This discussion presupposes an understanding of what constitutes a "heraldic rule," which I am lacking It is the case that an heraldric rule is a rule contained in a government sanctioned book of heraldric rules, e.g. Canada's, which accepted by royal proclamation? The rules in these books are often broken by official heralds, e.g. violations of the tincture rules being the most common violations. Unless there is a government approved book of rules which specifies that a charge or ordinal is a mark of dishonor, then there is no such mark. Am I correct?