Heraldry was an omnipresent feature of medieval and early modern state rooms and thus a crucial
element to the visual programme in palaces castles residences and town halls. In spite of its
massive presence its function and significance have hardly been investigated and its specific
contribution to these spaces has often been neglected. This collection of papers shows to what
extent coats of arms contributed to or even shaped the communication of these rooms and
demonstrates how heraldic programmes provide a better understanding of the strategies of
self-representation and communication of their commissioners and users. In so doing the
authors offer first guidelines on how to approach these rich and complex sources and how to use
them to better comprehend medieval and early modern state rooms and their cultural and
political settings.
