Coat of arms facts for kids
A coat of arms is a special design, often painted on a shield. It's like a unique symbol for a person, family, or even a country or business.
These designs can be passed down from parents to their children. Long ago, knights actually used them on their shields in battle. Today, coats of arms are usually drawn or painted on special papers. These papers are called a grant of arms.
A grant of arms is usually given by a government or its official group. For example, in England, this group is the College of Arms. In Scotland, it's the Lord Lyon. Each symbol on a coat of arms often has an important meaning. It tells a story about the person, country, or company it represents.
Contents
History of Coats of Arms
Early Shield Designs
Even in Ancient Greece, soldiers called hoplites put unique marks on their shields. The Romans also used shield designs. But their designs were for military groups, not individual soldiers.
Some people think the first signs of medieval coats of arms are in the 11th-century Bayeux Tapestry. This famous cloth shows some fighters with crosses on their shields. However, this idea is still debated by historians.
How Heraldry Began
Coats of arms became very common in the 12th century. Feudal lords and knights used them in battles. They helped people tell who was who when everyone wore similar armor.
By the 13th century, these designs were not just for battles. They became symbols for important families in Europe. They were passed down from one generation to the next. In some places, like German-speaking areas, both nobles and regular citizens used them. In other parts of Europe, only noble families could use them.
The use of coats of arms also spread to church leaders and towns. Towns used them as their own special identifiers. Even universities and trading companies started to have their own coats of arms. Flags often grew out of these shield designs. The study of flags is called vexillology, and it's closely linked to the study of coats of arms, which is called heraldry. Many modern company logos actually come from these old coat of arms designs.
Traditions and Rules
In England and Scotland, a coat of arms usually belongs to one person, not a whole family. These designs are like legal property. They are passed from a father to his son. Wives and daughters can also use modified versions of the arms. These changes show their connection to the person who holds the main arms.
Only one person can use the exact same coat of arms at any time. Other family members can use the family arms, but they must add a small "difference." This might be a change in color or an added symbol. One common symbol is a "label." In Britain, a label usually shows that the person is the main heir apparent (the next in line to inherit).
Because coats of arms were so important for identifying people, especially on legal documents, their use was strictly controlled. Today, only a few countries still have these strict rules. People called heralds were in charge of these rules. That's why the study of coats of arms is called "heraldry." Over time, coats of arms moved from military use to schools and other organizations.
Meaning and Purpose
Historians like Valentin Groebner say that many coat of arms designs were meant to show power and strength. They often used military symbols. Another writer, Helen Stuart, suggests that some coats of arms were like early company logos.
Museums that display medieval armor also agree. They see coats of arms as early versions of modern company logos. They helped groups of people feel connected and identify with each other.
When knights wore full armor, it was hard to tell them apart. So, they started painting their special symbols on their shields. This made it easy to know who was who. At first, these symbols were only given to individuals. But later, King Richard I made them hereditary in England. He did this during his crusade to the Holy Land.
Examples
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Coat of arms of Pope Benedict XVI.
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Coat of arms of Pichilemu.
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Coat of arms of Broceni.
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Coat of arms of Huzova.
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Welser family coat of arms.
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Coat of arms of Kaliningrad Oblast.
Images for kids
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Coat of arms of the city of Ghent in the sixteenth century.
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Brabant Lion held by Floris de Merode during the funeral of Albert VII, Archduke of Austria, print after design by Jacob Franquart
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Coat of arms of the province of Utrecht, Netherlands
See also
In Spanish: Escudo (heráldica) para niños
