WOODWORKSTEAMPUNKRAILROADSLIBRARY
by Magister Eldred Ælfwald,
Azure Dragon Herald Extraordinary
© 2003 Eldred Ælfwald / J. T. Thorpe
The systematic use of distinctive personal devices on sheilds is not found in England until the thirteenth century, before which time Norman kings certainly had heralds at their courts. One of the principal duties of these officers, who were attached to not only the royal but great noble households, was to arrange the tournaments which were the aristocratic football matches of the Middle Ages. It was their task to act as referees. Heralds were also used as messengers in both peace and war, and it was only later, when the nobility started to use coats of arms, that they became experts in this particular science.
In the Ancient World, symbols to represent authority and affiliation were displayed in much the same manner as they are today.
The ancient Egyptians used pictograms or hieroglyphs to show civil and military authority in their territorial districts.
The symbol of the Roman legions was the eagle. The first actual mention of heraldry can be traced to the pages of the Old
Testament (Numbers 2:2 & 2:34):
Every man the children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard, with the ensign of [his] father's house ... And the children of Israel ... pitched their standards and so they set forward, every one after their families, according to the house of their fathersFox-Davies cites numerous poets and historians of antiquity such as Æschylus, Virgil, Herodotus, and Tacitus who refer directly to emblems and standards.
There is evidence to suggest that in northern Europe, proto-heraldic devices were adopted by succeeding generations of the same family or groups linked by blood or feudally. The decendants of Emperor Charlemagne perpetuated much of the administrative organization of his Empire, including the use of dynastic and territorial emblems on seals, coinage, customs stamps, and flags wherever officialdom needed to identify itself both in peace and war.
Pope Urban II decreed the First Crusaders that 'The Cross of Christ is the symbol of your salvation. Wear it, a red, bloody cross, on your breast and shoulders, as a token that His help will never fail you; as the pledge of a vow which can never be reaclled.' By the Third Crusade (1188-1192), the French had adopted the red cross, the English, the white, and the Flemish a green one to distinguish between their forces.
Most authors seem to agree that the development of a hereditary system of armory based upon sheilds dates to 1127 when Henry I of England gave his son-in-law, Geoffrey Plantagenet, a blue sheild charged with gold lions. These are the first documented hereditary armorial bearings. The prevalence of dragons in early medieval heraldry has its origins with the dragon standard of the Roman cohort.
By definition, a herald is a messenger and a maker of proclamations. The earliest heralds were exactly this: messengers. According to Neubecker, the managed troops--presumably by proclaiming the commander's orders. In German, "manage the troops" was des Heeres zu walten, which may be the origin of the Old High German hariwalt which in turn gradually made its way through all European languages via Old French herault. However, the term herald did not make its way into the language until sometime around 1367 in both German and English.
In those timesd, a herald had to play the role of messenger, emissary, and sometimes a spy. Heralds were not considered much better than minstrels and other camp followers. The rapid adoption of heraldry throughout western Europe in the early twelfth century was inspired by 'a self-confident delight in personal adornment and visual decoration of which the adoption of heraldic symbols and colors was an obvious manifestation'. Heraldry was consequentially promoted by the military households of the Angevin kings, popularized by tournaments, and communicated throughout Europe by itinerant knights, minstrels, and scholars.
Most sources agree that the tournament originated in eleventh century France as a form of training exercise to prepare troops for battle--wargames
if you will. The twelfth century tournament consisted of teams of mounted warriors who attempted to unhorse one another by force of arms.
By the thirteenth century, the tournament had become a sporting event with more organization and professional jousters travelling throughout
Europe seeking and offering challenges. The legendary William the Marshal became very rich participating in this activity, yet a great many
warriors were killed in this form of entertainment. in 1292, a Statue of Arms for Tournaments (Statutum Armorum) was issued to provide
safety standards for tournaments. In 1344, English heralds travelled through France, Brabant, Flanders, Burgundy, Hainault, and Scotland publicizing
the St. George's Day jousts at Windsor and offering safe conduct to the elite of Europe's chivalry. By this time, the tilt and barrier had been
added to the tournament to increase the safety of participants. By the sixteenth century, the joust had become a ceremonial shattering of fragile
lances in a pageant.
