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Here is a preview of the revamped rules on submitting a heraldic device for use in the Society for Creative Anachronism.
1 responses total.
[NOTE:
You will need the Administrative Handbook (file "handbook" in this
directory) to correctly interpret some of the Rules for Submissions
in this file.
]
[NOTES:
This document is the ASCII version of the "Rules for Submissions of the
College of Arms of the SCA, Inc.". THIS VERSION IS A PRELIMINARY DRAFT.
As of the original upload, a few of the "rules" shown here are supposed
to be considered at the April 1994 Laurel meeting, tomorrow as I write
this, and they will presumably be published in the LoAR cover letter.
However, they have NOT YET been acted on at a Laurel meeting or printed
in a LoAR cover letter, so THEY HAVE NOT YET BEEN ENACTED. Like
software packages say, "WITHOUT WARRANTY of any kind, either expressed
or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of
merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose ... NOT LIABLE FOR
DAMAGES, including any general, special, incidental or consequential
damages arising out of the use or inability to use this file".
Have I made the unofficialness of this version clear enough?
Sheyk Da'ud ibn Auda, Laurel King of Arms, saved this onto a diskette
from his IBM PC WordPerfect master copy in "ASCII" format. Therefore,
certain of the formatting has been lost, such as italics, boldface, and
whitespace. Also, certain accented letters were represented as an
8-bit byte with the high-order bit set, which is not portable 7-bit
ASCII. I have replaced them in the text below by the two- or
three-character combinations shown in the table below. Any occurrence
of these character combinations represents one of these special
characters -- these character combinations did not occur in the original
text.
Original My Visual appearence
octal repl' of the original
char code ment character
--------- ---- -----------------
201 u: u umlaut
203 a^ a circumflex
204 a: a umlaut
214 i^ i circumflex
222 AE uppercase AE ligature
224 o: o umlaut
225 o` o accent \-wise
226 u^ u circumflex
242 o' o accent /-wise
243 u' u accent /-wise
353 th_ lowercase delta
Sheyk Da'ud may currently be reached on CompuServe at 74107,1446; from
the Internet, that's 74107.1446@compuserve.com. Note that CompuServe
currently had a 15 cent "postage due" fee for Internet mail and has size
limitations on messages.
-- Daniel de Lincoln, Oakenwald Pursuivant, armiger, 22 April 1994
Tim McDaniel, Convex Computer Corporation, Richardson, TX (near Dallas)
Internet: If mcdaniel@convex.com fails, try
mcdaniel@convex.convex.com or mcdaniel@mozart.convex.com
]
RULES FOR SUBMISSIONS
of the
College of Arms
of the
Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc.
May 1, 1994
[preliminary draft unofficial version, April 20, 1994]
PART I - GENERAL PRINCIPLES
1. Compatibility - All names and armory shall be compatible with the
period and domain of the Society.
The Society for Creative Anachronism studies pre-Seventeenth
Century Western Culture. The period of the Society has been
defined to extend until 1600 A.D. Its domain includes Europe
and areas that had contact with Europe during this period.
Usages documented to have occurred regularly prior to that
date within that domain shall be automatically considered
compatible unless they have been specifically declared
incompatible by these rules, Laurel precedent, or a policy
statement of the Board of Directors. Usages not so documented
may be defined as compatible by these rules, Laurel precedent,
or a policy statement of the Board of Directors. In all
cases, the burden of proving compatibility shall lie on the
individual making the submission or that individual's duly
constituted representatives.
a. Compatible Content - All submissions shall be period in
content.
Each element of a submission shall be compatible with
period usage. See Part II, Compatible Name Content, and
Part VII, Compatible Armorial Content.
b. Compatible Style - All submissions shall be period in style.
All elements of a submission shall be used in a manner
that is stylistically compatible with period usage. See
Part III, Compatible Naming Style, and Part VIII,
Compatible Armorial Style.
2. Offense - No name or armory will be registered that may be offensive
to a significant segment of the Society or the general population.
No submission will be registered that is detrimental to the
educational purposes or good name of the Society, or the
enjoyment of its participants because of offense that may be
caused, intentionally or unintentionally, by its use. See
Part IV, Offensive Names, and Part IX, Offensive Armory.
3. Inappropriate Claims - No name or armory will be registered which
claims for the submitter powers, status, or relationships that do
not exist.
No submission will be registered that could confuse or offend
members of the Society or the general population because it
expresses or implies some claim that is not true. An explicit
claim contains an overt statement of the claim in the
submission; an implicit claim requires that its nature be
inferred from the submission. A name and piece of armory may
reinforce each other and appear to make a claim that is not
perceived in either item by itself. If someone reasonably
educated in period and modern history and culture would
perceive a claim, that claim will be held to exist even if it
is unintentional.
a. Conflicting Claims - A name or piece of armory that creates a
false impression of the identity of the submitter will not be
registered.
Someone may not claim to be another, either directly by
using a name or armory that is identical to another's, or
by unmistakably claiming close relationship to an
individual who is in fact unrelated. See Part V,
Conflicting Names, and Part X, Conflicting Armory.
b. Presumptuous Claims - A name or piece of armory which expresses
or implies presumptuous claims to status or powers that the
submitter does not possess will not be registered.
No name or armory will be registered that could be
considered presumptuous and thereby cause offense to a
significant segment of the Society. See Part VI,
Presumptuous Names, and Part XI, Presumptuous Armory.
PART II - COMPATIBLE NAME CONTENT
Every word in a Society name must be compatible with period naming
practices, as is required by General Principle 1a of these rules. This
section defines the categories of words that the College of Arms has
generally found to be compatible.
1. Documented Names - Documented names, including given names, bynames,
place names, and valid variants and diminutives formed in a period
manner, may be used in the same manner in which they were used in
period sources.
The name "Bucephalus", although it is documented as the name
of Alexander the Great's horse, should not be used as a name
for a human. Pronunciation and spelling variants are
linguistically valid if formed according to the rules for such
variants in the language of the documented name. For example,
the alternation of "C" and "K" at the beginning of names is a
well-documented feature of Welsh. Therefore, both "Ceridwen"
and "Keridwen" would be permitted, even if only one of these
forms had been found in period sources. "Qeridwen" would not
be permitted, since "Q" does not alternate with "C" and "K" in
Welsh.
2. Constructed Names - Documented names and words may be used to form
place names, patronymics, epithets, and other names in a period
manner.
Constructed forms must follow the rules for formation of the
appropriate category of name element in the language from
which the documented components are drawn. For instance, the
standard male patronymic in Old Norse consists of the
possessive form of the father's name joined to the word "son",
like "Sveinsson" is the son of Svein. The documented Old
Norse given name "Bjartmarr" could be used in this
construction to form "Bjartmarsson", even if this particular
patronymic was not found in period sources. Similarly, German
towns on rivers regularly use the name of the river with the
word "bru:ck", like "Innsbru:ck", to indicate the town had
a bridge over that river. A new branch could use the
documented German name of the river "Donau" to construct the
name "Donaubru:ck".
3. Invented Names - New name elements, whether invented by the
submitter or borrowed from a literary source, may be used if they
follow the rules for name formation from a linguistic tradition
compatible with the domain of the Society and the name elements
used.
