**Gules** is the heraldic tincture red. The name probably derives from Old French *gueules*, the red-dyed throats of fur used in medieval clothing. In monochrome engravings gules is conventionally indicated by vertical hatching. Gules is the most common colour in European national flags and is associated symbolically with courage, blood and sovereignty.
**Example**: The plain red field of the flag of Albania is blazoned simply as ‘Gules, an eagle displayed with two heads Sable’.
**See also**: [tincture](/glossary/tincture/), [color-heraldic](/glossary/color-heraldic/), [azure](/glossary/azure/), [sable](/glossary/sable/)