The sources I usually rely on with regards to Heraldry and Livery are in no particular order:curassier wrote:Darrell,
Really looking forward to more pictures.
can I ask a very basic question for which there is probably no simple answer? What are the best sources for livery and shield designs. I can find lots of pictures of shields but not sure how this translates into what the knights are wearing?
Curassier
Ian Heath, Armies of the Crusades, Armies of the Crusades, Armies of the Middle Ages Vol. 1 and 2.
Hobilar, The Lance and Longbow Society journal. Excellent!
Freezewater Publications and 'flag' sheets.
Ospreys (sometimes good ).
Internet.
Asking folk .
EDIT: I forgot to answer your question .
Knights would have worn their own coat of arms either on a surcoat, jupon or tabard depending upon the period. Surcoats, at least as far as Western Europe goes, generally up to 1380-90. Jupons from 1390-1440-50 (ish) and tabards from 1440-1450 onwards. By the time of say, Agincourt many knights and nobles, particularly in England, would have stopped wearing their heraldic devices with the advent of white amour (full harness). Shields also would have been abandoned by those wealthy enough to afford such armours.
Instead, nobles and men of rank would have kept up the tradition of having a banneret bear their arms on a banner usually made of stiffenned cloth with a pole running horizontally through the top of the banner. Standards would also be used in battle though these would be much less common than banners.
Hope that this is of some help?
Cheers,
Darrell.