Name elements may be created following patterns demonstrated
to have been followed in period naming. Old English given
names, for instance, are frequently composed of two syllables
from a specific pool of name elements. The given name
"AElfmund" could be created using syllables from the
documented names "AElfgar" and "Eadmund" following the
pattern established by similar names in Old English. Other
kinds of patterns can also be found in period naming, such as
patterns of meaning, description, or sound. Such patterns, if
sufficiently defined, may also be used to invent new name
elements. There is a pattern of using kinds of animals in the
English place names "Oxford", "Swinford" and "Hartford", and
so a case could be made for inventing a similar name like
"Sheepford". No name will be disqualified based solely on its
source.
a. Invented name elements may not consist of randomly arranged
sounds or characters.
Use of components of name elements without reference to a
period naming pattern, such as combining the syllables of
"AElfgar" and "Eadmund" to form "AElfmunead", will
not be allowed. Similarly, patterns from one language or
tradition may not be applied to elements from a different
language. The existence of the two syllable pattern in
Old English cannot justify combining syllables from the
Spanish names "Pedro" and "Jose" to invent "Pese".
"Elulol" and "Myzzlyk", which create nonsense syllables
and link them without reference to any period pattern,
are also not acceptable.
b. Invented given names may not be identical to any other word
unless a strong pattern of use of a class of words as given
names in the same language is documented.
Although "China", "Random" and "Starhawk" have been used
as given names in recent fantasy literature, they may not
be registered without evidence that names of countries,
adjectives, or epithets were regularly used as English
given names in period.
4. Legal Names - Elements of the submitter's legal name may be used as
the corresponding part of a Society name, if such elements are not
excessively obtrusive and do not violate other sections of these
rules.
This allows individuals to register elements of their legal
name that cannot be documented from period sources. The
allowance is only made for the actual legal name, not any
variants. Someone whose legal given name is "Ruby" may
register "Ruby" as a Society given name, but not "Rubie",
"Rubyat", or "Rube". Corresponding elements are defined by
their type, not solely their position in the name. This means
a person with the legal name "Andrew Jackson" could use
"Jackson" as a surname in his Society name in any position
where a surname is appropriate, such as "Raymond Jackson
Turner" or "Raymond Jackson of London", not just as his last
name element.
5. Registered Names - Once a name has been registered to an individual
or group, the College of Arms may permit that particular individual
or group to register elements of that name again, even if it is no
longer permissible under the rules in effect at the time the later
submission is made. This permission may be extended to close
relatives of the submitter if the College of Arms deems it
appropriate.
Only the actual name element from the originally registered
submission is covered by this permission. For example, if an
individual had registered a surname from a fantasy novel that
has no relation to period naming before such names were
restricted, that surname could be retained if that submitter
decided to change his given name, even though it might not be
acceptable under these rules. He could not register other
surnames from the same novel, however. The College of Arms
might also agree to register this surname to the original
submitter's children. This allowance will not be granted for
submitters other than the original owner under any other
circumstances.
PART III - COMPATIBLE NAMING STYLE AND GRAMMAR
All elements of a name must be correctly arranged to follow the grammar
and linguistic traditions of period names, as is required by General
Principle 1b of these rules. This section defines the requirements for
arranging acceptable words into a compatible name.
1. Name Grammar and Syntax - All names must be grammatically correct
for period names and follow documented patterns.
Standard grammatical rules for a language will be applied
unless documentation is provided for non-standard usages in
period names from that language. Names should generally
combine elements that are all from a single linguistic
culture, but a name may be registered that combines languages.
As a rule of thumb, languages should be used together only if
there was substantial contact between the cultures that spoke
those languages, and a name should not combine more than three
languages. Each name as a whole should be compatible with the
culture of a single time and place.
a. Linguistic Consistency - Each phrase must be grammatically
correct according to the usage of a single language.
For the purposes of this rule a phrase may consist of a
single word (Heinrich, Calais) or of a grammatically
connected series of words (the Garter, the Dragon's
Heart, with the Beard, von Ko:nigsberg) in a single
language. Although it seems to mix French or Latin with
English, the phrase de London is documentably correct
usage in the written language of Anglo-Norman England and
can therefore be registered. If a later form of a
language differs radically from an earlier form, the two
may not be considered a single language; thus, Old
English and Early Modern English are different languages.
In the case of place names and other name elements
frequently used in English in their original form, an
English article or preposition may be used. For example,
of Aachen might be used instead of the purely German von
Aachen.
2. Name Style - Every name as a whole should be compatible with the
culture of a single time and place.
a. Personal Names - A personal name must contain a given name and
at least one byname; each of these components will be called a
name phrase. A byname is any name added to the given name to
identify its bearer more precisely. Most period names
contained no more than three name phrases; as a rule of thumb
a personal name should not contain more than four name
phrases. (A documentable exception is Arabic, in which longer
period names can fairly easily be found; an example is Abu^
`Abd Alla^h Muhammad ibn Isma`i^l ibn Mughi^rah
al-Bukha^ri^ `Muhammad, father of `Abd Alla^h, son of
Isma`i^l, the son of Mughi^rah, the Bukharan'.)
i. A byname may be one of relationship, like a patronymic or
metronymic: filz Payn, Johnson, Bjarnardo'ttir,
Guth_ru'narson, des langen Dietrich bruder `brother of
the tall Dietrich', ingen Murchada `daughter of Murchad',
Smythwyf, Mac a' Phearsain `son of the parson', abu
Sa'i^d `father of Sa'i^d'.
ii. A byname may be a second given name; in most European
cultures during most of our period this is a patronymic
byname: John William = John Williamson. Late in period
in some cultures it may be the second part of a double
given name: Gian Giacomo Caroldo.
iii. A byname may be locative, a byname of origin or of
residence: Hubert of York, Jack London, Heinrich von
Hamburg, William atte Wode, Robert Undertheclyf, Matthias
de Flandre; Alphonse le Picard, Dirk der Brabanter, Adam
(le) Flemyng, Wautier Alleman, Herman Mu:nstermann.
Names of residence include sign names taken from signs on
buildings: atte Belle `at the [sign of the] Bell', zur
Krone `at the [sign of the] crown', zum blauen Esel `at
the blue Ass'. These are extremely rare in English but
not uncommon in German.
iv. A byname may describe occupation, status, or office: John
Bowwright, Hans Schneider, Jehan (le) Changeur, Maud
Webster, Nicolaus Ankersmit, William Parson, Serlo le
Reve, Adam (le) Freman.
v. A byname may be a descriptive nickname: Osbert le Gentil,
Skalla-Bjo:rn `bald', Conrad Klein `small', Klein
Conrad, Robertus cum Barba `with the beard', Ludolf
metter langher nese `with the long nose', Henry Beard,
Rudolfus der Esel `the Ass', Gilbert le Sour, John
Skamful, Thorvaldr inn kyrri `the quiet', Iain
Camshro`n `hook-nose'.
vi. Finally, a byname may be a sentence, oath, or phrase
name: Geoffrey Likkefinger, Adam Brekeleg, Rudolfus
Drinkwasser, Otto Dumernyt `Do nothing to me!', Nickl
Lerenpecher `Empty the tankard', Serle Gotokirke, John
Falleinthewelle, Godeke Maketwol `Make it well',
Katharina Gottvergebmirs `God forgive me for it!',
Richard Playndeamours `full of love', Henry ffulofloue,
Petronilla Notegood, Hans mornebesser `better [in the]
morning'.
Some bynames may fit into more than one category: Edward
Pepper may be named for his temper or for his occupation
as spice-merchant; Herbert le Knif may have a notable
knife, or he may be a cutler; and Notegood, like other
phrase names without verbs, can also be considered a
descriptive nickname. Lion may be descriptive or an
abbreviated form of atte Lyon `at the [sign of the]
lion'.
b. Non-Personal Names - Branch names, names of orders and awards,
heraldic titles, and household names must consist of a
designator that identifies the type of entity and at least one
descriptive element.
