This work investigates the origins and evolution of heraldic terminology during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, specifically examining how these technical terms were integrated into Arthurian literature. Gerard J. Brault, a distinguished scholar of medieval French, utilizes a rigorous philological approach to analyze the development of blazonry. By synthesizing historical records with literary texts, he establishes a framework for understanding how heraldic language functioned as both a descriptive tool and a symbolic system in medieval society.

Scholars and medievalists regard this text as a foundational reference for the study of heraldic language and its intersection with medieval literature. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which provides a precise and highly technical examination of the subject matter.