Medieval Heraldry
Coats of arms were at first used only by kings and princes, then by their great nobles.
But by the mid-13th century arms were being used extensively by the lesser nobility, knights and those who later came to be styled gentlemen. In some countries the use of arms spread even to merchants, townspeople and the peasantry.
From the mundane to the fantastic, from simple geometric patterns to elaborate mythological beasts, this fascinating work by Terence Wise explores the origins and appearance of medieval heraldic devices in an engagingly readable style, accompanied by numerous illustrations including eight full page colour plates by Richard Hook.
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 trained at Reigate College of Art and did national service with 1st Bn, Queen's Royal Regiment. He became art editor of the much-praised magazine Finding Out and worked as a freelance illustrator ever since, having illustrated more than 30 Osprey titles. He died in 2010.