Heraldry – the colours and symbols that adorn warriors' shields and sometimes their tunics, comparisons, and other battlefield regalia – is a complex system in the fictional land of Bretonnia and in the real world as well. Hypotheses about the real-world origins of this system have been the subject of much debate among historians. Some argue that the origins of heraldry can be found in the runes of German and Scandinavian populations. Others argue that the basic idea for heraldry was imported from Muslim countries into Europe after the Crusades. These theories, however, have many detractors. Most scholars of the subject find the origin of European heraldry in the simple need for warriors to be able to recognise one another on the battlefield where their faces would be hidden by helmets. By painting emblems on their shields, warriors could be recognised by their allies and subordinates as well as their foes. Thus, heraldry, at first, served a simple and practical battlefield role. As the heraldic system evolved, however, warriors' devices became sources of pride, prestige, and family honour and functioned much like the meaningful symbols of our day, such as national flags, sports team colours, and corporate logos.

For centuries, European heraldry was unregulated. Warriors, noble and common alike, could create their own heraldry based on their own tastes as well as local and family tradition. Later, systems of heraldry became more strictly regulated and became increasingly associated with titled nobility. In sixteenth century England, for instance, Henry VIII proclaimed that a professional organisation of heralds would standardise the system of heraldry. To this day, the English College of Arms regulates the colours and devices used in the national heraldry and issues new "grants of arms" to deserving individuals.

King Louen's first shield, which he wore as a Knight Errant, could be described as "per pale gules and azure, a lion rampant or."

Professional heralds, like those who work for the College of Arms, are, in part, responsible for describing or "blazoning" how a particular shield should look, and a unique vocabulary developed over the years to facilitate such descriptions. For instance, a herald might describe Bretonnian King Louen Leoncoeur's shield (pictured left) as follows: "per pale gules and azure, a lion rampant or." This description translates to "divided vertically into red and blue halves, with a gold lion on his hind legs."

With such a description or "blazon," a warrior could have his shield painted or "emblazoned" to match his assigned heraldry. Thereafter, he could be easily identified by his friends and enemies on the battlefield. With just a few basic heraldic terms and concepts in mind, you can easily design and emblazon striking heraldry for the shields and other regalia on your Bretonnian miniatures.

Shown here is the shield that Louen Leoncoeur wears as king. The patterned field is visible behind the lion rampant.

The symbol in the foreground of a shield – often an animal or icon – is called a "charge." Common charges are horses, stags, boars, wolves, lions, griffons, birds, fish, fleurs-de-lis, crosses, and other geometric designs. The background colour or colours are known as "fields." Fields and charges can be painted with a "colour" or a "metal." Colours include gules (red), azure (blue), vert (green), purpure (purple), and sable (black). There are only two metals: argent (silver, or more frequently, white) and or (gold or, more frequently, yellow). Patterned fields, some of which are known as "furs," are less common, but also possible. Charges, but not fields, can also be painted in a "proper" fashion, that is, in naturalistic colours. A proper stag, for instance, would likely be painted brown.

The basic rule of arranging colours and metals is "don't paint a metal on top of a metal and don't paint a colour on top of a colour." Thus, a gold charge on a blue field would be acceptable, whereas a gold charge on a silver field would not. Although there are plenty of exceptions in both real-world and Bretonnian heraldry, the rule serves as a good painting guide to the hobbyist who wants to ensure that his models have striking, high-contrast colour schemes. The rules of heraldry all but ensure an eye-catching group of colours.

Next: Heraldic Arrangements & Examples