Medieval heraldry: how to design your own coat of arms

A coat of arms is more than a colourful shield. It is a visual identity built from symbols, colours, animals, objects and a short motto, all arranged according to the conventions of heraldry. For a reenactor, family historian, fantasy author or medieval-festival group, creating one can be a rewarding way to express identity while respecting the history behind the tradition.

The process is especially enjoyable in Australia, where a design might combine European heraldic customs with local landscapes, native wildlife or the character of a particular community. Whether the finished emblem appears on a surcoat in Sydney, a club banner in Adelaide or a wax seal for a historical society in Hobart, thoughtful choices will make it feel distinctive rather than decorative clutter.

Begin with a clear heraldic identity

Start by deciding what the arms represent. A personal coat of arms may reflect your family story, occupation, place of residence or values. A reenactment group could use its founding date, chosen historical period and shared ideals. A household might prefer a design based on ancestry, while a medieval combat club may focus on courage, discipline and fellowship.

Write down three to five ideas before sketching anything. Consider significant places, military traditions, crafts, animals, plants and landscape features. Australian symbols can work well when used with restraint: a cockatoo, kangaroo, wattle sprig, gum leaf, Southern Cross or boomerang may suggest local identity without making the shield look like a tourism logo. A design inspired by the Blue Mountains should communicate something different from one connected with the Pilbara or the wet forests of Tasmania.

A motto can reinforce the theme, but it is optional. Short Latin phrases are traditional, although plain English can be more personal and accessible at a community event. Choose words that express a principle rather than simply describing the picture. “Steady in service” tells viewers more than a literal phrase such as “the red shield”.

Choose colours and basic shield structure

Heraldic colours are called tinctures. The principal metals are gold, known as or, and silver, known as argent. The main colours include red (gules), blue (azure), black (sable), green (vert) and purple (purpure). Traditional practice places a colour on a metal or a metal on a colour, creating strong contrast that allows the arms to be recognised from a distance.

This rule is useful for modern designs as well. A navy charge on a black field will disappear in a parade photograph, while a white star on blue remains clear on a banner or tabard. Limit the palette to two or three dominant tinctures, with an additional colour only when it serves a clear purpose. A cream background, for example, may reproduce more reliably than bright metallic gold when printed by a local supplier.

The shield shape itself does not need to imitate a particular medieval period unless historical accuracy is your aim. Different shapes became fashionable across Europe and later centuries. A simple heater-shaped shield is familiar to most audiences, but a round, kite or late-medieval form may better suit a specific setting. The shield is the essential part; helmets, mantling, wreaths and supporters are optional additions and should come later.

Select charges with meaning and restraint

The objects and creatures placed on a shield are called charges. Common examples include lions, eagles, crosses, swords, towers, stars and fleurs-de-lis. Their symbolic meanings are not fixed dictionaries: a lion may suggest bravery, but it can also represent a personal connection to a sports club, book or historic place. The strongest designs explain themselves through a combination of image and context.

Use one major charge or a small group of related charges instead of filling every space. A single red raven can be more memorable than a dozen unrelated symbols. If several elements are necessary, establish a hierarchy: one central figure, two supporting objects, and perhaps a border or pattern. Avoid tiny details that will vanish when the design is embroidered on a sleeve or reduced to a social-media avatar.

Animals should be drawn in a recognisable heraldic pose rather than copied from a natural-history photograph. A rampant lion, displayed eagle or passant boar has a visual language of its own. Australian wildlife can be adapted in the same way. A wombat, emu or magpie may become a strong charge when shown in a bold silhouette, while a detailed bird with realistic feathers may lose clarity at parade distance.

Add a crest, badge or group identity

The crest sits above the helmet in a full achievement of arms. It is not simply another name for the shield. A crest might repeat an important charge, show a tool associated with a craft or introduce a compact symbol that works independently. A badge is a separate emblem that can be used by members, supporters or an organisation without reproducing the complete arms.

This distinction matters for Australian living-history groups. A society might reserve its full shield for official banners while using a simplified badge on polo shirts, event passes and club equipment. Organisers should also check venue rules, sponsorship agreements and any trademark conflicts before printing large quantities. Searching the IP Australia trade mark database is sensible if the emblem will identify paid goods, classes or commercial services.

For an armoured-combat group, the emblem should remain legible under practical conditions: on padded clothing, steel-safe kit, transport cases and temporary camp signage. Guidance on starting an armoured group can help connect the visual identity with the organisation’s safety culture and activities. A striking badge should support the group’s purpose, not imply an official historical lineage that it does not possess.

Check history, ownership and practical use

Before adopting a design, compare it with existing arms. Heraldry often contains recurring motifs, so similarity is not automatically a problem, but copying a famous or recently granted achievement can create confusion. Research family claims carefully as well. In many countries, including Australia, a surname alone does not entitle every person with that surname to use one particular coat of arms.

Australia does not have one general public heraldic authority that grants personal arms in the same way as some European institutions. The Commonwealth Coat of Arms belongs to the Commonwealth and its use is controlled; it should not be borrowed for a private club, business or festival. State and territorial emblems also have their own official status. A privately designed emblem can still be meaningful, but it should be described honestly as a personal, family, fictional or group design rather than as an official grant.

Test the artwork in real conditions before finalising it. Print it in black and white, reduce it to a small patch, view it from several metres away and place it on both light and dark fabric. Ask a local embroidery or signwriting business about minimum line thickness and colour limitations. If the arms will appear at a weekend market or historical festival, check whether the organiser requires approval for banners, stalls or commercial merchandise.

The same practical thinking applies to themed equipment. A club that uses archery imagery should distinguish heraldic symbolism from real sporting kit, and newcomers can benefit from a medieval archery gear guide before treating a bow or quiver as costume decoration. Historical appearance never replaces modern range rules, protective equipment or supervision.

Digital use deserves attention too. Save a master vector file, a simplified embroidery version and a monochrome stamp design. Keep notes explaining the tinctures, charges and motto so future members do not alter the emblem at random. Online communities and interactive medieval games can also provide useful inspiration for seeing how heraldic symbols function on avatars, banners and fictional factions, provided borrowed artwork is not presented as your own.

A successful coat of arms should be easy to describe in a sentence, easy to recognise at a distance and meaningful to the people who use it. Build the design around a few deliberate choices, respect official emblems and existing rights, then test it on the banners, clothing and equipment of everyday Australian life. The detail worth remembering is simple: good heraldry communicates identity through clarity, contrast and symbolism rather than through crowded decoration.