Common designators are Shire, Barony, Guild, House, Order
of the, and Herald. The designator must be appropriate
to the status of the submitter. Society branches may use
the designator established by Corpora for their category
of group or any authorized alternative form. The
designator may be included as part of a one-word name if
the authorized form was used that way in period, like the
English word shire, which appears as a part of the
one-word name Worcestershire.
i. Branch Names - Names of branches must follow the patterns
of period place-names.
Some good Society examples are: Shire of Carlsby,
Standonshire, Barony of Jararvellir, College of
Saint Carol on the Moor, all of which closely
resemble period place-names.
ii. Names of Orders and Awards - Names of orders and awards
must follow the patterns of the names of period orders
and awards.
These are often the names of saints; others are
similar to sign names (see RfS III.2.a.iii). Some
examples are: the Order of Saint Michael, the Order
of Saint Maurice and Saint Lazarus, the Brethren of
the Sword, 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.
iii. Heraldic Titles - Heraldic titles must follow the
patterns of period heraldic titles.
These are generally drawn from surnames (Chandos
Herald, Percy Herald), names of heraldic charges
(Crosslet Herald, Estoile Volant Pursuivant, Noir
Lyon Pursuivant), names of orders of chivalry
(Garter King of Arms), and mottos (Ich Dien
Pursuivant, Esperance Pursuivant). (They are also
drawn from place-names (Windsor Herald, Calais
Pursuivant, Sicily Herald), but this practice is not
allowed in the Society because the common usage Lady
<Heraldic Title> (e.g., Lady Sicily) would then
contain a forbidden implication of landedness.)
iv. Household Names - Household names must follow the
patterns of period names of organized groups of people.
Possible models include Scottish clans (Clan
Stewart), ruling dynasties (House of Anjou),
professional guilds (Baker's Guild of Augsburg,
Worshipful Company of Coopers), military units (The
White Company), and inns (House of the White Hart).
PART IV - OFFENSIVE NAMES
Offensive names may not be registered, as is required by General
Principle 2 of these rules. Names may be innately offensive from their
content, like "John Witchburner". A name element can also be offensive
because of its usual associations or the context in which it is placed.
Names may be considered offensive even if the submitter did not intend
them to be. This section defines the categories of names that are
generally considered offensive.
1. Vulgar Names - Pornographic or scatological terms will not be
registered.
Obscene terminology, sexually explicit material, bathroom or
toilet humor, etc. are considered inherently offensive by a
large segment of the Society and general population.
2. Offensive Religious Terminology - Magical or religious terminology
that is excessive or mocks the beliefs of others will not be
registered.
Magical or religious words are not usually inherently
offensive, but may offend by context. For example, although
the name "Jesus" is common in Spanish, the juxtaposition of it
with reference to other religions, like "Jesus the Imam",
could be considered a mockery. Use of an unusual number of
religious elements might disturb both devotees and opponents
of a particular religion.
3. Stereotypical Names - Allusions to derogatory ethnic, racial, or
sexual stereotypes will not be registered.
Such stereotypes, even if documented from period sources, are
innately offensive. This is true whether the stereotype is
inherent in the usage, such as "Pedro the Dago", or created by
context.
4. Offensive Political Terminology - Terminology specifically
associated with social or political movements, or events that may be
offensive to a particular race, religion, or ethnic group will not
be registered.
Even if used without prejudice in period, such terms are
offensive by their modern context. Thus, names that suggest
participation in pogroms or repressive movements, like
"Judenfeind", which is a period German name meaning "enemy of
the Jews", may not be used.
PART V - NAME CONFLICT
Names may not be too similar to the names of others, as is required by
General Principle 3a of these rules. Names need to be distinguished
from each other both in their written form and when heard in
announcements. This section defines ways in which submitted names may
differ sufficiently from protected names.
1. Personal Names - Personal names must be significantly different from
other protected personal names.
a. Difference of Name Phrases Two name phrases are considered
significantly different if they differ significantly in sound
and appearance. Name phrases that are not significantly
different are said to be equivalent.
Variant spellings of the same word or name, no matter how
radical, are not considered significantly different
unless there is also a significant difference in
pronunciation. Low German Flaschentra:ger could be
spelled vlaschendreyger in 1430, but the pronunciation
was essentially the same, so vlaschendreyger and
Flaschentra:ger are equivalent. Such variant spellings
may be registered where appropriate but do not make the
name different. Examples and further restrictions for
different types of name phrase are given below.
i. Given Names - Two given names are significantly different
only if they differ significantly in sound and appearance.
Irrespective of differences in sound and appearance, a
given name is not significantly different from any of its
diminutives when they are used as given names. However,
two diminutives of the same given name are significantly
different if they differ significantly in sound and
appearance.
Mary is equivalent to the French Marie, since
neither the appearance nor the sound is
significantly different; it is significantly
different from the Hebrew Miriam, since it differs
significantly in sound and appearance and neither
name is a diminutive of the other. Similarly, Ali
is significantly different from Auda. Hob is a
diminutive of Robert and therefore equivalent to it,
and for the same reason Kunz is equivalent to
Konrad. But Hob and Robin are significantly
different; though both are diminutives of Robert,
they look and sound significantly different. The
same holds for Nickel and Klas, which are both
diminutives of Niclas.
ii. Bynames - Two bynames are significantly different if they
look and sound significantly different. In general the
addition or deletion of prepositions and articles is not
significant. Additional restrictions apply to certain
types of bynames as specified below.
Blacksmith is significantly different from Smith.
Le Vanur `the basketmaker' is not significantly
different from le vannere `the winnower or maker of
fans or winnowing-baskets' because the
pronunciations are not significantly different.
Cum Barba is significantly different from Beard and
Witheberd `with the beard', but Beard is equivalent
to Witheberd. Der grosse Esel `the great ass' is
significantly different from der Esel, and with the
Long Nose is significantly different from with the
Crooked Nose. The Lion is not significantly
different from de Lyon.
Brekeleg is significantly different from Brekeheved
`break head'. Waggespere is significantly different
from Shakespeare.
(a) Bynames of Relationship - Two bynames of relationship
are significantly different if the natures of the
relationships or the objects of the relationships
are significantly different.
Smythwyf is significantly different from
Smithson because the nature of the relationship
is significantly changed; it is significantly
different from Tomwyf because the object of the
relationship has been changed (from Smith to
Tom). Mac Thorcuill `son of Thorcull' is
equivalent to Nic Thorcuill `daughter of
Thorcull', and Richards is equivalent to
Richard and to Richardson; in each case the
sound is insufficiently different. Hobson is
significantly different from Robertson,
however, because Hob and Robert differ
significantly in sound and appearance and are
not being used in given names.
(b) Locative Bynames - Two locative bynames need not
refer to different places in order to be considered
significantly different; they need only look and
sound sufficiently different.
Der Brabanter is equivalent to von Brabant;
such bynames were interchangeable in period.
However, de Flandre is significantly different
from le Flemyng because Flandre and Flemyng are
significantly different in sound and
appearance. York is equivalent to of York,
Mu:nstermann is equivalent to von Mu:nster,
and Undertheclyf is equivalent to del Clif and
Cliff. Zum Roten Lo:wen `at the Red Lion' is
significantly different from zum Lo:wen and
from zum Blauen Lo:wen `at the Blue Lion'.
Lion (from a sign name) is not significantly
different from de Lyon because the bynames do
not differ significantly in appearance.
b. Conflict of Personal Names - Two personal names conflict unless
at least one of the following conditions is met.
i. Given Names - Two personal names do not conflict if the
given names are significantly different.
