A coat of arms is a symbol on a shield that represents a family’s traits. It is not awarded to an entire family, but to an individual. It originated in Europe and was used by knights. It includes parts such as the motto, helm, crest, crown, and cloak.
A coat of arms is a symbol or set of symbols, usually depicted on a shield, which indicates the traits of a particular family. It is part of a practice called heraldry, which includes finding and describing the traits of coats of arms and recording them for future reference. Contrary to popular belief, a coat of arms is not awarded to an entire family, but rather to a particular individual within the family who has been deemed worthy of the honor to display it. Traditionally, it has been awarded to royalty, but not exclusively. Although its origins are unknown, it has become a representation for military means over the years and is still used today in certain situations.
Historically, the coat of arms is a European tradition that has often been used in a variety of ways, but one of its most common uses was on the shield of knights. The symbols displayed on the shield would have helped knights distinguish themselves from their enemies. The coat of arms could be passed from father to son with subtle modifications made to acknowledge the passage of arms. This could include a change in color or charge – the image in the center of the shield. The crest became a symbol of nobility and eventually became a requirement for knights participating in tournaments. Over time, they have evolved from very simple designs into elaborate and intricate works of art.
Some of the parts of a coat of arms include the office, helmet, crown, coat of arms and motto. The motto is a statement – typically at the bottom or top of the image, but not exclusively – expressing the family’s motives or intentions within a company. The helm is the helm atop the shield, usually representing a rank or time period in which the knight fought. The crest is any decorative work that appears above the helmet; the crown holds the cloak together, and the cloak appears as a drape over the helmet and serves as a backdrop for the helmet. While some of these parts are not part of the official blazon – or crest description – they do appear on many, if not most, images.
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