The submitter's previous name, Chen Yifang, is released.
This device was returned on the March 2021 LoAR: "This device was pended for redraw in December 2020 to increase the size of the secondary charges. While Quarterstaff offered new artwork, no definitive acceptance was ultimately received and we therefore return the submission for further work."
The submitter has now approved the redraw suggested by Quarterstaff.
The element the Debatable Lands is the registered name of an SCA branch.
The submitter has permission to conflict with the device of Sara al-Garnatiyya, Azure, flaunches ermine.
Nice device!
Nice mid-16th century French name!
Nice 2nd-3rd century CE Roman name!
Nice 9th-11th century Old Norse name from Iceland!
Nice device!
In the August 2020 acceptance of the device of Cedric Helmbreker, Gyronny sable and gules, a roundel and a bordure argent, we wrote:
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.
The submitter included the Insignia Anglica examples identified in the Cedric Helmbreaker acceptance. Their device is of similar complexity, attempting to extend the pattern used in Cedric's device from a single primary charge to a pair of dissimilar co-primary charges, retaining the field, bordure, and the tinctures of all the elements in the design.
To accommodate the dissimilar co-primaries, they offer from Insignia Anglica p.91, Per fess argent and sable, a greyhound passant and an owl, a bordure engrailed counterchanged. Additionally Iago Boar offers the arms of Otterbourne, Gules, a dunghill cock perched upon an escallop Or, as depicted in Armorial Manuscript, c. 1580 English (University of Victoria Library, Ms.Brown.Eng.2), p. 191.
With these additional examples, we are satisfied that the IAP used for Cedric Helmbreaker has been extended to allow registration of this device.
(to Æthelmearc acceptances) (to Æthelmearc returns)
The submitter's previous name, Aelfric MacRancan, is released.
Nice classical Greek name!
Submitted as Aveline la merciére, the accent on the byname is a post-period editorial mark. We have removed it for registration.
As amended, this is a nice 13th century French name!
The submitter's previous device, Or, in fess a sword inverted per fess gules and sable between a pair of wings, the dexter wing gules and the sinister wing sable, is retained as a badge.
The submitter is a knight and therefore entitled to display a loop of chain.
Nice mid-14th century Dutch name!
Nice Icelandic name from the Viking Age through the mid-14th century!
The submitter's previous device, Azure, in pale a crescent and a crescent inverted argent, a bordure argent semy of roses proper, is retained as a badge.
The submitter is a duchess and thus entitled to display of a ducal coronet.
The submitter is a duchess and thus entitled to display of a ducal coronet.
The submitter is a duchess and thus entitled to display of a ducal coronet.
Commenters questioned whether the name should be spelled with an initial W rather than an initial Gw. Adelaide Pympernell provided evidence of names spelled both ways in Welsh: Wyn/Gwyn, Werwyl/Gwerull, Wen/Gwen and Wentlyan/Gwenthlean. Given this evidence, the given name Gwir is a plausible spelling of the attested Wir and this name may be registered as submitted.
The submitter requested authenticity for 'German 1400s'. This name meets that request.
Nice late 13th century German name!
The submitter's previous name, Helena Roth, is retained as an alternate.
The submitter requested authenticity for 'Old Norse/Shetland Islands/North Scotland'. This name meets that request as the given name is Old Norse and uses the Old Norse locative form of the island of Hildisey, which is part of the Shetland Islands.
Nice 16th century French name!
This is the defining instance of a rake head, the portion of a rake separated from the shaft. Rake heads are found as a charge in the Bellenville Armorial, ca. 1386, with other instances including variants in:
Wapenboek Gelre, 1370-1395 Dutch (Brussels, Koninklijke Bibliotheek van België ms. 15652-56), p. 165
Wapenboek Beyeren, c. 1405 Dutch (Den Haag, KB, 79 K 21), p. 9
Armorial dit de Lyncenich, 1st half of 15th C Dutch (Brussels, Koninklijke Bibliotheek van België ms. II 6567), p. 81
Bergshammar vapenbok, c 1440 Dutch (Stockholm, Riksarkivet, Bergshammar vapenbok, SE/RA/720085/Z), p. 127
Nice device!
Nice badge!
Per the July 2021 Cover Letter, there is no longer a step from core practice for the use of an Arabic penbox, an attested charge in Saracenic heraldry.
Nice badge!
Nice badge!
Nice, Aragonese, canting badge!
Precedent states: "While the lunel is a period Portuguese heraldic charge, it does not have a defined number of crescents. We will therefore continue to blazon the crescents explicitly and to treat them as individual charges, in this case four, rather than a single charge." [Áine inghean uí Ghríobhtha, 12/2005, A-Atenveldt]
Later precedent states:
While the submitter's original blazon used the term lunel, these are not lunels. A lunel is the French heraldic term for what the English call "four crescents conjoined in cross", and what the Portuguese term a "quaderna de crescentes." There are several families in Portuguese armory which use lunels, with four crescents. There is only one family, Froes, which uses a similar design with three crescents. No evidence could be found of a similar motif with five crescents, but as we can describe it in heraldic terms it is registerable. As we do not have any evidence of the five-crescent version actually being used in period armory, however, there is a step from period practice for the use of charges in annulo not in their default orientation. [Aminah bint al-Hakam ibn Umayyah, 11/2013, A-Caid]
Given the 2013 precedent we choose to define the standard lunel as having four crescent-shaped lobes; the three-lobe version would need to be specified. In either case, a lunel is a single charge, and no difference is granted for the number of lobes.
Nice badge!
Nice 14th century Welsh name!
The submitter's previous device, Purpure, a cameleopard passant Or spotted sable and on a mount Or a mullet of seven points vert, is retained as a badge.
Submitted as Olaf Krákubein, the name presumed against the historical figure Olaf Krákubein Tryggvason, who was often referred to by just his first two names. Adam of Bremen, a German chronicler, noted that Olaph, the son of Thrucco (Óláfr Tryggvason), was baptized and "the first among his people to accept Christianity". He earned the name Craccaben (krákubein, 'crow-bone') from some who believed he had turned away from Christianity and was a magician who practiced prophecy. When presented with options, the submitter chose to change the byname to the branch name of Wealdsmere. We are happy to make this change for registration.
