A legal forum for disputes relating to coats of arms.

The Court has a long and complex history, stretching back into medieval times, with its origins in the martial law exercised by the medieval Constables and Marshals of England when on campaign. Most of the records of the court’s activities, for the post-medieval period, are held by the College of Arms, which is the official heraldic authority for England, Wales, Northern Ireland and much of the Commonwealth including Australia and New Zealand.

Some significant historical material, including old cases, is archived on the British History Online website here.

The most recent case decided by the Court of Chivalry is Manchester Corpn v Manchester Palace Of Varieties Ltd  [1955] P 133; [1955] 2 WLR 440, which basically decided that the court still existed and had jurisdiction to determine a dispute over armorial bearings.