Welcome |
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Welcome to the new home for the Kingdom of Ealdormere College of Heralds. We have consulted with our warranted heralds to build a site that includes lots of helpful information. We will continue to keep this page up-to-date.
At the top of this page you'll find a navigation menu which should quickly get you where you need to go.
While we've kept or updated much of the most-used information from the previous website, there are still some blank spaces and pages with rough edges. We're still working to update and polish our new home.
If you find anything broken or missing, please let us know. If you would like to provide pages, documents, essays, photos, or anything else to this website, please contact daya@danashaw.ca.
Thank you!
Daya Speyerin, Bee Pursuivant
Note: If you're new to heraldry, please contact the Trillium Herald, at trilliumherald@gmail.com to get started!
At the top of this page you'll find a navigation menu which should quickly get you where you need to go.
While we've kept or updated much of the most-used information from the previous website, there are still some blank spaces and pages with rough edges. We're still working to update and polish our new home.
If you find anything broken or missing, please let us know. If you would like to provide pages, documents, essays, photos, or anything else to this website, please contact daya@danashaw.ca.
Thank you!
Daya Speyerin, Bee Pursuivant
Note: If you're new to heraldry, please contact the Trillium Herald, at trilliumherald@gmail.com to get started!
News Feed
*From Laurel: New Precedents Editor*
I'm pleased to announce that we're shortly going to be kicking off a project to organize precedents -- the collection of Pelican and Wreath decisions that we use to interpret the application of SENA to submissions. Many years ago, the old system ceased to work; we're restarting using some new strategies.
This project will be led by Beatrice Domenici della Campana; we've historically called this position precedents editor. Signora Beatrice
Domenici della Campana started as a herald in A.S. XXXI in the Shire of Coeur du Val in An Tir, moved through the heraldic collective of Dragon's Mist, An Tir, and through Tree Girt Sea/Ayreton, Midrealm, before landing in her current home of the Barony of Caer Anterth Mawr, Northshield. She's served as a local herald, as Dexter Gauntlet Herald (precedence, An Tir), as Isendun Herald (notifications, Northshield), twice as second in charge of Pennsic Heralds' Point, and has recently been working as a projects
deputy to Palimpsest. She'll use the title Green Staff Herald until we can register something suitable for the position.
We should have further news about the project and how people can help by Known World in June.
*From Palimpsest: Proposed Addition to Administrative Handbook*
In order to bring our requirements for signatures of heraldic wills into line with our requirements for signatures of permissions to conflict, we propose that the following language become a new section, IV.G.7, of the Administrative Handbook:
The physical signature (or a facsimile thereof) of the person making the will is preferred. If a physical signature is not available, an emailed signature is permitted, but the identity of the person making the will must be confirmed through the personal knowledge of a Kingdom Principal Herald or a Kingdom Submissions Herald. In general, that means face to face or voice contact with the person giving permission.
*From Wreath: Quadrupeds Affronty*
On the October 5, 2017, LoPaD, we asked commenters for armorial examples of quadrupeds affronty, to determine whether prior precedent about dragons "displayed" (i.e. statant erect affronty) being a step from period practice should be overturned. The intent of the request was to determine whether quadrupeds affronty were common in period armory. If so, then having a dragon affronty was a natural extension of that pattern and should not be penalized.
Sometimes, research takes you to conclusions you did not even anticipate.
We are indebted to Bruce Batonvert for reviewing his substantial library for evidence of quadrupeds affronty. In his search, only one example of a quadruped affronty borne by someone in period was found: the arms of die Schertlin von Burtenbach, *Azure/Sable, a lion sejant affronty Or maintaining in its dexter paw a key argent and in its sinister paw a fleur de lis Or*, recorded in Siebmacher's Wappenbuch, 1605, and the Sammlung von Wappen, c.1600 (BSB Cod.Icon 307:520).
A fair number of examples of lions sejant erect are found in crests, most notably in the crest of the King of Scots. However, the direction that the crests face appears to be entirely dependent upon the direction of the helm; all examples of crests with lions affronty also had the helm affronty. When the helm of the King of Scots faced dexter or sinister, such as in the Armorial de Gelre c.1370, Konrad Grünenberg's Armorial of c.1480, and the Sammelband mehrerer Wappenbucher c.1530, the crest had the lion in profile in the same direction.
