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# Dictionary of Vexillology: I (Invected – Italian Shield)

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Last modified: 2026-05-23 by martin karner
Keywords: vexillological terms |
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On this page:

- INVECTED (INVECKED or INVECQUED)
- INVERTED
- INVERTED CHEVRON
- INVERTED PALL
- INVERTED PILE
- INVERTED TRIANGLE
- IRISH SALTIRE
- IRON CROSS
- ISSUANT (or ISSANT)
- ITALIAN PROVINCIAL CROWN
- ITALIAN SHIELD

INVECTED (INVECKED or INVECQUED)
  (adj) The alternative heraldic terms used when a division in the field of a banner of arms or shield, or the edge of an ordinary, is cut into a series of projecting curves or half circles strung together – that is with the half-circles facing outward and the points inward – invecked, envecked, or invecqued – see engrailed (also armorial bearings, coat of arms, scalloped).

  Flag of Oberhof, Switzerland; Flag of Vestre Slidre, Norway; Flag of Massagno, Switzerland

INVERTED
  1) On flags a term which may be used when a charge or charges, that are (or that may be) orientated vertically, are shown as being turned upside down (see also chevron, pall, pile).
  2) In heraldry see reversed 2).

  Flag of Cirkulane, Slovenia

INVERTED CHEVRON
  See chevron 1), chevron 2).

  Flag of Birżebbuġa, Malta

INVERTED PALL
  See pall 1).

  Flag of Kråkerøy, Norway

INVERTED PILE
  See pile 1).

  Flag of Šárovcova Lhota, Czechia

INVERTED TRIANGLE
  See triangle 2).

  Gay Triangle Flag

IRISH SALTIRE
  See St. Patrick's Cross and its following note.

  St. Patrick's Cross

IRON CROSS
  The term (derived from an originally Prussian later German military decoration) that describes a distinctly Germanic form of the cross pattée – see teutonic cross (also balkenkreuz, hanseatic cross).

  Naval Jack 1903–1919, Germany; Iron Cross 1813, Prussia (Wikipedia); Flag of the War Minister 1919–1921, Germany

  Notes
  a) The above term should only be used when the cross pattée being described is black, carries a white or silver border and/or is of Germanic origin.
  b) Although based upon a military decoration this cross was ultimately derived from the symbol of the Medieval Teutonic Order as referenced above.

ISSUANT (or ISSANT)
  The alternative heraldic terms used when a charge emerges out of the base of a field or a chief, from an ordinary or from the upper edge of a fess, or from a coronet – issant or rising from –, but see the important note below and naissant 1) (also charge 1), coronet 1)).

  Flag of Sâles, Switzerland; Flag of Recknitz-Trebeltal, Germany; Flag of Augst, Switzerland

  Please note that in modern heraldry the term for a charge or figure emerging from the side of a shield, banner of arms or a flag is naissant – see naissant 1).

ITALIAN PROVINCIAL CROWN
  See provincial crown 1).

  Flag of Alessandria, Italy

ITALIAN SHIELD
  The term sometimes used to describe a shield of the decorative, post-medieval type most often seen in Italian personal and civic heraldry but see note below – a horse-head shield (also renaissance shield).

  The Arms of Messina, Italy (Wikimedia)

  Please note that several of the terms giving shields a national identity, as well as those describing a specific type, are still in the process of standardization, and that no consistent approach has thus far been identified.

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