Heraldic Titles, Regalia and History

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History of Heralds, Regalia, Titles[edit | edit source]

Handbook of Heraldry (free e-book, has 19th cent. ideas about livery) - http://openlibrary.org/books/OL23661152M/Handbook_of_heraldry

"Heraldic Titles from the Middle Ages and Renaissance: Overview" by Julia Smith - http://medievalscotland.org/jes/HeraldicTitles/

"Heralds in Love: A Pursuivant Fad" blogged conversation about Pursuivant Tabards and ceremony - http://fleurtyherald.wordpress.com/2014/05/13/heralds-in-love-a-pursuivant-fad/

"Heraldic Titles in Medieval England" by Christie L. Ward (Gunnvǫr silfrahárr), ©2014 - a compiled list of heraldic titles from England found in Joseph Edmondson (Mowbray Herald Extraordinary), A Complete Body of Heraldry (Vol. 1, London: T. Spilsbury. 1780). http://www.vikinganswerlady.com/Stars/Heraldic_Titles.htm

Information about Heralds - http://www.s-gabriel.org/heraldry/heralds.shtml includes:

Heraldic Tabards - http://threegoldbees.com/collegia-notes/4-heraldic-tabards

Build a Better Heraldic Tabard - http://herald.lochac.sca.org/files/2014/01/Tabard_Rowan.pdf (Mistress Rowan Perigrynne)

Sammelband mehrer Wappenbuch [BSB 391] portraits of heralds with tabards and staves. -

http://daten.digitale-sammlungen.de/~db/ausgaben/thumbnailseite.html?id=00007681&seite=421&image=bsb00007681_00421.jpg&fip=193.174.98.30

Neubecker had an undated photo of a 1510 "resume tabard". Possibly this one - 

freelance_full.jpg

English officers of arms, 1511, note the pursuivants with tabards athwart on the left.
Herald Pursuivant with tabard athwart, 1660s English

Precedents:[edit | edit source]

Precedents of the SCA College of Arms - http://heraldry.sca.org/laurel/precedents.html
Morsulus Heralds Website - http://www.morsulus.org/ (to search the LoARs and Precedents)
Use the above links to be sure any precedents listed below haven't been superseded by newer precedents.

Collected Precedents of the SCA: Titles -[edit | edit source]

http://heraldry.sca.org/precedents/CompiledNamePrecedents/Titles.html

August 2022 CL - Expansion of Tincture Names for Non-Personal Names[edit | edit source]

Previous precedent has disallowed the use of sanguine in the registration of order names. [Order of Sanguins Thorn, 03/2020, A-An Tir] After extensive consultation with Wreath, for the reasons set forth below, Pelican hereby explicitly overturns this precedent. We hereby allow tenne, sanguine, and sinople as period heraldic tinctures in non-personal name submissions as outlined below. We also expand the use of ordinary color words to those that can be found in period heraldic treatises and armorials to describe blazon terms.

Past precedents have demonstrated a progressive approach to using blazon terms for color in certain types of non-personal names. For example, on the April 2012 Cover Letter, Pelican wrote,

Several French terms are identical to the terms used for heraldic tinctures, including vert, Or, and argent (which is found in sign names but not order names). This means that half the colors used in order names (vert, Or and argent) are at least sometimes identical to the heraldic terms. Even vaire is found in French inn signs. Similarly, early blazon seems to have sometimes used the everyday color terms rouge and noir. Given the variability in the use of heraldic and everyday terms, and the confusion this causes for submitters and commenters, we are hereby allowing the use of heraldic color terms in order names as well as the everyday terms.

This approach was reinforced on the March 2020 Cover Letter, where Pelican expanded this precedent to allow the use of single-name furs in order names,

Commenters pointed out that we already allow the use of some heraldic tinctures in order names and heraldic titles for which we do not have evidence in period. For example, we do not have examples of purpure/purple in period order names, yet we allow it in order names and heraldic titles in the Society.

