armoiries

Armoiries are heraldic devices used to identify individuals, families, corporations, or territories. The term comes from Old French armoirie, and in English they are often called armorial bearings or coats of arms. They function as a visual symbol of lineage, authority, or affiliation.

An armorial achievement consists of a shield (escutcheon) bearing charges, with a helmet and crest above, mantling, and a torse. Supporters may stand on either side of the shield, and a motto is typically inscribed on a scroll. The entire arrangement is referred to as the heraldic achievement or coat of arms. The shield’s design is described in blazon, a formal language that specifies tinctures (colors and metals) and charges (figures). Heraldry follows rules such as the rule of tincture, which governs contrast between metal and color.

Historically, heraldry developed in medieval Europe to identify combatants and to symbolize kinship and property rights. Arms were granted by monarchs or heraldic authorities, with the description and recording of arms growing into formal systems. In England, the College of Arms regulates heraldic matters; Scotland has the Court of the Lord Lyon; Ireland maintains the Office of the Chief Herald. Armorial rolls and manuscripts compile and preserve records of arms for families and institutions.

Today, armoiries remain symbols of identity for individuals, noble houses, municipalities, and organizations. They appear on seals, banners, monuments, and official insignia, and are studied by genealogists and historians. While many people no longer bear arms personally, heraldic tradition persists in ceremonial contexts and in the design of logos and emblems inspired by traditional heraldry.