Wealdsmere is the name of a registered SCA branch.
This name combines a Spanish given name and locative with a French byname, an acceptable lingual mix per SENA Appendix C.
The submitter originally documented the nanori Mitsukage from Index of Japanese Swordsmiths by Markus Sesko, but did not include any copies of the relevant pages so that the information could be verified. Fortunately, Lillia Crampette was able to find the book available on Google Books in preview form, so the documentation could be verified. Kingdoms are reminded that all documentation from non-Appendix H sources must be included with a submission so that the source material can be properly evaluated.
The submitter requested authenticity for the Japanese culture in the 14th-15th centuries. This name does not meet this request. Authentic Japanese names of the Kamakura period would also include a yobina (use name) between the uji (clan name) and the nanori (given name).
The charging of tortoise-shell plates with flowers is shown by a variety of examples seen at http://mon.xavid.us/#Enclosure:%20Turtle%20Shell, dated to the late 15th century. The required markings of tortoise-shell plates may provide contrast against the field in what may otherwise be normally seen as a case of no contrast. For a more detailed discussion of tortoise-shell plates, see the January 2020 Cover Letter.
Nice mon!
The charging of tortoise-shell plates with flowers is shown by a variety of examples seen at http://mon.xavid.us/#Enclosure:%20Turtle%20Shell, dated to the late 15th century. The required markings of tortoise-shell plates may provide contrast against the field in what may otherwise be normally seen as a case of no contrast. For a more detailed discussion of tortoise-shell plates, see the January 2020 Cover Letter.
Nice mon!
This submission uses the pattern given name + animal name + color, which Laurel has previously ruled unregisterable for Gaelic names:
This submission uses the pattern given name + animal name + color, relying on a single example: in Eich Gil ("[of] the White Horse").
A possible second example of the pattern color + animal was documented in commentary by Brían dorcha ua Conaill. The phrase An Sionnach Fionn ("The Fair Fox") is found in various Irish annals. Woulfe, s.n. Ó Catharnaigh states that An Sionnach ("The Fox") is the title for the head of the family. Therefore, the phrase An Sionnach Fionn appears to be a unique descriptive phrase referring to at least two lords of Tethba (or Teffia), and does not support the wider use of color + animal in bynames. We need at least one other example of such a descriptive byname in order to register this pattern. [Sitriuc Sionnach Liath, 12/2014, R-Atenveldt]
Brían dorcha ua Conaill provided the requisite third example of this pattern from the Irish Annals dated to 1087, na Saighe Buidhe 'of the yellow hound'. Given this new data, we explicitly overturn previous precedent and register this name as submitted.
Nice cant for an tSionnaigh Ruaidh!
The submitter's previous name, Talentus del Albero, is retained as an alternate.
The submitter is a duchess and thus entitled to display of a ducal coronet.
Nice badge!
(to An Tir acceptances) (to An Tir returns)
Côte du Ciel is the registered name of an SCA branch.
Charlotte is a 16th century English surname that can be used as a given name. In January 2020, Laurel ruled:
Elphin is a 16th century English surname that can be used as a given name. As both men and women used surnames as given names, it is plausible to treat Elphin as a male name that can be combined with the 16th/early 17th century Gaelic O Flaithbheartaigh under PN2C2b and Appendix C. [Elphin O Flaithbheartaigh, 1/2020 LoAR, A-An Tir]
If the submitter is interested in the feminine version of the byname, inghean Uí Dalaigh, they may make a request for reconsideration.
This name combines an English given name and a Gaelic byname, an acceptable lingual mix per SENA Appendix C.
Nice cant!
This name combines an English given name and a Gaelic surname, an acceptable lingual mix per SENA Appendix C.
The submitter's previous name, Alvin Keebler, is retained as an alternate.
There is a step from core practice for the use of a spider inverted.
There is a step from core practice for the use of a spider inverted.
Submitted as Casa de Oracolo, the construction did not follow proper Italian grammar. As Oracolo is not a proper noun, it must be preceded by the article dell'. We have made this change for registration.
This device is not in conflict with the device of Jofreyr Maurisson, Per chevron sable and azure, a chevron between two bearded axes in saltire and a tree blasted and couped argent, nor with the device of Cian Gillebhrath, Per chevron sable and azure, a chevron between two feathers and a falcon passant argent. In both cases a DC exists per A5G6 for the change in arrangement from two and one to one and two, and another DC exists for the difference between these cleavers and the corresponding charges in Jofreyr's and Cian's devices (bearded axe and feather, respectively).
The submitter's previous name, Abd al-Rahman de Javier, is released.
Nice badge!
Submitted as Séigíne inghean ui Laighin, accents and diacritical markings must be used consistently through a name. We have therefore added the accent to uí for registration.
The submitter requested authenticity for 7th-10th century Irish Gaelic. This name does not meet that request. The byname could only be dated after 1200.
The submitter's previous name, Shay Maclean, is retained as an alternate.
Terrell is the submitter's legal given name.
This device is not in conflict with the device of Wulfgar of East Anglia, Per chevron azure and sable, a chevron between two crosses formy fitched at the foot and a wolf's head erased close argent. There is a DC for unforced change in arrangement from two in fess and one, to two in saltire and one. There is also a DC for changing the types of the corresponding secondary charges.
For the same reasons, this device is also not in conflict with the device of Jevan Berwyn, Per chevron azure and sable, a chevron between two mullets of eight points and a bear's head erased contourny argent.
(to Artemisia acceptances) (to Artemisia returns) (to Artemisia pends)
Originally blazoned in December 2005 as Per bend azure and vert, a bend between four crescents conjoined in cross at the points and a cross clechy argent, we are reblazoning the four crescents conjoined in cross at the points as a lunel, as they match the default, four-lobe variant of that charge as documented elsewhere in this letter.