Sancha Alfonso Carrillo does not conflict with Juan
Alfonso Carrillo. Hob Gage conflicts with Robert
Gage because Hob is not significantly different from
Robert (of which it is a diminutive).
ii. Number of Name Phrases - A personal name containing
exactly two name phrases does not conflict with any
personal name containing more than two name phrases.
Tho'ra Arntho'rudo'ttir does not conflict with
Tho'ra in spaka Arntho'rudo'ttir; Pedro
Fernandez does not conflict with Pedro Fernandez
Perez.
iii. Order of Name Phrases - Two personal names that contain
equivalent name phrases arranged in different orders do
not conflict if the change in order significantly changes
the meaning of the name as a whole.
Klein Konrad conflicts with Konrad der Kleine: they
could well refer to the same person. Owen ap Morgan
ap Gruffudd does not conflict with Owen ap Gruffudd
ap Morgan: as they have different fathers, they
cannot be the same person. Aed Dub mac Cormaic
`Black Aed son of Cormac' does not conflict with Aed
mac Cormaic Duib `Aed son of Black Cormac', and
Hro'lfr du'funef Bjarnarson `Hro'lfr dove-nose
son of Bjo:rn' does not conflict with Hro'lfr
Bjarnarson du'funefs `Hro'lfr son of Bjo:rn
dove-nose'. William Brun le Mercer conflicts with
William Mercer le Brun, both meaning `William with
brown hair who is a merchant in fine textiles'.
iv. Change of Name Phrases - Two personal names do not
conflict if each contains a name phrase that is
significantly different from every name phrase in the
other.
William Jamesson the Smith does not conflict with
William Jamesson the Carter because each of the
phrases the Smith and the Carter appears in one name
but not the other. Gilbert Fletcher the Long of
Kent conflicts with Gilbert Long Fletcher because
(1) the latter name contains no phrase that is
significantly different from every phrase of the
former name, and (2) the change in order of the
second and third name phrases does not significantly
change the meaning of the name.
c. Historical Personal Names - Protected historical personal names
are protected in all of the forms in which they commonly
appear.
Charlemagne, which becomes Carolus Magnus in Latin and
Karl der Grosse in German, is protected in all three
forms.
2. Non-Personal Names - Branch names, order and award names, heraldic
titles, and household names must be significantly different from
other protected non-personal names.
a. Difference of Descriptive Elements - A descriptive element is a
word other than a designator, an article, a preposition, or
the name of a branch of the Society. Two descriptive elements
are considered significantly different if they differ
significantly in both sound and appearance. Descriptive
elements that are not significantly different are said to be
equivalent.
b. Conflict of Names with the Same Number of Elements - Two
non-personal names with the same number of descriptive
elements conflict unless at least one of the following
conditions is met.
i. Change of Elements - Two such names do not conflict if
each of them contains a descriptive element significantly
different from every descriptive element in the other.
House Saint Mary, Saint Mary Herald, and the College
of Sainte Marie all conflict with one another
because their descriptive elements are equivalent;
House, Herald, and College of, being designators,
are not descriptive elements. The House of the Red
Dolphin does not conflict with the House of the Blue
Dolphin or the House of the Red Lion. The Order of
the White Scarf of Ansteorra conflicts with the
Order of the White Scarf of Atenveldt because
Ansteorra and Atenveldt are not descriptive elements
as defined above in clause 2.a.
ii. Change of Order or Grammar - Two such names containing
equivalent descriptive elements do not conflict if either
the order of the elements or the grammatical structure of
the name has changed in a way that significantly changes
the meaning of the name as a whole.
The Order of the Sword and the Tower conflicts with
the Order of the Tower and the Sword because the
change in order does not significantly change the
meaning of the name. Similarly, the Order of the
Guardians of the Castle conflicts with the Order of
the Castle's Guardians. The Order of the Castle of
the Guardians does not conflict the Order of the
Guardians of the Castle because the change in order
significantly changes the meaning; it does not
conflict with the Order of the Castle's Guardians
because the change in grammatical structure
significatly changes the meaning.
c. Conflict of Names with Different Numbers of Elements - Two
non-personal names with different numbers of descriptive
elements conflict if the only difference in the descriptive
parts is the addition of one or more modifiers to a single,
already modified root element.
The addition of one or more modifiers to an
unmodified noun is a significant change, so Black
Lion Herald does not conflict with Lyon King of
Arms. The Order of the Black Rampant Lion conflicts
with the Black Lion Herald, however, since Rampant
is added to an already modified noun. (Adding
further modifiers to an already modified noun is not
a significant change because it is generally not
good period style.) The Order of the Black Lion's
Heart does not conflict with the Black Lion Herald
since the added element, Heart, is not a modifier.
Similarly, the Order of the Tower and the Sword does
not conflict with the Order of the Sword.
PART VI - PRESUMPTUOUS NAMES
Names may not claim status or powers the submitter does not possess, as
is required by General Principle 3b of these rules. This section
defines categories of presumptuous claims.
1. Names Claiming Rank Names containing titles, territorial claims, or
allusions to rank are considered presumptuous.
Titles like Earl and Duke generally may not be used as Society
names, even if the title is the submitter's legal name. Names
documented to have been used in period may be used, even if
they were derived from titles, provided there is no suggestion
of territorial claim or explicit assertion of rank. For
example, Regina the Laundress is acceptable but Regina of
Germany is not. Claim to membership in a uniquely royal
family is also considered presumptuous, although use of some
dynastic surnames do not necessarily claim royal rank. For
example, there was a Scottish dynasty named Stewart, but there
were also many other Stewart families so use of that surname
does not link one unmistakably to the royal house.
Hohenstaufen, on the other hand, seems to have only been used
by the line of Holy Roman Emperors, so its use makes a clear
dynastic claim. In some cases, use of an otherwise
inoffensive occupational surname in a territorial context may
make it appear to be a title or rank, such as John the Bard of
Armagh or Peter Abbot of St. Giles.
2. Names Claiming Powers Names containing elements that allude to
powers that the submitter does not possess are considered
presumptuous.
Society names may not claim divine descent, superhuman
abilities, or other powers that the submitter does not
actually possess. Such claims include divine patronymics,
like Vulcanson; epithets peculiarly associated with divinities
or superhuman beings, such as of the Valkyrie; given names
that were never used by humans, like the names of some Giants
or Dwarves in Norse mythology; or descriptive epithets like
Worldblaster.
3. Names Claiming Specific Relationships - Names that unmistakably
imply identity with or close relationship to a protected person or
literary character will generally not be registered.
Explicit claims to descend from a particular person, such as
Edwin fitzWilliam Marshall or Rhys ap Cariadoc of the Bow will
not be registered. (The latter could be registered with a
letter of permission from Cariadoc of the Bow.) However,
since there are many people named William and Cariadoc, Edwin
fitzWilliam or Rhys ap Cariadoc would not conflict by
themselves. In some cases a unique name, surname, or epithet
is so closely related to an individual that its use alone can
imply relationship to that individual. There is only one
family that uses the name Baggins of Bag End, so Joan Baggins
of Bag End would not be appropriate.
4. Other Presumptuous Names - Some names not otherwise forbidden by
these rules are nevertheless too evocative of widely known and
revered protected items to be registered.
Such items include the peerage orders of the Society and such
well-known items outside the Society as the Order of the
Garter. The House of the Rose and Laurel does not conflict
with the Order of the Rose or the Order of the Laurel, but it
is too evocative of both to be registered. Similarly, the
Award of the Blue Garter is too evocative of the Order of the
Garter, whose badge is a blue garter.
