Much like logos of today, the heraldry of the knight was representative of his brand. Without seeing any text, we all recognize the branding of well known companies. Everyone know the company name of the golden arches logo on a fast food restaurant or the swoosh logo on athletic apparel. Through these simple symbols we immediately know who they are and what they represent. Heraldry has never really disappeared from use. Every nation, state or county that flies a flag, displays a type of heraldry. Every state or city seal uses heraldry. Even our military and police forces across the country use a type of heraldry. It is all around us every day even if we don’t realize it.

Medieval heraldry began as very simple images and colors to represent individual knights and eventually became a complex method of identity in the medieval world.

Men of Iron uses that tradition of heraldry as a way to identify knights, households, baronies and the realm. Every member of Men of Iron must earn the right to wear his own coat of arms. Each member that advances to the level of Knight may develop and wear his own personal coat of arms on a surcoat, display his arms on his shield and pennon, and may use it as a way to identify items belonging to him. Pages and Squires will wear the arms of their household prior to becoming a knight. Every household may develop a coat of arms that represents their house. Like the flag of each individual nation, each household is identified by that coat of arms.

A set of guidelines that governs how a coat of arms may be divided, what colors may be used, and what charges may be displayed on the arms has been developed to help members develop their own coat of arms. The Men of Iron Heraldry Guide takes inspiration from the ancient college of arms but has its own set of rules for the heraldry of Men of Iron. This guide is available here: Men of Iron Heraldry Guide

Each coat of arms of Men of Iron will have two different displays, a full display and a personal display. The full display will bear the helm of his rank, the mantle and torse of his livery colors, his arms and any achievements such as Knight Baronet or Guildmaster. Ranks and titles may be added using coronets with this helms. The personal display will depend upon the advancement level of each member.

Members must apply for their arms and be approved by the Herald of the Realm to ensure that the arms meet the standards and correctly reflect the requirements of heraldry within Men of Iron. After the arms are approved, each knight will receive a grant of arms, a document that displays the arms of the knight, when it was approved and how he is allowed to use it. The grant will bear the official wax seals of the realm of Men of Iron, the seal of the Crown Prince of the realm and the Herald of the realm. The application for arms is found on the forms and application page of this website.

As members coat of arms are approved or change, they are added to official Men of Iron Roll of Arms that can be viewed on this website. If you don’t find the arms on this roll, it does not exist within the realm of Men of Iron.