The heraldry of the nobility and gentry of Gozo - from medieval times until the onset of British rule : part 1

Abstract

Heraldry concerns the study of Coats of Arms, which are simply insignia of identification and which may be personal (and hereditary) or impersonal. Heraldry, in the form we know it today, originated in the second quarter of the XII century. Coats of Arms were essential to identify people on the field of battle in the days of full body armour. They were also very useful for identification purposes in a time of widespread illiteracy. Although the original purpose of heraldry has gone, the science has persisted, mostly as a status symbol.