Society for Creative Anachronism
College of Arms
For the April 2026 meetings, printed June 8, 2026
To all the College of Arms and all others who may read this missive, from Birgitta Laurel, Sara Pelican, and Ollivier Wreath, greetings.
This month we registered the name Sara bint Yasamin which combines an Persian given name, Yasamin, in an Arabic matronymic name formation. The Arabic equivalent of Yasamin as seen in names is al-Yasamin. Under most circumstances, this lingual mix within a single name phrase is not allowed under SENA PN1B1, which states that a name element or phrase must not mix languages.
However, we have evidence of this this lingual mix in period. For example, Abd al-Rahman ibn Rustam (a circa 8th century CE political leader) uses the Persian name Rustam as part of an Arabic nasab. Likewise, Abu Nasr Baha al-Din Sabur ibn Ardashir (a circa 990-1000 CE vizier of the Buyid Empire) uses the Persian name Ardashir to form the Arabic patronymic nasab and Abu Ahmad 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Ali ibn Marzuban Tabib Marzubani (a disciple of Avicenna) uses the Persian Marzubani to form the patronymic. Thus, the use of a Persian given name as part of an Arabic patronymic formation is registerable based on this evidence, and at this time we are explicitly allowing the use of Persian names in Arabic patronymic and metronymic bynames.
Recently, the topic of what constitutes an authentic name has been the subject of much discussion. To that end, we are clarifying that authenticity is defined in the Glossary of Terms, and that depending on language and the data we have available, that the time gap between name elements will vary. Further, at this point, Pelican does not consider a name to be authentic if it is using the lingua Societatis allowance.
For instance, an authentic Bavarian name would be a name documented with all elements within 20 years of each other, using the dialect that was prevalent at the time, i.e. Middle or Old High German, and all name elements documented from Bavaria.
Using this definition, a name that uses the lingua Societatis form of a known, underlying name, is not considered authentic. For example, the name Albrecht von Munichen is an authentic name for mid-14th century Bavaria, while Albrech of Munich is not, due to the use of the lingua Societatis allowance.
We hope that this clarifies the definition for submitters.
This month we returned the order name Order of the Harbingers of Joy [R-Outlands]. while accepting Order of the Joiner of Trimaris [A-Trimaris]. Both were documented using the pattern -- Order of + [Heraldic Charge]. Per precedent [07/2023-CL], Pelican will accept reasonable synonyms of heraldic charges, period artefacts, animals, etc. If a human is going to be used in such a way, two options are available to submitters. Firstly, there must be a depiction of the human figure that can be clearly identified as that occupation. For example, a joiner could carry a large wood plane, a jester may be dressed in motley, a messenger may carry an appropriate bag, etc. Secondly, the name of a group of legendary people, e.g. the Grail-Templars can be used, but not that of a real group of people.
In either case, if a synonym is being used, the synonym must either be a close lingua Societatis form, or else a synonym that was used in period. For example, a carpenter may be described as a tree or wood-wright, a joiner, or an artificer. a messenger may be described as a courier or a scarceler (see the Middle English Dictionary).
At this time, we are explicitly stating that synonyms must be plausible and clear to a regular member of the populace -- one should not have to go through several similar synonyms to get to "what is this person's occupation." For example, the modern term harbinger means someone or something that foreshadows an event. This could then be interpreted as "someone who brings forewarning", which could then be "they are carrying a message, ergo they are a messenger." Furthermore, in period, a harbinger was either a host, or someone sent ahead to secure lodging, which then leads to a similar convoluted trail, akin to six degrees of separation.
The revision of SENA A, Armory, proposed on Palimpsest's January 2, 2026 Rules Letter is accepted. This revision clarifies that all items registered as regalia are treated as fieldless (or tinctureless) badges for conflict purposes. The revised wording will be available at https://heraldry.sca.org/sena.html#A within a few days.
As proposed on Palimpsest's January 2, 2026 Rules Letter, A3C, Voiding and Fimbriation, is revised to note that neither charges with breaks in their outlines nor charges issuant from the line of division may be fimbriated. The revised wording will be available at https://heraldry.sca.org/sena.html#A3C within a few days.
On 9 April at Rowany Festival, Ţorvaldr and Amabilia, Konungr and Dróttning of Lochac, elevated Pádraig Lowther to the order of the Laurel. While Pádraig is widely recognized in the art of brewing, he also makes very significant contributions in public speaking, rhetoric, and education in heraldry.