PART VII - COMPATIBLE ARMORIAL CONTENT
Every element in a piece of Society armory must be compatible with
period armorial practices, as is required by General Principle 1a of
these rules. This section defines the categories of elements that the
College of Arms has generally found to be compatible.
1. Period Charges - Ordinaries and other charges used in period armory
may be registered.
Use of a charge in heraldry after 1600 does not guarantee its
acceptability. Thus, even though they appear in modern
British heraldry, DNA molecules and hydrogen atoms may not be
used.
2. Period Armorial Elements - Lines of division, lines of partition,
field treatments, and other elements used in period armory may be
registered.
Use of an element in period art does not guarantee its
acceptability for armory. Use of the Greek key design, which
was common in period decorative art, never carried over into
armory.
3. Period Artifacts - Artifacts that were known in the period and
domain of the Society may be registered in armory, provided they
are depicted in their period forms.
A pen, for instance, must be depicted as a quill pen or other
period form, not a fountain pen. A wheel must be depicted as
a wagon wheel, not a rubber tire from an automobile.
4. Period Flora and Fauna - Flora and fauna that were known in the
period and domain of the Society may be registered in armory.
Hybrids or mutations of period forms known to have been
developed after 1600 generally may not be used as charges.
For example, the English Sheepdog may not be used in Society
armory because it was developed after 1600.
5. Compatible Monsters - Monsters compatible with period armorial
practice may be registered in armory.
Monsters described in period sources may be used in the
Society, even if they were not used in period heraldry. New
monsters may be formed for Society use on the analogy of
period monsters, so long as all components remain sufficiently
identifiable in the compound monster. For example, the
Society has created the sea unicorn parallel to the sea lion
and sea horse.
6. Compatible Armorial Elements - Any charge, line of division, line of
partition, field treatment, or other armorial element that has been
ruled compatible with period heraldic style may be registered in
armory.
The line of partition "dovetailed" and field treatments
designed to imitate chain mail and honeycombs are some
examples of undocumented armorial elements that have already
been ruled compatible with period heraldic style.
7. Armorial Element Requirements - Only elements from the preceding
categories that satisfy the following requirements may be
registered in armory.
a. Identification Requirement - Elements must be recognizable
solely from their appearance.
Any charge, line of partition, or field treatment used in
Society armory must be identifiable, in and of itself,
without labels or excessive explanation. Elements not
used in period armory may be defined and accepted for
Society use if they are readily distinguishable from
elements that are already in use. The compass star,
defined in the Society as a mullet of four greater and
four lesser points, is immediately identifiable without
confusion with other mullets or estoiles once its
definition is known.
b. Reconstruction Requirement - Elements must be reconstructible
in a recognizable form from a competent blazon.
Any element used in Society armory must be describable in
standard heraldic terms so that a competent heraldic
artist can reproduce the armory solely from the blazon.
Elements that cannot be described in such a way that the
depiction of the armory will remain consistent may not be
used, even if they are identifiable design motifs that
were used before 1600. For example, the Tree of Life
occurs as a decorative element in period and is readily
identifiable as such, but it may not be used in armory
since it cannot be defined in a manner that guarantees
its consistent depiction.
8. Registered Armorial Elements - Once an armorial element has been
registered to an individual or group, the College of Arms may
permit that particular individual or group to register that element
again, even if it is no longer permissible under the rules in
effect at the time the later submission is made. This permission
may be extended to close relatives of the submitter if the College
of Arms deems it appropriate.
Only the actual armorial element from the originally
registered submission may be covered by this permission. For
example, if an individual had registered armory containing a
fimbriated lion many years ago, only that fimbriated lion
would be covered under this rule, not fimbriated wolves,
eagles, or lions in other postures. The College of Arms might
also agree to register this lion to the original submitter's
children. This allowance will not be granted for submitters
other than the original owner under any other circumstances.
PART VIII - COMPATIBLE ARMORIAL STYLE
All elements of a piece of armory must be arranged into a design that is
compatible with period armorial style, as is required by General
Principle 1b of these rules. This section defines the requirements for
arranging acceptable armorial elements into a design.
1. Armorial Simplicity - All armory must be simple in design.
a. Tincture and Charge Limit - Armory must use a limited number of
tinctures and types of charges.
As the number of tinctures involved in a device
increases, the number of types of charge should decrease.
As the number of types increases, the number of tinctures
should decrease. In no case should the number of
different tinctures or types of charges be so great as to
eliminate the visual impact of any single design element.
As a rule of thumb, the total of the number of tinctures
plus the number of types of charges in a design should
not exceed eight. As another guideline, three or more
types of charges should not be used in the same group.
b. Armorial Balance - Armory must arrange all elements coherently
in a balanced design.
Period armory usually places the primary elements of the
design in a static arrangement, such as a single charge
in the center of the field or three identical charges on
an escutcheon. More complex designs frequently include a
central focal point around which other charges are
placed, like a chevron between three charges, but the
design remains static and balanced. Designs that are
unbalanced, or that create an impression of motion, are
not compatible with period style.
c. Armorial Depth - Armory may not employ depth of field as a
design element.
i. Perspective - Charges may only be drawn in perspective if
they were so depicted in period armory.
A pair of dice may be drawn in perspective since
they were routinely drawn that way in period armory
to show the pips. A bear, dolphin, or castle should
not be drawn in three dimensions, but should appear
only in its standard, flat heraldic form.
ii. Layer Limit - Designs may not be excessively layered.
All charges should be placed either directly on the
field or entirely on other charges that lie on the
field.
2. Armorial Contrast - All armory must have sufficient contrast to
allow each element of the design to be clearly identifiable at a
distance.
Each tincture used in Society armory may be depicted in a
variety of shades. Therefore, contrast is not determined by
the lightness or darkness of the tinctures on the submitted
emblazon, but by the traditional heraldic categorization of
tinctures as colors and metals. The colors are azure, gules,
purpure, sable, and vert (blue, red, purple, black, and
green). Ermined furs or field treatments on a background of
one of these tinctures are treated as colors for contrast in
the Society. The metals are argent and Or (white or silver,
and yellow or gold). Ermined furs or field treatments on a
background of one of those tinctures are treated as metals for
contrast in the Society. Furs equally divided of light and
dark pieces, such as vair, are classed with other evenly
divided elements, such as paly, per bend, or lozengy.
a. Contrasting Tinctures - Good contrast exists between:
i. A metal and a color;
ii. An element equally divided of a color and a metal, and
any other element as long as identifiability is
maintained;
iii. A color and a charge, blazoned as proper, that is
predominantly light;
iv. A metal and a charge, blazoned as proper, that is
predominantly dark.
b. Contrast Requirements -
i. The field must have good contrast with every charge placed
directly on it and with charges placed overall.
For example, "a pale vair between two owls Or" might
be placed on a field gules, but not a field ermine
because the owls would not have good contrast.
Similarly, a field vert with a fess Or contrasts
with a wolf rampant overall that is argent or
ermine, but not a wolf that is gules or sable.
ii. A charge must have good contrast with any charge placed
wholly on it.
For example, a tree placed on a pale azure could be
Or, argent, or ermine, but could not be pean or
proper.
iii. Elements evenly divided into two parts, per saltire, or
quarterly may use any two tinctures or furs.
For example, a field quarterly could be composed of
azure and gules, argent and Or, Or and ermine, or
vert and vairy gules and argent.
iv. Elements evenly divided into multiple parts of two
different tinctures must have good contrast between their
parts.
