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"To the English, we are considered as Irish. To the Irish, we are considered as English. We do well to recall that ...we are Norman!"
Maurice Fitzgerald, 1170.
This house, Of Maynooth Castle (1176)
of which this ruined wall is the foundation,
Ioliar of the Knights of Kerry,
caused to be erected.
Hence learn, whenever, in some unhappy day,
when upon you light on the ruins of so great a mansion,
of what worth she was who built it,
and how frail all things are,
when such memorials of honour, power, wealth and position cannot outlive time...
![trumpets[1].gif](http://www.ancientworlds.net/aworlds_media/ibase_1/00/03/79/00037975_000.gif)
The ancient name of Maynooth ‘Magh Nuadhat’ means the 'plain of Nuadhat.' Nuadhat is referred to as the maternal grandfather of the legendary Fionn MaCumhail in the ‘Annals of the Four Masters’.
'A casement high and tripple arch'd there was,
All garlanded with cravern imag'ries
Of fruits, and flowers, and bunches of knot-grass,
And diamonded with panes of quaint device,
Innumerable of stains and splendid dyes,
As are the tiger-moth's deep-damask'd wings;
And in the midst, 'mongst thousand heraldries,
And twilight-saints, and dim emblazonings,
A shielded scutcheon blush'd with blood
of kings and queens.'
John Keats, 1819.
The History of Heraldry.
Heraldry in its broad meaning traditionally had to do with the functions of a herald. That is one whose duty it was to announce tournaments, to carry messages from one manor to another and to record the various insignia borne by individuals. Heraldry arose almost spontaneously in Medieval Europe around the 12th century, coinciding with the development of armour, around the time of the crusades. The Bayeux Tapestry, which tells of the conquest of England, by the Norman Duke William The Bastard, was completed two generations before the appearence of arms. In fact, the devices decorating the shields of the tapestry - the crosses, saltiers and dragons- are not true heraldic charges. Nevertheless, this tapestry is an important pre-heraldic document because, in one scene showing the Battle of Hastings, William is seen raising his helmet to show his soldiers that he is not dead. This action being clear proof that it became necessary to use signs as a means of identification in the heat of battle.
Practical Origins:
In battle, a knight clad in armour from head to toe would barely recognize friend from foe. Imagine if you will a warrior's face invisible behind closed helmets, and you may well appreciate why a new method of instant recognition became necessary. In addition changes in methods of waging war also demanded instant recognition. This resulted in distinctive Insignia being painted on his shield and embroidered on his surcoat, which were the only means by which the warrior could be identified. It is generally accepted that these innovations led to the beginnings of heraldry..
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The Age of Chivalry
Position: Royal Heralds
Level 4
Knights were men who were given a rank of honour by kings or queens because of their special achievements. Here you will find both truth and legend.
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