Heraldry
Heraldry Quiz
Heraldry=Genealogy
Heraldry and genealogy are the study of a person’s history
and ancestry. Genealogy is the term used more today than the term heraldry.
Both studies look into ancestry but heraldry also went beyond.
Part of heraldry included the ‘coat of arms’ and the other symbols
used to identify people, places, and families.
The first indication that heraldry was needed was during the
battle of Hastings when William the Conqueror had to remove his helmet so
his troops could identify him.
After that, warriors came up with the bright idea of identifying
themselves with a symbol that belongs to their lord or a knight. The symbols
were placed on a coat and they were called arms. Thus, ‘coat of arms’
was developed.
With the coat of arms becoming popular with knights, a new
career was developed: heraldry. A herald went to the herald college where
he was taught all about the symbols and how to identify them.
The college had a list of ‘coats of arms’ that
they have already registered. A knight who wanted a coat had to register it
so that it would be his. The college also helped to insure that no one took
another’s coat.
The herald would have to memorize all the symbols and most
of the shields so they could identify any knight they see. A well-trained
herald was invaluable to a knight to identify friend or foe.
The herald was also used a lot after the battle to identify
fallen knights, and others who died and couldn’t be identified in any
other way.
Heralds practiced genealogy when they would keep track of a
knight’s or a noble’s lineage. They helped to keep the classes
separated by doing that.
A more modern version of heraldry that continued from then
is the identification used in sports. A jersey identifies a basketball, football,
soccer, baseball, etc... player. The jersey identifies where the player is
from and also the number helps them to be identified on the court. Other modern
uses are in state seals and universities.
Most of the arms were born by knights because they were the
ones who went to battle and needed the identification. The foot soldiers would
use the identification of their masters or major noble when in battle.
Heraldry in the United States
The legal status of heraldry in the United States is worth
mainly nothing. Titles of nobility are not given to individuals without consent
of Congress, which almost never happens.
The Constitution says that no one individual should be placed
above another by a title like king, duke, earl, etc... so Congress isn’t
really handing out titles.
A coat of arms is not considered a title of nobility so many
practice heraldry by selling and buying them. Nothing is really in place to
stop anyone from doing it and so a coat of arms now is more just an art design
than the prestige and honor that it used to carry.
Women and Heraldry
It was not uncommon in some areas of Europe during the middle
ages to grant women coat of arms. Compared in numbers to men though, many
women didn’t have coat of arms.
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