Impalement (heraldry)
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Impalement is a heraldic practice in which two coats of arms are combined in one shield to denote a union. The impaled shield is bisected in pale, that is by a vertical line, with each half of the shi
Memorial stone in Kilkenny, Ireland, depicting the family arms separated, and then impaled together on top.
Banner of Cardinal Wolsey as Archbishop of York. His personal arms in sinister (to viewer's right) are impaled with the arms of the See of York in dexter (to viewer's left), the position of honour.
Arms of Sir Arthur Northcote, 2nd Baronet (1628–1688), detail from ledger stone, King's Nympton Church, Devon, England
Sir Peter Courtenay Brass Escutcheon Exeter
Edward the Confessor
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Edward the Confessor was King of the English from 1042 until his death in 1066. He was the last reigning monarch of the House of Wessex.
Impalement (heraldry)
…union is believed to exist between the two parties. Such was the case with King Richard II (1377–1399) who had a particular devotion to the saint King Edward the Confessor. Although the saint lived in the pre-heraldic era, his attributed arms were employed by King Richard in impaling his own royal Arms of Plantagenet, as…
The left panel of the Wilton Diptych, where Edward (centre), with Edmund the Martyr (left) and John the Baptist, are depicted presenting Richard II to the Virgin Mary and Christ Child.
A sealed writ of Edward the Confessor
Edward's seal: SIGILLVM EADWARDI ANGLORVM BASILEI (Seal of Edward crowned/King of the English).