www.oed.com/public/login/loggingin#withyourlibrary) required.)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** [Trench, Richard Chenevix](/source/Richard_Chenevix_Trench) (1890) [1859]. "Achievement". In Mayhew, Anthony Lawson (ed.). [*A Select Glossary of English Words Used Formerly in Senses Different from Their Present*](https://books.google.com/books?id=JSs4AQAAIAAJ) (7 ed.). London: Kegan Paul, Trench. p. 2. This 'achievement' or 'hatchment' is an escutcheon or coat of arms erected when a person of distinction has died; originally so called from its being granted in memory of some 'achievement' or distinguished feat. In the Heralds' College there are 'achievements' still, as there were for Milton two centuries ago; but in our common language we call them 'hatchments,' and have let any such employment of 'achievement' go.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** [Round, J. Horace](/source/J._Horace_Round), [*Family Origins and Other Studies*](https://books.google.com/books?hl=nl&id=7KYWAQAAIAAJ), Page, William, (ed.), London, 1930, pp. 174–189, "The Garter Plates and Peerage Styles", p. 174.

## External links

- ["What is an Achievement?"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110420025929/http://antirheralds.org/display/achievements/achievements.html). An Tir College of Heralds. Archived from [the original](http://www.antirheralds.org/display/achievements/achievements.html) on 20 April 2011. Retrieved 16 May 2011. An 'achievement' is a full formal display of a coat of arms.

- [Chisholm, Hugh](/source/Hugh_Chisholm), ed. (1911). ["Hatchment"](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1911_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica/Hatchment). *[Encyclopædia Britannica](/source/Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica_Eleventh_Edition)*. Vol. 13 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 62.

v t e Heraldry Authorities Grant of arms History origin Law of arms Officers of arms King of Arms herald private pursuivant Societies Visitation Types National dominion civic Ecclesiastical papal Burgher Women Attributed Topics Armiger Augmentation abatement Ancient and modern Alliance courtesy Blazon Cadency distinction Canting Debased Dexter and sinister Field divisions variations Fraud Marshalling dimidiation impalement quartering National traditions Societies Achievement Coat of arms Crowns and coronets Crest Compartment Escutcheon Helmet Mantling pavilion Motto slogan Supporter Torse Charges Attitudes Erasure Fimbriation Lines Ordinaries variations Geometric Annulet Bar Base Bend Bordure Canton Chevron Łękawica Componée Crescent Star and crescent Cross Crozier head Chief Esquarre Esquire Fess Fillet Flaunch Gore Goutte Gusset Gyron Hamade Inescutcheon Label Lozenge Mount Orle Pale Pall Pile Roundel Bezant Fountain Saltire Side Star Beasts Bear Boar Bull/ox Dog/hound Camelopard Hind/stag Kangaroo Leopard Lion Wolf Birds Alerion Black swan Cock Crow Dove Eagle Double-headed Triple-headed Szaszor Martlet Pelican Other Aurora Bee Caldron Carbuncle Clarion Cossack Crapaudy Dolphin Emmet Fire basket Ged Heart Lucy Mill Pizzle Portcullis Reremouse Scallop Serpent Sun Trident Vol Wolfsangel Legendary Allocamelus Alphyn Amphiptere Basilisk Biscione Chollima Cockatrice Dragon Chinese Enfield Garuda Griffin/Keythong Harpy Hippocampus Hippogriff Lampago Lindworm Manticore Mermaid Musimon Ouroboros Pantheon Panther Pegasus Phoenix Salamander Sea-griffin Sea-lion Tyger Unicorn Winged lion Woodwose Wyvern Yale Plants Fleur-de-lis Laurel wreath Oak Quatrefoil Rose Shamrock Trefoil Thistle Turnip Waterlily/Seeblatt Knots Bourchier Bowen Cavendish/Savoy Dacre Harrington Hastings/Hungerford Heneage Hinckaert Hungerford knot Lacy Ormonde/Wake Savoy Stafford Tristram/Bowen Wake Tinctures Rule of tincture Tricking Hatching Metals Argent (white) Or (gold) Colours Gules (red) Sable (black) Azure (blue) Vert (green) Purpure (purple)1 Furs Ermine Ermines Erminois Erminites Pean Vair Potent Stains Murrey (mulberry) Sanguine (blood red) Tenné (tawny) Rare metals1 Copper Bronze Buff (United States) Rare colours1 Amaranth Aquamarine Bleu celeste (sky blue) Brunâtre (brown) Buff (Canada) Cendrée (ashen-grey) Horizon blue Ochre Orange Rose (pink) Realistic Proper Carnation Diapering Applications Bookplate Hatchment Flag banner of arms Badge Ordinary of arms Roll of arms Illyrian Seal equestrian Tabard Trophy of arms Related Mon Emblem socialist Logotype Phaleristics Vexillology Sigillography 1 Non-traditional, regional, or rarely used (sometimes considered unheraldic) List of oldest heraldry Heraldry portal resources

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Armorial achievements](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Armorial_achievements).

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