Society for Creative Anachronism
College of Arms
For the September 2024 meetings, printed October 23, 2024
To all the College of Arms and all others who may read this missive, from Birgitta Laurel, Elisabetta outgoing-Pelican, Sara incoming-Pelican, and Iago Wreath, greetings.
This month marks the last of a three-month transition in Pelican decisions. This month's names decisions for the kingdoms of Æthelmearc, Ansteorra, Avacal, Meridies and the Laurel LoPaD were made by Elisabetta. All other decisions were made by Sara.
In discussing Irish Names by Ó Corrain and Maguire (OCM), Appendix F states in part that "This book also contains a number of names of purely legendary figures or semi-mythic relatives of saints; neither of these sorts of names are registerable." However, last month SENA PN1B2d2, Pattern of Borrowing Names, was revised. These types of names are now considered in the same manner as other literary names. While names of superhuman characters are still prohibited (barring evidence of their use by everyday humans), names of legendary and semi-mythic relatives of saints may be registerable under PN1B2d2. Therefore, the wording in AH Appendix F is changed to "This book also contains a number of names of purely legendary figures or semi-mythic relatives of saints; which must be evaluated for suitability as literary names in accordance with SENA PN1B2d2."
The updated wording will be available at https://heraldry.sca.org/admin.html#APPENDIXF within a few days.
We have seen an increase in the diversity of excellent sources used of late! Thank you to the commentary heralds who have found and shared them during our commentary process. To make an effort to continually improve ease of access of these resources and collect them into one place, the following changes are made to the Administrative Handbook Appendix H, otherwise known as "the no-photocopy list". Specifically, we thank Sneferu Golden Zule and Pennefer Increscent for the wealth of Egyptian resources we are able to add below.
The 1901 publication of "A Greek-English Lexicon" by Liddell, Scott and Jones can be found on the Internet Archive at https://archive.org/details/greekenglishlex00lidduoft/. This link, as well as the abbreviation [LSJ], is added to the existing entry.
The following link is added to the available links for Cleasby & Vigfusson: https://cleasby-vigfusson-dictionary.vercel.app/.
The following link is added to the available links for Zoega: https://old-icelandic.vercel.app/.
The following resources are added to "No-Photocopy Dictionaries and Encyclopedias":
[Budge] An Egyptian Hieroglyphic Dictionary by E.A. Budge, https://archive.org/details/b29930571_0002/page/n3/mode/2up
[CDD] Chicago Demotic Dictionary edited by Janet H. Johnson, https://isac.uchicago.edu/research/publications/chicago-demotic-dictionary
[Crusca 16XX] Vocabolario degli Accademia della Crusca, http://www.lessicografia.it/index.jsp (NOTE: The year must be specified; only the first edition (1612) and second edition (1623) are suitable for SCA purposes.)
[DME] Dictionary of Middle Egyptian by Paul Dickson, https://archive.org/details/DictionaryOfMiddleEgyptian
[Fritzner] Ordbog over det gamle norske Sprog by Johan Fritzner, https://old-norwegian-dictionary.vercel.app/
[Kalkar] Ordbog til det ældre danske Sprog by Otto Kalkar, https://old-danish-dictionary.vercel.app/
[Söderwall] Ordbok Öfver svenska medeltids-språke by K.F Söderwall, https://old-swedish-dictionary.vercel.app/
[TLIO] Tesoro della Lingua Italiana delle Origini, http://tlio.ovi.cnr.it/TLIO/
The updates will be available at https://heraldry.sca.org/admin.html#APPENDIXH within a few days.
This month I want to highlight two different ways to use Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, fondly known as DMNES. This large dictionary of given names across multiple time periods and cultures can be found online at https://dmnes.org/. The 'Browse' feature here will allow names to be viewed alphabetically. But sometimes, other types of sorting might be desired, such as by culture or gender. Below are two ways that other heralds have used DMNES, and we encourage both heralds and submitters alike to use them to explore options for new names and personae.
The first is a blog post written by Ané{zv}ka Li{sv}ka z Kolína, https://orandvert.blogspot.com/2024/08/dmnes-off-label-use-generating-lists-of.html. This post discusses how to navigate through DMNES to generate lists of names by culture.
The second is a resource built by Mathghamhain Ua Ruadháin to automatically filter the Dictionary in multiple ways: https://digitalherald.org/dmnes/.
