About this Product
From the mundane to the fantastic, from simple geometric patterns to elaborate mythological beasts, a wide variety of coats of arms have been used since medieval times to identify the combatants in battle. The shapes of the shields used during these centuries made it necessary for the heralds and painters to adapt the natural forms used as insignia to fit irregular spaces, leading to the insignia assuming a symbolic, rather than naturalistic appearance. These factors resulted in the fascinating multitude of coats-of-arms, many of which are still in use today. This fully illustrated work explores the origins and appearance of medieval heraldic devices in an engagingly readable manner.
Biographical Note
Terence Wise is one of Osprey's most popular authors. Terence has been a respected historical writer for more than 25 years. With numerous books and articles to his credit, he has contributed more than a dozen titles to the Men-At-Arms series, mainly on medieval subjects including studies of the military orders and the Wars of the Roses. Richard Hook is one of the world's most renowned historical illustrators. Richard has completed over thirty titles on topics as diverse as American Plains Indians and The Praetorian Guard. In contrast, this is the first Osprey title to feature the impressive artwork of William Walker, whose talent and grasp of the subject are immediately apparent.
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