While the basic philosophy of SCA armory is that if you can find an example of a charge, field division, or posture anywhere in period, it can be incorporated into SCA armory under core rules, there is also the proviso that certain practices (e.g. violations of the rule of tincture) would require more evidence in order to be used. Based on period examples, the only affronty posture for quadrupeds that is justifiable at all is *sejant erect affronty,* and even that has only one example that isn't dependent upon circumstances outside the crest itself.
Therefore, after the August 2018 LoAR, use of the posture *sejant erect affronty* will be a step from period practice for non-lions, whether winged or not. All other affronty postures for quadrupeds will be disallowed after the August 2018 LoAR unless documentation is provided.
*From Wreath: Putting Dormant to Rest*
As above, on the October 5, 2017, LoPaD, we asked commenters for commentary to assist submitters in depicting animals dormant, as armory with charges in that posture has frequently been returned for redraw due to lack of identifiability. The intent of the request was that if we considered the examples of dormant found in tracts, we could give definitive guidelines on how to depict beasts dormant in a reliably recognizable manner.
It was noted in the LoPaD that "Dormant is found in period heraldic tracts as a theoretical posture (Legh's *Accedens of Armory*, 1576, fol.44, attributes *Azure, a lion dormant Or* to the Tribe of Judah), but one that is not found in actual armory prior to the 17th century." The same posture also appears in Bossewell's *Workes of Armorie*, 1592. Upon review of both the provided emblazons and descriptions of these tracts, however, it's revealed that the lion of Judah is not in a posture we have been using in the SCA. Legh's depiction of dormant is a variant of his rendering of couchant, with the spine horizontal, forepaws bent, hind legs tucked, tail
situated away from the body, and torso lifted up off of the plane formed by the limbs. The only difference is in placement of the head. Rather than situated above the shoulders and perpendicular to the spine, the head extends out parallel to the spine, set just above the paws. Bossewell's lion is in a similar posture, with the head lowered so that its chin touches the top of its forepaws. Neither of them is dormant as submitters have been interpreting it, namely completely at rest and asleep.
The text description of the posture likewise makes it clear that the intent is not to depict an unconscious animal. Legh's tract has the following dialogue between master and student: "Q: Why do ye make him with his eies open & cal him dormant? A: Because isadore sayeth, their slepe is not with close eyen." Bossewelle also cites Isidore, noting "Isidore sayeth, that the Lyons eies are as though he were awake, when he sleapeth. Cum dormient, vigilant oculi."
When animals are depicted in SCA armory as completely asleep, with the silhouette obscured by the limbs tucked into the torso and the head resting against the forepaws, the charge itself often becomes unidentifiable. The depictions of dormant in heraldic tracts allow for identification of the animal, but do not match the popular understanding of the posture, nor do they justify the intent of most submitters to depict an animal with their bodies at rest and sound asleep.
While the College of Arms' policy generally allows for practices that are only attested in heraldic tracts, exceptions to this are made when the practice hinders clarity and identifiability, such as chasing/adumbration. Allowance of the term "dormant" in SCA heraldry has caused consistent hindrance in clarity and identifiability.
After the August 2018 LoAR, use of the term *dormant* will be discontinued, and armory submissions with asleep or unconscious animals will be returned. Charges in postures following the examples of Legh and Bossewell will be blazoned as *couchant, head lowered* and registered only if all identifying features are clearly visible in silhouette.
*Society Pages: News about Heralds in the Society*
On January 13, at Meridies' 40th Anniversary, Their Majesties elevated Guntram von Köln, Lucis Herald (reporting), to the Order of the Pelican.
The next day, Mathias Blackett, Torch Herald (courts), was also elevated to the Order of the Pelican.
On January 14, at the final court of Christian Bane and Helene Lyon d'Anjou in the Kingdom of An Tir, Tove æt Horsleigh, formerly known as Taraðan banMarca, pursuivant of the Shire of Midhaven from 1988 to 2013, was elevated to the Order of the Pelican
Also that day, Kateline MacFarlane, Mountains Pursuivant of the Barony of Three Mountains, former Mano d'Oro Herald and who has spent many years active in the service of heraldry in An Tir, was created a Herald Extraordinary.
And finally that day, Luaithrend inghean Uilliam, former Basilisk Pursuivant of the Barony of Wastekeep, was admitted into the Order of the Pelican.