We now expand these precedents to include all types of non-personal names, including household names. The data that has emerged between April 2012 and today has only increased the potential for confusion, not decreased it. The overlap between everyday color words and blazon terms extends to other languages spoken outside of England instead of just French; in some of these languages, ordinary color words are used in blazon into the 16th century. Given this, it is unfair to continue the division between which color words can be used for different types of non-personal names.

Continuing this progressive approach, Wreath and Pelican have considered whether all blazon terms for colors found in period armorials, whether or not they are registered by the Society, should be usable in non-personal names. We concluded that they should, based on the following data...

Though terms like tenne, sanguine and sinople may or may not be blazoned by Wreath, this has no bearing on whether or not they were considered heraldic tinctures in the SCA period. Our blazonry conventions were created for easy color recognition; in this way, all shades of red are gules so that they can be easily reproduced by artists for any project without quibbling over slight differences in color choice. This concept does not constrain non-personal names in the same way that it does armory. Therefore, tenne may be used as a period English heraldic tincture, sanguine may be used as a period English and Spanish heraldic tincture and sinople may be used as a period French, Dutch and Spanish heraldic tincture in non-personal name submissions.

Evaluating ordinary color words was a little more difficult. Not all of the heraldic tinctures that are used in SCA blazon were used in all cultures with a strong heraldic tradition in our period. Where there is no ordinary color word found in a period armorial or heraldic treatise to describe a heraldic tincture used in SCA blazon, a word was found in a period dictionary or text. These ordinary color words were compiled into a chart for an update to SENA Appendix E, described elsewhere on this Cover Letter. This achieves some consistency on what period heraldic tinctures and their ordinary color words we allow, even if we do not have evidence of their use in non-personal names at this time.

https://heraldry.sca.org/loar/2022/08/22-08cl.html#3

August 2022 CL - Heraldic Charges for Non-Personal Names[edit | edit source]

On the November 2020 Letter of Acceptances and Returns, we ruled that an order could be named after any period artifact (in that case, a gargoyle) that could plausibly be a heraldic charge, regardless of whether or not the item would actually be registered as a charge by the Wreath Sovereign of Arms: "While the 1991 precedent regarding the registration of gargoyles as charges in Society armory is unaffected by this ruling, the inability to register a gargoyle in armory is orthogonal to the ability to use the charge's name as an element in a group name following the heraldic charge pattern." [Company of the Gargoyle, 11/2020, A-An Tir] We wish to make clear that this precedent continues to apply to any period artifact, even if it does not have a "standard depiction" that would allow Wreath to register it. To the extent that some prior precedents have suggested otherwise, those precedents are hereby overturned.

Anyone submitting a non-personal name that contains the name of an item that has not been previously registered as a charge or does not appear in period heraldry should be prepared to submit evidence that it was a physical object, plant or animal, etc. that was actually found in period or known to period people.

https://heraldry.sca.org/loar/2022/08/22-08cl.html#5

August 2019 CL - So, About Those [Crossed Trumpet] Tabards...[edit | edit source]

Last month, I discussed when it was appropriate for heralds to wear the badge of the College of Arms, stating that the crossed trumpets should not appear on a herald's tabard when they are speaking on behalf of a Royal or Noble; in such instances, the arms of that Noble should appear on the tabard on front, back, and sides.

This generated a substantial amount of lively discussion, wherein several members of the Society both within and without the College voiced several concerns about intent, the status of existing regalia, and whether the College of Arms was phasing out the use of the crossed trumpets entirely.

So, without further ado, some clarifications:

The purpose of the initial post was to draw a line between when a herald is acting as an officer of the Society and as a member of the College of Arms, when wearing the College's badge is appropriate, and when a herald is acting as the voice of an individual or estate, in which case the arms of that individual is appropriate. This came about because there were issues with individuals wearing the badge of office despite not being an officer of the SCA, and behaving in a manner that portrayed the College and the SCA in a less-than-positive light.