The submitter requested authenticity for the English language and culture. This name meets that request as both the given name and the byname can be found in 16th century England. The submitter may be interested to know that the byname Mede is authentic from the 13th century onward in England; if he prefers this form, he may make a request for reconsideration.
As documented, these elements are both Spanish in origin. However, the submitter indicated a preference for the Sicilian language and culture. They may be interested to know that the forms Orsula Ciezo and Ursula Ciezo would be more authentic for Sicily in our period, as shown in 16th and Early 17th C. Southern Italian Nicknames by Andrea L. Hicks (https://www.s-gabriel.org/names/maridonna/southernnicknames.html). If they are interested in either of these forms, they may make a request for reconsideration.
Nice device!
Submitted as Varjú Dorothea, the accent on the descriptive byname is a modern diacritical mark. We have therefore removed it for registration.
Appearing on the Letter of Intent as Siraj Farhardzadeh, the byname inadvertently contained an extra letter r. We have reverted to the spelling on the form for registration.
(to Atenveldt acceptances) (to Atenveldt returns)
Nice device!
This name combines a Nahuatl given name with a Spanish byname, an attested lingual mix in 16th century Mexico.
This name combines a Gaelic given name and an English byname, an acceptable lingual mix per SENA Appendix C.
The submitter has permission to conflict with the armory of Michael Batcok, Barry of four vert and argent, a dunghill cock and a bordure gules. As of the March 2021 LoAR, this permission is no longer required as there is an SC between a divided and a plain field under SENA A5F1a.
Nice cant and badge!
There is a step from core practice for use of compass stars.
Nice 14th-16th century Gaelic name!
Examples of chiefs of allegiance with low (or no) contrast with an existing chief may be found in Stemmario Trivulziano, mid-15th C Italian (Milan, Biblioteca Trivulziana, Cod.Triv. 1390).
Nice badge!
(to Atlantia acceptances) (to Atlantia returns)
Nice badge!
The submitter has permission to conflict with the badge of Avacal, Quarterly argent and Or, a gryphon's head erased gules.
The submitter is a viscountess and thus entitled to the display of a coronet.
The submitter's previous device, Or, in pale three sexfoils pierced, each within an annulet purpure, is retained as a badge.
Artist's note: Please ensure the coronets are solid and fully connected.
The submitter has permission to conflict with the badge of Avacal, Quarterly argent and Or, a gryphon's head erased gules.
Submitted as Tabitha Derval, the submitter indicated a preference for the spelling Dearval if it could be documented. Derval is an English place name dated to the 15th century ('Rymer's Foedera with Syllabus: January-June 1499', in Rymer's Foedera Volume 12, ed. Thomas Rymer (London, 1739-1745), pp. 706-721. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/rymer-foedera/vol12/pp706-721).
The Cambridge Dictionary of English Place-Names by Victor Watts includes several examples of the same sound being spelled as both e and ea: Derham/Deareham (s.n. Dearham), Overdene/Overdeane (s.n. Dean[13]), Segrave/Seagrave (s.n. Seagrave) and Seseltre/Sesealter (s.n. Seasalter). Given this evidence, Dearval is a plausible spelling of the attested Derval. We are happy to make this change for registration.
The submitter's previous name, Tabitha Darval, is retained as an alternate.
Appearing on the Letter of Intent as Vicente de españa, the locative byname was inadvertently made lowercase. We have restored the capitalization for registration.
The submitter's previous name, Gareth Bythewere, is retained as an alternate.
The submitter's previous device, Sable, a chevron between three fleurs-de-lis and a winged serpent erect contourny Or, is retained as a badge.
(to Avacal acceptances) (to Avacal returns) (to Avacal pends)
Nice badge!
The submitter requested authenticity for 16th century Anglicized Irish. This name meets that request.
The submitter's previous name, David Straker Whittaker, is retained as an alternate.
Appearing on the Letter of Intent as Celestria Vianello, a timely correction to the given name Celestia was issued by Kingdom. We are happy to accept this correction for registration. The byname Vianello has already been registered to the submitter, making it neutral in time and place per SENA PN2C2d. It can therefore be combined with the English given name Celestia.
The submitter's previous name, Celesta Vianello, is retained as an alternate.
The submitter has permission to conflict with the device of Arthur le Taverner, Per bend Or and sable, in sinister chief a compass rose gules.
Nice badge!
Nice badge!
Nice 16th century English name!
The submitter's previous name, Godfrey Spelman of Hexham, is retained as an alternate.
There is a step from core practice for the use of a spider inverted.
The submitter's previous device, Per chevron gules and Or, two bees and a rose proper, is retained as a badge.
Submitted as Selk Blood River, commenters questioned whether or not the locative Blood River was offensive by association. The Battle of Blood River was fought between the Zulu and the Voortrekker Boers in the 19th century. Though outnumbered, the Boers were victorious and the Ncome River "ran red with the blood of the fallen Zulu". December 16th, the day of the Boer victory, was made a national holiday in South Africa in 1910. South African National Party leaders famously said that the battle established "the responsible authority of the white race" at the dawn of the South African apartheid regime, and in 1952 they made this day a religious national holiday and elevated its status. In the post-apartheid environment, the continued celebration of this holiday has been seen as racist, since it celebrates the success of white Boer colonists over black African natives. Given this evidence, we rule that a reference to Blood River in a byname is a violation of SENA PN5B5. We direct Palimpsest to add Blood River and Bloedriver to SENA Appendix N.
When presented with options, the submitter chose to change the byname to Bloodbrook. This compound English locative refers to a brook owned by the Blood family. We are happy to make this change for registration.
The submitter's previous name, Nitalya ormstunga, is retained as an alternate.
(to Caid acceptances) (to Caid returns)
The submitter requested authenticity for 8th century Mercia. This name does not meet that request. The name Emma did not arrive in England until the 11th century, as an import from the Normans. The variant spelling Æmma only appears in a spurious charter dated to the 11th century that describes 8th century events; as such, it is a registerable spelling dating to the 11th century. A purely English name would be Ælfgyfu Deorling, which can be reasonably dated to the mid-10th century. Ælfgyfu was the use name taken by Queen Emma of Normandy, and she is referenced in documents as both Ælfgyfu and Emma. If the submitter is interested in this form, she may make a request for reconsideration.
