In medieval times around the 12th – 14th century, wars were common. The King would raise an army by getting his noblemen to each bring a band of men from their lands, in effect a collection of small private armies. The leaders would wear suits of armour for protection, including a helmet and visor. Once the battle was in full swing, the band of men supporting their respective leaders would have trouble identifying him from all the other noblemen wearing armour. The solution was for each nobleman to decorate his shield with his family crest, and the top of his armour would be similarly decorated with a cloth garment – a surcoat which became known as a coat of arms.