Many expressed concerns about whether existing tabards with royal arms on front and back and trumpets on the sleeves were no longer allowed to be used and had to be immediately decomissioned. This is false; existing garments and other equipment currently in use can and should remain in use until they are no longer serviceable and need to be retired. Replacements should be made in keeping with the guidelines provided. This is in keeping with precedents involving regalia that go back to the July 1984 Cover Letter.

In the initial ruling, I discussed heralds wearing the crossed trumpets on duty shifts, such as field heraldry, town cry, or consultation tables. Several kingdoms have tabards which exclusively bear the crossed trumpets for this purpose. Continued use of such tabards by heralds acting in their capacity as officers of the SCA is acceptable, and needn't be discontinued.

The use of the crossed trumpets as an officer's badge is a tradition nearly as old as the SCA itself, and the badge will not be phased out in the foreseeable future. It's a part of the shared cultural identity of the College of Arms, and is instantly recognizable by anyone in the SCA.

That said, we are an organization of history enthusiasts, and a subgroup that focuses on pageantry and regalia. There is so much information about the garmentry and accessories of heralds in period, and those heralds who research and emulate their forebearers enrich the overall appearance and pageantry of the Society. I encourage duty heralds who wish to wear the badge of their office to find ways which are appropriate to their time period and culture.

If you have further questions about use of the crossed trumpets badge, please contact your Principal Herald, or reach out to me directly.

https://heraldry.sca.org/loar/2019/08/19-08cl.html#2

December 2015 - Protection of Real-World Heraldic Titles[edit | edit source]

In the July 2015 Letter of Acceptances and Returns, we pended the heraldic title Faraute Flores to allow discussion on whether it presumed upon a real-world heraldic title from the 15th century. In the case of that submission, Flores served the king of Castille, but no further information about this service or individuals who have held the office could be found.

We asked commenters which real-world historical titles are important enough to protect: any title used by royal appointees, or only the more prominent titles? And how should we characterize the prominence? Some titles are protected because of the importance of the positions (e.g., Garter and Montjoy), whereas others have been protected because a herald who held the title wrote a heraldic book (e.g., Gelre). Others are important because they are still in use (e.g., Bluemantle).

In the past, a number of real-world heraldic titles were unprotected, and several (like Sans Repose and Fleur-de-Lys) have since been registered to Heralds Extraordinary in the Society. However, both of these registrations were made without comment, and did not set precedent. At the time, the issue of presumption was not raised in the Letters of Intent or in commentary.

Therefore, we are setting new protection standards for real-world heraldic titles. In general, we will protect notable heraldic titles, particularly those used by Kings of Arms (e.g.,Garter and Cronista Kings of Arms) and/or that are still in use. We also protect titles created by important royals and important titles created by minor royals. Protection of minor titles created by minor royals, or of heraldic titles associated with authors of well-known heraldic treatises will be considered on a case-by-case basis. If a heraldic title shares a name with an order that is itself worthy of protection, the title is also worthy of protection.

http://heraldry.sca.org/loar/2015/12/15-12cl.html

March 2015 - Transfers of Heraldic Titles from Kingdoms[edit | edit source]

This month, an attempt was made by a kingdom to register a new heraldic title and then transfer it to an individual who had been awarded the right to such a title. In July 2013, the rules were changed for transfer of heraldic titles from groups to individuals. The Cover Letter states:

  • ...while we recognize that there are [heraldic] titles which were registered to kingdoms in the days before individual ownership was allowed, and we will not stop the transfer of already registered titles to the individuals they were registered for, new titles should be registered directly by individuals, not kingdoms. Titles registered before the May 2013 Laurel meetings will be allowed to be transferred to individuals, and all such transfers should be submitted to Laurel by December 31, 2013. Any personal titles currently in process for individuals which are being registered to groups should be withdrawn immediately and resubmitted by the individual, with a fee collected.
  • In the case that the title is expected to be transferred to an individual who has not yet been granted a title, and the above date passes, the individual may purchase the title from the group. All transfer paperwork should be made out as if it were a normal transfer, with the exception that this submission must be accompanied by the usual Laurel payment amount, and that payment must have been collected from the submitter. Whether or not to charge a full submission price instead of just the (currently $ 3) Laurel fee is a matter for the kingdom to determine.

