What is Heraldry?

What is Heraldry?

Peter O'Donoghue (Bluemantle Pursuivant ) gives expert video advice on: What is Heraldry?; What is a pedigree?; How do I begin to research my pedigree? and more...

Heraldry is the hereditary, systematic use of an arrangement of devices such as lions, eagles or geometrical shapes, centred upon a shield. It began as a system of identification in war, in tournaments and on seals in an about 12th century, and seems to have arisen throughout Western Europe very quickly about that time.