Society for Creative Anachronism
College of Arms
For the August 2023 meetings, printed October 8, 2023
To all the College of Arms and all others who may read this missive, from Emma Laurel, Elisabetta Pelican, and Iago Wreath, greetings.
The end of my tenure approaches quickly, and so it is time to open this office for applications:
The Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) is seeking candidates for the position of Laurel Principal Sovereign of Arms (Laurel).
Laurel is the principal heraldic officer of the Society and the head of the College of Arms, and is responsible for fostering the study and practice of heraldry, supervising the processing of submissions, and overseeing the heraldic activities of the Known World.
Laurel is an unpaid position, currently requiring approximately 20 hours a week. The position requires considerable tact and patience, armory and onomastic knowledge, supervisory ability, the ability to work within tight deadlines and coordinate closely with Wreath, Pelican, and other staff to produce a Laurel Letter of Acceptance and Return monthly, computer literacy and word processing skills, reliable e-mail and telephone access, and time and ability to travel.
Interested applicants should send a letter of interest, together with modern and SCA qualifications, hardcopy to:
Laurel Sovereign
c/o Louise Du Cray
P.O. Box 611928
San Jose, CA 95161
with courtesy copies to both [email protected] and [email protected]
Applications are being accepted through November 30, 2023.
A submission this month has caused us to consider how we treat the compass rose.
When this charge was first registered in July of 1981, the LoAR simply said that the submitter had "established that this sort of symbol is in period". Assessing a compass rose's suitability as a heraldic charge under our current rules we find:
It's not an attested element under SENA A2B1, as no examples have been found in period armory.
It's not registerable as a constructed charge under SENA A2B2, as it isn't an element that follows a pattern for the formation of period charges: it's not a tool or other everyday artifact. It's not an artifact at all; it's an artistic motif, even if it is a functional one.
It doesn't have a consistent depiction in period. Examples were found that lacked a north marker, and that lacked a star in the center; and those with stars could have 8, 16, or 32 points.
Based on this, if the compass rose was a brand new charge that had never been registered before, we would not register it today.
However, though it's not a period heraldic element, it's one that is too popular to disallow entirely - it's been registered over 150 times, is a key charge on one kingdom's arms, badges, and standard augmentations, and has seen steady use for over 40 years. This is exactly the type of charge that underlies the intent of SENA A2B4c, so going forward the compass rose will remain registerable, but be counted as a step from core practice. We ask Palimpsest to add this charge to SENA Appendix G.
This step from core practice will not contribute to returns under SENA A1A1 for items appearing on external Letters of Intent prior to January 1, 2024. After that date, armory using a compass rose and a second motif with a step from core practice will be returned under A1A1.
A submission this month has caused us to consider how we treat wolf's teeth for the purposes of conflict.
Wolf's teeth are an unusual charge, being drawn in a number of different ways ranging from complex charges through ordinaries to field divisions, even among the same family. Period examples can be found of:
Straight piles issuant from the side of the field, which can be seen in the seal of judge István Báthory from 1474 (https://mnl.gov.hu/mnl/ol/hirek/evfordulok_bathory_istvan_erdely_fejedelme_450_es_lengyelorszag_kiralya_445)
Curved piles issuant from the side of the field, which can be seen in the seal of Christophorus Báthory from 1578 (http://www.hubert-herald.nl/RomTransilvania3.htm)
Curved piles couped, which can be seen a 1595 portrait of Zsigmond Báthori (https://regiritka.oszk.hu/apponyi-metszetek/bathori-zsigmond-portreja-6/) and in a portrait of Cardinal Andrew Báthory in Skokloster Castle (http://www.hubert-herald.nl/RomTransilvania3.htm)
Depictions of literal wolf's teeth issuing from a piece of jawbone which itself issues from the side of the field, which can be seen a late 16th or early 17th C portrait of Zsigmond Báthori (https://regiritka.oszk.hu/apponyi-metszetek/bathori-zsigmond-portreja/)
Depictions of literal wolf's teeth issuing from a piece of jawbone inset from the side of the shield, which can be seen in the Royal seal of István Báthory King of Poland 1576-1586 (http://www.hubert-herald.nl/RomTransilvania3.htm)
A field division, known in modern German blazon as Wolfzahnschnitt, which can be seen in the seal of Sigismund Báthory from 1601 (http://www.hubert-herald.nl/RomTransilvania3.htm) and in the arms of Saesner in the 1548 Wappenbuch der Arlberg-Bruderschaft (https://haab-digital.klassik-stiftung.de/viewer/fullscreen/1249054540/94/)
In light of the many ways this charge can be represented, we adopt the following guidelines:
Three or more wolf's teeth issuant from dexter or sinister are equivalent to a field division (though we decline to rule on what blazon term we'd use for that division). This will also be considered equivalent to pily barry, just as wolf's teeth conflict with piles ("there is no difference granted between piles fesswise and wolf's teeth" [Ulvar van der Nederlanden, 11/2006, R-Ealdormere]).
