Lion
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See also Cat.
A "lion passant guardant" is the same as a "heraldic leopard", distinct from a "natural leopard" or "African leopard" which would have spots.
The term "lioncel" could be used if there were three or more lions on the arms. De Heraudie (late14c), "quant il y a un leoun, cy est un leoun; quant il passe iij, sount leoncels".
Illustrations:
Period sources:
| Scheibler'sches | 
|
Armorial |
| Scheibler'sches Wappenbuch, 1450-1580, BSB 312 | Zurich Roll, c.1340, #335 BIENBVRG, lion | Armorial le Breton, 15th-16th C., lion herissony? |
| Wapenboek | File:BretonArmorial Leopards.jpg |
| Wapenboek Bayeren, c1400, Netherlands, leopards/lions | Armorial le Breton, 13-15th c. courtesy of Gunnvor silfrahar |
Armed Lions:
| Book | 
|
|
|
| Book of Attire of the Court of Duke William IV and Albert V of Bavaria, 1508 - 1551, lion on chair unsheathing (?) a sword | L'Armorial le Breton, 15th-16th century. p 6, lion with axe | L'Armorial le Breton, 15th-16th century. p 6, seated lion with sword | Siebmacher, 1605, plate 41, lion with sword and buckler |
Lion with dragon, Lion-bear
| BSB | 
|
| BSB 291. Insignia Anglica, c.1550. f17v. only known example of dissimilar creatures combatant, dragon and lion | Insignia Nobilium Veronensium... BSB 276, f32r, lion-bear, Liorsa |
An Ordinary of Siebmacher's Wappenbuch by Sara L. Uckelman (Aryanhwy merch Catmael):
- http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/heraldry/siebmacher/lion-1-gules-pass.html
- http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/heraldry/siebmacher/lion-1-or-pas.html
- etc.
Modern:
Pictorial Dictionary of SCA Heraldry (3rd edition):
- [[1]]
Pennsic Traceable Art Project:
Heraldic Primer/other recognized sources:
Precedents:
Precedents of the SCA College of Arms - [[2]] Morsulus Heralds Website - [[3]] (to search the LoARs and Precedents) Restatement Wiki - [[4]] (restatements of Precedents) Use the above links to be sure any precedents listed below haven't been superseded by newer precedents.
Definition/Defining Instance:
From the August 2013 Cover Letter: From Wreath: Lions and Ounces and Catamounts, oh my! ...Lions have manes, and distinctive tufted tails. Lynxes have much shorter tails, and tufted ears. Ounces are typically defined as maneless lions. Natural panthers also have no mane and smooth tails, as do wildcats and domestic cats. Leopards and natural tigers are additionally distinguished by their markings. Parker decidedly conflates catamounts and wildcats, and even lynxes to an extent, although the latter he also lumps in with panthers and ounces. Guillim and Legh mention both lions and leopards, but no other type of cat. ... As we cannot readily distinguish between natural panthers, domestic cats, catamounts, wildcats, and ounces with smooth tails, we will accept any of these blazon terms. [[5]]
From January 1971: The College defines "leopard" as a lion passant guardant . Should the spotted cat known in modern times as a leopard be desired as a charge, it will be blazoned as "an African leopard." (Cf. "a tyger" -- "a Bengal tiger.") (HB, 1 Jan 71 [10], pp. 4-5)
http://heraldry.sca.org/precedents/early/ltop.html
Registerability:
(Restricted, Reserved, SFPP, OOP)
Conflict:
From the August 2013 Cover Letter: From Wreath: Lions and Ounces and Catamounts, oh my! Several submissions lately have raised the question of the difference between a catamount, an ounce, or any other type of cat. Fundamentally, we grant no difference in SCA armory for the difference between any type of cat, from lions to domestic cats. Still, these are blazonable differences. ...Depending on precise proportions of body parts such as heads, shoulders, limbs, and so forth to one another when defining charges is contrary to heraldic style. As we cannot readily distinguish between natural panthers, domestic cats, catamounts, wildcats, and ounces with smooth tails, we will accept any of these blazon terms. [[6]]
From the November 2003 LoAR: "Lions' tails, when nowed, are generally blazoned as such, although this distinction is not worth difference" [2003 LoAR]
From the May 1995 LoAR: [a snow leopard spotted vs various unspotted cats] [There is a CD] for the addition of the spots (effectively a semy, and worth the same CD as any addition of a tertiary charge or tertiary charge group). (Marke von Mainz, 5/95 p. 2) http://heraldry.sca.org/precedents/daud2/daud22combined.html
From the August 1994 LoAR: [a panther rampant guardant argent spotted sable incensed gules vs. a lion rampant argent] There is a CD for type for the difference between the cats, but that is all. [I.e. there is a significant but not a substantial difference.] (Ulfhethinn the Bold, 8/94 p. 15) http://heraldry.sca.org/precedents/daud2/daud22combined.html
From the March 1993 LoAR: [An ounce rampant Or spotted of diverse tinctures//] The creature is not a //panther//, as blazoned on the LOI (for it isn't incensed of flame), but an //ounce// or maneless lion. As such, it gets no difference from a standard //lion//; and its spots here count for no more than the spots on any other spotted cat (e.g. a natural leopard). If she resubmits with a genuine panther, charged with large roundels --- better yet, with a Continental panther --- it should [be a CD from a //lion]. (Alysandria of the Fosse Way, March, 1993, pg. 22) http://heraldry.sca.org/precedents/bruce/beacon.html
Identifiability:
Collected Precedents:
2nd Tenure of Elisabeth de Rossignol (April 2011 - August 2011) - BEAST - Cat, BEAST - Tiger see BEAST - Cat 1st Tenure of Elisabeth de Rossignol (May 2005 - July 2008) - BEAST - Lion see [- Cat]
The 2nd Tenure of François la Flamme (October 2004 - May 2005) - [-- Cat, Lion and Tiger] The Tenure of Shauna of Carrick Point (May 2004 - August 2004) - [Lion and Tiger] The 1st Tenure of François la Flamme (August 2001 - April 2004) - [-- Cat, Lion and Tiger] The Tenure of Elsbeth Anne Roth (June 1999 - July 2001) - [-- Cat, Lion and Tiger] The Tenure of Jaelle of Armida (June 1996 - June 1999) - [& Lion]
The 2nd Tenure of Da'ud ibn Auda (November 1993 - June 1996) -
The Tenure of Bruce Draconarius of Mistholme (June 1992 - October 1993) - [-- Cat, Lion and Tiger]
The 1st Tenure of Da'ud ibn Auda (June 1990 - June 1992) -
The Tenure of Alisoun MacCoul of Elphane (September 1986 - June 1990) - [- Lion and Cat]
The Tenure of Baldwin of Erebor (August 1984 - August 1986) - [HTML Document] The Tenure of Wilhelm von Schlüssel (August 1979 - August 1984) - [[7]]
The Tenure of Karina of the Far West (December 1975 - June 1979) - [[8]]
The Early Days (June 1971 - June 1975) - [[9]]
The Ordinary:
- Lion - see [- Cat]
- Lion - Bicorporate - see Beast - Cat and Monster - Multibodied
- Lion - Sea - see [- Sea - Lion]
- Lion - Sea - Natural - see [- Seal]
- Lion - Tricorporate - see [- Multibodied]
- Lion - Winged - see [- Winged]
- Lioness - see [- Cat]
- Lion's gamb - see [- Beast]
- Lion's head - see [- Beast - Cat]
- Lion's jambe - see [- Beast]