On February 10, at Bardic and A&S Champions, Their Majesties of the East inducted Violet Hughes, Sea Star Pursuivant of the Barony of An Dubhaigeainn, into the Order of the Silver Crescent. The Silver Crescent is the East's grant-level service award.
On February 21, at Estrella War, Aten Principal Herald created Dame Anita Challis an Herald Extraordinary.
On March 3, at Baronial Investiture Anniversary, Their Highnesses Brennan and Caoilfhionn, on behalf of the Crown of the East, inducted Kirsa Oyutai, Badger Herald, into the Order of the Silver Crescent.
I'm pleased to announce that we're shortly going to be kicking off a project to organize precedents -- the collection of Pelican and Wreath decisions that we use to interpret the application of SENA to submissions. Many years ago, the old system ceased to work; we're restarting using some new strategies.
This project will be led by Beatrice Domenici della Campana; we've historically called this position precedents editor. Signora Beatrice
Domenici della Campana started as a herald in A.S. XXXI in the Shire of Coeur du Val in An Tir, moved through the heraldic collective of Dragon's Mist, An Tir, and through Tree Girt Sea/Ayreton, Midrealm, before landing in her current home of the Barony of Caer Anterth Mawr, Northshield. She's served as a local herald, as Dexter Gauntlet Herald (precedence, An Tir), as Isendun Herald (notifications, Northshield), twice as second in charge of Pennsic Heralds' Point, and has recently been working as a projects
deputy to Palimpsest. She'll use the title Green Staff Herald until we can register something suitable for the position.
We should have further news about the project and how people can help by Known World in June.
*From Palimpsest: Proposed Addition to Administrative Handbook*
In order to bring our requirements for signatures of heraldic wills into line with our requirements for signatures of permissions to conflict, we propose that the following language become a new section, IV.G.7, of the Administrative Handbook:
The physical signature (or a facsimile thereof) of the person making the will is preferred. If a physical signature is not available, an emailed signature is permitted, but the identity of the person making the will must be confirmed through the personal knowledge of a Kingdom Principal Herald or a Kingdom Submissions Herald. In general, that means face to face or voice contact with the person giving permission.
*From Wreath: Quadrupeds Affronty*
On the October 5, 2017, LoPaD, we asked commenters for armorial examples of quadrupeds affronty, to determine whether prior precedent about dragons "displayed" (i.e. statant erect affronty) being a step from period practice should be overturned. The intent of the request was to determine whether quadrupeds affronty were common in period armory. If so, then having a dragon affronty was a natural extension of that pattern and should not be penalized.
Sometimes, research takes you to conclusions you did not even anticipate.
We are indebted to Bruce Batonvert for reviewing his substantial library for evidence of quadrupeds affronty. In his search, only one example of a quadruped affronty borne by someone in period was found: the arms of die Schertlin von Burtenbach, *Azure/Sable, a lion sejant affronty Or maintaining in its dexter paw a key argent and in its sinister paw a fleur de lis Or*, recorded in Siebmacher's Wappenbuch, 1605, and the Sammlung von Wappen, c.1600 (BSB Cod.Icon 307:520).
A fair number of examples of lions sejant erect are found in crests, most notably in the crest of the King of Scots. However, the direction that the crests face appears to be entirely dependent upon the direction of the helm; all examples of crests with lions affronty also had the helm affronty. When the helm of the King of Scots faced dexter or sinister, such as in the Armorial de Gelre c.1370, Konrad Grünenberg's Armorial of c.1480, and the Sammelband mehrerer Wappenbucher c.1530, the crest had the lion in profile in the same direction.
While the basic philosophy of SCA armory is that if you can find an example of a charge, field division, or posture anywhere in period, it can be incorporated into SCA armory under core rules, there is also the proviso that certain practices (e.g. violations of the rule of tincture) would require more evidence in order to be used. Based on period examples, the only affronty posture for quadrupeds that is justifiable at all is *sejant erect affronty,* and even that has only one example that isn't dependent upon circumstances outside the crest itself.
Therefore, after the August 2018 LoAR, use of the posture *sejant erect affronty* will be a step from period practice for non-lions, whether winged or not. All other affronty postures for quadrupeds will be disallowed after the August 2018 LoAR unless documentation is provided.