The Cover Letter was clear in intent, if not language. To resolve any ambiguity, we will not register new heraldic titles to kingdoms if they are intended for transfer to an individual. Any new heraldic titles will not be transferable from a kingdom to an individual. Transfers of older titles can be made as long as the following criteria are met: (1) the title must have been registered before May 2013, (2) it cannot be a well-known staff title used by multiple bearers, (3) it may not be in conflict with an open order or award name, and (4) proper payment must have been made by the individual accepting the title transfer. Concerning the second point, transfers of inactive staff titles that are now closely associated with one individual (even if they were not the first to bear the title) will be considered on a case-by-case basis, provided the other conditions are met.

http://heraldry.sca.org/loar/2015/03/15-03cl.html#2

July 2013 - Personal Heraldic Titles and you:[edit | edit source]

Over the years since their introduction in July 1981, some confusion and differing traditions have arisen concerning personal heraldic titles and the rank of herald extraordinary. In that Cover Letter, Wilhelm Laurel said:

  • The rank that I have decided to add is that of Herald Extraordinary. This is a rank in use in England today, whenever they create a Herald's post for some occasion that is not to become a permanent position on the-College of Arms' roster. The rank of Herald Extraordinary shall be permanent so long as the holder continues to remain active in SCA heraldry. It shall fall in rank below a full Herald but above a Pursuivant. Each Herald Extraordinary shall have a title that is his/her own personal title that s/he shall hold so long as s/he remains active. If s/he should retire from the SCA, the title shall retire with her/him and shall not be used again by anyone else. Such titles must still clear my office. Kingdom Principal Heralds are responsible for elevating heralds in their kingdom to this rank, as they are responsible for all other ranks within their kingdom. This rank is reserved for those heralds who have greatly served the College of Heralds and/or the College of Arms and have achieved the highest level of competence in heraldry. Such a rank shall have no fixed duties, unless such shall be agreed upon by the holder and the Kingdom Principal Herald, but instead the holder of the rank shall be a senior member of the College who shall lend heraldic expertise as s/he sees fit.

It is obvious, from this reading, that a herald extraordinary is entitled to a personal heraldic title. But likewise, having or being entitled to a personal heraldic title implies the ranking of herald extraordinary: a herald extraordinary is, after all, just a herald not in ordinary -- that is, not in a regular titled office. Personal heraldic titles are for use by heralds who, as Wilhelm Laurel originally said, "have greatly served the College of Heralds and/or the College of Arms and have achieved the highest level of competence in heraldry" -- that is, heralds who remain in service even when not in ordinary, and therefore they are heralds extraordinary. Principal Heralds and Crowns should take note then -- when you give someone a personal heraldic title or entitle them to chose their own personal heraldic title, you have also elevated them to the "rank" of Herald Extraordinary.

http://heraldry.sca.org/loar/2013/07/13-07cl.html

October 2012 - Titles from Latin Mottoes[edit | edit source]

Tanczos Istvan. Heraldic title Non Scripta Herald.

This submission raises several interesting issues. First, commenters questioned whether mottoes that did not complete a thought (this means "things not having been written down") were period. Period examples of mottoes (and titles derived from mottoes) that are incomplete thoughts include A ma vie "with my life (I will defend it)," Passe oultre "go further," Plus Oultre "further beyond,", and the like. In one case, the English College of Arms motto, Diligent and Secret, is split and used as two separate titles. Thus, a title derived from part of the Laurel motto fits within a pattern of period heraldic titles.

What fits less well within that pattern is the language. The Laurel motto is Latin, and clearly constructed following the rules of period Latin. Latin mottoes are now known to be vanishing rare in period; their use in heraldic titles is a step from period practice under the Rules for Submissions. We decline to rule on their registerability under the Standards for Evaluation. Any future submission based on a Latin motto should include a discussion of the suitability of such a motto for a heraldic title.