The submitter requested authenticity for 9th-10th century Old English. This name does not meet that request. While the byname follows an established pattern of creating bynames from descriptive adjectives, we have no evidence of Stíðmódu being used as a byname at this time.
Nice device!
The submitter's previous device, Gyronny arrondi sable and Or, in fess an increscent and a decrescent interlaced gules, is retained as a badge.
Nice device!
Nice device!
Nice cant! Koiviston references the birch trees from which the leaves come.
This name combines an English given name and a Gaelic byname, an acceptable lingual mix per SENA Appendix C.
Argent, a rainbow bendwise throughout proper may be found in Hermann Bote: Schichtbuch, 1512-1513 German (Wolfenbüttel, Herzog August Bibl., Cod. Guelf. 120 Extrav.), f. 217v. Aside from heraldic versus natural, it is the mirror image of this current submission. (http://diglib.hab.de/mss/120-extrav/start.htm?image=00438)
The submitter's previous device, Argent, on a pale purpure a key inverted argent, is retained as a badge.
Nice device!
Nice 16th century German name!
The byname of Wittenberg is lingua Societatis for German von Wittenberg.
The vert roundel on the estoile gives the appearance of a flower's seeding, so we must therefore consider the potential for visual conflict with the badge of Wander Riordan, (Fieldless) A gillyflower argent. This is not a visual conflict: Wander's gillyflower lacks seeding, and the petals do not taper to the points we see with an estoile.
Nice 16th century Gaelic name!
This is the defining instance of the hellebore, a type of flower well-known in period. Pliny discusses the medicinal use of hellebore, and it is also included in an Italian herbal from 1500. University of Vermont, Library, MS2 [Italian herbal], [ca. 1500], MS 2 fol. 68.
The hellebore is a five-petaled flower, and will conflict with other similar flowers, such as the rose.
Nice badge!
The submitter requested authenticity for Tudor England. This request was not noted on the Letter of Intent. Thankfully, Lilie Ragged Staff identified the request in commentary with plenty of time to evaluate it. Kingdoms are reminded that authenticity requests must be noted on the Letter of Intent to avoid a name being pended for further research. This name does not meet that request, as the byname could not be documented in England prior to the death of Elizabeth I.
Nice device!
Nice late 13th century French name from Paris!
(to Calontir acceptances) (to Calontir returns) (to Calontir pends)
The submitter's previous device, Argent, three hearts voided vert, is retained as a badge.
The submitter is to be commended on his thorough research and documentation for this constructed Dutch locative byname.
(to Drachenwald acceptances) (to Drachenwald returns)
Nice device!
The submitter's previous name, Njáll Hildisson, is released.
(to Ealdormere acceptances) (to Ealdormere returns) (to Ealdormere pends)
This is the defining instance of the orly field division in the Society. It is found in Stemmario Trivulziano in the arms de Piris de Nortera, p 273 (https://archive.org/details/stemmario_trivulziano/page/n288/), and is also found counterchanged over a per pale line in two French heraldic treatises which blazon it as Party ourle de l'un en l'autre dor et d'azur de huit pieces. It appears on folio 54r of Le second volume de la premiere partye du blason d'armoiries (BNF Arsenal Ms. 5255, https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b55008900v/f109.item.zoom). The same design is found on folio 48r of Traité de l'art de blason (BNF Français Ms. 2776, https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btvlb8470180c/f103.item/zoom).
This badge is not in conflict with the device of Damian d'Outremer, Sable, a gurges Or.
There are two ways in which we must evaluate conflict. On a technical basis, there is no conflict: an SC exists whether we consider the removal of the primary gurges, or the changes to the field.
That leaves the matter of visual conflict: Gurges may be depicted as multiple concentric circles, and on that basis Damian's device was raised. However, just as we grant difference between orles and annulets, and take care not to penalize the submitter for the shape of the field (e.g., considering Sable, a bordure argent and Argent, a delf sable, submitted on badge forms), it is clear that orly (concentric orles, following the shape of the field) and gurges (concentric annulets, remaining unchanged for the shape of the field) must be considered visually distinct.
Nice badge!
The submitter has permission to conflict with the badge of Griffyn Cleisiog ap Madoc, (Fieldless) Three sharks naiant conjoined in annulo azure.
Artist's note: Please exaggerate the size of the quaternary sharks to more completely fill the escutcheon and increase their identifiability.
This name was originally documented as combining the masculine given name Caccia with the feminine given name Trice. Alys Blue Tyger was able to find documentation for a masculine given name Caccio in "A Listing of All Names Given as Patronyms from the Condado Section of the Florence Catasto of 1427" by Juliana de Luna (https://www.s-gabriel.org/names/juliana/condado/patroalpha.html). This masculine name would feminize as Caccia. There are several names in Italian that were used by both genders including Andrea, Nicola, Lisa, Pace, Vangelista and Maria. Therefore, we can interpret this name as two feminine given names and it is registerable as submitted.
Submitted as Carataca Cassia, the submitter requested authenticity for 5th century post-Roman Britain. For authenticity, the order of the submitted elements should be reversed. We have done so to meet the submitter's request.
Nice device!
Nice 16th century English name!
The submitter requested authenticity for Breton/French. This name meets that request as both the given name and the byname appear in both Breton and French in the 13th century.
Per SENA Appendix F, the use of the sejant erect affronty posture by a beast not a lion is a step from core practice.
Nice cant!
Iago Boar provided an example of the motif, three snakes in annulo vorant of their own tails interlaced two and one, in period heraldry. They may be found (crowned) in Stammbuch of Eberhard Werll (Württembergische Landesbibliothek, Cod.Don.901), f. 107r, dated 1600 (http://digital.wlb-stuttgart.de/purl/bsz417645627).
