{"word_count": 219, "character_count": 1505}
In all diversity, there are also common points and continuities in the history of the office of arms. There are especially those particularities which define that office and contribute a great deal to its uniqueness. Those particularities are an absolute prerequisite to understand the functions and duties of the office of arms in all its variety. And perhaps, it is only by them that their long history may once be understood in all its diversity. When writing them down, all these particularities must be described in a historical, dynamic perspective, looking at their origins and asking for their perseverance in different countries and in different times, raising questions of continuity and change which have to be explained.Topics that could be discussed in this chapterthe office namestheir meaning (battlecries, titles of their masters, devises, etc.)their use for political claimstheir mix-up with civil names by becoming the civil name of some officers or their relativesthe habit and the insignia of the office (tabard, email, staff, crown, sword/dagger)the oath, baptism and immunity (&#38; dangers), the neutrality of heralds, and thus the herald as an impersonal “personne publique” and its obligation to speak the truthprivileges of heraldstravelling, internationality, international networkshow to become a herald (required skills, training)iconography of heralds (12th-18th c.)important case studies:regional comparisons (e.g. oath) andcomparisons in the longue durée (e.g. habit)&#160;