Nice cant!
Submitted as Ana Sirena de Valbuena, the name was changed at Kingdom to Ana Serena de Valbuena to match the documentation that could be found. Fortunately, Lillia Crampette found Sirena as a 16th century literary given name. As there is a pattern of using literary names in Spanish, we can restore the name to its original form, Ana Sirena de Valbuena.
The submitter's previous device, Argent, an escarbuncle sable and a gore sinister pean, is retained as a badge.
Nice armory!
Nice cant!
(to Æthelmearc acceptances) (to Æthelmearc returns) (to Æthelmearc pends)
Although the strewn mullets and the sewing needles are in the same charge group, they are not comparable for purposes of Unity of Orientation, per the July 2019 Cover Letter.
Submitted as M{a-}lik ibn {K.}{a-}rin al-'abd{a-}r{i-} ibn {Dj_}inn{i-} al-M{a-}rid{i-} al-{Sh_}ayb{a-}n{a-}, the submitter subsequently clarified that he wanted the name M{a-}lik ibn {K.}{a-}rin ibn al-M{a-}rid{i-} ibn {Dj_}inn{i-} al-'Abd{a-}r{i-} al-{Sh_}ayb{a-}n{i-}. Because the submitter previously registered the alternate name M{a-}lik ibn {Dj_}inn{i-} al-{Sh_}ayb{a-}n{i-}, he does not have to re-document those elements but can rely instead on the Existing Registration Allowance. The new elements were all properly documented. The complex pattern of this name is supported by Basil Dragonstrike's "Name Patterns from Ibn al-Bann{a-}" (https://s-gabriel.org/names/basil/ibnalbanna/formatalb.html). Therefore, the name in the corrected form requested by the submitter can be registered.
Nice badge!
The submitter's previous device, reblazoned elsewhere on this letter as Sable, a lion-headed torque opening to chief and in chief a bar raguly Or, is retained as a badge.
Blazoned when registered in October 1983 as Sable, a lion-headed torque and in chief a bar raguly Or, we are clarifying the orientation of the torque.
While we find no period examples of divided charges involving pink flamingos where one partition is proper, we do find examples of other animals. In the Wappen besonders von deutschen Geschlechtern - BSB Cod.icon. 309, f.54v (https://daten.digitale-sammlungen.de/~db/bsb00002106/images/index.html?id=00002106&nativeno=54v) we find an animal per fess gules and brown. Likewise, in the Ingeram Codex (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Ingeram_Codex:_15th_Century_sorting#/media/File:Ingeram_Codex_264.jpg) we find an ass per pale Or and grey.
In combination with the prior registrations in the SCA of pink flamingos proper, we grant the submitter benefit of the doubt.
Although the documentation shows O Ryan, by precedent, this evidence supports the submitted O'Ryan. "Anglicized Irish bynames were written both with and without an apostrophe after the O. For example, "Names Found in Anglicized Irish Documents," by Mari ingen Briain meic Donnchada (http://medievalscotland.org/kmo/AnglicizedIrish/) lists both Arte O Neale and Arte O'Neale. Therefore, the attested O Ruairc supports the submitter's requested O'Ruairc." [Emma O'Ruairc, 11/2018 LoAR, A-Ansteorra]
The submitter's previous name, Karach Ryndin, is released.
Because the field fails to meet the standards of contrast specified in SENA A3B3d, documentation in support of an Individually Attested Pattern is required.
Insignia Anglica shows low-contrast gyronny fields in sable and gules, with good contrast primary charges, plus secondary charges: 35r Bodyam (three contrasting primary charges, a contrasting bordure), 36r Cobele (a contrasting central ordinary, surrounding contrasting secondaries), 44v Mathe (a contrasting primary charge, a poor-contrast bordure).
Batonvert also notes the arms of the Worshipful Company of Coopers, of London, granted 1509: Gyronny gules and sable, on a chevron between three annulets Or a royne between two broad-axes azure, on a chief vert three lilies argent.
These same were used in the successful registration in July 2012 of the device of James Yale, Gyronny sable and gules, a cross of Saint Julian Or. Cedric's device is of similar complexity to James's, exchanging the cross for a roundel and adding an uncharged bordure, and neither is more complex than the exemplars. The IAP is satisfied and this device is registered.
Fiona is the submitter's legal given name. She must invoke the Legal Name Allowance because we continue to have no evidence for Fiona as a period name.
Galeran is the registered given name of the submitter's parent. However, she does not need to rely on the Existing Registration Allowance because Galeran is an attested period French given name.
The submitter has permission to conflict with the device of Rhieinwylydd verch Einion Llanaelhaearn, Argent, three lion's heads cabossed sable.
The submitter has permission to conflict with the badge of Galeran Chanterel, Per pale argent and azure, a dance between three fleurs-de-lys counterchanged.
The submitter has permission to conflict with the badge of Alejandra de Miera, (Fieldless) A yale rampant sable platy.
Nice badge!
Submitted as Sa'ada al-Arjawaniyya, the byname was not properly put into the feminine form. As explained by Basil Lions Heart, in Arabic bynames made from a color term, the feminine form ends in -ia(h). Therefore, the feminine form of the Arabic byname al-Arjaw{a-}n{i-} ("the purple") should be should be rendered as al-Arjaw{a-}n{i-}a.
With the submitter's permission, we have made this change. This submitter has chosen to omit all macrons (long marks) which is permitted. "Arabic names can be registered with or without macrons (as long as they are included or omitted consistently)." [Rayyan al-Rashid, 3/2019 LoAR, A-Atenveldt].
