The Evolution of Scottish Heraldry: From Elitist to Egalitarian?

Heraldry is a tradition rooted in identity, power and prestige. Over the course of 900 years, it has been wielded by the ruling classes to demonstrate their lineage and consolidate their authority. Yet a close analysis of the legal provisions shows that heraldry in Scotland evolved from these earliest origins as a visual symbol of the privileged elite to become a remarkably egalitarian tradition.