Some of the coats of arms which were granted or adopted in the medieval age still remain in use in the twenty-first century.
The Origins of Heraldry
Heraldry began as a practical device for use on the medieval battlefield. When knights began to use armour and helmets, covering most of their bodies for protection, there was a need for an individual to be easily identified in the heat of battle.
One of the earliest forms of identification was a flag or standard. However, a flag could easily be destroyed or stolen by the enemy. Knights began to adopt their own symbol, or that of the man for whom they fought.
The chosen symbol was painted onto the knight’s shield and a crest could be worn on top of the knight’s helmet which showed the family badge. From this time onwards, anyone who performed heroic feats or acts of cowardice on the battlefield could be identified by their peers.
Heraldry in the Medieval Tournament
Gradually, the use of the decorated shield passed from the battlefield to the tournament. Again, a decorated shield made a knight recognisable even when his face was covered. Spectators could cheer on their favourite combatant and identify him easily, even at a distance.
As particular knights became known by their badge, the coat of arms became a status symbol. Noblemen began to create their own coat of arms, using colours and symbols which meant something to them.
The Role of the Herald in Medieval Europe
When heraldry was first adopted, anyone could create a coat of arms. However, as the practice became more popular, rules came into force that attempted to control the right to bear arms and the designs which were used. A medieval herald had the duty of visiting noble households to ensure that what had been recorded on a coat of arms was correct and to make a record of the chosen design.
The herald played an important part in the organisation and operation of a medieval tournament. It was he who verified the credentials of the combatants, listing the names and coat of arms of the various knights.
The herald also announced each combatant who came in to fight and so had to recognise that knight’s symbol quickly and sometimes announce its meaning to the crowd.
Symbolism in Heraldry
Strictly, a coat of arms was valid for one person and no one else was allowed to use the same badge. However, a coat of arms was often passed down the generations, via the male line, with different symbols added where appropriate. When two or more sons inherited from their father, they could each acquire slightly different coats of arms which they would then pass to their own descendants.
If an important marriage was made between two families, the coat of arms could be ‘quartered’, with the two arms combined into one shield.
Heraldry is often known as a science, because through the centuries, it acquired its own language and symbolism. In medieval times, when literacy was rare, the symbols on a coat of arms could convey a message without any need for words.
Although symbolism could vary between regions, a uniformity emerged during the period and various colours and symbols became widely known. When green was used on a coat of arms, it indicated loyalty, red was for strength and blue for truth.
The use of animals with legendary or heroic qualities, such as a lion or unicorn was especially popular for a coat of arms. Some arms were granted by a king and encompassed the monarch’s symbol as part of the design, to prove allegiance and reward service. Heraldry was one of the earliest status symbols and whether on the tournament or battlefield, a knight could speak to its audience without words.
Source
Simpkin, Dr David The English Aristocracy at War. From the Welsh Wars of Edward I To The Battle of Bannockburn [The Boydell Press,2008]