Nice 16th century English name!
The submitter has permission to conflict with the badge of Alienor Salton, Per pale purpure and Or.
Nice device!
Nice 16th century French name!
Tyddyn is a Welsh designator meaning 'family farmstead'.
A cluster of rowan berries proper has gules berries and a wooden stem. We direct Palimpsest to update the Glossary of Terms, Table 4, to include this.
Based on the defining instance seen on the device of Rowena Moore registered in May 1996, the default orientation has the stem to base.
Nice badge!
This badge conflicts with the device of Coblaith Muimnech, Azure fretty, a chief Or, but Coblaith grants blanket permission to conflict with one DC.
Nice badge!
Nice 12th century Japanese name!
Nice device!
Nice badge!
(to East acceptances) (to East returns) (to East pends)
Submitted as Lachlann mac Niall, the byname was not constructed correctly. In Gaelic, the genitive (possessive) case of the given name Niall is Neill, resulting in the patronymic byname mac Neill. However, Alys Blue Tyger found the Scots form McNaill in The Surnames of Scotland by George Black, s.n. MacNeill, dated to 1541. The scribal abbreviation Mc expands to Mac for registration. The submitter approved the change to MacNaill, which we are happy to make.
(to Gleann Abhann acceptances) (to Gleann Abhann returns)
The submitter's previous device, Per pale and per chevron argent and azure, three bees counterchanged, is released.
Nice device!
Nice badge!
Nice device!
Submitted as János Zsoldonár, the Zs digraph does not appear in the Hungarian language before the 18th century. When presented with options for different period spellings, the submitter chose the spelling Soldonar. We are happy to make this change for registration.
This device does not present the appearance of marshalling per Society standards: the addition of the primary raven overlying the line of division removes that.
This device alludes to but does not presume upon the flag used by the Black Army of Hungary active in the late 15th century: The flag was a marshalled design which included quarters of Gules, a lion argent -- the opposite of the design here -- and had a charged inescutcheon in the center.
Burnfield is the registered name of an SCA branch.
Nice badge!
Saint Monica is the registered name of an SCA branch.
Per the August 2020 Cover Letter, there is a step from core practice for the use of a cross nowed at the center rather than at the arms.
(to Lochac acceptances) (to Lochac returns)
This name combines a Spanish given name with two Italian given names and an Italian bynames, an acceptable lingual mix per SENA Appendix C.
Precedent on items within annulets was set on the Cover Letter to the March 2009 LoAR which reads in part, "When both are present in a design as part of a primary charge group, or where they would be expected to be a secondary charge, the widget and annulet will both be considered part of the same group." This was extended to tertiary charges as stated with the registration of Lucy of Brakendelve's device in April 2010: "We are extending this to tertiary charges: a mullet within an annulet, when placed entirely on another charge, is considered a single group. Therefore, this device does not violate our ban forbidding multiple tertiary charge groups on a single underlying charge."
There is a step from core practice for use of gyronny of sixteen with a central charge.
This byname uses the attested construction of given name (in genitive [possessive] case) + -systir ('sister'). The deuterothemes -systir and -bróðir are found in Norsk-Isländska Personbinamn från Medeltiden by E.H. Lind and Tilnavne i den Islandske Oldlitteratur by Finnur Jónsson. See the Cover Letter for further information.
Nice device!
Dark River is the registered name of an SCA branch.
Nice device!
Darkwater is the registered name of an SCA branch.
The submitter requested authenticity for late 16th century English. This name meets that request. It is also authentic for late 16th century Anglicized Irish.
Nice device!
Nice cant!
Skerjastr{o,}nd is the registered name of an SCA branch.
The submitter requested authenticity for the 10th-15th century. This request was not identified on the Letter of Intent, but was noted by Vitruvia Drusilla with enough time for commenters to evaluate it. Kingdoms are reminded that authenticity requests must be noted on the Letter of Intent to avoid a name needing to be pended for further research. This name does not meet that request. The given name is Old English and the byname is lingua Societatis for Old Norse. The submitter may be interested to know that the period Old Norse form of the byname would be í Skerjastr{o,}nd. If the submitter is interested in the name Eadgyth í Skerjastr{o,}nd, she may make a request for reconsideration.
Nice 16th century Scots name!
The penguin has been known to humans since at least the 15th century, with documented sightings to the voyage of Vasco de Gama in 1497, with likely sightings a decade prior by the expedition of Bartholomeu Dias de Novaes. As such, there is no step from core practice for their use in armory.
There is a step from core practice for the use of paw print.
The element the Isles is the registered name of an SCA branch.
Submitted as Jakha Ulan Zayaat, the submitter requested the spelling Dzayaa if it could be documented. Ursula Serpent was able to find a transliteration system which uses the Dz digraph for the z sound. We have made this change to bring the final element closer to the desired spelling.
The submitter requested authenticity for the Mongolian language and culture. This name does not meet that request. Constructing Mongolian names by combining arbitrary individual name elements is registerable only by long-standing SCA precedent and as of yet has not been found in period practice.
Nice device!
Nice cant!
Submitted as Nissa Hestrfari, the given name was documented in the accusative case rather than the nominative (direct) case. The nominative form is Nisse. In addition, the byname was not correctly constructed. No evidence was provided that a byname meaning 'horse traveler' was plausible in Old Norse. However, someone who traveled over the Hestr mountain might plausibly be called Hestsfari. We have made these changes for registration.
The submitter requested authenticity. This name does not meet that request. While the byname is a plausible construction, we could not find any evidence of its use in period.
The submitter requested authenticity for a 13th century Northern Mongolian name. This name does not meet this request. While the given name is constructed based on a plausible pattern of plant-based given names, we have found no evidence of this specific name during the SCA period.
Nice 9th-11th century Old Norse name from Iceland!
Nice device!
Nice 14th century English name!
When registering Rebeka Szombathely in April 2019, Laurel offered the name Rebeka de Zombothel as an authentic 13th century Hungarian form. We are therefore happy to grant this request for reconsideration.
