Society for Creative Anachronism
College of Arms
For the March 2022 meetings, printed May 5, 2022
To all the College of Arms and all others who may read this missive, from Emma Laurel, Elisabetta Pelican, and Oddr Wreath, greetings.
It's that time again! (Actually, past that time!) For those considering bidding on the 2023 Known World Heraldic and Scribal Symposium, the deadline to have your bid entered into OSCAR is July 1, 2022. This deadline may be extended as needed, given the short timeframe and the ongoing uncertainty due to COVID-19, but we would prefer to be able to announce the bid's award within a few months. Ideally, we'll be able to announce it at the 2022 KWHSS held virtually via the Kingdom of Ansteorra, on July 22-24, at the Road Show. While the past several years have been virtual events due to the pandemic, hope springs eternal that we will be able to hold an in-person event.
Please remember that bids posted to OSCAR are publicly readable. Because of this, any personal information, such as legal names, addresses, phone numbers, and email, should not be included in these bids without signed written permission; any identifying information that the Sovereigns might need should be included as a Sovereign Note or marked as "private" in the packet docs. Additional information, such as answers to questions in commentary, as is necessary for the entire College of Arms to see should be posted as a comment after the bid is finalized.
Please send a copy of the full unredacted bid to Laurel at [email protected].
As a reminder, there is a KWHSS domain and web hosting space available on the SCA's servers. Please do not register a new domain.
There is some information available at https://heraldry.sca.org/kwhss/, but it is woefully out of date (and being worked on). Please contact Laurel if you have any questions.
This month we were asked to extend AH III.B protection to several non-SCA flags important to the aboriginal peoples of Australia and New Zealand. For reference, AH III.B.2 states:
2. Armory of Significant Geographical Locations Outside the Society - All national arms are considered sufficiently significant to protect. Flags that consist solely of one of the standard heraldic tinctures (argent, azure, gules, Or, purpure, sable, and vert) will not be protected; however, all other national flags are considered sufficiently significant to protect. The historical or modern armory of other geographic locations may be protected on a case-by-case basis. Armory is likely to be considered important enough to protect if the location is associated with important administrative, social, political, or military events and the arms themselves are important or well-known. Armory so protected will be listed in the Society Armorial and Ordinary when it is brought to Laurel's attention, but it is protected prior to that addition.
However, no attempt (wisely) is made in the AH to define what a "national flag" entails, beyond a flag for a "significant geographical location". Moreover, the proposed flags are of groups that have been largely subsumed politically so it is difficult to determine whether other sections of AH III.B may apply. However, commenters were unanimous in considering these flags important enough to protect.
Without establishing a so-called "bright line" standard -- one which cleanly delineates what is and what is not sufficiently important to protect -- we will nevertheless attempt to provide some guidance regarding a set of items which are probably important enough, independent of our own biases as people of varying interests and awareness.
The following guidance does not apply to branches or offices of government, such as the flags of a nation's armed forces or head of state, nor in general the flags of sub-national regions such as states or provinces. It also does not apply to flags lacking present-day importance.
In general, the current flags of UN member nations and permanent observers will be considered important enough to protect. This is already covered by the existing language in AH III.B. The United Nations plays the role, in this case, of a broadly-recognized, international organization to act as an anchor point. Other similar anchor points may exist.
In addition, flags of entities recognized by member nations of the UN as having present-day importance will in general meet the standards of AH III.B. This is partially covered by existing language and recognizes that while the UN acts as an anchor, it is not in itself the authority we rely on for establishing important flags. That role belongs to the various individual nations and entities scattered throughout the world. In the proposals considered this month, evidence was provided by Lochac that the governments of Australia and New Zealand enshrine their ongoing, present-day importance in law, ceremony, and other recognition.
Further, such flags need not be in the jurisdiction of the member nation in question, and may include the flags of disputed or breakaway territories, or those of indigenous, nomadic, or scattered peoples. We recognize that the legitimacy of international recognition is not predicated on the unanimity of recognition, nor on intranational recognition, particularly where local or international biases come into play.
SENA PN4B1 states that "Given names that are identical to titles and forms of address may be registered in contexts that make it clear that they are given names and not titles." However, the examples used in this section are all titles that we protect. We are adding the examples below to include forms of address. The new examples:
For example, a given name like Brother may be registered in a name like John Brother, Brother the Fisherman, or Brother of England as in these cases Brother does not appear to be a form of address. However, Brother John or Brother Fisher would not be registerable as Brother appears to be a form of address. Similarly, Robert Friar and Anne the Widow are registrable but Friar Robert and Widow Anne are not as Friar and Widow appear to be forms of address.
The updates to the examples of approved household designators as proposed on the Palimpsest December 1st Rules Letter are accepted with several additions and changes. The updated appendix will be available at http://heraldry.sca.org/sena.html#AppendixE within the next several days.