We thank both of these heralds for allowing us to feature their resources this way. Happy browsing!
Friends, let me first say up front that being Pelican Queen of Arms for these past four years has been an extreme honor. When I started commenting at the Laurel level, doing this job has been my dream in the SCA. From the time that I started it with the first decision meeting in October 2020 to the time that I will finally finish the last proof pass of the September 2024 LoAR, I can safely say that it not only was a dream come true, but it exceeded every expectation and possibility that I thought it could.
This was only possible due to the trust of the College of Arms: to Juliana de Luna, who as Laurel trusted me to do the job; Emma de Fetherstan and Birgitta Lulli, her successors who have supported pursuing the changes I have wanted to facilitate; Alys Mackyntoish, my predecessor, for trusting my ability and providing excellent guidance and transition; and Jeanne Marie Lacroix, whose work as Palimpsest Herald has been invaluable and without whose contributions none of these rules changes could have been possible - I owe you debts of gratitude that it is not possible to repay.
To Oddr Þiálfason, to serve beside you as Wreath Sovereign was a delight. You remain an amazing co-conspirator; that we had this last opportunity on this stage to shape our community for those who follow us will always be a treasured part of our friendship. And to Iago ab Adam, his successor, you have already done the office a great service. I cannot wait to see what you accomplish in the second half of your tenure. Our new friendship has been a boon to me.
To everyone who has attended my meetings, spoken with me in person or otherwise advised me on serious matters, and whose work on this weird and beautiful blend of SCA submissions rules and onomastic science makes our collective knowledge better - you are too numerous to name here, but please know that you were seen and appreciated. Keep doing this research, as much or as little as you please, because it all matters. We are only as good as what we know, and when we know better, we can do better.
And to Sara al-Garnatiyya, my successor - may this office bring you everything that you hoped it could and more. May you make it your own and lead it into the future in every way that I know you can. You are a capable and worthy successor, and it is my honor to give my office into your hands. You will be a brilliant Pelican Queen of Arms.
And so I say goodbye, for now... and see you on the other side soon.
Know that I remain,
Your humble servant,
Elisabetta Tommaso di Carduci
One last time, Pellicana Regina d'Armi
Some submissions this month caused us to consider how we treat gillyflowers for the purposes of conflict. A review of a number of period examples shows very little consistency in depictions: some are emblazoned as multi-petaled flowers in one place and as roses or cinquefoils in another; and one is blazoned as "jellye flowers" in one armorial, and emblazoned as lilies in another. The only reasonably consistent element is that flowers blazoned as gillyflowers are drawn with the edges of the petals pinked, which precedent [Gwenhevare Leopard, 07/2012, A-Atenveldt] states is the defining feature of gillyflowers in Society armory.
Because of this range of depictions, we are adopting the following standards:
Gillyflowers will continue be considered multi-petaled flowers and will conflict with other multi-petaled flowers
Gillyflowers will only be considered a DC, not an SC, from few-petaled flowers with non-pinked petals, including roses
Gillyflowers will conflict with few-petaled flowers with pinked or rough-edged petals
We direct Palimpsest to add this information to SENA Appendix M1i.
We wish to than Sneferu Golden Zule for her research regarding alternate titles in Egyptian. This research was presented in Palimpsest's June 6th (Demotic Egyptian) and June 7th (Middle Egyptian) Rules Letters. Based on commentary and additional research, these titles are accepted with some modifications. Spellings have been standardized across both sets of titles with a preference for modern transliteration practices.
In Demotic Egyptian (c. 650 BCE - 5th century CE), the proposal haty-a for the rank of county is not accepted. Given the difficulties in mapping Egyptian social structure to Society ranks, we were unable to determine whether the title corresponds to Count, Royal Peers in general, or Royal Peers and Baronage. The proposed hery (masculine) and heryt (feminine) are accepted for the Baronage instead of peerage orders. Instead, kherpu (masculine) and kherpet (feminine) are the appropriate alternate titles for all of the peerage orders.
