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| | THE IMPERIAL COLLEGE OF HERALDRY OF THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-11-06) |
 | | All Imperial Grants of Arms, shall be formally issued in the Style and Patrimony of The Holy Roman Empire of The German Nation, and shall be held, borne and enjoyed by the Grantee and his heirs in Perpetuity. |
 | | In both German and French names, the word is followed by the place name of the family home, although as an adjunct of nobility it was common practice to add the "von", and place name to a surname after ennoblement. |
 | | Where once the German heralds granted arms on behalf of monarchs, their place has now been taken by a number of heraldic societies (for private individuals) and state government (for local authorities), although in both cases the cerification of arms is purely a registration process, without any formal authority to grant armorial bearings. |
| www.imperialcollegeofheraldry.org (8316 words) |
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