In the return of the device of Elinor Larke le Dauncer, Argent, two natural leopards combattant guardant azure spotted argent between in chief a mullet gules and in base a sun "pink" (April 2003, Middle), it was stated:
Some members of the College of Arms asked if it was acceptable to have a the [sic] mullet and the sun in the same charge group, or whether this was a "sword and dagger" problem. A mullet of five points is a heraldically distinct charge from a sun. The two are not possible artistic variants of each other (unlike a sword and a dagger [...]). As a result, there is no problem having a charge group which incorporates both a sun and a mullet of five points.
Therefore SENA A3D1, disallowing close artistic variants of the same charge, does not apply to a default mullet of five points and a sun. For consistency with how we determine difference between mullets and suns, we now extend this to the dividing line between the two: SENA A3D1 does not apply between a sun and a mullet of seven or fewer points.
Submitted as Christiana Olsdottir, the submitter requested the spelling Kirstiana if it could be documented. Kirstian is a gray period Danish given name found in the FamilySearch Historical Records. Kirstiana is a plausible Latinized form of that name. As Kirstiana falls within 500 years of the Scandinavian byname, we have changed the name to Kirstiana Olsdottir to meet the submitter's request.
This Order name was pended on the March 2020 Letter of Acceptances and Returns in order to allow time for commenters to determine if English order names appeared in Welsh documents. Many thanks to Dai Gerdwr for finding such in Ordr y Badd (Order of the Bath) and Ordr y Gardys / Ordr y Gart (Order of the Garter); these forms are documented to the 16th century in Wales. Further, the spelling Order was dated in Welsh to 1547. Therefore, an English Order of the Root might have been found in 16th century Wales as Ordr y Gwraidd or Order y Gwraidd.
The Barony has opted to register the Lingua Societatis Order of the in place of the Welsh Order y.
The submitter requested authenticity for late period Italian language or culture. This name is authentic for 16th century Florence or Venice.
Submitted as Sigivald Garðrsson, the submitter requested Sigivald Garansson if it could be documented. Garan appears in Lind and as the name of a human character in Áns saga bogsveigis. However, this saga was recorded in the 14th century, putting it more than 300 years from the Frankish Sigivaldus. Fortunately, Lillia Crampette found Sigivaldus recorded in Latin in Regum Daniae Series duplex et limitum inter Daniam et Sueciam (https://books.google.com/books?id=I8e75_Jm7RMC), in 1642. This evidence is enough to give the submitter the benefit of the doubt that Sigivald Garansson is a plausible Scandinavian name. We have made this change to meet the submitter's request.
This armory is not in conflict with the device of Sibyl of Dragon's Eyrie, Argent, a catamount triply queued statant guardant and a chief dovetailed sable. The grenade's flame is large enough to be considered half the charge, and therefore there is a DC for the type of the secondary charge, as well as a DC for the tincture.
Submitted as Ts'ai T'ien P'u, this Chinese name required one small change for registration. Maral of Dragon's Mist noted in commentary that this name uses the Wade-Giles romanization of Chinese characters and that the the correct Wade-Giles romanization of the second element is T'ien-p'u. We have made this change for registration.
As modified, this is a nice late 16th century Chinese name from Zhejiang Province!
This armory would have been returned for poor contrast between the primary charge group and the field. Documentation in support of an Individually Attested Pattern was therefore provided:
From Hylmair's Regensbugisches Wappenbuch, 1560 German (München, BSB Cgm 2015) p.131, https://daten.digitale-sammlungen.de/~db/0008/bsb00082261/images/index.html?seite=131 is an example of Gules, a boar's head couped sable and a chief argent.
In Virgil Raber's 1548 Wappenbuch der Arlberg-Bruderschaft (http://bilderserver.at/wappenbuecher/VirgilRaberEXAv2_52z2/), page 54 shows Argent, three roundels Or and a chief azure; 719 shows Azure, a shovel gules and a bordure Or; and page 827 shows Gules, a demi-bear sable issuant from a [base] Or. Additional examples of gules charges on azure fields were provided, including a pair of human arms, a demi-griffin, a hat, a lion, a pair of fleurs de lys with a pile (the pile itself charge with an azure fleur de lys), and a fish.
An additional example of a low contrast primary with a high contrast peripheral ordinary was provided from the armorial in Colmar, Bibliothèque Municipale, 1107 (064) (https://bvmm.irht.cnrs.fr/resultRecherche/resultRecherche.php?COMPOSITION_ID=12888), f.89, showing Or, an escarbuncle argent and a bordure gules.
We consider the pattern of a single dark charge on an dark field, with a light, peripheral ordinary to be demonstrated and the IAP satisfied.
Nice device!
Questions were raised in commentary whether this name presumes on the White Lion Society (https://whitelionsociety.org.uk/), an entity that provides support to the real world College of Arms, the official heraldic authority for England, Wales, Northern Ireland and much of the Commonwealth including Australia and New Zealand. After much consideration, we conclude that the White Lion Society does not meet our criteria for protection from presumption under NPN4D1.
NPN4D1 states:
Places and organizations that are not important enough to have an entry in a standard print encyclopedia, such as the Encyclopedia Britannica, are not important enough to protect. Entities that do have an entry must be further considered to determine if they merit protection. In general, entities recognized (without having to look in a reference) by a significant number of people in the Society as the name of a single unique place or entity are likely to be important enough to protect. Historical places or entities that are still influential today or significantly shaped the course of world history, science, or the arts are generally important enough to protect.