Three or more wolf's teeth issuant from other directions are equivalent to the corresponding orientation of pily divisions.
The use of fewer than three teeth remains a step from core practice [Dubhagán mac Ruairc, 05/2004, R-Meridies], barring evidence of wolf's teeth appearing singly or in pairs.
Wolf's teeth will conflict with other wolf's teeth no matter what style of depiction is used, and whether they issue from the edge of the field or not
There is no difference for number between three or more wolf's teeth.
One of the best sources we have available to us for Hungarian names is Régi magyar családnevek szótára by Kázmér Miklós, published in the Hungarian language in 1993. This resource can be hard to use for those who cannot read the Hungarian language, and it is also not readily available online. This can be a barrier to those who are seeking to research and register Hungarian names.
In 2009, ELTE Magyar Nyelvtudományi és Finnugor Intézet, Magyar Nyelvtudományi Társaság, published Régi magyar családnevek névvégmutató szótárá (Reverse dictionary of historical Hungarian family names). This resource is readily available online as a downloadable pdf. It contains not only references back to Kázmér's work, but works by Fehértói Katalin and N. Fodor János, among others. This volume is an excellent resource but it must be used with care. It is important to note that the reverse lookup only provides the date for the first recorded instance of the name in question. This is helpful in that it will immediately indicate if a name is first found post-period. However, all of the names in this source are in modern Hungarian. A name found in this source must be cross-checked in Kázmér's original work or found in another credible source to find which spellings are dated to our period.
We strongly recommend reading through the entire introduction before using this source. The introduction is published in Hungarian and English, making the information more accessible. The editors are clear that their work is most beneficial when used as a companion source and not as a stand-alone volume.
We hope this information helps make the available data we have for Hungarian names more accessible.
Recently, we have seen an increase in submissions using Name Construction in Medieval Japan (NCMJ) by Solveig Throndardottir to construct individual name elements. This is very exciting to see! As a result, we wish to provide some reminders about how to use this volume effectively.
Readings for kanji are split into two major categories. These are called kun-yomi, the Japanese reading of the character, and on-yomi, which is based on the original Chinese pronunciation of the character. We do not currently have any evidence that a multi-kanji name element can be constructed by combining kun-yomi readings with on-yomi readings. So how can we tell the difference? Helpfully, in NCMJ, the two different readings are shown by their capitalization. Kun-yomi readings are written in all lowercase, while on-yomi readings are written in all uppercase.
We also take this opportunity to summarize the name type table found in NCMJ: B is for 'Infants and Children', E is for 'Emperors', H is for 'Chinese Style Name', F is for 'Women', M is for 'Masculine Yobina', N is for 'Masculine Nanori', S is for 'Surname' and Y is for 'Era Name'. When constructing a multi-kanji name from the name tables in NCMJ, make sure that the name type and the reading of all the kanji match each other.
NCMJ will also show whether a kanji was found by itself or what positions it is found in if the name has multiple kanji. Kanji that are only found as the second kanji of a two-kanji name element may not be used as the first kanji of a two-kanji name element, for example. When a name is constructed, the positioning of the kanji must be taken into account.
Finally, we wish to highlight the lists of historical names that can be chosen from without the need to construct a new name. These are in their own section of the volume called "Japanese Names From Historical Sources". Lists can be found for surnames, masculine nanori, masculine yobina, feminine names, and ancient and medieval clans, among others.
We hope this information is useful to those who are considering Japanese names, submissions heralds, and consulting heralds alike!
As proposed on Palimpsest's May 30th Rules Letter, a new table (Table 7) is being added to the Glossary of Terms that shows the default arrangement for charges. This table will be available at https://heraldry.sca.org/coagloss.html#arrangement within a few days.
Armory that doesn't match the defaults will be reblazoned as it is identified.