Heralds organized all tournament activities, recording the armory borne by the participants and keeping score. Participation in a tournament and in the attendant festivities was restricted to those of knightly rank, and was enormously expensive. By definition, maintenance of a horse and armor implied that one was already a man of position and wealth. Armorial bearings was a necessity.
The Statutum Armorum forbade heralds or minstrels from carrying hidden weapons, swords unless pointless, and ordered that kings of heralds should wear their surcoats of arms only (as opposed to armor). Apparently, there was somewhat of a rivalry between heralds and minstrels as there are several disparaging remarks about heralds likely penned by a jealous minstrel that lead us to some interesting conclusions. We find the following lines:
The relationship between heralds and armory evolved naturally from how medieval armies were organized and how warfare was waged. Feudal society constantly embroiled in feuds that were conducted according to chivalric ritual and tended to cause considerable damage to land and property. Each participant in a passage of arms wore a coat of arms on his shield, helmet, and banner, and usually on the trappings of his horse. These were the only means of distinguishing him from other combatants. Consequentially, there had to be people who could read these signs and tell friend from foe. Such men had to have a good memory, and be reliable, since inaccurate information could have disastrous consequences. Exceptionally, the social origins of these men was of no importance, just their skills and knowledge.
Within a few short decades of Arms appearing, their use spread so rapidly that knowledge of them and their functions became a responsibility of the heralds. At this point, heralds became persons of consequence whose advice had to be taken.
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Military requirements forced heralds to compile lists of armory, but also imposed rules of conduct and their way of life. They had to be able to cross
enemy lines with impunity in private feuds or war and enter the opposing camp. To this end, they wore an unmistakable armorial surcoat and no armaments of
any sort. A mail shirt would be worn in a battle situation. A herald had to be ready at any time of day or night, so were billeted in lord's tents. If a
decree had to be made known, a trumpeter would assemble the followers and the herald would don his tabard then read out the decree. He would also announce a
truce if so ordered, and act as emmisary/diplomat to the opposing camp.
One of the codes of conduct required that a herald was not to reveal any of the enemy's preparations upon his return to home camp. To do otherwise would cause him to be looked upon as a spy--although many a pursuivant must have preferred this rather than allow his lord to come to harm. However, the loophole was that a herald was allowed to give his lord useful advice without going into specific details.
Prior to battle, it was customary to dub new knights. Heralds had to be present as witnesses at the ceremony. The reward for this service generally was a mark of silver. One of the heralds' less pleasant duties was to record the last wishes, take care of valuables, and take note of distinguishing characteristics of those going into battle--by which means they could identify the fallen.
Heralds went unarmed, and in principle were not taken prisoner. Once a battle was underway, they moved some distance away, but not too far from their lord's banner. From this vantage point, they would follow the progress of the battle, and observe and report the behavior of the combatants--including acts of cowardice. Once the armies had disengaged, the heralds from both sides would meet on the battlefield to decide between them who eas the victor of the day. In general, ths side with the largest number of dead was considered defeated.
English documents from the year 1250 mention a "king of heralds" in the royal service. In approximately 1290, we find the first official appointment of a titled herald (Norry/North King). These official designations formed a special hierarchy which in turn elevated heralds from the status of mere servants. At the head of the hierarchy stood a king-at-arms, followed by the heralds a step below, and then by pursuivants (from French poursuivant--a candidate for office).
This hierarchy has existed in England since the organization (1483-1484) of the Corporation of Kings, Heralds, and Pursuivants of Arms--shortened to the Heralds' College, or the College of Arms. Originally part of the royal household, they later came under the direction of the Earl Marshal. English kings, heralds, and pursuivants of arms who are members of the College all carry titles. The kings are Garter, Norry, and Clarenceux. The heralds receive their titles from royal towns or counties, and pursuivants take their names from royal badges. England actually has a very limited number of official heralds.
France, on the other hand, dates its organization from 1309 under the Connetable (commander-in-chief of the army of the king of France).
You can study heraldry until you are azure in the face but inevitably discover from time to time, you are vert/ I have found this over and over again and I have been a herald for forty years, but I never despair, herein lies the fun and if heraldry ceases to be fun--chuck it.
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