In rare cases, places and entities from fiction may be considered important enough to protect, when both a significant number of people in the Society recognize the name of the entity without prompting and the use of the name of the entity would generally be considered by those people a clear reference to that entity.
The White Lion Society was formed in 1986 to support the real world College of Arms. According to its website, it was intended to be a "Society of Friends" to the College, generally in the form of gifts and financial support. J. P. Brooke-Little, Treasurer of the College of Arms, described the purpose of White Lion Society as follows: "it was established to provide little luxuries, touches of class if you like, that the College would not feel justified in acquiring themselves." Other than providing gifts and financial support to the College of Arms, the White Lion Society publishes a newsletter and sponsors events relating to heraldry.
In its brief existence, the White Lion Society has not "significantly shaped the course of world history, science or the arts." Despite being located in the United Kingdom, it does not have an entry in the Encyclopedia Britannica and has only a brief squib in Wikipedia. It is mentioned on the real world College of Arms website (https://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/) only in connection with gifts made. The White Lion Society is not even the only entity that provides gifts and support to the College of Arms -- there are several such entities, including the Heraldry Society (https://www.theheraldrysociety.com/). A significant number of our heralds have not heard of the White Lion Society and did not know what it is without looking it up. The fact that this particular organization happens to be related to heraldry does not give it more significance than a similarly-situated organization related to other matters. Therefore, the White Lion Society is not protected from presumption and this household name can be registered.
(to An Tir acceptances) (to An Tir returns) (to An Tir pends)
Artist's note: Use fewer, larger ermine spots to improve their identifiability.
Nice device!
In a 2004 precedent, we previously ruled that triple given names could not be registered in Spanish. [Isabella Maria-Magdalena Fernandes de Chaves, 05/04, R-Trimaris] However, new data has uncovered examples of what reasonably can be read as triple given names in late period and gray period Spain. For example, Lilie Pantheon noted Barthomeu Jaume Lambert Miquel Bonavantura Marcha, Maria Anna Elena Casadaval and Angela Orosia Magdalena Planas, all found in a gray period church register from Gerona, Spain. Kolosvari Arpadne Julia provided images of the primary source documents to confirm these examples.
Although this pattern is rare, it is attested and therefore can be registered. Accordingly, we hereby overturn the May 2004 precedent noted above and permit the registration of triple given names in late period and gray period Spanish.
Nice Scots name from the late 15th century onwards!
Nice 16th century Venetian name!
By precedent, the byname Cavalieri is not presumptuous, as it is not a direct claim to be a knight. [Alexia Cavalieri, September 2016, A-Æthelmearc] We previously glossed Cavalieri as an occupational term meaning "silkwoman." This was incorrect. The term actually means "silkworm." It remains a reasonable byname for someone whose profession relates to silk.
Nice 16th century Italian name from Rome!
Nice English name from the 14th century onwards!
Nice 16th century Italian name from Venice!
Nice late 13th century German name!
There is a step from period practice for the use of a charge overall with a fimbriated ordinary.
The submitter's previous device, Per bend gules and lozengy bendwise sinister gules and argent, on a bend Or four mullets of six points azure, is retained as a badge.
Nice badge!
Questions were raised in commentary about whether the preposition du is appropriate with a byname based on a French inn sign. Although the use of the prepositions à la/au/aus or aux is far more common for such names, research uncovered several examples of what are clearly French inn-sign bynames using the prepositions de la/du/des including Guillaume du Rouge Cheval (1299 Paris), Martin de Vert Cheval (1359 Liége), and Perrin du Cat Rouge (1421 Paris), all of which are found in Dictionnaire historique de l'anthroponymie romane (https://books.google.com/books?id=53xdDwAAQBAJ). Based on these examples, the name can be registered as submitted.
Nice cant!
Submitted as Katrin Haralds, the submitter requested the spelling Herolds for the byname if it could be documented. Herold is a 14th century German given name. In German, a woman can add -s to the given name of her husband to create a marital surname. See Aryanhwy merch Catmael, "Women's Surnames in 15th- and 16th-Century Germany", http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/german/womenssurnames.html). Therefore, we have changed the name to the requested Katrin Herolds.
This name combines a Scandinavian (Swedish) given name and a German byname, an acceptable lingual mix under Appendix C.
Nice device!
Nice 16th century Spanish name!
Submitted as Pembrook_ Craven, the submitter requested the given name be spelled Pembrooke if it could be documented. Lillia Crampette provided evidence to support the requested spelling change. Therefore, we have changed the name to Pembrooke Craven.
Nice late 16th century English name!
Nice 16th century Scots name!
(to Ansteorra acceptances) (to Ansteorra returns)
Originally submitted as Cheung Mei Wun, it was changed at Kingdom to Cheung Mei Wan to match their best understanding of the documentation. However, the submitter did not approve this change and only wants the name registered as originally submitted.
Fortunately, in commentary, Maral of Dragon's Mist showed that Cheung Mei Wun is a registrable form of the documented family name and a constructed Tang dynasty given name, using the Yale romanization system. As the Yale system is a commonly-used scholarly system for transliterating Mandarin Chinese, we will register names using this system.
Submitted as Serafima Drag'eva, commentary note that Dragieva or Dragyeva are equally valid transliterations of the same underlying Russian name. The submitter indicated that she prefers the spelling Dragieva. Therefore, we have made this change.
Nice mid-14th century English name!
Artist's note: Use fewer, larger ermine spots to improve identifiability.