For example, "checky argent and gules" is
acceptable, but "checky azure and gules" is not.
v. Elements evenly divided in three tinctures must have good
contrast between two of their parts.
3. Armorial Identifiability - Elements must be used in a design so as
to preserve their individual identifiability.
Identifiable elements may be rendered unidentifiable by
significant reduction in size, marginal contrast, excessive
counterchanging, voiding, or fimbriation, or by being obscured
by other elements of the design. For instance, a complex line
of partition could be difficult to recognize between two parts
of the field that do not have good contrast if most of the
line is also covered by charges. A complex divided field
could obscure the identity of charges counterchanged. Voiding
and fimbriation may only be used with simple geometric charges
placed in the center of the design.
4. Obtrusive Modernity - Armory may not use obtrusively modern designs.
"Modern" is defined as anything outside the period of the
Society.
a. Pictorial Design - Overly pictorial designs may not be
registered.
Design elements should not be combined to create a
picture of a scene or landscape. For example, combining
a field divided "per fess wavy azure and Or" with a sun
and three triangles Or, as well as a camel and two palm
trees proper to depict the Nile Valley would not be
acceptable.
b. Modern Insignia - Overt allusions to modern insignia,
trademarks, or common designs may not be registered.
Such references, including parodies, may be considered
obtrusive. Examples include using "a bend within a
bordure gules" to parody the international "No Entry"
sign, variations on the geometric Peace sign, and so
forth.
c. Natural Depiction -- Excessively naturalistic use of otherwise
acceptable charges may not be registered.
Excessively natural designs include those that depict
animate objects in unheraldic postures, use several
charges in their natural forms when heraldic equivalents
exist, or overuse proper. Proper is allowed for natural
flora and fauna when there is a widely understood default
coloration for the charge so specified. It is not
allowed if many people would have to look up the correct
coloration, or if the Linnaean genus and species (or some
other elaborate description) would be required to get it
right. An elephant, a brown bear, or a tree could each
be proper; a female American kestrel, a garden rose, or
an Arctic fox in winter phase, could not.
d. Modern Style - Generally modern style in the depiction of
individual elements or the total design may not be registered.
Artistic techniques and styles developed after 1600
should not be used in Society armory. Charges may not be
used to create abstract or op-art designs, or be
patterned after comic book art, fantasy art, pointillism
etc.
5. Fieldless Style - Fieldless armory must form a self-contained
design.
A fieldless design must have all its elements conjoined, like
the three feathers issuing from a crown used by the Heir
Apparent to the throne of England. Since there is no field in
such a design, it may not use charges that rely on the edges
of the field to define their shape, such as bordures and
orles, nor to cut off their ends, such as ordinaries or
charges throughout.
PART IX - OFFENSIVE ARMORY
Offensive armory may not be registered, as is required by General
Principle 2 of these rules. Armory may be innately offensive from its
content, or because of its usual associations or the context in which it
is placed, such as the swastika which, although used in period armory,
is so strongly associated with the Third Reich that it offends a large
segment of the population. Armory may be considered offensive even if
the submitter did not intend it to be. This section defines the
categories of designs that are generally considered offensive.
1. Vulgar Armory - Pornographic or scatological items or designs will
not be registered.
Obscene images, sexually explicit material, bathroom or toilet
humor, etc. are considered inherently offensive by a large
segment of the Society and general population.
2. Offensive Religious Symbolism - Magical or religious symbolism that
is excessive or mocks the beliefs of others will not be registered.
Magical or religious symbolism is not usually inherently
offensive, but offends by context. Both devotees and
opponents of a particular religion may be offended by an
excessive display of the symbols of that religion, for
example, a Calvary cross surrounded by four Paschal Lambs and
surmounted by a crown of thorns and a whip. Similarly,
although a Paschal Lamb is a standard heraldic charge,
dismembering the lamb and surmounting it by a pentacle creates
a context that could be offensive.
3. Stereotypical Designs - Allusions to derogatory ethnic, racial, or
sexual stereotypes will not be registered.
Such stereotypes, even if documented from period sources, are
innately offensive. This is true whether the stereotype is
inherent in the usage or created by context, like placing a
Moor's head within an orle of watermelons.
4. Offensive Political Symbolism - Symbols specifically associated with
social or political movements or events that may be offensive to a
particular race, religion, or ethnic group will not be registered.
Even if used without prejudice in period, such symbols are
offensive by their modern context. Thus, designs suggestive
of the SS, the Ku-Klux Klan, or similar organizations, may not
be used.
PART X - CONFLICTING ARMORY
A piece of armory may not be too similar to other pieces of armory, as
is required by General Principle 3a of these rules. Period armory
frequently distinguished between immediate relatives, like a father and
his son, by making a single change to the arms in a process called
"cadency". The changes made in such circumstances can be considered the
smallest change that period heralds would recognize. This section
defines ways in which submitted armory must be changed to be
sufficiently different from protected armory.
1. Addition of Primary Charges - Armory does not conflict with any
protected armory that adds or removes the primary charge group.
Most cadency systems did not involve addition or deletion of
the primary charge group, so this automatically creates an
independent design. For example, "Argent, two mullets gules"
does not conflict with "Argent, a pale between two mullets
gules", and "Vert, a lion rampant Or and a chief indented
argent" does not conflict with "Vert, a chief indented
argent".
2. Difference of Primary Charges -- Simple armory does not conflict
with other simple armory if the type of every primary charge is
substantially changed.
This type of change was normally seen between complete
stranges in blood, and wasn't usually used to indicate any
form of cadency. For the purposes of this Rule, simple armory
is defined by the following clauses. The word charge refers
to both charged and uncharged charges unless it is
specifically qualified; a group of charges may contain one or
more charges.
a. Armory that has only a primary group of identical charges is
simple armory.
Argent, a fess sable does not conflict with Argent, a
lion rampant sable. Gules, on a pale argent three roses
proper does not conflict with Gules, on a bend argent
three roses proper. Or, three lozenges vert, each
charged with a mullet argent does not conflict with Or,
three billets vert, each charged with a mullet argent.
Sable, a chevron Or does conflict with Sable, a chevron
embattled Or, because the type of the primary charge
group has not been substantially changed.
b. Armory that has only a group of uncharged primary charges is
simple armory.
Per chevron gules and argent, three mullets
counterchanged does not conflict with Per chevron gules
and argent, two escallops and a roundel counterchanged.
Azure, three maunches argent, each charged with a rose
gules does conflict with azure, two escallops and a heart
argent, each charged with a rose gules, because the
primary charges of the latter armory are neither
identical nor uncharged. Per chevron gules and argent,
three oak trees counterchanged does conflict with Per
chevron gules and argent, three fir trees counterchanged,
because the type of charge has not been substantially
changed; it conflicts with Per chevron gules and argent,
two mullets and a fir tree counterchanged because not all
of the charges have been substantially changed.
c. Armory that has only a primary group if identical charges,
accompanied only by a secondary group of identical charges, is
simple armory.
Each of the following armories is simple: Argent, a
chevron between three wolf's heads erased sable; Sable
bezanty, three millrinds argent; Gules, a saltire between
in fess two open scrolls argent, each charged with a pen
sable; Vert, three gauntlets argent within a bordure Or
semy-de-lys vert; Argent, a rose azure between flaunches
gules; and Argtent, a greyhound courant and on a chief
azure, a fleur-de-lys between two pheons argent. Gules,
a fess argent charged with three mullets azure, all
between three billets argent, each charged with a lozenge
azure does not conflict with Gules, a chevron argent
charged with three mullets azure, all between three
billets argent, each charged with a lozenge azure, since
both armories are simple. However, Vert, three gauntlets
argent within a bordure Or semy-de-lys sable does
conflict with Vert, two mullets and a clarion argent
within a bordure Or semy-de-lys sable, because the latter
is not simple: its primary charges are not identical.
