In the science of heraldry, marshalling represents the regulatory framework by which several distinct armorial bearings are combined into one composition. This practice evolved from the necessity to visually document the union of noble houses and the transmission of feudal estates. The primary methods employed include impalement, where the shield is divided vertically to show husband and wife, and quartering, where the shield is divided into four or more sections to indicate the inheritance of maternal arms from an heraldic heiress. These arrangements serve as a legal record of lineage and territorial claims.
Beyond familial unions, marshalling also encompasses the juxtaposition of personal arms with those of an ecclesiastical, academic, or corporate office. Under the jurisdiction of the College of Arms, the rules of marshalling became increasingly complex during the Tudor and Stuart periods, leading to the development of the 'grand quartering' system. This allows a peer to display a vast genealogical history within a single escutcheon, effectively operating as a visual pedigree of the bearer's noble descent and the sovereign's favor.