What Is a Coat of Arms Used for?
The coat of arms consists of several elements. It typically begins with a shield and the helmet of a warrior. The mantling of the helmet, which protects the wearer's neck, is generally slashed in some way to denote use in battle. These are followed by a wreath and the crest. The decorations and styling on the coat of arms can denote many things.
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The Original Use
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What is now referred to as a coat of arms began as a cloth tunic worn over a suit of armor to protect it from the sun's rays. The tunic reflected the same design that was on the wearer's banner and shield. The colors and designs that we see today developed over a long period of time.
Identifying the Dead
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One of the first uses of the coat of arms was in helping to identify dead soldiers in the aftermath of a battle. Heralds would ride among the remains that were spread across the battlefield and record the names of the deceased based on the coat of arms that adorned their armor.
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Tournament
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A tournament generally pitted knights against one another in various tests of skill and endurance. Only knights were allowed to participate in these contests. The coat of arms verified the knight's identity and located him among the throng of spectators, servants and well-wishers that surrounded a knight at these events.
Other Uses and History
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Over time the coat of arms came to represent identify and a variety of things about the wearer. These included family ancestry, any alliances they had and any property they owned. Beginning in the 17th century, coats of arms recorded other matters of personal history, such as schools the wearer attended or organizations to which the wearer belonged. This period is referred to as "The Decadence" by armorists due to how coats of arms were embellished in ways that ignored the traditions of the coats of arms.
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