The system of designing, displaying, and recording coats of arms and heraldic badges, which developed in medieval Europe to identify knights in battle and establish noble lineages. It became a complex symbolic language of status and identity.
From Old French 'heralderie,' derived from 'herault' (herald), ultimately from Germanic 'harja-waldaz' meaning 'army commander.' Heralds were originally messengers and announcers who needed to recognize different nobles by their symbols.
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