Chivalry & Knighthood
1. Duties to countrymen and fellow Christians: this contains virtues such as mercy, courage, valor, fairness, protection of the weak and poor, and in the servant-hood of the knight to his lord. This also brings with it the idea of being willing to give one’s life for another’s; whether he would be giving his life for a poor man or his lord.
2. Duties to God: this would contain being faithful to God, protecting the innocent, being faithful to the church, being the champion of good against evil, being generous and obeying God above the feudal lord.
3. Duties to women: this is probably the most familiar aspect of chivalry. This would contain what is often called courtly love,the idea that the knight is to serve a lady, and after her, all other ladies. Most especially in this category is a general gentleness and graciousness to all women.
"COATS OF ARMS
Coats of Arms, called "Wappen" in German, have been used in most parts of the world for centuries.In the British Kingdom, the rules of heraldry are very specific and Coats of Arms are still highly regulated. You are simply not allowed to use a Coat of Arms that was issued to a specific person. Technically, one must prove lineage to the individual first awarded the Coat of Arms to be entitled to them. You can even be fined, similar to a copyright infringement.
Almost all cities did and still do create Coats of Arms.
In many countries in the middle ages, Germany for one, every free man was allowed to bear a Coat of Arms, hence the proliferation of "working class" symbols. Often they were awarded to individuals and became much like inherited property (although they would still need to apply to the Heraldic authority to be granted the Arms). Special symbols (marks of cadency) could be added to differentiate between 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc. grown children. However, in the USA and present day Germany, for instance, anyone may assume a Coat of Arms, as there is no longer any Heraldic authority to whom you can apply.
The word "Heraldry" is derived from the German "heer" -- a host, an army -- and "held" -- a champion. The term "Blazon", by which the science of heraldry is denoted in French, English, Italian, and German, is probably derived from the German word "blazen" -- to blow the horn.
When people say "Family Crest", they are usually referring to a "Coat of Arms", which is recorded (as words, not drawn) in a book of heraldry (i.e.: Burgerliches Wappenbuch) by a scribe in such a way that it does not matter who draws the Coat of Arms from the scribes description, it will always look as it should. This clever system was a language unto itself (actually, a "language within a language"), with much of the information simply implied.
Craftsmen & Tradesmen (Smiths, Wrights, etc.) often included their tools of trade in their Coats of Arms. Usually only the Shield and sometimes a Crest are deScribed - it's very rare for the Mantling to be deScribed & then only when it deviates from the primary Metal & Color Tinctures. Rules of Heraldry were not always strictly adhered to." http://www.mumma.org/archives/wappen