(to Artemisia acceptances) (to Artemisia returns)
Appearing on the Letter of Intent as Jenny of Frehope, the given name appears to be a typo because the form and the documentation both state that the given name is intended to be Jenna.
Jenna is the submitter's legal given name. However, the submitter does not need to rely on the Legal Name Allowance because Jenna is also an attested 16th century English given name.
The submitter requested authenticity for the 11th century. This name does not meet the submitter's request because Jenna cannot be found in English earlier than the 16th century and the spelling Frehope cannot be found before the 13th century.
A pasternoster is a closed string of beads with a small cross or tassel pendant at the bottom used for prayer or meditation. The artifact is named after the Latin name for the Lords Prayer (Our Father). As noted in the Pictorial Dictionary of Heraldry, a paternoster is a period heraldic charge. (https://mistholme.com/dictionary/paternoster-rosary/) Paternoster is also an English surname associated with people who make paternosters. Therefore, this heraldic title follows at least two attested patterns for creating such titles.
Some commenters found a heraldic title based on explicit religious reference to be offensive. Notably, this complaint has never been made in connection with the registration of paternosters as a charge. A nearly equal number of commenters did not find the name offensive.
NPN5B2 of SENA states:
Names which include religious terms used in a way that mock the beliefs of others will not be registered. This includes both incongruous combinations and combinations that are excessively religious and may be offensive to believers and non-believers alike. Most religious terminology is not offensive. Names with non-offensive religious terminology may be registered.
As SENA clearly states, "[m]ost religious terminology is not offensive." This particular name does not cross the line into offensiveness. The title Paternoster Herald does not mock the beliefs of others. Paternoster was not only a religious artifact, it was an inherited surname that was common in period and persisted post-period as well. Thus, the term cannot be considered "excessively religious." Although we appreciate the concerns raised about this name, it can be registered.
(to Atenveldt acceptances) (to Atenveldt returns)
Nice 16th century Russian name!
The submitter is a knight, and entitled to display an orle of chain.
Artist's note: Reduce the tower's size slightly, to avoid obscuring the indenting of the line of division.
Nice 9th-10th century Old Norse name from Iceland!
Submitted as Fróði Þórmundsson, the byname was not correctly formed. The genitive (possessive) form of Old Norse names ending in -undr ends in -ar. Therefore, the correct spelling of the byname is Fróði Þórmundarson. As the submitter allows all changes, we have made this correction for registration.
The submitter is a knight and thus entitled to display an orle of chain.
The submitter may be interested to know that Hoshikawa no Takakage is a more authentic form of the same name. If they prefer this form, they may make a request for reconsideration.
Nice device!
Nice cant!
Lleucu appears in multiple period sources, including the Black Book of St. Davids (1326) and 14th c. Criccieth court records. Therefore, it is a registerable spelling despite also being a modern Welsh name.
Llygoden is a Welsh word meaning "mouse," found in the White Book of Rhydderch and the Red Book of Hergest, both via Welsh Prose 1300-1425 (http://www.rhyddiaithganoloesol.caerdydd.ac.uk/en/). In commentary, Lillia Crampette found multiple examples of period Welsh bynames derived from animals, including Pysgod (fish), Penbwl ("river fish bullhead" or tadpole), and Caddno (fox). This evidence is enough to give the submitter the benefit of the doubt that a byname meaning "mouse" is plausible.
This name combines a Gaelic given name with a Scots or English surname, an acceptable lingual mix under Appendix C.
Nice 14th-15th century English name!
Nice 15th century English name!
There is a DC between a saltire and a saltire nowy: "There is one CD between a cross throughout and a cross nowy." [Elizabeth de Foxle, LoAR of July 2003] This device therefore does not conflict with Scotland, Azure, a saltire argent, with DCs for the saltire nowy as well as the addition of the tertiary group.
There is a step from period practice for the use of a saltire nowy. See this month's Cover Letter for further discussion.
(to Avacal acceptances) (to Avacal returns)
Blazoned when registered in January 1983 as Or, a narwhal haurient purpure, the narwhal is more bendwise than palewise.
Nice English name from the 15th century onwards!
(to Caid acceptances) (to Caid returns) (to Caid pends)
For purposes of conflict, the butterfly is azure.
Nice late 16th century German name!
Submitted as Lyra of _ Spinning Winds, the byname violated PN1B2f. When branch names are used to create bynames in English, they must be used in the form in which they are registered. Thus, PN1B2f states: "This rule does not allow the byname of the East Ridge based on the registered Shire of East Ridge because the registered substantive element of the branch name is East Ridge not the East Ridge." The opposite is also true. The Shire name is Shire of the Spinning Winds, and thus the correct byname under PN1B2f is of the Spinning Winds. We have made this change for registration.
Nice device!
Nice 16th century Italian name!
Orren is the submitter's legal given name.
The submitter may be interested to know that Øren is an attested 15th century Swedish given name, which means that Øren Tokesson is authentic for late 15th century Sweden. If the submitter prefers this form, he may make a request for reconsideration.
Messe is a Middle English word meaning a "dwelling house with the adjacent outbuildings and grounds." It can be used as a designator for any English household name in which we would use the designator House, including inn-sign household names based on heraldic charges or household names based on surnames. Therefore, whether Skwirel is treated as a heraldic charge (a squirrel) or a surname, this name can be registered.
Nice 13th-14th century English household name!
