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Who was allowed to carry a banner in medieval warfare?

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flag shapes — flag Various shapes of flags: (from left) rectangle (Algeria), square (Switzerland), pennant (Nepal), swallowtail (Ohio, U.S.).

In medieval warfare, the privilege of carrying a square banner was reserved for a specific rank of nobility and military leadership known as a banneret.12

Unlike a simple knight, who carried a tapering pennon on their lance, a banneret was a knight authorized to lead a troop of vassals—typically 10 or more lances—into the field under their own distinct, square banner. This banner displayed the owner's arms, serving as a visual identifier for their specific unit in battle.132

While the term originated as a functional military designation for a commander, it eventually evolved into a title of honor conferred for distinguished military service in England and France between the 13th and 16th centuries. In the broader context of heraldry, banners were essential for identification, and their use by leaders and nobles was a foundational element of the system of armorial identification that developed during the Middle Ages.143