Emblem development topic

Any mod taking place in the 11th c. has some sort of problem when it comes to represent the different factions in the interface. Speaking of heraldry here would simply be an anachronism since this emblem system was born in the second third of the 12th century. Still, some primitive emblems already existed under various forms (feudal banners, dynastic surnames, coins). Although these are rather rare, some can still be reconstructed and provide a good part of the set. Others often have to be proposed out of a few solutions (using dynastic alliances or traditions), with a simple but solid rule : the design must be very simple (even primitive heraldry, set a century later at best, mostly uses bichromic shields and single figures).

I. Emblems

a. Interface

This is a quick montage of the menu with all the current emblems from the stratpage file.

https://img261.imageshack.us/img261/...iewmenuno4.jpg

These represent from left to right : Aquileia, Burgundy, Byzantium, Canossa, Croatia, Este, Ottonians, Lombards, Luxembourg, Normans, The Papal States, Pisa, The Sicilian Emirates, Spoleto, Venice and the Zirids.

b. Choices

There would be no point in discussing the set of emblems if I didnt detail all the reasons behind these.

- Aquileia :
Emblem is taken from the latter arms of the city. Nothing better came to my mind but these armes simply use a play on the name so they fit rather well.

- Burgundy :
The burgundian banner as reconstructed by Pastoureau is of course an indiscutable choice : the same construction was inherited by several local dynasties often linked to the former burgundian counts or to their dynastic alliances (Marseille-Trets, Barcelona-Provence, Faucigny, Grandson, Nice, etc). Using the Welf colours for the main branch of the dynasty seems also a good bet here.

- Byzantium :
I've simply choosen a simplified version of the latter arms of Byzantium.

- Canossa :
This one also uses a play on the name. The canidae (both the wolf and the dog, a good example being the Agoult family in Provence) are very common in early mediterannean heraldry (even before 1200 and as opposed to everywhere else). The border is only used to bring a little diversity to the colours but could be sacrified for the sake of historical accuracy.

- Croatia :
Croatia is simply represented by its oldest known emblem.
Note that the Crescent/Star pattern (it's a christian symbol and emblem at that time) is particularly common in some mediterranean areas as an emblem of power : specially in the occitan area where it appears on the early seals of the various counts (Toulouse, Valentinois, Forcalquier, in the field or at the reverse) or local lords (Luna, Lunel as heraldic emblems). Generally speaking, its used as a royal emblem, specially in the crowning ceremony.

- Este :
The Luni-Este are represented with a simplified version of their latter arms since the details (claws, crowns or links, not sure if its the right term in english) are specific to late medieval heraldry.

- Ottonians :
Ottonians emblems are now that mysterious. We know that the first imperial banner uses red and white as colours (Gules, a silver cross, as inherited by the count of Savoy). We also know of the ottonian eagle, one of the first known dynastic emblem (which was later associated with the staufen colours to form their well known imperial arms). So, a combination of the two probably gives the most acceptable choice here.

- Lombards :
Local emblems are very likely to be of norman origin so I've chosen the 16 point star, a common emblem in early mediterranean heraldy.

- Luxembourg :
Before it was associated with the Limbourg dynasty and its arms, the Luxembourg dynasty used a primitive emblem which, from its colours, forms an heraldic group with the bavarian arms.

- Normans :
Quite simple really, it uses a play on the dynastic name de Quadrellis : this read as quarterly, écartelé or inquartato and was of course often chosen by the families with the same root in their name (for ex the Quarteri of Casale in Italy).

- The Papal States :
The correct emblem would use Gules and keys of Silver and gold but this one has a few advantages : it was also used at some point, and its colours are specific since they dont follow the blazon rules. This is intentional and uses the same logic as the arms chosen for the kingdom of Jerusalem which is that such a specific kingdom needs its specific rules, its own system. Of course people being used to it in Total War, is even better.

- Pisa :
This emblem wasnt randomly chosen by pisans. The first local counts of Provence, descendants of the bosonids, former marquis of Tuscany, used the same primitive emblem in the eleventh century (as opposed to the following counts of Barcelona-Provence, who chose a more legitimate emblem, the burgundian one). Since its the bosonid dynastic emblem, it was probably associated to the legitimacy of power in the marquisate of Tuscany in the first place (which at that time was often called the marquisate of Pisa).

- The Sicilian Emirates and the Zirids :
Checkers are often associated to the few known early muslim banners.

- Spoleto :
The knight figure is a rather rare and modern one in heraldry, so I had to choose something less anachronistic. Again a common emblem in early mediterranean heraldry, the fortification : in lower burgundy their use is related to the representation of feudal power but also, and that could be more general to the mediterranean families, to the multiplication of the specific surnames associated with it (de la Tour, de Turris, de Castellane, de Castiglione, de Châteauneuf and the like). Bottom line is it doesnt seem a bad choice for a very disputed territory.

- Venice :
Simply the oldest form of the venetian arms.

II. Banners

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