Originally submitted as Tali Essen, this name was returned on the February 2019 Letter of Acceptances and Returns because it presumed on the famous Welsh poet Taliesin, being pronounced identically. In that return, we stated:
When considering resubmission, the submitter should be aware that the addition of another byname not related to the Welsh poet Taliesin, such as of Calontir (for example), would likely solve the problem of presumption.
The submitter has chosen to add the locative byname of the Isles, relying on the Branch Name Allowance and the registered Barony of the Isles.
Some commenters questioned whether this name continued to presume on the poet Taliesin because of his strong association with the British Isles. However, at no point in history or literature is the poet known as "Taliesin of the Isles." PN4D of SENA states:
For individuals important enough to protect, we protect all forms in which their name was known, including in other languages, but not hypothetical forms. We only protect names that are used either today or in the time when they were alive to refer to these protected persons.
For example, we protect Christopher Columbus, Cristobal Colon, Christophorus Columbus, etc. as these were known forms of the name of the famous explorer. However, while Carlos V of Spain was also the count of Barcelona, we do not protect him as Carlos of Barcelona, as his name was not recorded or referenced in this form.
Likewise, as the poet Taliesin was never known as Taliesin of the Isles, we do not protect that formulation. The submitter name certainly alludes to the poet, but it is not presumptuous.
There is a step from period practice for the use of a triskelion of spirals.
(to Calontir acceptances) (to Calontir returns)
Commenters raised the question whether or not this submission claimed a relationship with Boncueur, registered in January 1973. It does not. See this month's Cover Letter for more information.
Nice 15th century French name!
The submitter's previous name, Agnes des Illes, is retained as an alternate name.
Uninkankare is the registered name of an SCA branch, but the submitter need not rely on the Branch Name Allowance as Pietari Töllöö has documented this spelling as a plausible name meaning "Unni's Hill".
Nice device!
The spelling Vogelfreie is Lingua Societatis for the period German form Vogelfrey. If the submitter prefers the period spelling, he may make a request for reconsideration.
(to Drachenwald acceptances) (to Drachenwald returns)
While the general motif of plants issuant from the line of division in this manner is well-established in a variety of German sources, this particular badge is well-attested in Virgil Raber's Wappenbuch der Arlberg-Bruderschaft, dated 1548, (http://bilderserver.at/wappenbuecher/VirgilRaberEXAv2_52z2/), which shows this same badge on p590, substituting oak leaves for maple.
Nice badge!
The submitter has permission to conflict with the device of Wilhelm Grün, Per pale gules and vert, a lion-dragon Or.
Nice badge!
(to Ealdormere acceptances) (to Ealdormere returns)
Artist's note: Use fewer and large ermine spots to improve identifiability.
Commenters raised the concern that this name might presume against the American horror and science fiction director John Carpenter. The standard set forth in SENA PN4D1 is very high. As neither a sovereign ruler of a significant state nor possessing his own entry in Encyclopedia Brittanica, we must evaluate the other criteria of the rule. After significant consideration and discussion with heralds and non-heralds alike, we cannot in good conscience consider that "a significant number of people in the Society" would immediately think of the film director when hearing this name at a SCA event. Therefore, John Carpenter is not important enough to protect from presumption, and this name may be registered as submitted.
Blazoned when registered in August 1979 as Argent, a strawberry flower slipped of four fruit in cross and four leaves in saltire proper. [Fragilia virginiana], the leaves are the most prominent part of this design.
Artist's note: Please increase the size of the lily to improve its identifiability.
Nice Roman name from 400 BC to 200 AD!
We are overturning precedent dating to the December 1984 registration of the badge of Manfred von Halsstern, Argent, a Gorgon's head cabossed sable, langued and orbed, within a pair of bull's horns gules where it was stated, "Cabossed is a perfectly reasonable default for a Gorgon's head it is the obvious and most recognizable aspect - but given the proliferation of ad hoc defaults in SCA heraldry, it is probably better to err on the side of explicitness." We explicitly define cabossed as the default orientation of a gorgon's head, and no longer choose to explicitly blazon it.
Archives show that the few registered instances whose postures are not explicitly blazoned are in fact cabossed. No reblazons will be needed.
Blazoned when registered in August 1986 as Counter-ermine, on a roundel engrailed gules surmounted by four spear-points set saltirewise, points to fess point, a torque Or, we are clarifying the orientation of the torque, with its opening to chief, and simplifying the blazon of the spear-heads.
(to East acceptances) (to East returns) (to East pends)
(to Laurel acceptances) (to Laurel returns)
Nice 16th century Manx name!
Armory using piles must be considered for conflict as if they were fields per chevron. This device therefore must be considered against the device of Arinbjorn Talverri, Or, a narwhal haurient purpure, which would grant one DC for the field, but nothing for haurient vs urinant (see SENA Appendix L). On viewing Arinbjorn in the archives, we have determined that it is more appropriately blazoned Or, a narwhal haurient bendwise purpure, and is not a conflict. There is a DC for tincture of the field and a DC for orientation of the fish. Arinbjorn's device has been reblazoned elsewhere on this letter.
The given name was submitted as Ástriðr, but was documented as Ástríðr. Names must consistently use accents throughout. As the submitter requested authenticity for Viking-era, we have changed the given name to the documented form. If the submitter wishes the form Astriðr instead, she may make a request for reconsideration.
As modified, the name meets the authenticity request.
This badge is not in conflict with the device of Violante de Luna, Azure, three crescents inverted argent. There is an SC for the change in arrangement between crescents two and one and crescents in fess.
Nice device!
Nice name for 14th century Norway!
Artist's note: Please use fewer, larger ermine spots, to improve identifiability.
