A globe in heraldry is a powerful and immediately recognizable charge representing the world itself, and it carries associations with sovereignty, knowledge, exploration, and universal authority. In royal and imperial heraldry, the globe or orb has one of the longest and most distinguished histories of any charge, appearing as a symbol of dominion over the earth and the divine right to govern. When surmounted by a cross, it becomes the orb, one of the principal symbols of Christian monarchy, signifying that earthly power is held under the authority of God. In this form it appears in the regalia of virtually every European monarchy and in the arms of institutions that wish to express a connection to faith, governance, and the ordering of the world. A useful heraldic reference for this charge appears at Mistholme: Orb.

As a charge in personal and civic heraldry, the globe takes on a wider range of meanings beyond royal regalia. It may suggest learning, scholarship, navigation, trade, and global ambition, making it a natural choice for universities, learned societies, merchant companies, and port cities whose prosperity depended on international commerce and exploration. A globe shown with meridian lines, a stand, or a compass rose adds further layers of meaning, pointing toward cartography, science, and the intellectual mastery of geography. In crests, a globe can suggest an armiger whose influence or aspirations extend beyond local boundaries, while in civic arms it may mark a city or institution as a center of international significance. For drawing conventions and visual references, see Traceable Heraldic Art: Orb.

Notable examples of the globe in heraldry include its use by the Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors and various trading companies whose reach extended across continents, as well as in the arms of universities and learned institutions that place scholarship and the pursuit of universal knowledge at their core. Port cities and maritime nations have also adopted the globe to signal their role as gateways to the wider world. For historical terminology and related entries on orbs, spheres, and celestial globes, Parker's glossary remains an authoritative reference at A Glossary of Terms Used in Heraldry, and broader context on the use of symbolic objects in heraldic design can be explored through the Heraldry Society. As a heraldic symbol, the globe endures as a compelling emblem of authority, ambition, and the human desire to understand and encompass the world.