Communicating
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HERALDRY
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THE ANCIENT ART OF HERALDRY
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In the twelfth century, a new style of
helmet completely covered the faces of knights. So they
began to decorate their shields and armour in order to
show who they were. Pictures and colours were a good way
to do this at a time when most people could not read. The
designs had to be simple and bright enough to be seen
from a distance, or in the dust and muddle of a battle.
At
this time there were international tournaments, and
international groups going on Crusade. This meant that
the knights had to be able to recognise fighters from
other countries. Officials called heralds appeared, who
organized tournaments, carried messages in battle, and
worked out designs for knights to use. The design on the
shield has come to be known as a "coat of arms"
because Crusaders, fighting in the hot climate of the
Middle East wore white cotton surcoats (tunics) over
their armour, to keep them cool. This tunic was a good
place to show their personal design.
The design on the shield was later
put on seals (acting like a signature), or on belongings,
to show who the owner was. A son or daughter would
inherit their parents' coat of arms, when they inherited
their parents' land and duties.
In the sixteenth century, knights
became less important in warfare, partly as a result of
the use of gunpowder. Also many families became newly
rich, and wanted to stress that they now had high status.
Therefore, coats of arms became a status symbol -
something to show your family was important - rather than
something useful in a battle. So coats of arms were used
to decorate houses, furniture, crockery, clothes, and
jewellery. Because they were not meant to be seen from a
distance, the designs could become much more complicated.
Coats of arms help families and
organizations to feel special, united, and different from
others. Perhaps this is why they are still popular today.
Book References:
Boutell's Heraldry, J
P Brooke-Little, 1950, last revised 1978. Frederick Warne
& Co.Ltd.
Simple Heraldry, Iain Moncreiffe & Don Pottinger,
1953. Thomas Nelson & Sons Ltd.
Related Internet Sites:
Reference 1 - Link
to Lesley Holt's page to find out about the arise of
heraldry.
Reference 2 - Link
to Robert Young's page to see some modern civic heraldry
illustrated.
Reference 3 - Visit
James Dignan's fully illustrated glossary of tinctures
and designs.
Reference 4 - Link
to this site by James Wolf and look for a family name
coat of arms used by someone with the same surname as you.
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Page last updated 23/05/2003 © Copyright, I.D.Lee,
Didcot Girls' School.
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