An alerian volant, more commonly called an alerion volant in heraldic writing, is a stylized eagle shown in flight, traditionally without beak or claws. In coats of arms, the alerion is often read as a refined form of the eagle, carrying many of the eagle’s associations with courage, high aspiration, swiftness, vigilance, and noble command, but with a more symbolic and almost mystical quality. Because it is deprived of its natural weapons, it can also suggest disciplined power, spiritualized courage, or victory achieved through honor rather than brute force. The term “volant” means flying, so an alerian volant emphasizes motion, ascent, and readiness for action.

The best-known heraldic use of alerions appears in the arms of the Duchy of Lorraine, traditionally blazoned as a red bend charged with three silver alerions. This emblem became one of the most recognizable symbols of Lorraine and appears in regional heraldic traditions connected with northeastern France. You can see examples through heraldic resources such as Heraldry of the World: Lorraine and historical armorial references such as Arnaud Bunel’s Héraldique Européenne. The powerful French family of Montmorency also famously used numerous alerions in its arms, making the charge associated with old nobility, military service, and dynastic prestige.

In heraldic design, the alerion may appear as a principal charge, as a repeated device on a bend or shield, or occasionally in crests and badges. Its meaning can vary by period and region, but it often points to martial identity, ancient lineage, territorial loyalty, or a family’s claim to elevated virtue. Visually, the alerian volant is especially effective because it combines the grandeur of the eagle with a cleaner, more emblematic silhouette, making it a memorable symbol of noble ambition, honorable service, and heraldic distinction.