Helmet - Heraldry

Heraldry

As the coat of arms was originally designed to distinguish combatants on the battlefield or in a tournament, even while covered in armour, it is not surprising that heraldic elements were often also used for the decoration of knightly helmets, while it was also possible to use different elements than on the shield, but equally standardized.

Furthermore, it became common to use a helmet (or some other headgear, e.g. a crown or coronet) as part of the coat of arms, above the shield, a practice maintained long after helmets themselves ceased to be used. In some systems, the rank of the bearer was reflected in the model of the emblematic helmet, e.g. the metal and the number of bars in the visor, as in France. The rank can be denoted by a coronet or wreath placed on the helmet (often instead of directly above the shield).

The heraldic convention in the United Kingdom is as follows:

• Sovereign: a barred helm of gold, placed affronté
• Peers generally: barred helms of silver decorated with gold, placed sideways and showing five bars
• Baronet's or Knight's helmet:
• Esquire's and Gentleman's helmet: closed helm or visored helm with visor down, Steel, placed sideways