Class Notes: November 3rd and 5th

The Medieval Art of Heraldry

Coat-of-Arms
-Knights used a coat-of-arms to identify each other during battle
-Few people could read or right, so pictures were very important
-Became a way of showing membership to the aristocracy
-Coat-of-arms were impressed in sealing wax on official documents
-Used to ID family tombs
-Can only be inherited by a direct line
-Heraldry: The art/science of describing coats-of-arms

The Herald
-One who is skilled in the description of coats-of-arms
-Blazon: To describe a shield in words
-Emblazon: To draw a shield from a blazon

Aspects of Coats-of-Arms
-Shield
-Helm
-Crest/Wreath
-Mantling
-Supporters
-Motto/Scroll
-Compartment

The Compartment
-Design placed at the very bottom
-Usually some kind of landscape/seascape
-Said to represent land held by the user

The Motto
-Phrase to describe the user's motivation
-Usually written on a scroll under the shield
-Traditionally in Latin
-3 forms
-Straight Line
-1 bend
-3 sections

The Supporters
-Figures (human or animal) standing on either side of the shield
-Often have a local significance or a historical link

The Helm
-Heraldic elements of the shield were often also used on knightly helmets
-The rank of the bearer was often reflected in the type of helmet (or some other type of headgear)
-Women and clergy displayed neither a helm or crest


The Mantling
-Drapery tied to the helm above the shield, forming a backdrop for the shield
-Depiction of the cloth covering worn by Crusading knights
-Usually shown as battered or cut to shreds

The Crest/Wreath
-Rests above the helm, usually in a wreath of twisted cloth in the 2 principal colors of the coat-of-arms
-Often, but not always, an animal
-Crests can be used on their own

The Shield
-Main part of the coat-of-arms
-The oldest and most complex part
-Since women didn't serve in combat, their coats-of-arms were shown on a "lozenge"
-Shield Colors
-Heraldic term for colors: tinctures
-2 metals (light colors) 7 colors (dark colors)
-Names of the tinctures come from French
-Rule of Tincture: Never metal on metal or color on color
-Or: gold- generosity
-Argent: silver- sincerity, peace
-Purpure: purple- royalty
-Cules: red- warrior, strength
-Azure: blue- strength, loyalty
-Vert: green- hope, love
-Sable: black- constancy, grief
-Tenne/Tawny: orange- worthwhile ambition
-Sanguine/Murray: maroon- victorious

Assembling the Coat-of-Arms
-Field: background color
-Charge: things on the shield
-Charges could be animals, objects, or geometric constructs

Kevin Storms