Medieval Heraldry A to Z - E

Designs, or coat of arms, were invented to help recognise one person from another. How far back this idea was first put into practice is not known but from the first half of the twelfth century (1100-1150) knights began to use designs on their flags and shields to identify themselves in battle and in tournaments. The designs commonly passed down from one generation to the next and became means of identifying an entire family and not just a single person. The term 'coat of arms' comes the the surcoat, a textile garment, that was worn over the armour and was decorated with the same design as the shield.

The Escutcheon

In heraldry and medieval armour, the escutcheon (also called a scutcheon) refers specifically to the shield-shaped surface or field on which a coat of arms is displayed. It's both a physical and symbolic element of heraldic tradition.

In the literal, physical sense (especially in medieval times), an escutcheon could mean:

• The shield itself, carried in battle or tournaments.
• The decorative or emblematic element of a shield.
• Often made of wood, covered in leather or metal, and painted with heraldic designs.

In heraldry (the system of coats of arms and heraldic symbols), an escutcheon is:

• The main shield on a coat of arms.
• The central area that contains all the heraldic charges (symbols like lions, eagles, crosses) and colors (tinctures).
• Sometimes smaller shields (called inescutcheons) appear within the main shield, often to show alliances, claims, or marriage ties.