Finally, commenters asked if a Laurel motto can properly be registered to an individual. One Laurel office motto, Metron Ariston, while originally registered as a staff title, was transferred first to a kingdom, then to an individual as the personal title of a former Queen of Arms. While the motto Non scripta, non est is more famous, a partial version of that motto would only conflict with that motto if we superprotected it, as we do the names of peerage orders. While as heralds we doubtless think the Laurel office is that important, it is not. As such, this registration does not conflict with a protected item.

http://heraldry.sca.org/loar/2012/10/12-10lar.html#158

July 2012 - Titles and Non-Profits:[edit | edit source]

Recently, there have been a large number of personal heraldic titles transferred from kingdoms or other SCA groups to individual heralds. It is a good thing that individuals are being recognized for their accomplishments, but we need to change policy to enforce an SCA rule.

The U.S. Federal government has very stringent guidelines on non-profit corporations giving gifts. Since a fee is paid for registration of a title, and it is a form of intellectual property, transferring a title to an individual could be considered a gift. The SCA, Inc., some time ago, required that the SCA branches stop giving gifts to members/non-members where the gifts are paid for by SCA funds. Specifically:

  • [Y]ou are hereby directed to immediately cease the practice of purchasing gifts, of any kind, where funds of the SCA, Inc. are being used for such purchase. This also applies to reimbursements of any individual for the purchase of a gift on behalf of the branch.[http://www.sca.org/BOD/announcements/gift.html]

While this is an older rule, it has not been overruled. As such, while we recognize that there are titles which were registered to kingdoms in the days before individual ownership was allowed, and we will not stop the transfer of already registered titles to the individuals they were registered for, new titles should be registered directly by individuals, not kingdoms. Titles registered before the May 2013 Laurel meetings will be allowed to be transferred to individuals, and all such transfers should be submitted to Laurel by December 31, 2013. Any personal titles currently in process for individuals which are being registered to groups should be withdrawn immediately and resubmitted by the individual, with a fee collected.

In the case that the title is expected to be transferred to an individual who has not yet been granted a title, and the above date passes, the individual may purchase the title from the group. All transfer paperwork should be made out as if it were a normal transfer, with the exception that this submission must be accompanied by the usual Laurel payment amount, and that payment must have been collected from the submitter. Whether or not to charge a full submission price instead of just the (currently $3) Laurel fee is a matter for the kingdom to determine.

http://heraldry.sca.org/loar/2013/07/13-07cl.html

April 2012 - Tinctures and other Descriptives:[edit | edit source]

From Pelican: Tinctures and Other Descriptive Words in Order Names and Heraldic Titles

In January 2012, we asked commenters to consider the current precedent regarding the use of color words in order names. In February 2003, Pelican ruled that "no evidence has been found that heraldic tinctures (rather than common color terms such as bleu) were used in order names." Since that time, our knowledge of period order names and heraldic titles has expanded considerably, in large part due to articles like my "Heraldic Titles from the Middle Ages and Renaissance" (found at http://medievalscotland.org/jes/HeraldicTitlesSCA/index.shtml) and my "Medieval Secular Order Names" (found at http://medievalscotland.org/jes/OrderNames/ or at http://heraldry.sca.org/laurel/names/order/new/).

The color terms used in order names and heraldic titles are summarized in the May 2009 Cover Letter. They are the everyday terms for heraldic tinctures, mostly in French, but also in German, English, and Spanish.

Several French terms are identical to the terms used for heraldic tinctures, including vert, or, and argent (which is found in sign names but not order names). This means that half the colors used in order names (vert, or and argent) are at least sometimes identical to the heraldic terms. Even vaire is found in French inn signs. Similarly, early blazon seems to have sometimes used the everyday color terms rouge and noir. Given the variability in the use of heraldic and everyday terms, and the confusion this causes for submitters and commenters, we are hereby allowing the use of heraldic color terms in order names as well as the everyday terms. However, no convincing evidence has been presented for the use of non-heraldic color names, including the names for particular shades of a color, like scarlet or crimson.

