Heraldry

Heraldry is a special way to design and study symbols. These symbols are called armorial bearings. People use them to show who they are and where they come from. A full set of these designs is called a heraldic achievement.

It often includes a shield and a helmet. You might also see a crest on top of the helmet. Some sets include extra things like banners, badges, or mottos.

People use these designs to show their pride and history. Today, cities, towns, and even big companies use them. They help show what a group has achieved.

There is a specific way to describe these designs. This way of writing is called a blazon.

A blazon uses special words to name the colors and shapes. This makes sure everyone knows exactly what the design looks like. You can see many different parts in a single achievement. For example, a shield might have a specific animal on it. A helmet might have a decoration called a crest.

Some designs even have supporters, which are figures standing next to the shield. These parts all work together to tell a story.

Long ago, people used symbols to represent themselves. In ancient Egypt, they used symbols of gods on tall poles.

Ancient Mesopotamian art also used special symbols. In the Bible, the children of Israel used emblems to gather together.

Greek and Latin writers wrote about heroes with special shields. Even the Roman army had distinctive markings on their shields. However, these were not quite like modern heraldry. Modern heraldry began to grow during the High Middle Ages. It became a way to pass designs down through families.

True heraldry grew in Europe during the twelfth century. We see early examples on old seals used for documents.

One famous example is from the tomb of Geoffrey Plantagenet. He died in 1151 and had a blue shield. This shield had six golden lions on it.

Later, King Richard the Lionheart used three lions on his arms. This became a very famous design for England. The Crusades also helped spread these ideas across Europe. Knights wore a cloth garment called a surcoat over their armor. This is where we get the name "coat of arms."

As more people used these signs, a new job appeared. This job was called a herald.

Heralds were experts who knew all the rules. They learned about a person's rank and their family history. They also knew how to describe the designs using a blazon. Sometimes, two people might want to use the same design. This could lead to a big argument. Heralds helped settle these fights to make sure everyone followed the rules. They made sure each design belonged to only one person or family.