Henry O’Shaughnessy

HERALDRY
April 2010 April 29 2010

The wonderful world of Heraldry

SINCE EGYPTIAN TIMES...
Heraldry has been used to classify and
identify warriors of class and status.
Heraldry really came into power
though during the 1500’s and was first
organized and standardized by John
Writhe. John Writhe was the first
Garter of arms. (The garter of arms
was the highest title a officer of arms
could have.) An officer of arms meant
that you controlled and initiated A Set of Medieval Coat of Arms
armorial matters (the art of creating
arms), arranged the ceremonies of the
state, and most importantly conserved
and inter preted heraldic and
genealogical backgrounds. By the late
1400’s Heraldry had taken a much
stricter approach. Heraldry was A Russian Coat of Arms
regulated by professional officers of
arms. Even after Jousting become Most coats of arms
obsolete the coat of arms continued to were put on the
thrive. People used arms so that they knight’s shield or on
a banner so that it
could be easily recognized as a knight
could be easily seen
of a certain manor.

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This is a
example of the
things that are
required for and
not required for
making a coat of
arms.

What are the basics of What are the other parts

making a coat of of the coat of arms that
arms? make them unique?
A coat of arms in essence needs a
view basic things. It will need a motto.
Which would be a statement or saying
that the user goes by. The Crest which
is the things that are around and
above the shield. The shield's
elements which is the things that have
been placed on the shield. The
supporters usually two or more
animals ranging from beavers to deer.
All of these things are used to identify
the shield’s user. because of this no
two shields are ever the same. This is
what makes heraldry so interesting.
The coat of arms also uses many
different things such as the shape of the
shield or the name design to distinguish
different knights. Many knights had very
different shaped helmets and
incorporated them into their shields. Also
the shield in the coat of arms may also
be different whether it be square, kite
shaped, or tear shaped this was also put
into account when making a coat of
arms.

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