We wish to remind people that the list does not include all designators registered or that are registrable. Remember that not all designators can be used with all models for naming households. Please refer to the relevant precedents for more detail on the contexts in which these designators can be used.
This month, a submitter proposed a Gaelic household name using the designator Dál. Although the name as a whole was not registerable because it did not follow a period pattern, we wish to make it clear that Dál is an appropriate designator for Gaelic household names. The attested pattern for such names is Dál + given name of a clan ancestor in its genitive (possessive) form. For example, the attested period group name Dál nEogain claims descent from someone named Eogan. We ask Palimpsest to update Appendix E to include Dál as a designator for a Gaelic household name.
Previous precedent held that there was no evidence for the pattern Haus + von + surname for household names in German. [Faelan mac Flainn, June 2016, R-Lochac]. However, in commentary this month, Ćlfyn ćt geate provided such evidence. Specifically, ey provided the following examples of household names from Socin:
domus de Bethlach in monte acus (13th century)
domus de Betwilr (1289)
domus de Echenhein (1289)
domus de Uetingen (1289)
das hus von Gutenburg hinder der kilchen ze Loffenberg (1283)
In Socin's data, de and von are interchangeable in town name locatives. These examples show houses or households named after surnames based on place names. Thus, hus von Gutenburg refers to a house that belonged to the von Gutenberg family. Accordingly, we reverse the previous precedent based on new data and will allow German household names to be registered in the form Hus/Haus + von + surname/place name. We thank Ćlfyn for eir tireless work on improving our knowledge of German naming patterns, and ask Palimpsest to update Appendix E to include this pattern for German household names.
This month we considered the submission Casa de Giglio di Firenze, which uses the pattern 'Casa de surname di placename'. Lillia Crampette provided several examples of this pattern after the close of commentary in late and grey period Italy from the following sources: Delle vite de' piu eccellenti pittori, scultori et architettori by Giorgio Vasari and published in 1568, Tatro de'santi e beati della cittŕ di Parma e suo territorio. by Rannucio Pico and published in 1642, and Le maraviglie dell'arte, overo le vite de gl'illustri Pittori Veneti, e dello stato by Carlo Ridolfi and published in 1648. We therefore rule that the Italian designator Casa may be used with the compound household construction 'surname di placename'. We thank Lillia for her research on this issue and ask Palimpsest to update Appendix E accordingly.
On March 5th, at the Loch Salann Defender Tournament in the Kingdom of Artemisia, Their Majesties Sean and Nisa did elevate Malkin Allardson, former Golden Wing Principal Herald, to the Order of the Laurel.
On April 2nd, at Clothiers' Seminar in the Kingdom of Calontir, Their Majesties Hirsch and Magdalena did induct Konstantia Kaloethina, Greek Fire Herald Extraordinary, into the Order of the Calon Lily for their work in the scribal arts. The Calon Lily is Calontir's grant-level award for arts.
On April 9, at Baroness War in the Barony of Wastekeep in the Kingdom of An Tir, Their Majesties Sven and Raoukinn recognized the heraldic and scribal work of Fina MacGregor, Black Lion Principal Herald, with a Forget-Me-Not (the Queen's favor), a Bountiful Hand (for contributions to largess) and a Sable Scrivener (for excellence in scribal work). All three of these awards are non-armigerous, but well-deserved.
Also at this event, Their Majesties Sven and Raoukinn inducted Malyss Makneille, Blue Inkhorn Herald, into the Order of the Goutte de Sang for continued exemplary service to heraldry, among other pursuits. The Goutte de Sang is An Tir's grant-level award for service.
On April 16, at Canterbury Fayre in the Principality of Tir Righ, Their Highnesses of Tir Righ Steinn and Gemma bestowed upon Elspeth Farre, Red Flame Herald, the Order of the Silver Pillar for, among other things, service to the Tir Righ College of Heralds. The Silver Pillar is a Principality-level non-armigerous award recognizing service.
On April 23, at Seagirt Champions in the Principality of Tir Righ, Their Majesties of An Tir Sven and Raoukinn inducted Vémundr Syvursson, Couronne Rouge Herald, into the Order of the Goutte de Sang for his efforts in the Tir Righ and An Tir College of Heralds as well as the SCA College of Arms.
Also on April 23 at this same event, Their Highnesses of Tir Righ Steinn and Gemma bestowed upon Anthony Hawke, Adderbolt Herald, the Order of the Silver Pillar for, among other things, heraldic service to the Principality of Tir Righ.
Please send information about happenings to major heralds and major happenings to all heralds to Laurel, so that it can be published here.
Letters of Intent, Comment, Response, Correction, et cetera are to be posted to the OSCAR online system. No paper copies need be sent. All submission forms plus documentation, including petitions, must be posted to the OSCAR online system. While black-and-white emblazons must be included in the Letter of Intent, only colored armory forms need to be posted in the forms area.