There is a step from core practice for the use of paw print.
Nice 16th century English name!
Nice cant!
This depiction of a serpent involved may be found in Ms.Brown.Eng.2, 1557-1600 English, f. 220r, held by the University of Victoria Library.
The submitter has permission to conflict with the device of Ulfgeirr refskegg, Gyronny arrondi Or and sable, a serpent in annulo gules.
Nice badge!
This is the defining instance of the woman-serpent in Society armory.
The woman-serpent is depicted surrounding a shield in Das Wappenbuch Conrads von Grünenberg, Ritters und Bürgers zu Constanz (BSB Cgm 145), dated 1480 (https://daten.digitale-sammlungen.de/0003/bsb00035320/images/index.html?id=00035320&seite=161).
Another depiction of a woman-serpent may be found in German Armorial, c 1447-1449 German (London, Lambeth Palace Library, MS774), p. 325. It shows a thick, green serpent's body terminating in a human head having long, golden hair.
Finally, we have a woman-serpent as the crest of Sir Walter Bonham, c.1547, seen in Rodney Dennys's The Heraldic Imagination, p.129.
While we do not usually grant a DC for changing the head of a beast or monster, because the woman-serpent is attested as a period heraldic charge with no evidence of interchangeability with the serpent, we grant at least a DC.
Therefore, this badge does not conflict with the device of Lillias Dubh, Argent, a serpent involved sable, with one DC for fieldlessness, and at least another DC for the difference between a serpent and a woman-serpent.
Nice badge!
(to Middle acceptances) (to Middle returns)
Nice cant!
(to Northshield acceptances) (to Northshield returns)
Nice cant!
Nice 9th century Frankish name!
Nice cant!
Nice 9th-11th century Old Norse name from Iceland!
Nice early 16th century Scots name!
The submitter requested authenticity for 14th century Salisbury, England. This name meets that request.
Nice device!
The submitter's previous name, Christoff Trost, is retained as an alternate.
The submitter may wish to know that while their previous submission of Per pale gules and sable, three rib bones in pale Or was returned for lack of documentation supporting three rib bones in pale, not paired and coming from the flanks, we have in the years since uncovered such a depiction with arms of Seriana, found in the 16th century Italian armorial, Insignia Nobilium Veronensium, Vicentinorum [BSB Cod.icon. 276], where three rib bones alternate with three mullets of eight points, the whole arranged in pale.
Nice canting device!
Nice cant!
This name combines a Gaelic given name with a Scottish byname, an acceptable lingual mix per SENA Appendix C.
Nice badge!
(to Outlands acceptances) (to Outlands returns)
The byname the Blue is Lingua Societatis for the Gaelic byname Gorm.
This name combines an Old Norse given name and a Gaelic byname, an acceptable lingual mix per SENA Appendix C.
Originally blazoned in September 1973 as Ermine, a bend sinister within a bordure azure, overall a scarpe nebuly and in dexter chief a decrescent Or, it was reblazoned in October 1976 as Ermine, a bordure azure, overall on a bend azure a scarpe nebuly [bretessee] Or, in dexter chief a decrescent Or. After reviewing the archived emblazon we are now correcting the bend to be a bend sinister and bringing the blazon to current practice.
The submitter requested authenticity for 11th-13th century Icelandic. This name meets that request, as both elements can be found in the Landnámabók.
Submitted as Sigurðr inn Ógæfa, the byname was not correctly constructed. As Sigurðr is a masculine name, the gender of the weak adjectival byname must match. We have therefore corrected the byname to inn Ógæfi, the masculine form, for registration.
Artists note: Please reduce the size of the ravens somewhat, to avoid the appearance of "slot-machine" heraldry, having three or more types of charges in the same group.
A shooting star is a comet inverted.
There is a step from core practice for the use of shooting star or comet with a head and beard of different tinctures.
(to West acceptances) (to West returns) (to West pends)
- Explicit littera accipiendorum -
None.
(to Æthelmearc acceptances) (to Æthelmearc returns)
This badge is returned for conflict with the device of Amanda of the Héah Hylls, Sable, a scarpe vert fimbriated argent surmounted by a sword bendwise inverted proper, overall a lion's head cabossed argent. There is not a DC for changing the tincture of the fimbriation, nor is any difference granted between a bend sinister and a scarpe. This means that any difference must come from the overall charge.
SENA Appendix I states that "an overall charge group is a charge or group of charges which crosses the center of the field, lying partially on the field and partially on other charges" and that "there can only be one overall charge group in any design." The overylying charges in Amanda's armory can be interpreted in two ways: They are either a lion's head with a maintained sword (transfixing the lion's head), or they are a sword with a lion's head overall. In either case, it would be considered two separate groups -- an overall charge group with a maintained charge, or two overall charge groups one surmounted by the other -- which would not be registerable under our current standards. We therefore cannot count difference for the unallowed charge group, which would be either the sword or the lion's head, depending on which of the above intepretations is considered. This means that there is a DC between Branden and Amanda's armory for changing the type of the overall charge from either sword or lion's head to griffin, but there is no DC for removing the (non-registerable) maintained charge under the first interpretation, nor for removing the overall charge under the second interpretation.
There is a step from core practice for having an overall charge surmounting a fimbriated ordinary.
We thank Bruce Batonvert and Jeanne Marie Palimpsest for their help in composing this decision.
(to An Tir acceptances) (to An Tir returns)
This device is returned for the lack of identifiability of beakers inverted. From the July 2020 Cover Letter: "Given the identifiability issues in general, inverted bowls and inverted headgear will be disallowed unless submitted with evidence of the practice in period."
Similar issues exist for beakers, though instead of creating an ambiguity in type (an inverted bowl looks like inverted headgear, and vice versa), there's an ambiguity in orientation: no visual cues exist to distinguish the beaker from being upright versus inverted. Depictions of beakers inverted from period armory may provide guidance toward resolving this issue.
