Coat of Arms of the Knights of the Middle Ages: Origins and Development

The coats of arms of the knights of the Middle Ages go back to ancient times. They were symbolic signs, through which during the battle and military conflicts their leaders, soldiers, detachments and peoples were recognized.

The emergence and development of knightly heraldry

The first arms, in principle, were already in the X century. Such signs are known on aristocratic seals, with which documents or marriage bonds were fastened. Specifically, the arms of the medieval knights appeared on their shields in the XII century. By the beginning of this century, the development of military affairs had sated the armies of European powers, and armored soldiers became difficult to recognize even for their comrades-in-arms. It was then that the first arms of the knights of the Middle Ages appeared on the shields, made up of elements of combat banners that had existed for many centuries by that time. It should be borne in mind that not only this element fulfilled the function of distinguishing one from another's. On the one hand, this hampered the development of heraldry, but the arms of the knights of the Middle Ages, thanks to this fact, in due course became the embodiment of all that we attribute to them - incarnations of noble birth, personal courage, military merit and nobility. Significant influence on the crests of the knights of the Middle Ages had the crusades to the Holy Land, which began at the end of the XII century.

In the largest for this time armies there is a rapid evolution of heraldic symbols. In the arms are introduced many different allegorical signs (foxes symbolizing wisdom, oak trunks - firmness and steadfastness, and so on). Almost all the knightly orders created during this period, had Christian crosses as the basis for their heraldic signs. Why they were called crusaders. Since centuries, such heraldic signs have become widely recognized throughout Europe not only by the symbols of soldiers and military clans, but also by aristocratic families, geographical territories and even cities. Medieval cities decorated their arms, relying on their inherent characteristics. For example, the historical center of Paris has a peculiar form of a ship, which is reflected in its symbol. Italian Bologna immortalized swans on its coat of arms, as these noble birds live in huge numbers in its canals and lakes.

The meaning of the arms

In order to be able to properly explain the heraldic sign, you need to carefully study its background with engravers and figures, colors, the arrangement of figures and even the metals from which all this is done. In the modern world there is even a heraldry science that studies the arms of the knights of the Middle Ages: pictures of that era, age-old icons, archaeological artifacts and so on. The upper part of the coat of arms is called the head, and the lower part is the foot. All that is in its field, has a certain value.

Modern researchers distinguish the following varieties of heraldic signs:

• Assigned.
• Family.
• Coats of arms of crowned persons.
• Protective.
• Coats of arms for marriage.
• Coats of arms by succession.