“It is true that knights, doctors, and monks are considered to be at the better and best levels, for no way
of life is stricter than that of a knight if it is lived according to its original ordinance, for if a monk must
wear a cowl, a knight must wear a coat of mail, which is much harder. A monk must fight against his
own flesh, but a knight must fight against armed enemies, and though a monk may live a life of
abstinence, a knight lives in continual fear of death. Therefore, knighthood was not ordained for
Christian men to encourage worldly honours and avarice, but to strengthen righteousness and spread
the true faith abroad…”
-St. Bridget of Sweden (ca.1340)
Heraldry and Coat of Arms
The word heraldry is derived from the German words heer, which means “host” or “army,” and held, which means
“champion” or “hero.” Heraldry is the system developed sometime between the 12th and 13th centuries by
medieval heralds as a means of graphically recording a noble family’s hereditary insignia and distinguishing them
among other nobles. Using a language of colors and symbols, they created these pictorial records designed by
either the bearer or the one granting it, and emblazoned (painted) them on shields. These blazons were also
incorporated in tapestries, banners, flags, the surcoats worn by knights and the trappings of their horses and even
the clothing worn by the family’s herald.
In the language employed in emblazoning every charge (symbol), tincture (color), positioning of charges, shapes
etc. had its own significance. Each detail told of a certain aspect of the bearer’s character or that of his family.
Many times, charges were granted and added as honors to the arms of knights who distinguished themselves in
battle or while performing other duties. In Spain tinctures were used to remind the bearers and to inform others
(particularly heralds) of the obligations to the king the bearer was privileged to carry. Essentially coat of arms told
the history of the family. They were a sort of “visual reputation.”
Throughout Europe, careful records, called armorials, were kept by the heralds as registries of identification for
every family’s arms. This also prevented people from copying another’s arms since no two could be exactly alike.
At first only kings and princes were allowed to have coats of arms but eventually everyone of noble lineage was
granted the privilege, simply by right of noble birth. On occasion, a peasant or commoner was granted a coat of
arms by his lord or even the king as reward for some extraordinary deed or service.
During wartime and at the rise of the popularity of the tournament, the work of heralds was in high demand. Not only
did a good herald keep flawless records but he made it his business to commit to memory or his records the coat
of arms of as many different knights, lords, kings, and noble families as possible, within his own country and
outside of it as well. As more and more heralds were employed laws were instated in all of Europe, which granted
them diplomatic immunity and free passage into any country at anytime. Then, every king and military commander
did well to have his own personal herald in his service.
Today, coats of arms are powerful historic symbols that tie, our past, present and future generations together. As
the coat of arms of your family surname is displayed, let it serve to honor its original bearer and be a constant
reminder to you, a descendant, of the responsibility to uphold and honor your family name.
of life is stricter than that of a knight if it is lived according to its original ordinance, for if a monk must
wear a cowl, a knight must wear a coat of mail, which is much harder. A monk must fight against his
own flesh, but a knight must fight against armed enemies, and though a monk may live a life of
abstinence, a knight lives in continual fear of death. Therefore, knighthood was not ordained for
Christian men to encourage worldly honours and avarice, but to strengthen righteousness and spread
the true faith abroad…”
-St. Bridget of Sweden (ca.1340)
Heraldry and Coat of Arms
The word heraldry is derived from the German words heer, which means “host” or “army,” and held, which means
“champion” or “hero.” Heraldry is the system developed sometime between the 12th and 13th centuries by
medieval heralds as a means of graphically recording a noble family’s hereditary insignia and distinguishing them
among other nobles. Using a language of colors and symbols, they created these pictorial records designed by
either the bearer or the one granting it, and emblazoned (painted) them on shields. These blazons were also
incorporated in tapestries, banners, flags, the surcoats worn by knights and the trappings of their horses and even
the clothing worn by the family’s herald.
In the language employed in emblazoning every charge (symbol), tincture (color), positioning of charges, shapes
etc. had its own significance. Each detail told of a certain aspect of the bearer’s character or that of his family.
Many times, charges were granted and added as honors to the arms of knights who distinguished themselves in
battle or while performing other duties. In Spain tinctures were used to remind the bearers and to inform others
(particularly heralds) of the obligations to the king the bearer was privileged to carry. Essentially coat of arms told
the history of the family. They were a sort of “visual reputation.”
Throughout Europe, careful records, called armorials, were kept by the heralds as registries of identification for
every family’s arms. This also prevented people from copying another’s arms since no two could be exactly alike.
At first only kings and princes were allowed to have coats of arms but eventually everyone of noble lineage was
granted the privilege, simply by right of noble birth. On occasion, a peasant or commoner was granted a coat of
arms by his lord or even the king as reward for some extraordinary deed or service.
During wartime and at the rise of the popularity of the tournament, the work of heralds was in high demand. Not only
did a good herald keep flawless records but he made it his business to commit to memory or his records the coat
of arms of as many different knights, lords, kings, and noble families as possible, within his own country and
outside of it as well. As more and more heralds were employed laws were instated in all of Europe, which granted
them diplomatic immunity and free passage into any country at anytime. Then, every king and military commander
did well to have his own personal herald in his service.
Today, coats of arms are powerful historic symbols that tie, our past, present and future generations together. As
the coat of arms of your family surname is displayed, let it serve to honor its original bearer and be a constant
reminder to you, a descendant, of the responsibility to uphold and honor your family name.
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