The Use of Heraldic Titles, Mundane and in the SCA

Heraldic Titles

The Use of Heraldic Titles, Mundane and in the SCA.

By Lord Frederic Badger

One of the things that makes the society so fun for me is the pomp and circumstance, and the ceremony. This makes everything so much less modern, and more towards the ideal we are striving towards. Another thing closely related to this, and tied in with it Heraldry in its various forms from banners and flags to cool heraldic titles. I wish to enlighten the reader towards what titles are in use for Kingdom staff heralds, Branch heralds, and a bit of the history.

Heraldic titles first appeared in use in the English College of Arms around the 13th century, and continues to be used to this day. According to the "Oxford Guide to Heraldry" by Thomas Woodcock (Somerset Herald) and John Martin Robinson (Maltravers Herald Extraordinary) one of the first references to titles is 1276 with the Norroy King of Arms. His title derives from a corruption of Nordand roy. Other titles mentioned in this book are York, Chester, Richmond, Lancaster, and Somerset heralds who derive their titles from those titles whom they originally served. Also there is Windsor Herald, named so after the Royal Castle. Rouge Dragon, and Portcullis Pursuivants draw their names from Royal Badges, while Blue Mantle, and Rouge Croix Pursuivants draw their names from mantle and badge of the Order of the Garter.

In the Society we follow a very similar model of Title creation as that of the English College of Arms, with caveats due to our slightly different focus and setup of our administrative procedures. I will present a general list of methods for title construction based on commentary from Dame Zenobia Naphtali (Couronne Rouge) and from the Precedents of Bruce Draconarius of Mistholme, and Da'ud ibn Auda (two former Laurel Kings at Arms for the Society). Also it has been the standard in the Kingdom of An Tir for the use of Heraldic Titles for the branch status of Barony or above.

Herald and Pursuivant are used to denote certain ranks in both the SCA and the English College of arms. In the English College Pursuivant was used to denote a "Junior" Herald. Note the use of the capitals as these are titles of rank, and not merely job descriptions. In the SCA the current use of the terms Herald and Pursuivant is in review, and probably will have a established system sometime next year. The old system was not followed, or even universally known in the College, and fell into disuse. There is a proposal in the hands of Black Lion Principal Herald, and uses the following system to denote rank. If you are a member of Black Lion staff, and report directly to him, you are a Titled Herald. If you are on staff, and you report to someone else on staff you are a Titled Pursuivant. For example: Vox Leonis is titled Herald, while Town Crier is Pursuivant because the office reports to Vox Leonis. Baronial Level heralds are Titled Pursuivants, and below that are titled Pursuivants of Shire Name, Canton Name, etc.

Suggested Patterns for Heraldic Titles in the SCA

Surnames: the construction of the surname must follow period naming practices, and is advisable that it be documentable. Chandos Herald, and Percy Herald are two examples.

Order names: The construction of the title must follow standard naming practices for orders. Things such as Saints and Sign names have been used create order names. Examples of order names from the Rules for Submission: the Order of the Garter, La Toison d'Or (the Order of the Golden Fleece), the Order of the Golden Rose, the Order of the Star, the Order of the Swan, La Orden de la Jara (the Knights of the Tankard), the Order of Lilies. From this you can derive heraldic Titles such as Garter (sorry, this one is already been used.), Golden Fleece Herald, Golden Rose Herald, Lily Herald, etc..

Place Names: Albany Herald, Carrick Pursuivant, Summits Herald, Windsor Herlad... etc.

Heraldic Charges: Crosslet Herald, Estoile Volant Pursuivant, Noir Lyon Pursuivant, Bordure Pursuivant in Ansteorra, Rouge Dragon Pursuivant in England, Unicorn Pursuivant in Scotland are all examples of heraldic charges being used as a heraldic title.

Mottoes: Ich Dien Pursuivant and Esperance Pursuivant are examples.. In the tenure of Bruce Draconarius of Mistholme as Laurel King at Arms he set the following precedent which explains it better than I could...

"Short mottoes sometimes became heraldic titles in period. Franklyn and Tanner's Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Heraldry cites the following: the Ich Dien Pursuivant who served the Prince of Wales, c.1475 (p.179), and Il Faut Faire Pursuivant; maintained by Sir John Falstaf and from his word or motto (p.180). We will accept such heraldic titles on a case by case basis. (East Kingdom, September, 1993, pg. 11)"
Rules:
Here are the Pertinent entries from our very own rules and regulations of the Society.

RULES FOR SUBMISSIONS III.2.b.iii. Heraldic Titles - Heraldic titles must follow the patterns of period heraldic titles. These are generally drawn from surnames (Chandos Herald, Percy Herald), place-names (Windsor Herald, Calais Pursuivant, Sicily Herald), names of heraldic charges (Crosslet Herald, Estoile Volant Pursuivant, Noir Lyon Pursuivant), names of orders of chivalry (Garter King of Arms), and mottoes (Ich Dien Pursuivant, Esperance Pursuivant).

ADMINISTRATIVE HANDBOOK II.C.3. Heraldic Titles - Titles for the use of heraldic officers at all levels. Titles for Laurel staff are registered to the Society. All other heraldic titles are registered to the kingdom in which they will be used.

Titles in Kingdom of An Tir(as of 7/98)

Kingdom Staff Heralds Titles

Black Lion Principal Herald - An Tir Principal Herald

AEstel Herald - Consulting on Names and Devices

Couronne Rouge Herald - Commenting on External Letters

Electrum Herald - Commenting on External Letters

Dexter Gauntlet Herald - Keeper of the Order of Precedence

Lion's Blood Herald - Kingdom Submissions

Sable Sable Pursuivant - Chief Scribe

Town Crier Pursuivant - Event Crying (Vox Deputy)

Vox Leonis Herald - Voice Heraldry

Sinister Gauntlet Herald - Financial Deputy

Black Stag Herald - Education
Argent Scroll Pursuivant - Filing

Queue Forchee Pursuivant - Drop Dead Deputy to Black Lion
Loewenmaehne Herald

Pursestrings Pursuivant

Sable Mountain Pursuivant

Principality Heralds Titles

Sanguinaris Herald - Principality of Avacal

Summits Pursuivant - Principality of the Summits

Branch Heralds Titles

Basilisk Pursuivant - Barony of Wastekeep

Be Wayre Pursuivant - Barony of Glymm Mere

Bealidh Pursuivant - Barony of Blath an Oir

Golden Bear Pursuivant - Barony of Adiantum

Golden Dragon Herald - Barony of Dragon's Laire

Hazel Leaf Pursuivant - Barony of Terra Pomeria

Mountains Pursuivant - Barony of Three Mountains

Red Tree Pursuivant - Barony of Madrone

Sable Loat Pursuivant - Barony of Lions Gate

Sable Minotaur Pursuivant - Barony of Montegard

Three Oaks Pursuivant - Barony of Wealdsmere

Bibliography

As I claim no great knowledge of things heraldic, I feel it appropriate now to pass on where I found the information I have gathered here. A bibliography of sorts, if you will.

The Oxford Guild to Heraldry by Thomas Woodcock (Somerset Herald) and John Martin Robinson (Maltravers Herald Extraordinary)

Email correspondence with

Guerin de Bourgogne, Black Lion Principal Herald
Dame Zenobia Naphtali, Couronne Rouge Herald

Laurel Website - http://www.sca.org/laurel/heraldry

Rules for Submissions
Administrative Handbook
Collections of Precedents from Past Laurels Including Bruce Draconarius of Mistholme and Da'ud ibn Auda both cited in this paper.

By Frederic Badger, email