(to Artemisia acceptances) (to Artemisia returns) (to Artemisia pends)
This device is returned for lack of documentation of the use of gurges restricted to only part of a divided field. The most recent instances in the Society date to 1987, and therefore require documentation.
(to Atenveldt acceptances) (to Atenveldt returns)
This badge is returned for conflict with the device of Sabia Gunnhild Hunang, Gules, a Celtic hawk statant close reguardant Or. On inspection of Sabia's device, the bird in question is notably poultry-shaped, and no difference is granted for the position of the head. Therefore, we are only able to grant a single DC for addition of the bordure.
We ask Morsulus to attach a note to Sabia's armory regarding the bird's poultry shape.
This augmentation is returned for conflict with the armory of Elayne Jayne of Evenford, Per saltire azure and vert, a saltire between in pale a compass star and a duck naiant argent. Per SENA A5C1: "Thus, when considering armory for purposes of possible conflict, all reasonable blazons for a specific design must be considered. You may not blazon your way out of conflict." Therefore, as a reasonable blazon for the augmented device would be simply Per saltire azure and vert, a saltire between in pale a dragonfly and a commedia dell'arte mask argent, there is only one DC for changes to the type of the secondary charges.
(to Atlantia acceptances) (to Atlantia returns)
None.
(to Avacal acceptances) (to Avacal returns) (to Avacal pends)
None.
(to Caid acceptances) (to Caid returns)
None.
(to Calontir acceptances) (to Calontir returns) (to Calontir pends)
None.
(to Drachenwald acceptances) (to Drachenwald returns)
None.
(to Ealdormere acceptances) (to Ealdormere returns) (to Ealdormere pends)
None.
(to East acceptances) (to East returns) (to East pends)
None.
(to Gleann Abhann acceptances) (to Gleann Abhann returns)
None.
(to Lochac acceptances) (to Lochac returns)
This device is returned for lack of documentation for the aardvark. Armory incorporating the aardvark was last registered in 1999 and, therefore, new documentation is needed per SENA A2A ("Items which have not been registered in over a decade, have only been registered a few times, or have recent registrations only via the existing registration allowance may need to be documented."). While the submitter included documentation for the anteater, the two species are not the same, and one does not argue for the other.
In researching the matter, it is worth considering the February 2021 Cover Letter, which states in part: "The use of non-European plants and animals will no longer be considered a step from core practice. The standard for documentation will be the same as that used for Europe, applied to the local culture." During preparation of this LoAR, we were unable to identify pre-1600 records establishing the aardvark as a beast known to people, whether they were people of Africa or of Europe.
This device is returned for lack of identifiability of the unicorn skeleton. In the November 2010 return of the badge of Lyneya de Aston, Gules, a dragon skeleton rampant contourny argent, we stated:
This badge is returned for the lack of identifiability of the primary charge. Commenters were mixed on what they thought it was. This is a violation of section VII.7.a of the Rules for Submissions, which requires that "Elements must be recognizable solely from their appearance." While a fish skeleton is a recognizable period charge, there is serious question among the College of Arms whether most other skeletons are inherently identifiable. Any future submissions of skeletons other than human and fish skeletons should make a solid case that the charges are identifiable.
A number of commenters had difficulty identifying the skeleton as anything other than "equine".
This device is returned for conflict with the device of Francesca of Bright Angel, Azure, a dove displayed, head elevated argent, with only a single DC for the addition of the secondary sunburst.
(to Middle acceptances) (to Middle returns)
This submission would conflict with Barony of the Angels per SENA PN3C4, but the submitter has obtained permission to conflict from the Baronage of the Angels. Therefore, the issue of conflict has been resolved.
The submitter asserted in his resubmission of this heraldic title that registration of the title should avoid issues of presumption because his primary given name is no longer Gabriel. This assertion is not based in the rules as outlined anywhere in SENA. Previous precedent states:
Under SCA tradition, it is common for heralds to be addressed or to sign their names using the pattern [given name] + [heraldic title]. In this case, this pattern results in the name Thomas Beckett, potentially presuming upon or having an affiliation conflict with the name of the historical Saint Thomas Becket. We asked commenters to consider this issue.
Although we generally do not regulate the hypothetical use of a submitted item, in the past we have considered potential use names for heraldic titles:
Given the common usage in the SCA of calling the holder of an heraldic title 'Lord X' or 'Lady X', heraldic titles taken from real-life places falls under the Prohibition of Landed Titles of Corpora (Appendix C, Administrative Rules of the College of Arms). (LoAR 11/90 p.13).
We also do not allow the registration of personal names that too closely resemble the legal use names (or potential use names) of submitters. Therefore, under very limited circumstances, the College of Arms can consider the hypothetical use of a submission in addition to taking it at face value.
Several 15th century examples of the [given name] + [heraldic title] pattern appear in "Fifteenth Century English Patents of Arms" (http://verysleepy.itgo.com/grants.htm):
Thomas Clarensew Principall Heraulde and kyng of Armes
Christofer Norrey King of Armes
J Garter (the signature on a grant written under the name of Iehan Smert autrement dit Gartier Roy Darmes du Royaume Dangleterre)
Given that this practice is found both in and out of the Society, we must consider the possible affiliation conflict. Saint Thomas Becket is important enough to protect under PN4D of SENA. The potential use name Thomas Beckett is identical in sound and nearly identical in appearance to the saint's name, so the use name has an affiliation conflict. Therefore, we are unable to register this heraldic title.[Thomas Flamanc of Kelsale, 11/2015, R-Drachenwald]
This precedent clearly outlines that heraldic titles are one of the few instances in which we will consider a potential use name when assessingissues of presumption. The submitter has not provided any new evidence which would force us to overturn this precedent, and so we see no reason to do at this time.
Further, heraldic titles, like other titles earned in the SCA, are awarded to a person, not to a persona name. Titles such as Dame, Sir and Viscountess may be used with any of an individual's registered names. Heraldic titles are no different. Therefore, regardless of which name is an individual's primary name, titles that are presumptuous when combined when any of an individual's registered names may not be registered.