Nice name for 16th century Portugal!
The submitter's previous name, Elisabetta Foscari, is retained as an alternate name.
The submitter grants permission to conflict for any armory that is not identical to this registered device.
This byname was submitted as De Lille and changed at Kingdom to de Lille. Precedent states, "However, late period French and Dutch records both were highly variable in their capitalization of prepositions. Therefore, a late period D'Amour is plausible. If the submitter prefers d'Amour, she may make a request for reconsideration." [Nov. 2018, Lisette D'Amour] Therefore, we have restored the byname to the submitted De Lille. If the submitter prefers the form de Lille she may make a request for reconsideration.
This name combines a Scots given name with a French byname, an acceptable lingual mix in SENA Appendix C.
(to Lochac acceptances) (to Lochac returns) (to Lochac pends)
Blazoned when registered in December 1983 as Vert, a cross fleury throughout between in bend a lymphad, sails furled, and a torque Or, we are clarifying the orientation of the torque, with its opening to chief.
(to Meridies acceptances) (to Meridies returns)
This name was originally submitted as Æthelstan atte hw{i-}t_ {ae-}{.c}. This form combines the Anglo-Saxon name Æthelstan and descriptor hw{i-}t {ae-}{.c} with Middle English atte. The submitter, however, requested authenticity for 11-12th century Anglo-Saxon. Commentary revealed that in Anglo-Saxon, the grammar of the color descriptor hw{i-}t needed to be changed as well as modifying Middle English atte to Anglo-Saxon æt. Therefore, at the submitter's request we have changed this name to Æþelstan æt hwitre æc. We wish to thank Brían dorcha ua Conaill for his work on this submission.
As modified, this name satisfies the authenticity request.
Nice cant!
The submitter requested authenticity for the Joseon Dynasty in Korea as well as the Ming Dynasty in China. The submitter provided two Korean hanja and two Chinese hanzi as documentation. On this point, the submitter's name is authentic for both dynasties.
However, SENA PN.2.D. requires that a "single orthographic system" be used to register names that would not originally be rendered in a Latin script. For Oriental languages, these are outlined in SENA Appendix D. We wish to thank Herveus Gnome and Maral of Dragon's Mist for their extensive work with Chinese and Korean Romanization systems to provide the following ways this name would be written using a single orthographic system for the Korean hanja and Chinese hanzi: Choe Min (Korean Revised Romanization), Choy Min (Korean and Chinese Yale), Tshoi Min (North Korean 1957), Choi Men (Macau Cantonese)
The Romanization Choi Min is derived from the Macau Cantonese Romanization of one of the submitter's hanzi and one different hanzi. As such, this Romanization is registerable as submitted. If the submitter wishes any of the other Romanizations of this name, he may submit a request for reconsideration.
The submitter's previous device, Per chevron azure and vert, in chief six threaded needles inverted in chevron argent, is retained as a badge.
This name was originally submitted as Eiliswintha Von Buchwald. The sole documentation provided for this given name was a genealogy volume that provided no dates for the preferred spelling before 1650; the names in it were standardized. Fortunately, heralds at the Pelican meeting were able to document Eliswinda to 1015. Ælfwynn Leoflæde dohtor was able to provide evidence of a terminal d/t or da/ta switch and also a beginning E/Ei switch in German names. Finally, the preposition von was not capitalized at any point before 1650. We have therefore changed this name to Eiliswinta von Buchwald in order to register it, as it is the smallest change possible and the submitter allowed minor changes.
The submitter's previous name, Liang Jiasi, is released.
The submitter has permission to conflict with the device of William of Hoghton, Per bend sinister sable and Or, in bend two towers palewise counterchanged.
The submitter requested authenticity for 11th-13th century Japanese. While it is possible that the names overlapped in the 12th century, we do not have evidence of that at this time.
A question was raised about the chief bearing the protected flag of Japan, Argent, a torteau. There is no issue of presumption in doing so:
A chief is not generally considered an independent display of armory, and so it needn't be considered as such. This is an excellent example of a chief of allegiance, which is typically not considered presumptuous in SCA armory. [Duncan Bruce of Logan, 03/2012, A-Calontir]
Donnershafen is the registered name of an SCA branch.
There is a step from period practice for using a modern, trapezoidal strawberry.
Strawberries appearing in period armory consistently show an ovoid or egg-shaped berry. For examples, see Stammbuch Hans Albrecht Schad (1594-1620), https://rds-tue.ibs-bw.de/opac/RDSIndexrecord/662160371, f. 100r; Sammlung von Wappen aus verschiedenen, besonders deutschen Ländern, c. 1600 German (BSB Cod.icon. 307), p. 383 https://daten.digitale-sammlungen.de/~db/0002/bsb00020245/images/index.html?id=00020245&nativeno=383; and Traité de blasons, 16th C French (Arras, Bibliothèque municipale, 0265 (0390)), f. 40r https://bvmm.irht.cnrs.fr/mirador/index.php?manifest=https://bvmm.irht.cnrs.fr/iiif/24491/manifest.
The submitter requested authenticity for the Nara period in Japan, which occurred from AD 710-784. This name meets this request, as heralds at the Pelican meeting were able to document members of the Izumo clan during this period.
The submitter's previous name, Ukhagatai Ebegei, is retained as an alternate name.
The submitter requested authenticity for 16th century Russian. While the pattern meets this request, we cannot be certain that all of the individual elements would have been used during this time.
