Heraldry is the practice of creating and identifying coats of arms, which were originally used for identification in battle. Coats of arms now represent social status and history, and are protected by law. A college of arms oversees the granting and blazoning of coats of arms, and specific heraldic terminology is used to describe them. Coats of arms can contain various elements and are often related to personal or family history.
Heraldry is the practice of devising, granting, and blazoning coats of arms, also known as crests, and by extension performing historical research related to those bearings. This art form has been practiced since the 1200s in Europe and various institutions offering coats of arms can be found in many parts of the world. Coats of arms are used for identification, so they are protected by law in many regions; for example, only members of the British royal family can use the shield of the British monarchy.
Coats of arms emerged in the 1200s and originally had a very utilitarian purpose: identification. Knights in full armor were often difficult to distinguish on the battlefield, so they began to wear specially decorated shields that allowed people to identify them. Over time, specific designs and colors have been linked to particular people; knights also carried banners and other paraphernalia adorned with their identification devices, and the concept of heraldry began to arise.
A coat of arms is still used as a form of identification, but there is more to heraldry than identification. Coats of arms imply social status and a sense of history and are very important to many people. In countries with strict coat of arms rules, a look at someone’s coat of arms can reveal important things. For example, membership in certain orders of chivalry entitles people to special insignia on their coats of arms, and people above a certain social rank may have “supporters,” figures who hold up the central shield in a coat of arms.
Heraldic terminology can get quite complex. For example, the term “blazon” refers to a very specific language used to describe coats of arms; this formal language spells out what a coat of arms looks like, ensuring that it can be replicated by anyone who understands this language. The specific sizes of items on a coat of arms are not spelled out and neither are the colors. Seven basic colors are recognized in heraldry, but people are welcome to use shades of these colors; they are not required to use a specific shade of green or green, for example.
An entire coat of arms contains several parts, including a central shield with a patterned field of colour, a crest surmounting the shield, a motto and charge, a figure within the shield such as a lion. Technically, anything from a Coptic cross to a wrench can be affixed to a coat of arms; the allegations are often related to the personal or family history of the armiger, the person entitled to a coat of arms.
In nations where heraldry is practised, a college of arms typically oversees the finding, granting and blazoning of coats of arms. Arms college officers are trained in the art and are often skilled historians and genealogists. Individuals who believe they are eligible for the coat of arms can apply to an arms university and pay a research fee.
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