(to Northshield acceptances) (to Northshield returns)
This device is returned for violation of SENA A3D2a which prohibits more than two types of charge in the same charge group (commonly referred to as "slot-machine" heraldry).
The November 2012 return of the device of Aldrich Fletcher, Per pale argent and sable, a bow surmounted by a sheaf of three arrows fesswise reversed and a wolf sejant contourny counterchanged, a chief indented vert, states, emphasis added:
This device is returned for violating the ban on so-called "slot-machine heraldry", SENA A3D2a, for having more than two types of charges in the same group. While we consider a bow with an arrow nocked to be a single charge, we consider a bow and an arrow in saltire to be two charges; here, we have a bow and a sheaf of arrows in some arrangement that is difficult to describe, but which is clearly two types of charges. The addition of the wolf creates a single charge group with three types of charges, which is not registerable. If we considered this to be a primary charge group consisting of the bow and wolf plus an overall charge group consisting of the sheaf of arrows plus a secondary group consisting of a peripheral ordinary, this arrangement of charge groups would need to be documented, as it is not listed in SENA Appendix J.
This precedent of a bow and anything other than a single nocked arrow being two separate charges was upheld as recently as March 2020, in the return of the device of Noel Cargyl, Vert, in pale a drawn bow fesswise argent with three arrows nocked and an easel Or holding a canvas argent.
This device is returned for the lack of documentation to support the trian aspect of the wyvern: "Absent documentation, we will cease to register any depictions of animate charges displayed with the torso twisted to dexter or sinister as of the January 2018 decision meeting." [July 2017 Cover Letter] and [Irene MacKenny, July 2017, R-An Tir]
On resubmission, the chest and body should squarely face the viewer, or squarely face to the side, rather than be rotated partway in between. In other words, the head and body of a wyvern displayed should be in the same posture as the head and body of an eagle displayed.
The use of a wyvern displayed is a step from core practice. Per the September 2018 Cover Letter: "While it's been long-standing policy that [dragons and wyverns] have no difference between them, the recent ruling on quadrupeds affronty draws a stark contrast between dragons (which can no longer be depicted as displayed) and wyverns (which, following the pattern of cockatrices from Guillim, can be displayed, albeit a step from period practice)."
(to Outlands acceptances) (to Outlands returns)
This device is returned for lack of documentation supporting a sable bear and an argent tree as co-primaries on a vert field. While an IAP for a sable bear on a color field has been demonstrated in the past, SENA A4B says, "The overall design of the submission must be similar to the types of designs that document the use of the non-core style elements. In general, examples must match the submission in style and complexity." Therefore, documentation must also be provided to justify the inclusion of, in this case, the argent tree. Unfortunately, the documentation provided did not satisfy that requirement.
(to West acceptances) (to West returns) (to West pends)
- Explicit littera renuntiationum -
This badge is pended to add detailing to the helm, to distinguish it from an escutcheon, and to improve identifiability of the fox whose distinguishing characteristics are nearly invisible.
This was item 3 on the Artemisia letter of May 16, 2021.
(to Artemisia acceptances) (to Artemisia returns) (to Artemisia pends)
This badge is pended for redraw to correct the depiction of issuant, which would place the demi-sun in front of the boar's head.
This was item 6 on the Avacal letter of May 28, 2021.
(to Avacal acceptances) (to Avacal returns) (to Avacal pends)
We are pending this item to discuss modifying SENA A3B, currently reading "While a few monsters have a defined proper, most of them do not because they do not exist in nature. Thus, monsters constructed from animals which can otherwise be proper may not be proper.", to create an exception for the addition of wings to a beast proper.
Under the current standard, this item would be returned for lack of blazonability. Adding wings to a fox proper -- which creates a chimerical monster -- would require that we find a suitable, explicit means of describing its tincture without invoking proper. Lacking a means of doing so in such a way that retains the distinctive markings of the fox in question, we would be forced to return this device.
This was item 17 on the Calontir letter of May 11, 2021.
(to Calontir acceptances) (to Calontir returns) (to Calontir pends)
This household name is pended to consider the form House of Heralds Retreat. The MED s.v. retreat defines this word as meaning 'a place of privacy; a secluded dwelling'. Evidence was provided late in the proofreading process to support a possible construction following the pattern of naming similar types of dwellings found in the Middle English Dictionary, including the following:
Schipplingbothill (s.v. botel 'house, dwelling')
Wodemanecot (s.v. cote 'a peasant's cottage; hovel hut')
Longehamestedele and Mellestedil (s.v. stathel 'dwelling place')
Dekenestenement and Reynaldestenementes (s.v. tenement 'rented property, dwelling, building')
Le Queneherberhok (s.v. herberwe 'permanent or temporary dwelling, lodgings in general')
Hanketes Wyke and Bondmannys Wyke (s.v. wik(e) 'dwelling, home, group of dwellings, city')
Gotham (s.v. home 'dwelling, residence')
atte Logg (s.v. logge 'dwelling, lodge')
Originally submitted as House of The Herald's Retreat, the household name construction does not fit within the established patterns for English inn signs. Inn-sign names derived from a surname, as this one does, do not include the article the. In addition, the possessive apostrophe-s is post period.
This evidence may also support the use of Retreat as both a designator and part of a substantive element. We hope to be able to answer this question with additional evidence while this item is pended.
This was item 2 on the Ealdormere letter of May 24, 2021.
(to Ealdormere acceptances) (to Ealdormere returns) (to Ealdormere pends)
This device is pended to disjoin the wingtips of the falcon, and improve identifiability overall. A number of commenters had difficulty distinguishing it from an owl.
This was item 22 on the East letter of May 31, 2021.
(to East acceptances) (to East returns) (to East pends)
This device is pended to redraw the sheaf of three feathers more clearly as a sheaf (two in saltire surmounted by a third palewise). As submitted, the feathers were arranged almost, but not quite, as if they were a panache.
This was item 1 on the West letter of May 31, 2021.
(to West acceptances) (to West returns) (to West pends)
- Explicit -
Created at 2021-10-14T20:57:53