{"word_count": 231, "character_count": 1564}
Chapter two shall give a first synthesis of the development of this office from its start at the tournaments of the 12th century in northwest Europe, its later spread all over the continent, to its further development until the end of the ancient regime. Even if they took place quite differently, there is apparently a common pattern of breaks in this history of office concerning the recruitment of heralds, their social background and their ascent into nobility – which, of course, is all also well linked to some changes in their functions and to some changes in the historical background.Topics that could be discussed in this chapter:the origins of the officethe inner hierarchy of the officebreaks in social background, from marginality to nobility, change in social status and prosperityspread of the office all over Europe in the 15th centuryrelationship to their mastersheralds entering the service of nobility and princes (what came first?)In whose name did heralds act? Tthe different kinds of masters: noblemen, kings and princes, orders of knighthood, cities and estates.their own ascent to nobilityquestions:persons vs. institutionshow close was the relationship to their masters?the community of heraldsrivalries among heralds (?)mutations of the officebreaks in the social and professional background of the incumbentsthe former professions of the future heralds : minstrels, messengers, artists, clerksspotlights for different countries, for different époquescase studies for different heralds (short biographies on their backgrounds and careers)