The Art of Heraldry essays

The Art of Heraldry essays Marvin Pakula defined heraldry as, The art of arranging and explaining in proper terms all that relates or pertains to the bearing of arms, crests, quarterings, and other hereditary marks of honor (18). The elements of crests, helmets, shields, and mottos constitute the coat of arms or heraldic device. Throughout history, heraldry has evolved in its function as a necessity of battle and social hierarchy, symbol of honor, and connection to genealogy. The science of heraldry is not well known and underestimated in its importance in the Middle Ages. The origin of the heraldic device, commonly known as the coat of arms, dates back to the early 1100s. The necessity for identification in battles and tournaments of the Middle Ages prompted the creation of heraldry. As tactics and strategies of warfare evolved, much of knights bodies became covered by a variety of armor. This introduced the problem of how to recognize the opponent (Wilkinson 19). An organized system was needed to eliminate this situation and thus, the use of heraldic devices began. This differentiation connected allies because leaders incorporated their allies arms into their own. It emphasized their support for one another and warned enemies of their relations. Heraldry was also a necessity for tournaments. Tournament contestants wore distinctive insignia on their shields similar to modern athletes wearing team colors and numbers. Frequent tournament winners came to be recognized by their coat of arms. Because of their success, families of the winners displayed the arms as a sign of accomplishment. According to research done at Central European University, Ambitious knights traveled around Europe fighting in tournaments and in doing so helped to spread the usages and conventions of heraldry across Europe (Self-Representation in Heraldry). Eventually, tournaments required the use of a her...