purpure

Purpure is a tincture used in heraldry to denote the color purple. It ranks among the standard heraldic tinctures, typically listed alongside or (gold), argent (silver), gules (red), azure (blue), vert (green), and sable (black). Purpure is usually depicted as a rich, deep purple, and is governed in armory by the Rule of Tincture, which governs contrast between colors and metals.

Historically, the color purple carried great prestige because Tyrian purple dye, produced from certain marine mollusks, was expensive to manufacture. In medieval and early modern heraldry, purpure was often reserved for royalty or high-ranking church figures, although over time its use broadened in decorative and ceremonial contexts as dye technologies improved.

Symbolically, purpure is commonly associated with majesty, sovereignty, and solemnity, as well as spiritual aspiration. In heraldic blazoning, the tincture carries these general associations, though the precise meaning can vary with individual arms and cultural context.

In contemporary practice, purpure remains a recognized tincture in heraldry and related fields such as vexillology and symbolic design. It continues to be chosen to convey regal or ceremonial qualities, while its contrast with metals and other colors ensures legibility and aesthetic balance on coats of arms, banners, and emblems.