There was relatively little commentary on the use of terms for posture and orientation. As such, we will not at this time rule on whether the patterns found for such terms in inn sign names should be extended to order names and heraldic titles. The question will be revisited when a relevant submission appears.

http://heraldry.sca.org/loar/2012/04/12-04cl.html

April 2011 - Order Names and Heraldic Titles:[edit | edit source]

Documenting order names and heraldic titles is one of the frustrating jobs which falls to every kingdom and many baronial heralds. The standards for these non-personal names at this time are tighter than they historically were, but we also have better resources available.

Let's start with the resources. This is going to sound a little self-absorbed, but I got annoyed with the available resources a few years ago (all right, a decade ago) and started researching herald's titles and order names. It took a while, but finally came to fruition as two articles that substantially improved our knowledge of period practice.

...

For herald's titles, we have "Heraldic Titles from the Middle Ages and Renaissance" at http://www.medievalscotland.org/jes/HeraldicTitlesSCA/index.shtml. It again gives an analysis of patterns (noting that "other" isn't a pattern), standardized forms, and documentary forms.

So, what do you do with them? For any submission, you have to argue that the submission follows a particular pattern for creating that kind of name. Patterns are somewhat limited in time and space: a pattern documented for 16th century England is not automatically justifiable in Russia, or for 11th century England. However, there are patterns that were used broadly over Europe from the 14th to 16th century, and those are justifiable for more times and places.

Unfortunately, that means that some times and places are just out of luck for the creation of herald's titles and order names. We have no evidence that either were in use before the 12th century, and only a few patterns were in use before 1300. That means that languages that fell out of use before that time (Old Norse, Old English, Frankish, etc.) cannot be used to create heraldic titles or order names, as there are no patterns for them to follow. Herald's titles and orders were used broadly in Europe, even eastern Europe, but they did not spread further. Therefore, the registration of either a heraldic title or an order name in Russian, Arabic and other Middle Eastern languages, and Asiatic languages is not allowed. I know that it creates a difficult situation for those whose personas are from outside the main European powers, but those European powers are the home of the heraldic/chivalric game we play.

Patterns must be closely followed: evidence of the use of a vernacular color term is not evidence of the use of a heraldic color term, and "other adjective" doesn't mean "any adjective" (it just means that there are some that are hard to classify). Similarly, just because you joke about venerating some item doesn't make it a religious object of veneration for our purposes. Instead you must demonstrate that the object was venerated in period (or that it matches a pattern of objects venerated in period).

Having demonstrated that the submission follows a pattern, you have to demonstrate that the words within it are period and spelled in a period way (or justified as the lingua Anglica version of a foreign language name). Using the lingua Anglica allowance is a way to get modern spellings if you don't like the period spellings; just construct the order name or title in another language (French often does the trick). However, you still must justify the terms as period; the lingua Anglica allowance doesn't get you out of that hard work.

Finally, don't be afraid to get outsiders to help; and please do it before you get attached to an unregisterable name. Too many times, I've seen groups heartbroken when the name they want is ruled to not follow a period pattern.

December 2010 - Nayme Herald too generic[edit | edit source]

Trimaris, Kingdom of. Heraldic title Nayme Herald. The title Boke Herawde was returned in July 2004:

Reluctantly, I must declare this title too generic to register. One of the common definitions of generic in the OED is "Of a name or designation (as for some type of product): that is used generally for the article, etc., that it describes, and is therefore not admissible as a trade mark; not protected by legislation, non-proprietary." This definition closely fits the common SCA term "book herald," a term near and dear to the hearts of many research heralds or, as I heard from many of them when this title was discussed, book heralds.

All commenters agreed that this title has the same problem: name herald is used as a generic description of a certain type of research herald, and cannot be registered.


