The origin of the shield as a symbol of the lineage is found in ancient weapon used for the defense that the fighters used to protect the beating of swords, spears and other weapons of enemies. The warriors used to paint on the outside of their shields shapes and forms.

There is not a consensus to establish the date of appearance of the shield as a defense, some argue that the creation of this implement of war can be attributed to the brothers and Acrisión Preto in the war which both argued among themselves for possession of the kingdom of Abas his father the king of Argos, but this version is not accepted by all historians.

Can be assured however that as in ancient Rome used the shield. There is a legend that tells the following: In the 48 years of the founding of Rome, the year 706 BC, a plague spread throughout Italy and did not disappear until a callus shield of the sky made of copper. When consulting the nymph Egeria, Numa Pompilio to this ruling by saying that the fate of the Empire depended on retaining the shield. Faced with this Numa Pompilius constructed eleven shields equal to it not being recognized from heaven if anyone tried to steal.

Initially the area was used to manufacture the coat was made of some wooden twigs intertwined.
Its shape and size varied considerably. The Egyptians for example made so large they covered the entire human body.

In some peoples of antiquity, especially the German people, the nobles were to be submitted to Council taking his coat and when they wanted to show their approval to the words of one speaker, severely beaten his shield.

Over time the crest of a pass defense instrument that protected the warrior from the blows of his enemy, to become a symbol of honor and nobility.

The shape of the coat is usually very varied

Spanish Shield: square is rounded so low sometimes, and in its two bottom corners and ending in a point in the middle of the base.
Shield Frances: Sometimes the same shape as the shield to the Spaniards, although at one time was curvilinear triangle or square
German Coat: often deft hand with the indentation, which was used in antiquity to solidify and hold the spear.
English Coat: The English are often used by French and Spanish shields but modified to widen the top of it.
Italian Shield: the shield used in a circle and oval.
Coat church: they are oval and edge to denote the order sacrum.

The start of the use of arms in Europe during the Middle Ages was, at that time began to use the crest, this facilitated by the feudal society that wanted to differentiate himself from other social classes to assert their titles.
One aspect that influenced the creation of the crest was the use of cavalry was widespread, were mobilized masses of men and a sign was needed to distinguish each group, and the head of it.

The Blazon although not in its current form was used in older times, as an example is the distintintivos bearing the twelve tribes of Israel, also found symbols, figures and drawings similar to those in the Herald some monuments Assyrians, Chaldeans and Egyptians.

Symbols have been present in Rome and Greece, the Assyrian kings such as the dove was a sign, the Carthaginians had a horse's head, the Romans were represntados by the wolf, the bear using the Goths and Franks the lion.

Because the fiefs were hereditary, birth families, or lineages, and this building the appearance of the armories, places for the manufacture of arms and emblems.

Occurrence of Blason attributed then to the knights cross found the various currencies in which the people had fought. Another root cause was the use of Blason that at the time of feudalism and chivalry, the feudal lords and knights wanted distinguished from each other, aparicieron more ducats, the Marquesas, counties, baronies, etc.. and each set a noble symbol to identify their possessions and represent their authority on them, besides durnate the boom times of the just and the tournament lead the Knights to their faces hidden by the helmet were unrecognizable for this reason they turned to show color their summits and crests painted on their shields.