In Middle Egyptian (2000 BCE - 4th century BCE), the proposed haty-a (masculine) and hatet-a (feminine) are accepted as alternate titles for both Royal Peers and Baronage rather than the proposed Coronet rank. Instead, sa nesu (masculine) and sat nesu are accepted for Coronet (both Kingdom Heirs and Territorial Coronets). For the Crown, nesu or ity are appropriate masculine titles and nesuyt or ityt are appropriate feminine titles. The masculine title hery (proposed for Peerage Orders) more closely maps to the Baronage. The feminine form, heryt is also accepted for the Baronage.
The complete list of accepted alternate titles will be available at https://heraldry.sca.org/titles.html within a few days.
Palimpsest's June 9th Rules Letter proposed changes to SENA PN4C, Claims of Power, to make it clear that a combination of name phrases that appears to be a claim of powers will not be allowed even if the individual elements are registerable. This proposed change is accepted with some modifications to the examples. The addition of a corresponding section for armory, A6G is also accepted.
The same Rules Letter proposed changes to A3F3, Obtrusively Modern, to make it clear that armory which, when combined with a name, makes a modern joke or reference that destroys medieval ambience and drags the average person mentally back to the present day is not allowed. Either the name or the armory will be registered but not both. This proposal is accepted with some changes to the examples. Note that a combination of name and armory may not be obtrusively modern but may still be considered a claim of power under A6G.
The updated wording for these three sections will be available at https://heraldry.sca.org/sena.html within a few days.
Both of the proposals on Palimpsest's June 9th Rules Letter dealing with gyronny are accepted. The first updates SENA A5F1b to make it clear that gyronny of three does not get an SC from per pall or per pall inverted and that gyronny of six or more pieces is substantially different from all other partitions. The second updates SENA A5G1b to make it clear that gyronny of three does not get a DC from per pall or per pall inverted.
The updated wording for both sections will be available at https://heraldry.sca.org/sena.html within a few days.
Two additional changes to SENA, based on Palimpsest's June 9th Rules Letter, are accepted. The first updates the example in A3D2c, Unity of Posture and Orientation to allow designs with three identical charges arranged two and one where the upper two charges are addorsed or respectant/combattant and the bottommost charge in the same posture and orientation as one of the two upper charges. The second updates A5C1, Blazons Which Must Be Considered, to include information on when three or more wolf's teeth must be considered a field division and when they are simply charges. The updated wording for both sections will be available at https://heraldry.sca.org/sena.html within a few days.
On the June 2024 return of the device of Arnóra Gylðir, we wrote:
When comparing a submitted piece of armory with a registered piece of armory, we consider the registered one as "fixed", so the question that needs to be asked is whether the charges in the submitted armory can be in the same place as those in the registered armory; we do not need to consider that the charges in both could hypothetically be in the same arrangement, such as in pale.
The way this was worded introduces an unintended asymmetry in considering conflict: in general if two items conflict, they should conflict no matter which one was registered first, and this ruling does not follow that guideline.
What was intended is better described as follows:
When comparing a submitted piece of armory with a registered piece of armory, the question that needs to be asked is whether the charges in each piece of armory can be in the same arrangement as those in the other; if the charges in at least one piece cannot be in the same arrangement as the other, then the change in arrangement is forced and there is not a DC available. We do not need to consider that the charges could be in some other arrangement, just that they could not be arranged the same as in the other piece of armory.
This information will be included in planned updates to SENA A5G6.
On September 7, at the Ansteorran Heraldic and Scribal Symposium, Annais de Montgomerie, Star Principal Herald, granted Brian Ó hUilliam, former Bordure Herald (submissions) and many times Golden Staff (royal court herald), the rank and style of Herald Extraordinary.
On September 28, 2024, in their Court at Ducal Challenge, Their Majesties Tindall and Emerson of the East elevated Yehuda ben Moshe, who previously served as Brigantia Principal Herald, Blue Tyger Herald, and Elmet Herald, to the Order of Defense.
Also at Ducal Challenge, Their Majesties elevated Eldrich Gaiman, a consulting herald who also previously served as a baronial herald and submissions herald for the East, to the Order of Defense.
Congratulations are due to Konstantia Kaloethina, Greek Fire Herald Extraordinary, and their partner Bandon Greenwich on the occasion of their wedding day, October 5! May you have many years of happiness on this journey ahead!
At Great Western War, on October 12, Alisone Grey of Cranleigh was inducted into the Order of Defense by Sven and Iseabail, King and Queen of Caid. Alisone has served as a court herald in the East and in Caid.