And Argent, a chevron between three wolf's heads erased
sable, a chief gules does conflict with Argent, a fess
between three wolf's heads erased sable, a chief gules,
because neither armory is simple: the primary charge is
accompanied by two groups of secondary charges.
3. Required Charges Transparent - Two pieces of official Society armory
that share required charges may consider their Difference of
Primary Charges as if the required charges were not there.
This is to avoid penalizing the slight increase in complexity
caused when official armory includes required charges like the
laurel wreath or crown. As an example, "Gules, a hammer
within a laurel wreath and on a chief Or three fleurs-de-lys
gules" would not conflict with "Gules, a mullet within a
laurel wreath and on a chief Or three fleurs-de-lys gules".
Required charges always count normally for difference
themselves, this rule only ignores the complexity they add to
a design. This provision may not be applied when comparing
official Society armory with any other armory.
4. Significant Armorial Differences - Two pieces of armory will not be
considered to conflict if two clear visual differences exist
between them.
a. Field Difference - If charges are present, changing the
tinctures, division, line of partition, or treatment of the
field is one clear difference.
If at least half the field is changed, the fields will be
considered different. Changing a field from azure to
gules, for instance, or to "per pale azure and vert"
would be one change. Similarly, changing from "per pale
Or and azure" to "per fess Or and azure", or "per pale Or
and vert", or to "per pale embattled Or and azure" would
also be one change. Changes to the field may not be
counted separately if there are charges, so "Per chevron
ermine and azure, a pale gules" is one change from "Per
bend wavy Or and vert, a pale gules". Reversing the
tinctures of a field evenly divided into two parts, per
saltire, or quarterly is one clear difference.
i. Fieldless Difference -- A piece of fieldless armory
automatically has one clear difference from any other
armory, fielded or fieldless.
Tinctureless armory and Japanese mon are considered
to be fieldless for this purpose.
ii. Field Only Difference - If neither of two pieces being
compared has charges, changes to the tincture, division,
line of partition, and treatment of the field may be
counted separately.
For instance, changing from "Per chevron gules and
azure" to "Per bend wavy Or and vert" would be three
changes if neither piece of armory had any charges.
b. Addition of Charges on the Field - Adding or removing any group
of charges placed directly on the field, including strewn
charges, is one clear difference.
Each charge group may be counted separately, so "Argent,
a pale gules" has two clear changes from "Argent, a pale
between two owls all within a bordure gules".
c. Addition of Charges Overall - Adding or removing a group of
charges placed overall is one clear difference.
"Or, a lion rampant purpure" would have one clear
difference from "Or, a lion rampant purpure and overall a
fess sable".
d. Tincture Changes - Changing the tinctures or division of any
group of charges placed directly on the field, including
strewn charges or charges overall, is one clear difference.
Changing the tincture of at least half of the charges in
a group is one clear difference. Or, in pale three
bull's heads gules differs from Or, in pale a bull's head
gules between two more sable, but not from Or, in pale a
bull's head sable between two more gules. Separate
differences may be counted for changing the tincture of
different groups of charges, so "Vert, a pale between
four mullets Or, all within a bordure argent" would have
three clear differences from "Vert, a pale ermine between
four mullets argent, all within a bordure checky argent
and gules". As with the field, only one change can be
counted for all tincture changes to the same group of
charges. Tinctureless armory may not count difference
for tincture of charges; the Fieldless Difference will
count for one change and the second change must come from
a category that does not involve tincture.
e. Type Changes - Significantly changing the type of any group of
charges placed directly on the field, including strewn charges
or charges overall, is one clear difference.
Changing the type of at least half of the charges in a
group is one clear difference. Types of charges
considered to be separate in period, for example a lion
and an heraldic tyger, will be considered different. A
charge not used in period armory will be considered
different in type if its shape in normal depiction is
significantly different. This means a lion would not be
clearly different from a puma. Separate differences may
be obtained from changing the types of charges in
different charge groups. Changing "Vert, a pale between
two lions argent and a chief Or" to "Vert, a fess between
two horses argent and a chief Or" produces two separate
differences. Since the edge partition line of a charge
is part of its type, the change from "a pale wavy" to "a
pale embattled" is one clear difference. Changing from
"a pale wavy" to "a fess embattled" is also one change of
type, not a change of type plus a change of edge
partition.
f. Number Changes - Significantly changing the number of charges
in any group placed directly on the field or overall is one
clear difference.
One, two, and three are significantly different from any
number, four is significantly different from six or more,
and five is significantly different from eight or more.
Six and higher numbers, including sem of charges, are not
significantly different from each other.
g. Arrangement Changes - Changing the relative positions of
charges in any group placed directly on the field or overall
is one clear difference, provided that change is not caused by
other changes to the design.
Changes to other parts of the design frequently cause
changes to the arrangement of charge groups, so changing
from "Argent, a fess between two unicorns within an orle
purpure" to "Argent, a pale between two unicorns within
an orle purpure" requires that the unicorns move from "in
pale" to "in fess". Changing from "Argent, three
unicorns purpure" to "Argent, four unicorns purpure" will
also cause some change in arrangement. These changes do
not provide independent difference. Changes that are
made on their own, like changing from "three mullets in
fess" to "three mullets in pale", or from "six mullets"
on an uncharged field to "five mullets in cross", are
clear differences.
h. Posture Changes - Significantly changing the posture or
individual orientation of charges in any group placed directly
on the field, including strewn charges or charges overall, is
one clear difference.
Changing the posture of at least half of the charges in a
group is one clear difference. Changing "a sword
fesswise" to "a sword palewise", or from "a lion rampant"
to "a lion passant", is one clear difference. Multiple
changes to the posture or orientation of the same charges
may not be counted separately, so "a lion passant
bendwise" is one clear difference from "a lion couchant
to sinister". Changes of posture or orientation of
separate charge groups may each be counted. A change of
posture must affect the orientation of the charge, or
significantly change its appearance. Changes in the
position of the head, for instance, are not significant,
nor is the change from statant to passant, which
essentially moves only one leg. Changing from passant to
couchant, however, visually removes the legs from the
bottom of the charge and is considered significant.
i. Addition of Charges on Charges - Adding or removing any group
of charges placed entirely on other charges is one clear
difference.
For example, charging a pale with three martlets, or
charging a bordure with eight qmartlets, provides one
clear difference.
j. Changes to Charges on Charges - Changes to a group of charges
placed entirely on other charges may create one clear
difference.
No more than one clear difference can be obtained from
changes to the same group of charges on other charges.
i. Making two or more visually significant changes to the
same group of charges placed entirely on other charges is
one clear difference.
Changes of type, number, tincture, posture, or
independent changes of arrangement may each count as
one ot the two changes. Generally such changes must
affect the whole group of charges to be considered
visually significant, since the size of these
elements and their visual impact are considerably
diminished. For example, Sable, two mullets and a
fleam argent and on a chief Or three mullets gules
would not have a clear difference from Sable, two
mullets and a fleam argent and on a chief Or a
mullet between two lozenges vert.
ii. In simple cases substantially changing the type of all of
a group of identical charges placed entirely on other
charges is one clear difference. Only the new submission
is required to be a simple case in order to benefit from
the following clauses.
Simple cases are defined by the following clauses.
