What is a College of Arms?
A college of arms is an organization which oversees records and grants of heraldic material for a nation, and sometimes for citizens of other nations as well. Because genealogical research is an important part of determining whether or not someone is entitled to armorial bearings, a college of arms typically also serves as a repository of genealogical information, especially information which pertains to the nobility. The most famous college of arms in the world is probably the British College of Arms, which was founded in 1484; this august institution oversees armorial bearings for much of the United Kingdom and many nations in Europe as well.
