Shieldsszám

Shieldsszám is a Hungarian term that literally translates to “shield number.” It refers to a historical method of identifying and cataloguing personal or ceremonial shields in medieval and early modern Hungary. Unlike other identification systems that used symbols or names, the Shieldsszám system assigned a unique numeric code to each shield, often etched into the metal rim or painted onto the leather backing. The numbering facilitated inventory management for royal troops, cavalry units, and guilds and also served as a means of lineage tracing for family arms carried on the chest.

The earliest surviving records of Shieldsszám appear in royal decrees dated 1473–1498, where the king’s court listed the shields of the Széchenyi and Bakótesy families. The system was particularly popular among the Székely units of Transylvania because their militia relied heavily on standardized weaponry for coordinated defense. By the late 16th century, many county archives kept ledgers pairing Shieldsszám values with heraldic descriptions and maintenance records. In some cases, the numbers were recycled after a shield was destroyed or lost, but a new number was typically assigned to a replacement.

During the 19th‑century revival of Hungarian folk traditions, collectors and historians rediscovered Shieldsszám entries in old parish ledgers and used them to authenticate archaeological finds. Today, the numbering system is studied mainly by military historians and forensic armory analysts. Although no longer in practical use, Shieldsszám provides valuable insight into the administrative practices of Hungary’s past armed forces and sheds light on methods of personal identification used before modern documentation.