"Sergeants at time of 3rd Crusade" Topic

I realize that when it comes to miniatures, a mounted sergeant could just as easily be a commoner who had the finances to purchase his own kit, as a poorer member of the minor nobility that could not afford the latest styles.

So, that being said, what sort of devices should I paint on a unit of mounted sergeants?

I did sergeants for a slightly later period, the Principality of the Morea, so post Fourth Crusade.
We have fairly good information about the principality being divided into numbers of knight's fiefs and sergeant's fiefs. My assessment was that some of the sergeants were hired help for the knights and nobles and would wear their devices so they were painted with a shield to match one of the knights I'd painted. Others were independent, owing service to the prince, and could use their own device, usually a cross.

Grelber

Crosses on shields are rare in the 12th century except for military orders. A common 12th century shield device is the Escarbucle (6 or 8 rays ending in fleur-de-lis):

An Escarbucle on a shield on the Templar seal
Two views of European Infantry in the Capitals in the Cloister of Monreale Cathedral near Palermo in Sicily, 1174 to 1182 AD.
European with sword and shield with Escarbucle, Capitals in the Cloister of Monreale Cathedral near Palermo in Sicily.
The Winchester Psalter or Psalter of Henry of Blois, mid 12th century. Goliath's shield in the lower register has an Escarbucle with fleur-de-lis(?).
Triumph of the Ginetes over the Beast, Navarra Beatus Codex, Navarre, late 12th century

mirror sites
An Escarbucle on a shield on the Templar seal
Two views of European Infantry in the Capitals in the Cloister of Monreale Cathedral near Palermo in Sicily, 1174 to 1182 AD.
European with sword and shield with Escarbucle, Capitals in the Cloister of Monreale Cathedral near Palermo in Sicily.
The Winchester Psalter or Psalter of Henry of Blois, mid 12th century. Goliath's shield in the lower register has an Escarbucle with fleur-de-lis(?).
Triumph of the Ginetes over the Beast, Navarra Beatus Codex, Navarre, late 12th century

Druzhina
12th Century Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers

thank you