Chivalry & Coat of
Arms
I.
Knights/Nobles – fought with
each other for control of land
1. Chivalry – began around
1100. Code of behavior
for knights/nobles
which stressed loyalty,
bravery and courage
Similar
to Bushid
A. Noble boys would begin training to
become a knight at a very early
age:
Age 7 = Page
Age 14 = Squire
Age 21
= Knight
Knights – pgs. 328-330
Samurai – pgs. 306-307
What did a knight wear?
 Chain mail – clothing
made of tiny metal rings
that protected against
swords. It weighed about
20 – 25 lbs.
 Armor – iron or steal
plate. It weighed 50-60
lbs.
 Helmet – Weighed 5-6
lbs.
 Coat of Arms – a shield
with a unique design that
helped identify him in the
battle
A. Set of rules for knight to follow which
demanded a knight fight for THREE
masters:
1. Feudal Lord
2. Christian Lord =God
3. His Chosen Lady
3. Courtly Love – romantic love became
popular. A knight’s duty to his lady
became
as important as
his duty to his lord.
4. Tournaments – combined combat
training with fun and sport
through mock battles and military
games
a. Knights compete
in jousts using
lances
II. Castles:
1. The home of the lord and lady,
their family, knights and
other men at
arms and
servants
2. A fortress
designed
for defense
Motte and Bailey Castles
Carcassone, France
III. Role of Women –
women’s status
declined throughout
the Middle Ages
1.
Women were limited to the home or
the convent
a. Could not receive
land
b. Held less property
c. Fiefs were passed from
father to son, NOT daughters
2. Noblewomen – took control of
husband’s estate while he was absent
A.
They frequently played a crucial role in
defending estates/castles in their husbands
absence
acting as
military
commander
and warrior
Coat of Arms
 A Coat of Arms is used to represent a
person or a group of people,
such as a family. Coats of arms are created
using a number of
elements that tell a story and/or describe a
history.
Colors and Their Meanings
Heraldic Colors:
Yellow or Gold - Generosity
White or Silver - Peace & Sincerity
Black - Constancy (& sometimes Grief)
Blue - Loyalty & Truthfulness
Red - Military Fortitude & Bravery
Green - Hope, Joy & sometimes Loyalty
Purple - Royal Majesty, Sovereignty &
Justice
Animals (charges)
Heraldic Animals:
Bear - Protectiveness
Bee - Industriousness
Camel - Perseverance
Dog - Loyalty
Double Eagle & Eagle - Leadership & Decisiveness
Dragon - Defender of Treasure
Falcon or Hawk - Eagerness
Fox - Cleverness
Griffin (part eagle, part lion) - Bravery
Horse - Readiness to Serve
Lion - Courage
Pelican - Generosity & Devotion
Raven - Constancy
Snake - Ambition
Stag, Elk or Deer - Peace & Harmony
Tiger - Fierceness & Valor
Unicorn - Extreme courage
Wolf - Constant Vigilance
Symbols
Heraldic Symbols:
Axe - Dutiful
Bridge - (signifies a governor or magistrate)
Crescent - Enlightenment
Crosses - Christian sentiments
Crown - Authority
Fire - Zeal
Flaming Heart - Passion
Fleur-de-lys (stylized Iris flower) - Purity (associated with France)
Hand - Faith, Sincerity & Justice
Heart - Sincerity
Horns & Antlers - Fortitude
Lightning - Decisiveness
Moon - Serenity
Oyster Shell - Traveler
Ring - Fidelity
Scepter - Justice
Star - Nobility
Sun - Glory
Sword - Warlike
Tower or Castle - Fortitude & Protectiveness
Other Design Options
Common Design Features (heraldic terminology):
Bend - a diagonal stripe
Chevron - an upside-down "V"
Chief - broad stripe across top of shield
Dexter - the right-hand side of the shield (from its
user's perspective)
Ermine - a white fur pattern (with black tail tips)
Fess - broad horizontal stripe through center
Pale - broad vertical stripe through center
Passant - an animal shown walking
Rampant - an animal standing on hind legs
Sinister - the left-hand side of the shield (from its
user's perspective)
Example Coats of arms
Example Coat of Arms
Example Coat of Arms
Design a Coat of Arms
Step 1. Chose how to divide your
shield
Step 2: Pick a charge
 The charge is located at the top of the shield.
A knight might select a certain animal for
his charge because of its perceived characteristics:
strength, cunning, speed, size, etc.
What animal would you pick that is unique to you?
Common charges
Domestic
Cat
Dog
Lion
Ox
Horse
Strength
Brick wall
Oak Tree
Crown
Arrows
Wild
Lion
Tiger
Bear
Monkey
Snake
Eagle
Ape
Mythological
Griffin
Phoenix
Dragon
Unicorn
Centaur
Other symbols-what could they mean?
Angels
Flowers Ships
Hearts
Stars
Moon
Fire
Axe
Keys
Lightning
Sun
Helmets
Step 3: Choose a color(s) for
your shield
The colors you select for your shield have a meaning of their own.
What are some colors that say bravery, valor, and strength?
Which colors identify you?
Step 4: Write a paragraph
 After you have finished designing your Coat
of Arms, write a paragraph explaining why
did you chose particular charges and colors
on your shield. Do not simply list your
designs, you must explain the meaning.
 You must also tell why did the knights use
the coat of arms
 Check the grammar, spelling, and
punctuations before submitting your work