The Origins of Heraldry part 2
The Language of Heraldry
Heraldry has a language all its own—a fascinating blend of Old English and Norman French. What makes it truly unique is that it was never spoken aloud. Instead, it was written and visual, designed to describe coats of arms with precision. This silent language, filled with beauty and romance, adds to the mystique of heraldry itself.
Some people call heraldry the “shorthand of history.” That description captures part of its charm, but heraldry is far more than tidy symbols and neat records. Each design tells sweeping stories about medieval life—knights, families, ambitions, alliances, and values—condensed into colors, shapes, and images.
Today when we talk about heraldry, we usually mean coats of arms, crests, and similar designs, rather than the duties of heralds themselves. Interestingly, the word “heraldry” originally referred only to the role of the herald: managing tournaments, keeping records, and granting arms. It was only later that the term came to describe the art and language of coats of arms.
In fact, coats of arms existed long before heralds were formally recognized. Back then, the symbols and their meanings were known as “armory.” While that word has mostly faded from modern use, the art it described—heraldry—remains a powerful link to the stories and traditions of the medieval world.
