Activity:

MEDIEVAL HERALDRY

UNIT 1 (EARLY MIDDLE AGES)

IES CAMILO JOSÉ CELA

HERALDRY: the practice of creating or studying coats of

arms, a symbol of a family's identity & values.

Coats of arms seem to have been first used by

counts & marches in Carolingian times during

the reign of Charlemagne (768 – 814).

They began to be used due to the need to

distinguish participants quickly & easily in

combat. Each knight chose symbols and colors to represent his family. These coats of arms have

been passed down throughout generations.

Coat of Arms of the

Count of Paris

Coat of Arms of the

County of Aquitaine

Coat of Arms of the

Marquis of Roquefort

A very common symbol in French heraldry is the “Fleur-de-lis”.

Some historians think that the 3 leaves represent the 3 medieval

social classes:

those who worked

those who fought

those who prayed

Others think that it comes from the legend of Clovis (1st king of the

Franks) who had received them from the Virgin at his coronation,

meaning that the Franks’ authority came directly from God.

UK Royal Coat of Arms

Polish Coat of Arms

US “Great Seal”

Kaminski Coat of Arms

INSTRUCTIONS:

Make “clans” (groups) of 4 or 5.

Following the directions you’re going to be given, design a Coat of Arms to represent your clan. Materials you should bring to class:

A3 cardboard

Colours, scissors, glue-stick, glitter…

Be as creative as possible… but make sure that you can explain WHY have you chosen each of the elements of your coat of arms. You will have to present your coat of arms to the rest of the class & you’ll have to explain each of its parts!!

1º) SELECT A SHIELD

http://www.imaginon.org/fun/whippi

ngboy/createacoatofarms.asp

2º) SELECT A COLOR FOR YOUR SHIELD THAT REPRESENTS YOUR CLAN’S VALUES

TRUTH

&

LOYALTY

MILITARY

STRENGHT SORROWHOPE

ROYAL

MAGESTY

&

JUSTICE

3º) SELECT AN ANIMAL THAT REPRESENTS YOUR CLAN’S CHARACTERISTICS

4º) DESIGN A MANTLING (a piece of ornamental cloth depicted issuing from a helmet and surrounding a shield)

5º) SELECT YOUR SUPPORTERS

6º) ADD A MOTTO THAT REPRESENTS YOUR CLAN’S CHARACTERISTICS