A man-at-arms was a military rank but many in both France and England had the social status of esquire.The man-at-arms fought in full armour, both on foot and on horseback.

In the battles of the Hundred Years' War, men-at-arms fought in close combat. They wielded staff weapons and swords, hacking, stabbing and chopping at their opponents.

The French always had higher numbers of men at arms than the English, In 1415 men-at-arms, knights and nobles made up about a quarter of the English army but over three-quarters of the French army.

The social structure of the Anglo-Norman society of England was relatively rigid. One of the easiest ways for a man to improve his social rank was through military service; another method was through the church. In the Norman states, unlike in many other contemporary societies, the knighting of men of common birth who had demonstrated ability and courage on the field of battle was possible. Although rare, some non-knightly men-at-arms did advance socially to the status of knights.

Since the days of William the Conqueror, the royal arms of England had featured a golden lion against a bright red background (or, to use the language of heraldry, gules, lions passant guardant in pale or armed and langued azure). By the time of King Richard I, the design had settled to a familiar three golden lions on a red background.

Edward’s new coat of arms retained the traditional arms of England, but quartered them with the Royal Arms of France – golden fleurs-de-lis on a blue background. This was the visual manifestation of Edward’s claim to the throne of France. His heraldry now proclaimed to the world that he considered himself to be both King of England and France. Such a bold assertion would meet with immediate, ferocious and prolonged opposition from his Valois rivals.

The visual claim raised by Edward was met by a heraldic repost from King of France. He summoned his knights and vassals to the royal cathedral of Saint Denis and raised the Oriflamme. The Oriflamme took its name from the Latin aurea flamma meaning ‘golden flame’. It was a long, flowing banner of striking red silk flown from a golden lance. Some descriptions highlight a golden sun and fiery rays whilst others merely highlight its blood-red colour.

The significance of this act would not have been lost on the audience; the Oriflamme was displayed on the battlefield when no quarter was to be given. It was a symbol of French military power and pride and made it clear that the fight for France would be a struggle to the end.

The French fleur-de-lis would remain long after England ceased to hold any territory on the continent. The Royal Arms of England and then the Royal Arms of the United Kingdom would carry this claim to the French Crown until 1801 when it was removed by George III.