*From Wreath: Putting Dormant to Rest*
As above, on the October 5, 2017, LoPaD, we asked commenters for commentary to assist submitters in depicting animals dormant, as armory with charges in that posture has frequently been returned for redraw due to lack of identifiability. The intent of the request was that if we considered the examples of dormant found in tracts, we could give definitive guidelines on how to depict beasts dormant in a reliably recognizable manner.
It was noted in the LoPaD that "Dormant is found in period heraldic tracts as a theoretical posture (Legh's *Accedens of Armory*, 1576, fol.44, attributes *Azure, a lion dormant Or* to the Tribe of Judah), but one that is not found in actual armory prior to the 17th century." The same posture also appears in Bossewell's *Workes of Armorie*, 1592. Upon review of both the provided emblazons and descriptions of these tracts, however, it's revealed that the lion of Judah is not in a posture we have been using in the SCA. Legh's depiction of dormant is a variant of his rendering of couchant, with the spine horizontal, forepaws bent, hind legs tucked, tail
situated away from the body, and torso lifted up off of the plane formed by the limbs. The only difference is in placement of the head. Rather than situated above the shoulders and perpendicular to the spine, the head extends out parallel to the spine, set just above the paws. Bossewell's lion is in a similar posture, with the head lowered so that its chin touches the top of its forepaws. Neither of them is dormant as submitters have been interpreting it, namely completely at rest and asleep.
The text description of the posture likewise makes it clear that the intent is not to depict an unconscious animal. Legh's tract has the following dialogue between master and student: "Q: Why do ye make him with his eies open & cal him dormant? A: Because isadore sayeth, their slepe is not with close eyen." Bossewelle also cites Isidore, noting "Isidore sayeth, that the Lyons eies are as though he were awake, when he sleapeth. Cum dormient, vigilant oculi."
When animals are depicted in SCA armory as completely asleep, with the silhouette obscured by the limbs tucked into the torso and the head resting against the forepaws, the charge itself often becomes unidentifiable. The depictions of dormant in heraldic tracts allow for identification of the animal, but do not match the popular understanding of the posture, nor do they justify the intent of most submitters to depict an animal with their bodies at rest and sound asleep.
While the College of Arms' policy generally allows for practices that are only attested in heraldic tracts, exceptions to this are made when the practice hinders clarity and identifiability, such as chasing/adumbration. Allowance of the term "dormant" in SCA heraldry has caused consistent hindrance in clarity and identifiability.
After the August 2018 LoAR, use of the term *dormant* will be discontinued, and armory submissions with asleep or unconscious animals will be returned. Charges in postures following the examples of Legh and Bossewell will be blazoned as *couchant, head lowered* and registered only if all identifying features are clearly visible in silhouette.
*Society Pages: News about Heralds in the Society*
On January 13, at Meridies' 40th Anniversary, Their Majesties elevated Guntram von Köln, Lucis Herald (reporting), to the Order of the Pelican.
The next day, Mathias Blackett, Torch Herald (courts), was also elevated to the Order of the Pelican.
On January 14, at the final court of Christian Bane and Helene Lyon d'Anjou in the Kingdom of An Tir, Tove æt Horsleigh, formerly known as Taraðan banMarca, pursuivant of the Shire of Midhaven from 1988 to 2013, was elevated to the Order of the Pelican
Also that day, Kateline MacFarlane, Mountains Pursuivant of the Barony of Three Mountains, former Mano d'Oro Herald and who has spent many years active in the service of heraldry in An Tir, was created a Herald Extraordinary.
And finally that day, Luaithrend inghean Uilliam, former Basilisk Pursuivant of the Barony of Wastekeep, was admitted into the Order of the Pelican.
On February 10, at Bardic and A&S Champions, Their Majesties of the East inducted Violet Hughes, Sea Star Pursuivant of the Barony of An Dubhaigeainn, into the Order of the Silver Crescent. The Silver Crescent is the East's grant-level service award.
On February 21, at Estrella War, Aten Principal Herald created Dame Anita Challis an Herald Extraordinary.
On March 3, at Baronial Investiture Anniversary, Their Highnesses Brennan and Caoilfhionn, on behalf of the Crown of the East, inducted Kirsa Oyutai, Badger Herald, into the Order of the Silver Crescent.