Battles within the Middle Ages were not like battles that were preformed in any other era. There was no set "uniform" for either side, as the armor of a knight depended entirely upon his wealth. The wealthier a knight, the better he could buy it to fit him and the more decorative he could have it, whereas the poorer knight had to deal with a suit of armor that was usually made for some one else. To help tell who is who (as armor is often impersonal), knights carried shields depicting their crests (Slater, 13-21).
However, a battle is a fast-paced environment - there is no leisurely time for admiring the shields for a couple of minutes. Knights and fighters on the field need to know exactly who is who at a glance in order to prevent accidental friendly fire. Since there is no time to study the various emblems and symbols, fighters on the field remembered the various color combinations on shields and livery (tunics) to tell all the various knights apart.
There are a nine colors (or, to use the jargon, "tinctures") in all - two metal colors, five base colors, however only five of these colors are mainly used. The two metal colors are gold and silver, and are often used for the "field" (background) of a shield. The five main colors are, black, blue, green, purple, and red (Slater 72-73). While other colors have been seen on shields (light-blue, tawny orange, brown, dark blood-red, etc), they are known as "stains." In the late middle ages, these "stains" seen on a nobility's shield were thought to have meant that there was a "stain on the bearer's honor (Cunnan)," and were used for abatements.
| Color | Jargon | Meaning/Possible Representation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metals | Gold (Yellow) | Or | Wealthy, Generous |
| Silver (White) | Argent | Peaceful, Pure | |
| Main Colors | Black | Sable | Grief, Secretive |
| Blue | Azure | Truthful, Loyal | |
| Green | Vert | Hope, Joy (Wade), Wise | |
| Purple | Purpure | Royal, Dignified | |
| Red | Gules | Military fortitude (Wade), Passionate | |
| Stains (appears very rarely) | Mulberry | Murrey | Unpredictable |
| Dark Blood-Red | Sanguine | Not hasty in battle, and yet a victor (Wade), Blood-thirsty | |
| Tawny orange | Tenné | Worthy ambition (Wade), Meek | |
On a shield, it was commonplace for the "field" to be either gold or silver. This is because there was a restriction against placing a
colored emblem on a colored field. Compare the shield on the left to the right.
While they may look different, in battle it would be difficult to tell them apart within the rush, and even at a distance. Hence, either the field was a
color, and the emblem was either gold or silver, or vice versa (Slater 72). Another
reason for this "banning" of non-metal based colors on a shield is a
practical one. The colors yellow and white are bright and reflect the
light very well, and make excellent attention grabbers - hence why police tape
and "CAUTION" signs are yellow. Yellow and white are colors that
the eye locks onto immediately and quickly, and tire the eye out the fastest
(Manor).
While on the topic of colors on the shield, there are three main colors to beware of. If you see mulberry, sanguine, or tawny orange on a shield, beware! This is a knight who has an abatement against him. Their crimes range from womanizing to lying, to revoking one's own challenge. Be sure to avoid being forced to be next to a knight with such a mark on his shield when going to battle (Slater, 107)! The following diagram of abatements on a knight's shield is from The Complete Book of Heraldry by Stephen Slater.
Slater, Stephen. "Marks of Abatement." The Complete Book of Heraldry. Blackfrairs Road: Anness, 2002. 107.
What does society say about these colors?