In heraldry in the Middle Ages, kin

In heraldry in the Middle Ages, kingdoms and fiefdoms fought for their beliefs and lands wearing their colors and flags and symbols. These markings followed a very specific set of guidelines that were strictly adhered to. They told who was royalty and must be treated accordingly (often at risk of one’s life or property); who to kill or not kill on the battlefield; and where you could go or not go. The invention of the culverin, a medieval sort of cannon one could shoot while astride a horse, made heraldry obsolete. In battle, a shield carrying the livery of the lord was easily pierced by such a firearm, and war and the associated markings were suddenly reinvented. The upper crust continued to use their crests on everything from buildings and boats to jewelry and household goods, but heraldic marks on longer held the vital value they once did.