Roch (heraldry)
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Roch or Roche is an old name for the rook in chess .
The term goes back to Persian smell or odor . This word seems to be derived from the Indian word ratha for chariot . In addition, an etymological connection with the bird Roch from the world of legends is sometimes discussed.
The name can be found in the expression castling in chess. The roch was the strongest figure in the medieval game of chess (the forerunner figure of the later queen had only limited opportunities to move). This explains the popularity of the Roch motif.
As a common figure in heraldry , Roch can be found on coats of arms , in English heraldry since the 13th century. In Rochlitz in particular , it was already used as a talking coat of arms during the time of the Saxon rule of Roch . The city has two half roches in its coat of arms, the nobility had a whole roch. Half Roche were also known as hallmarks and guild seals since the 16th century. The French Roquette family and the Spanish Roquesens family also used the tower in this way. The chess tower is shown, the upper sides of which are curved like flowers to the left and right into the coat of arms. All colors are possible, but orientation is based on black and white towers on the corresponding colored areas, with gold not being excluded. The resemblance to the lily often led to confusion. In the coat of arms of the von Rochow family from the Mark Brandenburg region , the Roch mutated into lilies or two turned away horse heads due to a false description.
The name Roche or Rochen is also used for the blunt iron of a tournament lance. Instead of the battle spear with its sharp point, the tournament lance had three to four small spikes or prongs, the so-called crowns, at the top to avoid injuries.
literature
- Heinz Göschel (Hrsg.): Lexicon cities and coat of arms of the German Democratic Republic. 2nd, revised and expanded edition. Bibliographical Institute, Leipzig 1984.
- George Adalbert von Mülverstedt : The heraldic "Schachroche". With special reference to the Rochow coat of arms. In: Quarterly magazine for heraldry, sphragistics and genealogy. Vol. 1, 1873, ZDB -ID 200385-5 , pp. 47-80, here p. 71 .
- Meindest Niemeijer : De Roch as a heraldic figure. Geïl, Rotterdam 1946.
- Gert Oswald : Lexicon of Heraldry. 3rd, unchanged edition. Battenberg, Regenstauf 2011, ISBN 978-3-86646-077-5 .
