| Armorial bearings, or coats of arms, take us back | | | | of heraldic clipart libraries online. To make your fun |
| to the glamour of the middle ages. In days of old, | | | | family coat of arms look authentic, you'll need |
| knights displayed heraldic devices on their horses' | | | | two basic components: the field, and the charges |
| caparisons, their servants' liveries, and on their | | | | (also known collectively as "the shield") |
| banners and shields. As war medals are awarded | | | | Over time, the coat of arms has come to simply |
| today, so coats' of arms and other heraldic | | | | mean the shield we so often think of when |
| devices could be awarded to knights for their | | | | imagining a classic coat of arms. The color that |
| service in battle. But the primary role of coats' of | | | | the shield is painted is called "the field." Any item |
| arms was identification in battle - the bright, | | | | which was painted onto the field of the shield was |
| vibrant colors and symbols identified the knight to | | | | called "the charge." Therefore, if a shield has a lion |
| his men, and his flying banner was a rallying point | | | | painted on it, it's said to be "charged with a lion." |
| for them. | | | | Common charges on shields included animals, |
| Heraldry refers to the study of coats of arms, | | | | mythical beasts, birds, plants, flowers, and |
| and takes its name from the Heralds, who were | | | | inanimate objects. Charge your own coat of arms |
| the special ambassadors and messengers of | | | | with any symbol which has meaning for you. The |
| feudal times. They were employed by all great | | | | Knebworth House site at has an excellent brief |
| lords, and by the king. Because Heralds traveled | | | | guide to designing a coat of arms, and even |
| freely around the country, they were also the | | | | provides an outline of a coat of arms for you to |
| armorial officials. They granted armorial bearings. | | | | print out. |
| At tournaments, it was the Heralds' job to check | | | | More Resources for Designing Your Own Fun |
| that no knight appeared in the tournament lists | | | | Coat of Arms |
| displaying the heraldic devices of another. In battle, | | | | * The Free Heraldry Clipart site: |
| it was the Heralds' job, on both sides, to identify | | | | * Need complete instructions for designing a "do it |
| the living and the dead, and to declare the winner. | | | | yourself" coat of arms? |
| Many families today seek a connection with their | | | | A book from Dover Publications, "Design Your |
| ancestors through their coat of arms. However, | | | | Own Coat of Arms: An Introduction to Heraldry" |
| obtaining an official right to display a true coat of | | | | gives you all the information you need. |
| arms - i.e. an armorial bearing that was granted to | | | | Other Resources |
| your ancestor - can be a long and tedious | | | | Don't feel like making a coat of arms from |
| process. And for many people, they may not | | | | scratch? These sites offer to put a coat of arms |
| even have an ancestor who was granted an | | | | based on your last name on a wide variety of |
| official coat of arms in the first place. | | | | products. (Note to serious genealogy researchers: |
| But that doesn't mean you can't have some fun | | | | These sites should be consulted and used for |
| designing your own coat of arms. Of course, it will | | | | entertainment only. They shouldn't be deemed to |
| never be recognized by any government or | | | | accurately contain a coat of arms to which you |
| College of Heralds (the folks charged with keeping | | | | may have a legitimate claim.) |
| track of official armorial bearings), but it can be a | | | | * at is widely known, and sells all kinds of fun |
| fun family project nonetheless. | | | | family-name paraphernalia, with coats of arms |
| If you have an artistic bent, design your own | | | | painted on everything from T-shirts to glassware. |
| coat of arms using art from one of the dozens | | | | |