And in sadder news, on October 10, Thomas Longshanks, also known as Tomas de Montroig, passed away. A long-time Atlantian herald, he will be missed.
Please send information about happenings to major heralds and major happenings to all heralds to Laurel, so that it can be published here.
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 https://oscar.sca.org/index.php?action=137.
The September Laurel decisions were made at the Pelican meeting held on Sunday, September 15, 2024 and the Wreath meeting held on Sunday, September 8, 2024. These meetings considered the following letters of intent: Calontir (03 Jun, 2024), Meridies (05 Jun, 2024), Palimpsest Rules Letter (06 Jun, 2024), Palimpsest Rules Letter (07 Jun, 2024), Palimpsest Rules Letter (09 Jun, 2024), Caid (14 Jun, 2024), Gleann Abhann (16 Jun, 2024), Laurel LoPaD (16 Jun, 2024), Middle (17 Jun, 2024), Æthelmearc (20 Jun, 2024), Avacal (21 Jun, 2024), An Tir (25 Jun, 2024), Atenveldt (25 Jun, 2024), Ealdormere (27 Jun, 2024), East (28 Jun, 2024), Lochac (28 Jun, 2024), Ansteorra (29 Jun, 2024), An Tir (30 Jun, 2024), Drachenwald (30 Jun, 2024). All commentary, responses, and rebuttals should have been entered into OSCAR by Saturday, August 31, 2024.
The October Laurel decisions were made at the Pelican meeting held on Sunday, October 13, 2024 and the Wreath meeting held on Sunday, October 6, 2024. These meetings considered the following letters of intent: Atlantia (02 Jul, 2024), Calontir (05 Jul, 2024), Meridies (08 Jul, 2024), Palimpsest Rules Letter (09 Jul, 2024), Laurel LoPaD (10 Jul, 2024), Palimpsest Rules Letter (10 Jul, 2024), Laurel LoPaD (13 Jul, 2024), Trimaris (18 Jul, 2024), Avacal (19 Jul, 2024), Ansteorra (26 Jul, 2024), Caid (26 Jul, 2024), [East (26 Jul, 2024), An Tir (28 Jul, 2024), Lochac (28 Jul, 2024), West (28 Jul, 2024), Atlantia (29 Jul, 2024), Æthelmearc (31 Jul, 2024), Drachenwald (31 Jul, 2024), Ealdormere (31 Jul, 2024), Middle (31 Jul, 2024), Outlands (31 Jul, 2024), Palimpsest Rules Letter (31 Jul, 2024), Laurel LoPfR (24 Aug, 2024). All commentary, responses, and rebuttals should have been entered into OSCAR by Monday, September 30, 2024.
The November Laurel decisions will be made at the Pelican meeting held on Sunday, November 10, 2024 and the Wreath meeting held on Saturday, November 9, 2024. These meetings will consider the following letters of intent: Calontir (04 Aug, 2024), Meridies (07 Aug, 2024), Gleann Abhann (11 Aug, 2024), Laurel (15 Aug, 2024), An Tir (19 Aug, 2024), Northshield (19 Aug, 2024), Northshield (20 Aug, 2024), Laurel LoPaD (25 Aug, 2024), Caid (26 Aug, 2024), Ealdormere (26 Aug, 2024), East (27 Aug, 2024), Æthelmearc (28 Aug, 2024), Ansteorra (29 Aug, 2024), Caid (29 Aug, 2024), Lochac (29 Aug, 2024), Outlands (29 Aug, 2024), Atenveldt (30 Aug, 2024), Drachenwald (30 Aug, 2024), Middle (30 Aug, 2024), Trimaris (30 Aug, 2024), Palimpsest Rules Letter (31 Aug, 2024), Laurel LoPfR (18 Sep, 2024), Laurel LoPfR (04 Oct, 2024). All commentary, responses, and rebuttals should be entered into OSCAR by Thursday, October 31, 2024.
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.
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 uploaded to the OSCAR packet for that letter. For armory, only colored forms are required.
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.
To subscribe to the mailings of the LoAR, please see the bottom of https://heraldry.sca.org/heraldry/lists.html#lists for more instructions.
For all administrative matters, please contact Laurel.
Be assured that I remain
In service
Birgitta Lulli
Laurel Queen of Arms
Created at 2024-10-23T20:58:46