Heraldry
in War
By Lord Hubert de Stockleye
Introduction
Many people may not realize it, but what they commonly think
of as a coat of arms had its origins in war. They think of arms as being
decorative, something you put on your stationary or over the mantle of your
fireplace. We in the SCA know differently however. We know that heraldry had
its origins in warfare.
History of Heraldry
From ancient times onward combatants in war have used
emblems to signify who they were. Egyptian artwork shows pictures of standards
with various emblems upon them. They were apparently used to designate rulers
or other important people. Ancient Mesopotamian
art shows a similar usage of emblems. In the Book of Numbers it is described how the Twelve Tribes had standards
upon which were emblems designating their tribe. Later the Greeks and Romans would use
standards and ensigns to designate units and high ranking individuals. An
example of such a use is the eagle of Augustus’ Xth Legion. With the Greeks we
begin to see emblems appearing on shields. The Romans made use of emblems on the
shields of individuals to designate which unit they belonged to.
What we think of as heraldic devices were first seen during
the reign of Charlemagne. Seals and banners with emblems denoting individuals
came into use at that time. Medieval European heraldry evolved out of these
usages of symbols to identify combatants in battle. The Leges Hastiludiales of Henry the Fowler in 938 CE required
combatants in tournaments to show four generations of the use of ensigns to
enter. The earliest evidence of a specific individual being awarded arms is in
1128 when the arms of Geoffrey IV of Anjou were given to him by his father in
law King Henry I of England. Seals depicting heraldic devices appeared less
than a decade later in England.
In the decades that followed the use of heraldry spread. The
Crusades while not the cause of the spread of the usage of heraldry certainly
contributed to the need of it. King Richard the Lion Hearted was the first
English king to use a heraldic device officially, and is thought to be a reason
for others adopting heraldic devices. Sometime between 1240 and 1250 the Glover's
Roll, the first known Roll of Arms was compiled. A Roll of Arms is a pictorial
depiction of the heraldic devices of nobles and knights. Since the idea of arms
was to identify a person, there became a need to ensure that each set coat of
arms was unique, and by the 15th century France and England had both
formed a College of Arms to ensure that no two people used the same heraldic
device.
The Purpose of Heraldic Devices
The purpose of a heraldic device is much the same in the SCA
as it was in the Middle Ages, to identify a combatant. And as such certain
rules are used to ensure that a fighter can be identified from across the
field. This means that the symbols or charges on the shield should be big and
bold. Size matters when it comes to charges placed on a shield. If they are too
small they cannot be identified.
Contrast also determines whether a device can be identified
across the field. It is because of this within heraldry there is a rule called
the Rule of Tincture. The Rule of Tincture is that no metal can go on a metal,
and no color on a color. The colors are black, blue, green, purple, and red.
The metals are yellow and white which represent gold and silver.
Complex designs are also not easily identified on the field
of battle. For this reason, simple designs are preferred. Because of this our
College of Arms has a complexity count to prevent a device from becoming too
complicated. The more simple a device is
the more readily it is identified.
Finally, just as what done in the late Middle Ages, the
College of Arms registers devices to ensure that each one is unique. The reason
for this is so that two people are not confused on the field of battle because
their arms resemble each other’s too much. While it is not required to register
your device it is greatly encouraged. Should anyone ever enter a Crown
Tournament for example using the same device, the one whose device has been
registered would get to use it during the tournament.
Badges and Banners
Badges in battle play a role similar to heraldic devices
except instead of identifying someone as an individual, they identify someone
as a member of a unit, be it a household, shire, barony, principality, kingdom,
or similar group. Everyone knows when they see the gold striking falcon on a
purple tabard on someone that that person is a member of Calontir, either part
of our army or a herald or someone else giving service. Banners perform a
similar function. When someone sees a banner flying over an army they can
readily identify who they are by the badge used on it. Thus if you see the gold
striking falcon on a purple banner flying over an encampment you can rest
assured that they are Calontir folk.
Conclusion
Just as in the Middle Ages, heraldry plays an important role
in warfare in the SCA. It allows both combatants and spectators to identify who
is on the field. It is allows us to follow our favorites even when they are
concealed by armor. It also allows us to identify units and armies during a
battle.
Bibliography
Fox-Davies, Arthur Charles A Complete Guide to Heraldry: Thomas Nelson and Sons Ltd. – 1950
Jones, Robert W. Bloodied
Banners: Martial Display on the Medieval Battlefield: Boydell Press 2010
Reynolds, Ernest Introduction
to Heraldry: Methuen and Company
Limited – 1958
Wagner, Anthony Richard Heraldry
in England: Penguin Books -1953
Woodcock, Thomas S. The
Oxford Guide to Heraldry: Oxford University Press - 1988
Woodward, J. A
Treatise on Heraldry: British and Foreign: with English and French Glossaries: Nabu
Press - 2010
