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Introducing the Research Project ‘HERALDIC Identity in Context’

Since the mid-12th century, coats of arms have played a pivotal role in the visual construction and negotiation of identity across Europe. Traditionally understood as personal emblems used to distinguish knights in battle, recent research reveals a far more complex reality. Heraldic signs oscillated between the singular and the collective, the private and the public. They were not merely individual identifiers, but dynamic semiotic systems that expressed personal agency as much as group belonging. Despite the apparent universality of heraldic practice in Western European medieval culture, regional variations, social hierarchies, and differing cultural traditions led to a remarkable diversity in how coats of arms were used. In some contexts, such as noble houses, cities, or military orders, shared or standardised designs emphasised collective identity. In others, individualisation through unique variations, crests, or mottoes highlighted personal distinction. These divergent trajectories were shaped by context, materiality and the specific communicative purpose.

The first project meeting in Strasbourg, Feburary 2026. Image: Philipp Schneider.

Yet, the full scope of heraldic expression, especially that of identity, remains underexplored. The sheer volume and heterogeneity of source material — ranging from monumental sculpture and seals to illuminated manuscripts and archival records — have long posed a challenge for systematic analysis. Without standardised methodologies or digital tools capable of managing this complexity, many of these phenomena remain fragmented, inaccessible, or invisible to broader historical inquiry.

Building on over a decade of collaborative, interdisciplinary and trans-institutional work in developing heraldic databases and digital infrastructures, the DFG-ANR-project HERALDIC Identity in Context (2025–2028), a binational collaboration between the Humboldt Universität zu Berlin (Prof. Torsten Hiltmann) and the Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes in Paris (Prof. Laurent Hablot) is a direct response to this gap.

Objectives

Drawing on a broad corpus of heraldic sources from the French realm and the Holy Roman Empire between the 12th and 16th centuries, HERALDIC seeks to investigate the nature of pre-modern identities communicated through heraldic imagery. By analysing the dynamic interplay between individual and group identity, therefore taking into account micro- and macrohistorical levels, the project aims to deepen our understanding of pre-modern identities and their cultural, social, and symbolic dimensions. To overcome the limitations posed by a comparably large and transmedial corpus, HERALDIC builds upon a verified dataset of heraldic sources incorporated in the Digital Heraldry Research Environment (DHRE), a collaborative platform grounded in custom-developed ontologies. The DHRE, currently in its data integration and testing phase, will enable the structured description, cross-contextual analysis, and comparative study of heraldic representations across diverse media (e. g., seals, manuscripts or monuments) and historical settings. Aligned with the continuing development of the DHRE, a dissertation exploring heraldic identity configurations of women in France and the Holy Roman Empire is underway.

Scientific Output on Heraldica Nova

On Heraldica Nova, the project teams and associates share insights from joint Franco-German meetings, expert contributions from advisors in the auxiliary sciences and Digital Humanities, updates on the development of the DHRE and French partner platforms such as SIGILLA and ArmmA, and reflections on emerging research—including methodological, theoretical, comparative and gender-historical perspectives.

The German Team

Torsten Hiltmann, Scientific Coordinator and Principal Investigator

Noah Kim-Baumann, Research Software Engineer

Vivien Baumert, Project Researcher

Jannes Schönhardt, Project Associate

The French Team

Laurent Hablot, Scientific Coordinator and Principal Investigator

Matteo Ferrari, Project Associate, ArmmA

Catherine Kasteleiner, Project Associate, SIGILLA


OpenEdition suggests that you cite this post as follows:
Vivien Baumert (March 4, 2026). Introducing the Research Project ‘HERALDIC Identity in Context’ Heraldica Nova. Retrieved April 11, 2026 from https://doi.org/10.58079/15t85


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