Heraldry
...mon people did not have coats of arms. Expansion. By the 1200's, heraldry had become firmly established as a system of identification. Upper-class families passed their coats of arms down from one generation to the next. By custom, and eventually by heraldic law, no two families could use the same coat of arms. The many heraldic designs, plus the possible confusion among them, led to the development of a group of men who regulated such matters. This class consisted of official messengers called heralds. At first, the heralds carried messages between princes and armies, announced and directed tournaments, and conducted certain ceremonies. The heralds had to know one knight from another to perform their duties, and heraldic symbols provided the necessary identification. The duties of the heralds increased as heraldry expanded to include more and more families. For example, the heralds became responsible for keeping track of families and their coats of arms. In addition, heralds made books called armorials, in which they recorded the designs of coats of arms. They also developed a special language known as blazonry for describing the arms. In blazonry, the dexter side of a shield is the right side from the wearer's viewpoint, and the sinister side is the left side. The colors and the representations of metals or furs used on a coat of arms are called tinctures. They include argent (silver or white), azure (blue), gules (red), or (gold), and sable (black). After Feudalism. During the 1200's and 1300's, feudalism began to decline in most European nations. At about the same time, armies developed new methods of warfare that did not require the use of coats of arms. However, heraldic symbols remained important in tournaments and in some ceremonies. The emblems served as decorations at such events and showed the importance of those who used them. Heraldry Today. Most nations have abolished heraldry and other social privileges that once belonged to the upper classes. However, some people in such countries as Great Britain and South Africa still use heraldic symbols to show their ancestry. In England, the College of Arms, also known as the Heralds' College, decides who has the right to use a coat of arms. The college, established in 1484 by King Richard III, also chooses the elements that must appear on the emblem. The governments of many nations, states, provinces, cities, and towns have coats of arms. The use of the emblems by governments is called civil heraldry. Some international organizations also have coats of arms. In the United States, anyone may create and use a coat of arms. Such a self-created emblem is called arms of assumption. Many coats of arms for common family names are sold in the United States and Canada, but few are authentic. Elements of a Coat of Arms By the late 1400's, heral...