The heralds

[Hans-Jürgen von Knappe]

The First Heralds were probably wandering minstrels whose ability to memorize the great heroic songs of love and war made them well suited for remembering and recounting the devices on the shields that they saw on their travels all over Europe.

Their skills of recognition were employed in battle to identify the arms and banners of opposing forces. By the late 14th century, heralds held a prominent position within the court or household. Heralds were also called officers of arms and were organized by the marshal.

In peacetime, the heralds compiled armorial records and organized tournaments. Tournaments began as a brutal sport, but by the 14th and 15th centuries, they had developed into a highly organized series of ceremonies and pageants closely bound up with heraldic display. Under the control of the heralds, strict codes of conduct and behavior were enforced on and off the "field of honor". To break this code, or to act in any way” unchivalrously”, could bring dishonor to a knight, and, more importantly, to his coat of arms-the very symbol of his family name and pride.

One important ceremony was the 'helm show', in which knights would present their helmet and crest to the heralds or judges and the ladies of the court. The ladies would name those knights who they felt were tarnished in some way and the unfortunate knight would have his helm identified by the herald and cast to the ground. As the tournament grew more elaborate, a “theme” would be announced and the heralds would sometimes device special arms or pictorial references for use during the festivities. Such events gave the heralds many opportunities to show off his skill.