The word charge refers both to charged and to
uncharged charges unless it is specifically
qualified; a group of charges may contain one or
more charges. A charge is suitable for the purposes
of this rule if (a) it it simple enough in outline
to be voided, and (b) it is correctly drawn with an
interior substantial enough to display easily
recognizable charges.
(a) Armory that has a group of identical charges on
an ordinary or other suitable charge alone on
the field is a simple case.
Sable, on a pale argent three lozenges
sable has one clear difference from Sable,
on a pale argent three ravens sable. Or,
on a heart vert a pheon argent has one
clear difference from Or, on a heart vert
a cross moline argent. Argent, a lion
rampant gules charged with a cross
crosslet Or does not have a clear
difference from Argent, a lion rampant
gules charged with a heart Or because the
lion is too complex in outline to be
voided. Gules, on a mullet of six points
Or a cross crosslet sable does not have a
clear difference from Gules, on a mullet
of six points Or a pellet because the
interior of a correctly drawn mullet of
six points is too small.
(b) Armory that has a group of identical charges on
an ordinary or other suitable charge that is
accompanied only by a single uncharged group of
identical charges lying entirely on the field is
a simple case.
Argent, on a fess azure between two pine
trees vert a spear argent has one clear
difference from Argent, on a fess azure
between two pine trees vert a rose argent.
Azure, on a bezant a tree azure all within
a bordure argent has one clear difference
from Azure, on a bezant a bear statant
azure all within a bordure argent. Gules,
on a bezant a tree azure within an orle of
martlets argent has one clear difference
from Gules, on a bezant a bear statant
azure within an orle of martlets argent.
Or, on a chevron between two millrinds and
a lion passant gardant sable three
escallops argent has no clear difference
from Or, on a chevron between two
millrinds and a lion passant gardant sable
three crosses crosslet argent because the
charges accompanying the chevron are not
identical. For the same reason Azure
billety Or, on a fess between three owls
argent a sword azure has no clear
difference from Azure billety Or, on a
fess between three owls argent a rose
azure.
(c) Armory that has an uncharged primary charge
group and a peripheral ordinary charged with a
group of identical charges is a simple case.
For the purposes of this clause the
peripheral ordinaries are the chief, the
bordure, the base (including the point
pointed), the canton, and flaunches.
Argent, two escallops and a gauntlet and
on a chief gules three fleurs-de-lis
argent has one clear difference from
Argent, two escallops and a gauntlet and
on a chief gules three crosses crosslet
argent. As a new submission Argent, a
lion rampant and on a chief gules three
fleurs-de-lis argent does not conflict
with Argent, a lion rampant between three
mullets and on a chief gules three crosses
crosslet argent even though the latter is
not a simple case. The new armory is a
simple case, so there is one clear
difference for substantially changing the
type of the tertiary charges; the second
is for removing the mullets (see RfS
X.4.b). If, however, the second armory
were new and the first already registered,
the second armory would conflict with the
first; the new armory not being simple,
there would be just one clear difference
for adding the mullets.
(d) Armory that has a group of identical charges on
a peripheral ordinary alone on the field is a
simple case.
For the purposes of this clause the
peripheral ordinaries are the chief, the
bordure, the base (including the point
pointed), the canton, and flaunches.
Gyronny Or and gules, a bordure engrailed
sable semy of towers argent has one clear
difference from Gyronny Or and gules, a
bordure engrailed sable semy of mascles
argent. Vair, flaunches gules each
charged with an arrow argent has one clear
difference from Vair, flaunches gules each
charged with a cross crosslet argent.
Gules, on a chief Or a mascle between two
roundels sable is not a simple case
because the charges on the chief are not
identical; as a new submission it
therefore does not have a clear difference
from Gules, on a chief or three mullets
sable, even though the latter is a simple
case.
5. Visual Test - If the tinctures, shapes, or arrangement of the
charges in a submission create an overwhelming visual resemblance
to a piece of protected armory, the submission may be held to
conflict even if sufficient theoretical difference can be counted
between them.
A piece of armory is registered and protected, not the verbal
description used to record that armory. The use of different
terminology to describe two designs that are visually similar
does not affect any potential for conflict that may exist.
Thus, "Or, a fess vert" is not different from "Vert, a chief
and a base Or" even though one could theoretically count
sufficient difference between them from these blazons.
Unusual cases may occur where contrast is weak and unusual
arrangements of charges are employed, and in such
circumstances the cumulative similarities between two pieces
of armory may outweigh any specific differences. As an
example, the cumulative effect of the similarities between
"Vert, ermined Or, on a mullet argent a lion rampant azure
within a bordure embattled ermine" and "Vert, ermined Or, on
an estoile argent a lion rampant azure within a bordure
embattled erminois" creates a strong possibility of confusion.
PART XI - PRESUMPTUOUS ARMORY
Armory may not claim status or powers the submitter does not possess, as
is required by General Principle 3b of these rules. This section
defines categories of presumptuous armorial claims.
1. Reserved Charges - Armory that contains elements reserved to or
required of certain ranks, positions, or territorial entities,
inside or outside the Society, is considered presumptuous. Symbols
reserved or required solely inside the Society may only be
registered to those entitled to the status associated with those
symbols.
Examples of such elements include the field "Azure,
sem-de-lys", which is restricted to French royalty; a laurel
wreath, required for official Society branches; the coronet
restricted to royal peers, kingdoms and principalities; the
knight's annulet of chain; the caduceus reserved to those with
medical qualifications, etc. Lists of these charges can be
found in the glossary. Some elements, like the French royal
field, are always restricted. Others are limited to specific
segments of the Society. For example, individuals may not
place laurel wreaths on their armory, while only those who are
royal peers may use the insignia of those ranks.
2. Charge and Name Combination - Armory that asserts a strong claim of
identity in the context of the submitter's name is considered
presumptuous.
Some otherwise permissible names and armorial elements cannot
be used together because joining the two creates too strong an
association with famous individuals from myth, literature, or
history. For example, while "Rhiannon" can be used as a given
name, and horses can be used as charges, the two cannot be
used together as it suggests the Rhiannon of Welsh myth.
Similarly, charges that merely allude to a specific name on
their own may become presumptuous if several such charges are
used.
3. Marshalling - Armory that appears to marshall independent arms is
considered presumptuous.
Period marshalling combined two or more separate designs to
indicate descent from noble parents and claim to inheritance.
Since members of the Society are all required to earn their
status on their own merits, apparent claims to inherited
status are presumptuous. Divisions commonly used for
marshalling, such as quarterly or per pale, may only be used
in contexts that ensure marshalling is not suggested.
a. Such fields may be used with identical charges over the entire
field, or with complex lines of partition or charges overall
that were not used for marshalling in period heraldry.
b. Such fields may only be used when no single portion of the
field may appear to be an independent piece of armory.
No section of the field may contain an ordinary that
terminates at the edge of that section, or more than one
charge unless those charges are part of a group over the
whole field. Charged sections must all contain charges
of the same type to avoid the appearance of being
different from each other.
4. Arms of Pretense - Armory that uses charges which themselves are
charged in such a way as to appear to be arms of pretense is
considered presumptuous.
Period and modern heraldic practice asserts a claim to land or
property by surmounting an individual's usual armory with a
display of armory associated with that claim. Such arms of
pretense are most commonly placed on an inescutcheon or
lozenge, but may also appear on other geometric charges such
as roundels, cartouches, etc. For this reason, such charges
may not be charged in such a way as to suggest independent
arms. Such charges may not contain an ordinary that
terminates at the edge, or more than one charge.
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