On 11 April at Spring Crown Tourney, Tuomas and Gilbert, Kings of Drachenwald, elevated Jacquelyna de Bellmont, Posthorn Herald and precedence clerk, to the Order of the Pelican.
On 9 May at the William Marshall Memorial Tourney, Their Majesties Ţorvaldr and Amabilia of Lochac elevated Brían dorcha ua Conaill to the Order of the Pelican. During the ceremony, Ollivier Wreath presented Brían with the Greyraven Medallion, making him the 28th bearer of the College of Arms' legacy Pelican medallion.
On the same day at Altavia Anniversary in the Kingdom of Caid, in the Court of Their Royal Majesties Wilhelm and Lorissa, Hemneter Pennefer, Crescent Principal Herald, bestowed on Damien von Baden the rank of Herald Extraordinary.
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 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.
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 April Laurel decisions were made at the Pelican meeting held on Sunday, April 12, 2026 and the Wreath meeting held on Saturday, April 11, 2026. These meetings considered the following letters of intent: Caid (02 Jan, 2026), Palimpsest Rules Letter (02 Jan, 2026), Trimaris (03 Jan, 2026), Calontir (04 Jan, 2026), Atlantia (09 Jan, 2026), Meridies (22 Jan, 2026), Avacal (23 Jan, 2026), Ćthelmearc (26 Jan, 2026), Drachenwald (29 Jan, 2026), Outlands (30 Jan, 2026), West (30 Jan, 2026), Atenveldt (31 Jan, 2026), Ealdormere (31 Jan, 2026), East (31 Jan, 2026), Laurel LoPaD (31 Jan, 2026), Lochac (31 Jan, 2026), Middle (31 Jan, 2026), Meridies (01 Feb, 2026), Laurel LoPfR (12 Feb, 2026) (pushed due to lack of extra time for redraws), Laurel LoPfR (23 Feb, 2026). All commentary, responses, and rebuttals should have been entered into OSCAR by Tuesday, March 31, 2026.
The May Laurel decisions were made at the Pelican meeting held on Sunday, May 17, 2026 and the Wreath meeting held on Friday, May 15, 2026. These meetings considered the following letters of intent: Gleann Abhann (08 Jan, 2026) (pushed due to missing documents), Ćthelmearc (25 Jan, 2026) (pushed due to too many items on month), Ćthelmearc (27 Jan, 2026) (pushed due to too many items in the month), Ansteorra (31 Jan, 2026), Northshield (01 Feb, 2026), Calontir (04 Feb, 2026), Atlantia (09 Feb, 2026), Gleann Abhann (11 Feb, 2026), Laurel LoPaD (22 Feb, 2026), Palimpsest Rules Letter (22 Feb, 2026), Artemisia (23 Feb, 2026), Caid (26 Feb, 2026), Avacal (27 Feb, 2026), An Tir (28 Feb, 2026), Ansteorra (28 Feb, 2026), Atenveldt (28 Feb, 2026), Drachenwald (28 Feb, 2026), Ealdormere (28 Feb, 2026), East (28 Feb, 2026), Lochac (28 Feb, 2026), Middle (28 Feb, 2026), Outlands (28 Feb, 2026). All commentary, responses, and rebuttals should have been entered into OSCAR by Thursday, April 30, 2026.
The June Laurel decisions will be made at the Pelican meeting held on Sunday, June 14, 2026 and the Wreath meeting held on Friday, June 05, 2026. These meetings will consider the following letters of intent: Meridies (01 Mar, 2026), Atlantia (03 Mar, 2026), Calontir (05 Mar, 2026), Calontir (07 Mar, 2026), An Tir (15 Mar, 2026), Atenveldt (30 Mar, 2026), Avacal (30 Mar, 2026), East (30 Mar, 2026), Lochac (30 Mar, 2026), Outlands (30 Mar, 2026), Ansteorra (31 Mar, 2026), Caid (31 Mar, 2026), Drachenwald (31 Mar, 2026), Ealdormere (31 Mar, 2026), Middle (31 Mar, 2026), Northshield (31 Mar, 2026), West (31 Mar, 2026), Laurel LoPfR (12 Apr, 2026), Laurel LoPfR (20 Apr, 2026). All commentary, responses, and rebuttals should have been entered into OSCAR by Sunday, May 31, 2026.
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.
Be assured that I remain
In service
Birgitta Lulli
Laurel Queen of Arms
Created at Mon 08 Jun 2026 07:48:43 PM CDT