Heraldic Brooches - Historic and Modern

Here are the brooches that we know – or strongly suspect – were actually used as heraldic badges in the Middle Ages. Some were badges of affinity, distributed by great lords. Some were more modest statements of allegiance or opinion. Some, like the florin badge, are linked to cities. And sometimes we’re just guessing.

Also included are a small number of heraldic charges that we know to be in common use among re-enactors to denote group identities.