May 2009 - Color Terms in Order Names[edit | edit source]

On the November 2008 LoAR, two submissions were pended, the Order of the Azure Glove and the Order of the Sable Sleeve. Both of these concerned the issue of color terms in order names. The original LoI demonstrated that both sable and azure (or asure) can be found in English contexts which are not purely heraldic, and cited the following precedents in support of the registerability of these order names:

  • Hidden Mountain, Barony of. Award name Award of the Azure Cloud (see RETURNS for badge). In general, names of heraldic tinctures are not registerable as part of order names where the language is English, because we have no examples of such usage and because the names of most heraldic tinctures were not used as ordinary adjectives in English until the very end of the 16th C. Azure appears to be the exception. According to the OED, the noun azure, meaning "A bright blue pigment or dye; ellipt. a fabric dyed of this colour", dates to at least the late 14th C. Chaucer mentions a figure "Cloothed in Asure". This and the citations provided by the submitter are sufficient to give them the benefit of the doubt that azure (like crimson) is used as an ordinary color name and hence is registerable as part of an order name. [LoAR 06/2006, Atlantia-A]

However, the August 2005 Cover Letter discussing patterns of period order names gives a stricter criterion for the use of color terms in order names:

  • Argent Snail, in arguing for more generous interpretations of patterns notes, "since we know that there were period order names of the form color (including Gold/golden) object, any color object should be considered acceptable, and not one step from period practice, even if the submitted color was not used in a period order name." While we are unwilling to extend the interpretation of period order names to include any color (images of "Order of Dead Spaniard Lion" leap to mind--"dead spaniard" being a fabric color found in Elizabethan England), we are often far stricter in our interpretations concerning colors than we are of other patterns. Therefore, since heraldic objects may be found in any heraldic tincture, the ordinary color name for any heraldic tincture may be used as part of an order name when combined with a heraldic charge (which, if applied to the example above, gives us the "Order of the Green Lion," a perfectly ordinary name.) Following this pattern comes with no penalty; even if a particular color found in heraldry is not found in any order name, its use in an order name still follows the established pattern. This does not overturn the precedent disallowing the registration of Orders of the form heraldic tincture name + object in English, since we have no examples of English order names that use heraldic tincture names. So, for example, while the Order of the Green Lionwould be held to follow demonstrated patterns, Order of the Lion Vert or Order of the Vert Lion would not...[Order names for heraldic charges] may contain the ordinary color names of any heraldic tincture.

As noted in the pend of this order name, the June 2006 precedent demonstrates that azure or asure was used as a color term in English, but it does not show that this term was the ordinary color term for blue, as required by the August 2005 precedent.

When faced with contradictory precedents, the best way to arbitrate between them is to look to period practice. Since both the 2005 and 2006 precedents were set, our knowledge of medieval names of orders has increased dramatically, due largely to Juliana de Luna's article "Medieval Secular Order Names". In the introduction of the article, Juliana notes nine order names (making up 6% of the data) which follow the pattern <color> + <charge>. These nine orders are from Germany, France, Italy, and Navarre, so while they are few they come from a broad area and so can be taken as representative. So, what color names are used in these order names?

  • Black: noir (French)
  • Blue: blauwen (German), blaen (German)
  • Gold(en): or (French), goldin (English), golden (English), aureus (Latin)
  • Green: vert (French)
  • Red: roden (German)
  • White: blanche (French), blanco (Spanish)

These examples show that it was not any color term that was used in medieval order names, but just the single, ordinary color term. On the basis of period usage, we are upholding the stricter reading of the August 2005 Cover Letter, which is in keeping with the examples of period order names that we currently have. Order names which follow the <color> + <charge> pattern must use the ordinary color term for a heraldic tincture appropriate for the language of the order name. [But see 2012 Precedent, above]

July 2004 - Boke Herawde too generic to register as heraldic title[edit | edit source]

Northshield, Kingdom of. Heraldic title Boke Herawde. Reluctantly, I must declare this title too generic to register. One of the common definitions of generic in the OED is " Of a name or designation (as for some type of product): that is used generally for the article, etc., that it describes, and is therefore not admissible as a trade mark; not protected by legislation, non-proprietary." This definition closely fits the common SCA term "book herald," a term near and dear to the hearts of many research heralds or, as I heard from many of them when this title was discussed, book heralds.

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