Civic heraldry and space in medieval Portuguese towns

Abstract

Traditionally, heraldic studies have focused on the symbolic dimension of the signs they analyze. However, considering the nature of these signs —forms of selfrepresentation and visual communication— they can and should be studied not only in their abstract dimension, but also or above all in their concrete use. Each plastic expression of given arms encapsulates specific references, related to factors such as their location, which define the heraldic message’s targets, observers, and commentators. This article proposes a comparative reflection regarding the location of stones with arms in medieval Portuguese towns, covering a specific heraldic typology: the arms of the municipalities themselves. We demonstrate how Portuguese municipal heraldry was used for the demarcation and symbolic appropriation of urban space during the medieval period.