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The concept of using a coat of arms as a form of
identification goes way back to Roman times, and possibly further back
than that. In Roman times, a coat of arm was used to identify groups
of fighting men within the Roman legion. In the Middle Ages, a
distinctive coat of arms was used to identify each noble family. Each
item in the design had meaning.
Once a coat of arms was adopted by a family, the
design was placed on shields held by knights of the manor, embroidered
on tapestries, and carved in stone throughout the castle or manor
house. It was placed on swords and on banners and even burnt into the
top of breads on special occasions. A family's heraldry was important.
It said, "This is who we are, and we are special." That is
heraldry.
Each noble family not only had its own heraldry,
each employed a herald. A herald was a person.
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A herald's job was to make sure that the
family's heraldry was properly used, displayed, and understood.
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The herald was responsible for teaching the
sons and knights of the fief to recognize the heraldry of other
noble families. In these violent times, it was important to be
able to quickly recognize friend from foe.
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The herald also acted as the announcer or the
scorekeeper at a joust. He shouted out what was happening, who was
winning, and why.
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