Coat of arms
The coat of arms is an artistic work on a knight's armor to identify competitors at tournaments or in battle. Heraldry was created during the 12th century crusades, soon being seen every where from stain glass windows, treasures and many other art forms. Bearing these arms became a prerequisite to be able to enter into a tournament as to own a coat of arms is a statement of nobility that gets passed on from generation to generation.
It was done that the eldest would inherit and this also included the family estate. The younger would use the same arms but would place a different symbol to the original, in the middle. This tradition is known as Cadency. When a woman marries and has no brothers the family coat of arms would be added to her husbands, know as marshalling, as seen below-
This unity represents permanent, stable and unchanging relationship.
"The whole science of heraldry and genealogy developed, expressing the belief that nobility was a matter of blood and not of service" (Canter, 1969, pg 493)
The coat of arms consists of 6 parts of a mans armor, when all together it is called an achievement of arms (Powell, intro to heraldry, 2006)
These are:
1. The Shield
These vary depending on geographical location and time period but the basic medieval shield is still used for protection and identity of a knight.
Above is an example of a shield but there are many divisions that one can be broken down into. The background of the shield is called a field, placed on these are
The Bend, this appears as a broad band from the chief corner to the sinister base.
The Pale, this is a broad perpendicular band passing from the top of the shield to the bottom.
The Fess, this is a broad horizontal band crossing the shield in the centre.
The Chevron, which is the same shape as the gable rafter.
The Pile, this is a triangular wedge issuing from the upper party of the shield.
The Saltire
The Chief, this is a broad band across the top of the shield containing the uppermost third of the area of the shield.
The Pall, is considered to have a heraldic status of an ecclesiastical charge upon the official coat of arms.
The Cross, There are nearly 400 varieties of this heraldic cross.
These have been retrieved from the web site ‘Heraldry and self-representation in the middle ages' by the Central European University.
Colour was then added using the rule "metal on colour and colour on metal but not metal on metal or colour on colour" (Owl and Mouse educational software, Shields, knights and heraldry, 1998- 2004). These metals were:
1. Or ( gold – yellow)
2. Argent (silver – white)
When knights elect colours for their coat of arms they take into account that each colour is symbolic in representing who they are.
With the colours and their meanings are:
1. Gules (red) – warrior or martyr
2. Azure (blue) – truth and loyalty
3. Vert (green) – hope, joy and loyalty in love
4. Sable (black) – constancy or grief
5. Purpure (purple) – royal majesty, sovereignty and justice
6. Twang or Tenne (orange) – worthy ambition
7. Sanguine or Murray (maroon) – patient in battle and yet victorious
The above language is called blazoning, which is the heraldic terms used for coat of arms.
Charges are also on the shield and these are usually animals show on the base colour. These are animals of battle such as:
1. Lion: which represents courage, bravery and strength
2. Bear: representing strength, cunning, protection of ones kindred
3. Bore: bravery and fights to the death
4. Eagle: courage, noble nature, alertness and protection
5. Horse: readiness for all employment of the king and country
6. Dragon: protection and valiant defender of treasure
7. Griffin: valor, bravery, viligence and death-defying
The position of the animals can be:
- Rampant: standing on hind legs
- Rampant Guardant: standing on hind legs and face turning towards viewer
- Passant: walking
- Couchant: lying down
- Sejant: sitting
"The more important the image the larger it was in comparison to the other images on the shield" (Owl and Mouse software, Shields, Knights and Heraldry, 1998 - 2004)
2. The Helm
The helm of helmet used to indicate the rank of the bearer of the arms from the gold full faced helm of royalty to the steel helmet with closed visor of a gentleman. ( Powell, into to heraldry,2006)
3. The Crest
Secondary hereditary device used to distinguish the helm, much like the charge on the shield. "The crest on the helmet began to appear around the 12th century, not long after the introduction of the face guards" (wise,pg 122)
4. The Mantle
The mantle is a piece of cloth to protect against the heat on the neck. This also attracts the attention to the arms and the crest.
5. The Wreath
The wreath is two scarves braided in the arms colour covering the joint between the crest and the helmet. This kept the mantling and the crest in position.
6. The Motto
These are optional but if present are usually below the shield or above the crest. This motto can have the family surname or a family philosophy.
"A successful heraldic design is understanding the balance of proportion, colour and a disciplined boldness, with form and texture playing an important part in modern arms representation" (I. Brennan, The early history of heraldry, 2006). The coat of arms is officially registered today at the College of arms from when the king of arms granted them in England, Ireland and Scotland.
Bibliography
C. Previte-orton, (1952), The shorter Cambridge medieval history 2. Cambridge university press
Central European University. ( 1980) www.ceu.hu/medstud/manual/SRM/fields.html, Heraldry and self representation in the middle ages, The field of a shield and the heraldic tinctures
D. Hay, (1966), Europe in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries (2nd ed). Longman group Uk ltd
F. Velde, (2001) www.heraldicsculptor.com/heraldry.html. Meanings of arms
Fleur-de-lis designs. www.fleurdelis.com/coatofarms.html. Heraldry and the parts of a coat of arms, Tennesee, USA
J. Evans., (1957), Life in the medieval France, Phaidon Press, London.
J. Wolf. (1996-2006) www.digiserve.com/heraldry. Heraldry on the internet
K. Powell, (2006) www.Genealogy.about.com/cs/heraldry. Intro to Heraldry- A primer for genealogists.
L. Thorndike, (1956) The history of medieval Europe (3rd ed), Houghton Mifflin company, The riberside Press, Cambridge
N.Cantor, (1969), Medieval History: The life and death of a civilasation (2nd ed), The Macmillan company
Owl and Mouse Educational software, (1998 – 2004) www.yourchildlearns.com . Examples of divisions and shapes on shields
S. Comte ( 1978) Everyday Life in the middle ages. Editions Minerva S.A, Geneve
T. Wise,(1978),The wars of the crusades 1096-1291, Bookclub Association, London
