Knights and Their Shields
Have you ever noticed how one knight in armor looks a lot like another knight in armor? How can you tell who’s who? A knight carried a shield that acted like a huge business card. It identified him and his family. The shield was decorated in strong colors and bold images so that it was easily recognized from across the battlefield. The images, called “charges”, were often real or mythical animals chosen for their ferocity or courage.
Many times symbols were used in combinations that told the family history or represented their real name. A cross might mean that someone in the family had fought in the Crusades or a sheaf of wheat might actually be a pictogram of the name Wheatman. The selection of symbols and the order in which they are placed on the shield are known as a Coat of Arms. The Coat of Arms was not only used on shields, but also on pennants, horse bridles and saddles. The art of creating these family insignias is called heraldry.
Here is a list of some of the favorite animals and the heraldic names of the common positions in which they might be displayed on the Coat of Arms. Can you add any fierce or courageous animals to the list?
- lions
- eagles
- boars
- bears
- dragons
- griffins (a mythical animal that was half lion and half eagle)
- passant - walking
- sejant - sitting
- couchant - lying down
- rampant - standing on hind legs
