Shared Heraldry and the Sacred Space: The Building Blocks of João I of Portugal’s Imagery

Heraldry served as a powerful tool for late-medieval monarchies to assert power, with King João I of Portugal leveraging shared heraldic symbols during the 1383-1385 dynastic crisis and beyond. This study reveals how these symbols, integrated into the architecture and iconography of the Monastery of Batalha—a monument commemorating victory at Aljubarrota and later serving as a dynastic necropolis—reinforced royal legitimacy and dynastic continuity. By analyzing the transposition of heraldry from political propaganda to sacred space, the research demonstrates its dual role in both affirming independence and constructing enduring royal imagery.

Metelo de Seixas, M. (2024). Shared Heraldry and the Sacred Space: The Building Blocks of João I of Portugal’s Imagery. Eikon / Imago, 13, e88923. https://doi.org/10.5209/eiko.88923