Throughout time a coat of arms was commonly used in European lands to signify a person’s economic and social class. All around Europe they decorated the possessions of royalty and nobility. Their many intricate designs elements originally represented that specific person; when they are all combined on the classic template, each stands for something different. The design’s craftsmanship would be seen on the bottoms of these pieces, decorated in the most beautiful calligraphy with the family name. This would be below the iconic coat of arms element, the middle shield, which is designed and animated with geometric figures to symbolize and tell about the head of the family. The crown might represent that person’s affiliation with the church, or, more commonly, the type of crown would tell a person’s status or political power. Coats of arms, although they serve a useful purpose, are also beautiful, containing intricate aesthetic elements. They were commonly used in England, Portugal, France, and Spain. Throughout all of Europe they …show more content…
At that point they were used to show a warrior’s identity while in the heat of battle. This would prevent any misunderstandings and allow one side to be known from the other. Eventually coats of arms followed a more standardized template and gradually became more beautiful and intricate. They developed many more uses as well. Coats of arms started as a sign of identity and rank in battle, where they ornamented the helmets of warriors and adorned banners of linen fabric for armies to follow. The emblems also proved useful for identifying those lost in battle. They also ornamented the shields and over time developed into uses of representing families and courts. Eventually they were used to show property ownership, and after hundreds of years of being passed down generations, coats of arms were used to represent the family