The Heraldry that adorns the Knights of Bretonnia signifies their allegiances and their experiences on the field of battle.
Overview
Heraldry is a way of identifying a knight and what family he's from. It is also used so that Squires, fellow Knights and even enemies can recognise the Knights on the battlefield. Such recognition is very important, because the various dukedoms and families do not shy away from war.[1]
Heraldry is also used as a sign of ownership, often being displayed on ship sails and castle doors among other things. Men-at-Arms always carry the heraldry of the family they serve into battle.[1]
The heraldry designs used by Bretonnians consist of two things - a coloured background (called a Field) and one or more emblems (called a Charge) confined within the shape of a shield. Heraldry is commonly tied to the individual dukedom that a knight hails from, such as a Boar for Artois or a Trident for Bordeleaux, and a stunning number of variations can be found for each. Other emblems may be incorporated into a knight's main heraldry to highlight his achievements in battle. For instance, if a knight were to fight and slay a Dragon, he may decide to add its image to his existing heraldry.[1][2]
When a knight is granted a place in a higher knightly order (such as the transition from Knight Errant to Knight of the Realm) his heraldry will not change, but the way it is represented on his shield will become more elaborate to fit his new stature.[1]