Zürich armorial
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The Zürich armorial is a roll of arms made in c. 1340 presumably in what is now eastern Switzerland ; it is now kept in the Swiss National Museum in Zürich.
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History of heraldry
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Heraldry is the system of visual identification of rank and pedigree which developed in the European High Middle Ages. It was closely associated with the courtly culture of chivalry, Latin Christianit
Depiction of a late medieval knightly tournament from King René's Tournament Book (1460s). The two teams stand ready, each side has 24 knights, all with heraldic surcoats and caparisons, and each accompanied by a banner-bearer with a heraldic flag. There is a central spectators' box for the four judges, where the heraldic shields of the competitors are displayed, the two teams being led by the dukes of Brittany and Bourbon, respectively, and one spectator box on each side for the ladies; inscribed over the boxes is
Depiction of Carolingian-era round shields (Stuttgart Psalter, 9th century). The spiral patterns represent iron bracing reinforcing the shield.
Proto-heraldic shield decorations shown in the Bayeux Tapestry (c. 1077).
Drawing of the equestrian seal of Theobald III, Count of Blois, dated 1138. Traces of an ornamental cross design are visible on the shield.