Cheques or money orders for submissions, payable to "SCA Inc.-College of Arms" are to be sent to Trent Le Clair, 928 Frazier Dr, Walla Walla WA 99362
Send roster changes and corrections to Laurel. College of Arms members may also request a copy of the current roster from Laurel.
For a paper copy of a LoAR, please contact Laurel, at the address above. The cost for one LoAR is $3. Please make all checks or money orders payable to "SCA Inc.-College of Arms". The electronic copy of the LoAR is available free of charge. To subscribe to the mailings of the electronic copy, please see the bottom of http://heraldry.sca.org/heraldry/lists.html#lists for more instructions.
For all administrative matters, please contact Laurel.
Items listed below in square brackets have not been scheduled yet. For information about future scheduling, please review the status table located on the Web at http://oscar.sca.org/index.php?action=137.
The March Laurel decisions were made at the Pelican meeting held on Sunday, March 6, 2022 and the Wreath meeting held on Friday, March 5, 2022. These meetings considered the following letters of intent: Palimpsest Rules Letter (01 Dec, 2021), Meridies (02 Dec, 2021), Trimaris (07 Dec, 2021), Calontir (09 Dec, 2021), An Tir (10 Dec, 2021), Lochac LoItP (10 Dec, 2021), Artemisia (14 Dec, 2021), Laurel LoPaD (15 Dec, 2021), Atlantia (16 Dec, 2021), Caid (19 Dec, 2021), Ćthelmearc (21 Dec, 2021), Ealdormere (24 Dec, 2021), Middle (24 Dec, 2021), Lochac (27 Dec, 2021), East (28 Dec, 2021), Ansteorra (30 Dec, 2021), Atenveldt (30 Dec, 2021), Avacal (31 Dec, 2021), Drachenwald (31 Dec, 2021), Northshield (31 Dec, 2021), Laurel LoPaD (08 Feb, 2022) (redraws). All commentary, responses, and rebuttals should have been entered into OSCAR by Monday, February 28, 2022.
The April Laurel decisions were made at the Pelican meeting held on Sunday, April 10, 2022 and the Wreath meeting held on Friday, April 2, 2022. These meetings considered the following letters of intent: Gleann Abhann (03 Jan, 2022), Gleann Abhann (08 Jan, 2022), Calontir (09 Jan, 2022), Laurel LoPaD (09 Jan, 2022), An Tir (12 Jan, 2022), An Tir (13 Jan, 2022), West (14 Jan, 2022), Artemisia (15 Jan, 2022), Meridies (17 Jan, 2022), East (18 Jan, 2022), Ealdormere (24 Jan, 2022), Lochac (24 Jan, 2022), Middle (25 Jan, 2022), Outlands (29 Jan, 2022), Ćthelmearc (31 Jan, 2022), Atenveldt (31 Jan, 2022), Avacal (31 Jan, 2022), Caid (31 Jan, 2022), Drachenwald (31 Jan, 2022), Laurel LoPaD (14 Mar, 2022) (redraws). All commentary, responses, and rebuttals should have been entered into OSCAR by Thursday, March 31, 2022.
The May Laurel decisions will be made at the Pelican meeting held on Sunday, May 15, 2022 and the Wreath meeting held on Saturday, May 7, 2022. These meetings will consider the following letters of intent: Ansteorra (05 Feb, 2022), Calontir (05 Feb, 2022), Laurel LoPaD (09 Feb, 2022), An Tir (11 Feb, 2022), Outlands (15 Feb, 2022), Laurel (19 Feb, 2022), Palimpsest Rules Letter (20 Feb, 2022), Palimpsest Rules Letter (21 Feb, 2022), Palimpsest Rules Letter (22 Feb, 2022), Ealdormere (24 Feb, 2022), East (24 Feb, 2022), Lochac (24 Feb, 2022), Atlantia (26 Feb, 2022), Atenveldt (27 Feb, 2022), Avacal (28 Feb, 2022), Caid (28 Feb, 2022), Drachenwald (28 Feb, 2022), Middle (28 Feb, 2022), Northshield (28 Feb, 2022). All commentary, responses, and rebuttals should have been entered into OSCAR by Saturday, April 30, 2022.
Not all letters of intent may be considered when they are originally scheduled on this cover letter. The date of posting of the LoI, date of receipt of the Laurel packet, or other factors may delay consideration of certain letters of intent. Additionally, some letters of intent received may not have been scheduled because the administrative requirements (receipt of the forms packet, receipt of the necessary fees, et cetera) have not yet been met.
REMINDER: Until all administrative requirements are met, the letter may not be scheduled.
Pray know that I remain,
In service,
Emma de Fetherstan
Laurel Queen of Arms
Created at 2022-05-05T22:43:56