Editing Bezant (section)

=={{anchor|Heraldry}}Bezants in heraldry==
In [[heraldry]], a [[roundel (heraldry)|roundel]] of a gold colour is referred to as a ''bezant'', in reference to the coin. Like many [[Charge (heraldry)|heraldic charges]], the ''bezant'' originated during the crusading era, when Western European knights first came into contact with Byzantine gold coins, and were perhaps struck with their fine quality and purity. During the [[Fourth Crusade]] the city of [[Constantinople]] [[Siege of Constantinople (1204)|was sacked]] by Western forces. During this sacking of the richest city of Europe, the gold ''bezant'' would have been very much in evidence, many of the knights no doubt having helped themselves very liberally to the booty. This event took place at the very dawn of the widespread adoption of arms by the knightly class, and thus it may have been an obvious symbol for many returned crusaders to use in their new arms. When arms are strewn with bezants, the term ''[[bezantée]]'' or ''bezanty'' is used.

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Image:Flag of the Duke of Cornwall.svg|Banner of the [[Duchy of Cornwall]] displaying fifteen ''bezants''
File:RussellofDyrhamArms.jpg|Arms of [[John Russell (knight)|Sir John Russell]], a 13th-century English courtier.<ref>Arms of Russell of [[Kingston Russell]] & [[Dyrham]]. Sir John Russell was a favoured courtier of King Henry III, granted by the King the barony of Newmarch c. 1216.</ref>
Image:Arms_of_William_Pitt_the_Younger.svg|Arms of [[William Pitt the Younger]]
</gallery>