This byname was submitted as Von Lübeck. However, the preposition von is not capitalized in German bynames. Therefore, we have changed the byname to von Lübeck for registration.
Commenters raised the potential of a conflict with Olrik van Lubbeke. They are clear by SENA PN.3.C.1. In the given name there are two changes. The initial vowel sound has changed from Ol- to Ul- and the ending sound has changed from a hard -k to a soft -ch. In addition, the vowel in the preposition has changed from a to o.
The submitter requested authenticity for 15th century German. As modified, this name meets this request.
Commenters were able to find evidence of the Erie people and Lake Erie in period French documents. If the submitter wishes either Zenobia du Lac Erié or Zenobia de le Lac Erié, she may make a request for reconsideration.
(to Middle acceptances) (to Middle returns)
The submitter has permission to conflict with the device of Siegfried von Kulmbach, Sable, a bend sinister raguly Or, overall a catamount rampant contourny argent.
The default tinctures of a centaur proper and therefore a sagittary proper were defined on the March 2018 Cover Letter.
Nice badge!
(to Northshield acceptances) (to Northshield returns)
Submitted as Críostóir _ Mulryan, the submitter requested authenticity for 15th to 16th century Ireland. As submitted, this name is not authentic as it combines Gaelic Críostóir with Anglicized Irish Mulryan. Further, the byname is an Anglicization of Gaelic Ó Maoilrighain and retains the clan affiliation marker O. The submitter was presented two authentic options: fully Gaelic, Críostóir Ó Maoilrighain, or fully Anglicized Irish, Christopher O Mulryan. At the preference of the submitter, we have changed this name to the fully Anglicized Irish version Christopher O Mulryan for registration.
The submitter's previous device, Per chevron raguly gules and Or, two bezants each charged with a closed book palewise reversed sable, and a tower gules, is retained as a badge.
The submitter indicated interest in a Scottish Gaelic name. As submitted, this name is Scots and not Scottish Gaelic. The Scottish Gaelic form would be Séamas Mac an Ghobhann. If the submitter prefers that form, he may make a request for reconsideration.
The submitter's previous device, Argent, in fess a mouse sejant erect contourny sable playing on a harp reversed proper, is retained as a badge.
Specifying the type of breed of a dog beyond that which is normally found in heraldry (e.g. talbot or greyhound) is a step from period practice.
(to West acceptances) (to West returns) (to West pends)
- Explicit littera accipiendorum -
None.
(to Æthelmearc acceptances) (to Æthelmearc returns) (to Æthelmearc pends)
This name submission was withdrawn by Kingdom as it was already registered to the same person in November 2017.
(to An Tir acceptances) (to An Tir returns) (to An Tir pends)
This badge is returned for charging a medium of heraldic display in a fieldless badge. Per March 1993 precedent, "In this case, the triangle inverted must be considered such a medium, comparable to the escutcheon, lozenge, or roundel. It may be considered either an early-style shield (Neubecker's Heraldry: Sources, Symbols and Meanings, p.76), or a lance-pennon." Neubecker documents shields shaped both as equilateral triangles (1190) and tall isosceles triangles (13th century).
Considering this a display, on a triangular medium, of Argent, in pale three pellets, this also conflicts with the device of Gunnar Sigurdsson, Argent, in pale three golpes. There is a single DC, for the tincture of the charges.
This armory is returned because the butterfly is barely overall. If the butterfly were truly overall, it would almost completely cover the horseshoe making it unidentifiable. Any other modification to the design to avoid these issues would change the overall design beyond recognition. Given this, we prefer to return the submission rather than pend it for redrawing so that the submitter can play a more substantial role in the necessary redesign.
(to Ansteorra acceptances) (to Ansteorra returns)
None.
(to Artemisia acceptances) (to Artemisia returns)
None.
(to Atenveldt acceptances) (to Atenveldt returns)
This armory is returned for lack of contrast of the bull's horns.
While the July 2010 Cover Letter, in "From Wreath: Detailing and Identifiability", discussed period practice around zero-contrast identifying features and ultimately overturned prior precedent disallowing such, it was further clarified that "As long as the charge maintains its identifiability, minor details, even minor details which are identifying characteristics, may have no contrast with the underlying tinctures." It is worth noting that the evidence discussed included ram's horns with zero contrast against the field; but the horns were accompanied not just by the ram's head, but by the rest of its body as well.
Commenters were in wide agreement that the horns on a bull's head cabossed are not minor details and, thus, returnable for the lack of contrast.
(to Avacal acceptances) (to Avacal returns)
This item was withdrawn by the submitter.
(to Caid acceptances) (to Caid returns) (to Caid pends)
None.
(to Calontir acceptances) (to Calontir returns)
This armory is returned for conflict with the device of Michael Colquhoun (April 2000, Middle), Sable, a winged sword inverted wings elevated argent, with 1 DC for field tincture.
It is also returned for conflict with the device of Everard de l'Est (August 2014, East), Vert, a sword inverted winged argent and an orle ermine, with 1 DC for removing the orle.
While a winged charge is considered a single charge, by longstanding precedent we do not grant difference for conjoined vs not conjoined.
(to Drachenwald acceptances) (to Drachenwald returns)
None.
(to Ealdormere acceptances) (to Ealdormere returns)
This armory conflicts with the device of Bianca Rosamund, Azure, eight petals in annulo, bases to center, within a bordure argent. There is a DC for changing the bordure to a cornice, but per existing precedent no DC between petals in annulo and a blossom affronty.
(to East acceptances) (to East returns) (to East pends)
None.
