Medieval and Manuscripts

Albanian heraldry

Heraldry, the art and science of armorial design, first emerged in Europe during the 11th century, born out of necessity on the battlefield. As armies grew in size and complexity, symbols painted on shields and banners became essential for identifying allies, enemies and military leaders alike. Over time, these symbols evolved from practical battlefield markers into convoluted expressions of lineage, authority and identity, giving rise to a codified system we now know as heraldry.

Also on this shelf

See also

• ▸Devil's Bit
• ▸Amphimerycidae
• ▸Fleur-de-lis

Uncatalogued shelf

Text from Wikipedia; plate via Wikimedia Commons. Text CC BY-SA 4.0; plate freely licensed (see Commons). Source record. Images and catalogue data are reproduced from open-access collections.