On July 22, 2023, on the occasion of Their Coronation and in Their first court, Their Majesties Mordygan & Ymanie of the Outlands admitted Matilda Seton, just-invested Blue Iris Herald (Royal Court Herald) and long-time Weel Herald (Education), to the Order of the Stag and Chalice for fifteen-plus years of service to the kingdom.
On September 9, 2023, at Carolingia's 50-year celebration, Their Majesties Brennan and Caoilfhionn of the East saw fit to induct Anezka Liska z Kolina, Blue Tyger Herald, into Their Order of the Silver Crescent. The Silver Crescent is the East Kingdom's grant-level service award.
In Principal Herald news, at Lochac's Spring Crown on September 2, 2023, Annys Blodwell stepped down from Crux Australia Principal Herald after an extra long tenure during the worst of COVID. My thanks to her for her service! Her successor is Isabella de Bordeaux. Welcome aboard!
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.
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 August Laurel decisions were made at the Pelican meeting held on Sunday, August 20, 2023 and the Wreath meeting held on Saturday, August 12, 2023. These meetings considered the following letters of intent: Calontir (24 Apr, 2023) (pushed due to lack of packet), Ansteorra (03 May, 2023), Gleann Abhann (09 May, 2023), Laurel LoPaD (09 May, 2023), Meridies (10 May, 2023), Artemisia (15 May, 2023), An Tir (17 May, 2023), Ćthelmearc (23 May, 2023), Lochac (28 May, 2023), Outlands (28 May, 2023), Avacal (30 May, 2023), Middle (30 May, 2023), Palimpsest Rules Letter (30 May, 2023), West (30 May, 2023), Caid (31 May, 2023), Drachenwald (31 May, 2023), Ealdormere (31 May, 2023), East (31 May, 2023), Laurel LoPaD (10 Jul, 2023) (redraws). All commentary, responses, and rebuttals should have been entered into OSCAR by Monday, July 31, 2023.
The September Laurel decisions were made at the Pelican meeting held on Sunday, September 10, 2023 and the Wreath meeting held on Saturday, September 2, 2023. These meetings considered the following letters of intent: Atenveldt (30 May, 2023) (pushed due to lack of packet), Meridies (02 Jun, 2023), Palimpsest Rules Letter (03 Jun, 2023), Atlantia (04 Jun, 2023), Palimpsest Rules Letter (04 Jun, 2023), Ansteorra (05 Jun, 2023), Calontir (07 Jun, 2023), Laurel LoPaD (14 Jun, 2023), Artemisia (15 Jun, 2023), An Tir (18 Jun, 2023), Calontir (19 Jun, 2023), Middle (19 Jun, 2023), Ealdormere (25 Jun, 2023), Ansteorra (28 Jun, 2023), Drachenwald (29 Jun, 2023), East (29 Jun, 2023), Outlands (29 Jun, 2023), Atenveldt (30 Jun, 2023), Atlantia (30 Jun, 2023), Lochac (30 Jun, 2023), Northshield (30 Jun, 2023), Laurel LoPaD (13 Aug, 2023) (redraws). All commentary, responses, and rebuttals should have been entered into OSCAR by Thursday, August 31, 2023.
The October Laurel decisions were made at the Pelican meeting held on Sunday, October 15, 2023 and the Wreath meeting held on Saturday, October 14, 2023. These meetings considered the following letters of intent: Gleann Abhann (06 Jul, 2023), Meridies (06 Jul, 2023), Trimaris (09 Jul, 2023), Ćthelmearc (11 Jul, 2023), Laurel LoPaD (11 Jul, 2023), Calontir (12 Jul, 2023), Artemisia (15 Jul, 2023), Palimpsest Rules Letter (16 Jul, 2023), Palimpsest Rules Letter (23 Jul, 2023), East (24 Jul, 2023), Middle (24 Jul, 2023), Ealdormere (25 Jul, 2023), Ćthelmearc (27 Jul, 2023), Meridies (27 Jul, 2023), Lochac (28 Jul, 2023), Ansteorra (30 Jul, 2023), Avacal (30 Jul, 2023), An Tir (31 Jul, 2023), Atenveldt (31 Jul, 2023), Drachenwald (31 Jul, 2023), East Other Letter (31 Jul, 2023), West (31 Jul, 2023). All commentary, responses, and rebuttals should have been entered into OSCAR by Saturday, September 30, 2023.
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 2023-10-08T16:24:28