(to Laurel acceptances) (to Laurel returns)
None.
(to Lochac acceptances) (to Lochac returns) (to Lochac pends)
None.
(to Meridies acceptances) (to Meridies returns)
None.
(to Middle acceptances) (to Middle returns)
None.
(to Northshield acceptances) (to Northshield returns)
None.
(to West acceptances) (to West returns) (to West pends)
- Explicit littera renuntiationum -
This armory is pended for redraw to address the depiction of the morning glory vine. During commentary it was noted that it was much more flower than vine. As such the varied orientation of the flowers presented style issues. Wreath staff has redrawn the artwork and sent it to the submitter for consideration.
This was item 5 on the AEthelmearc letter of May 31, 2020.
(to Æthelmearc acceptances) (to Æthelmearc returns) (to Æthelmearc pends)
This armory is pended to discuss whether we should protect the banner of the Ayyubid dynasty, Or.
This armory does not presume on the badge of Reis ap Tudor ap Wyn, (Fieldless) An escutcheon Or. Holding a charge is not the same as displaying an identical badge. If we were to consider this as presumption, then we would need to consider every held charge for presumption.
However, SENA A6 requires a charge that is itself a form of armorial display to be considered for presumption. For example, while armory containing an escutcheon does not presume upon the escutcheon itself, armory containing an escutcheon vert presumes on the flag of Libya, Vert. By the same reasoning, if the Ayyubid banner is protected then this badge would presume on it.
As noted in the barony's prior return of Or, in fess a bear rampant contourny barry wavy argent and azure sustaining an escutcheon, a bordure nebuly vert. [R-Dec 2019]:
This badge is returned for conflict with the flag of Libya, Vert. As per the Admin handbook A.III.B.2 Armory of Significant Geographical Locations Outside the Society - All national arms and national flags are considered sufficiently significant to protect. This is a historical flag for the nation of Libya and thus still important enough to protect. In October 2015, we declined to release this historical flag when Libya's new flag was protected, stating that, "Because we have no objective criteria to determine which post-period flags are 'historically important' enough to protect, we will not release this flag."
In the April 2002 registration of the badge of S{o,}lveig Þrándardóttir, (Fieldless) A lozenge Or, it was ruled: "We do not register fieldless badges which appear to be independent forms of armorial display. Charges such as lozenges, billets, and roundels are all both standard heraldic charges and "shield shapes" for armorial display. The SCA has never protected armory consisting of plain tinctures, except for two examples that are particularly famous: the (important non-SCA) arms of Brittany, Ermine, and the (important non-SCA) flag of Libya, Vert [Emphasis added].
In the July 2018 return of the device of Muirghen MacQuharrie, it was ruled:
Libya's protections are dismissed when they appear as part of a potential quartering, where Brittany is protected. And uncharged sails of a single tincture have long been held not to be a display of armory in and of themselves, with Libya specifically cited in the January 2014 registration of Morgan Grey Beard's device, Argent, a sail vert fastened to its mast and hanging from its yardarm sable.
However, banners and pennons are still considered means of heraldic display. And given that the banners hanging above the sails are rectangular and wider than they are tall, they appear to be modernly shaped flags. In other words, the galleon is literally flying the flag of Libya. If any protection for this design is to be afforded at all, it must surely be in the form in which it was actually used, as a modern national flag.
This was item 1 on the An Tir letter of May 10, 2020.
(to An Tir acceptances) (to An Tir returns) (to An Tir pends)
On the day before commentary closed, it was suggested that this name might be an offensive reference to Rafael Trujillo, known as "El Jefe," dictator of the Dominican Republic from 1930 until 1961. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafael_Trujillo) As there was no opportunity for wider commentary and research on the issues raised by this suggestion, we are pending the name. We ask commenters to consider the historical prominence and/or infamy of Rafael Trujillo and whether this household name will inevitably be read as reference to that historic figure.
This was item 2 on the Caid letter of May 29, 2020.
(to Caid acceptances) (to Caid returns) (to Caid pends)
This armory is pended for redraw to improve the identifiability of the jambe as that of a wolf. A number of commenters had trouble identifying it: an eagle's jambe was mentioned several times.
There is a step from period practice for the use of lightning bolts outside of the context of a thunderbolt.
This was item 8 on the East letter of May 31, 2020.
(to East acceptances) (to East returns) (to East pends)
This armory is pended to discuss its conflict under the current standards with the device of Catriona Roche, Per pale sable and azure, a stag's head affronty erased and in chief three increscents argent, and the question of whether we should change SENA A5C2d to treat the center of three secondary charges in line as half the charge group, as we do for tertiaries on central ordinaries or chiefs.
The submitter's previous device, Azure, a stag's head cabossed between three decrescents argent, will be retained as a badge.
This was item 3 on the Lochac letter of May 31, 2020.
(to Lochac acceptances) (to Lochac returns) (to Lochac pends)
This armory is pended for redraw to address the identifiability of the ermine spots. At the size submitted, they were unidentifiable. Conversely, the anvil can be reduced to a size more suitable to a secondary charge.
It is a step from period practice to have a central charge on a gyronny arrondi field drawn with the corners of the field in the center of a gyron.
This was item 3 on the West letter of May 30, 2020.
This armory is pended for redraw. As submitted, the pale is too wide, leaving the polypus barely overall. Additionally, a mullety polypus should have mullets over more than just its head.
This was item 9 on the West letter of May 30, 2020.
(to West acceptances) (to West returns) (to West pends)
- Explicit -
Created at 2020-10-12T20:33:14