Heraldry is the art of describing in words and pictures the designs on shields, flags and so on which represent a person, family, guild, company or place. Heraldry is an important aspect of SCA life, as we choose names and "coats of arms" - devices - for ourselves within the Society. The College of Heralds exists across the Known World to administer the registrations of names and devices and research heraldry, as well as looking after courts and protocol.

Names

When you join the Society, you may choose a name for your persona - your self within the SCA. This cannot be the name of a person who really existed or who is famous in literature - you can't call yourself Anne Boleyn or Conan the Barbarian. Instead, you create a name of someone who might have existed - Anne Williams of London or Conal ap Llewellen would be fine. A name should be chosen from a specific time and place, for consistency.

The only other rules are that your name must have been able to exist within the SCA time period, is not offensive, and the grammar and spelling must be correct. Different countries and different times had different naming practices - our firstname surname form is only one of several options. The Heralds in your group will let you know if the name you have chosen is workable, or help you to

Many people come to an event and just make up something. A year later they find that someone else has already registered "Sven Svensson", or that "Samuel Slug Slayer" just isn't funny any more. If you aren't sure of what you want, use your mundane first name (maybe as "John of Lidcombe" or similar) until you can discuss with the Heralds what you really want. Once you register your name, it will appear on all official records, award scrolls, and newsletters. It will be announced in court, on the fighting field, and wherever you spend your time - so choose carefully. Once registered, your name is protected and no-one else can use it officially.

Devices

The designs you see on banners, shields, and favours all belong to people in the Society. Each design is registered to one person and should only be used by them. In our modern world these are often called "crests" or "coats of arms". Since a crest is really the animal or symbol on top of the fighter's helm and a coat of arms can only be used by someone who has been given an Award of Arms (or Grant or Patent of Arms) by Their Highnesses or Their Majesties, we call these designs devices.

Anyone may register a device and then paint it on a shield or work it into a costume. This is also called armory. Once you register your device, it is protected (even if you leave the SCA) and cannot be used officially by anyone else. If you get an Award of Arms, this device becomes your "coat of arms" and you can make a banner and hang it in the feast hall. You can paint your device onto chests and tablecloths, or embroider it onto favours. You can use your device can to mark your gear, your children, your fighting unit, and your pavilion.

It is useful to learn the basics of heraldry before trying to design your own device and many people find it a fascinating study for its own sake. The general idea is to come up with a design which is heraldically correct, unique, easily recognised, easy to draw or sew (if possible), and which you like. Once you have lodged your device (get your local Herald to help you), it is checked against all other devices registered in the SCA and some important real ones. It takes about eight months from when you submit your device to when it is registered. If it doesn't pass, you can modify the design and try again.

Jargon

In order to describe the design on a device using a minimum number of words, heralds developed a jargon based on medieval French. The word description is called the blazon. The picture of the device is called the emblazon. The design is made up of many layers. Each layer may be one or more colour or patterns. Geometric shapes, animals and symbols are added to complete the design. To bring some order to all these layers, there are some heraldic rules for design.

First, there are names for the sides and parts of the basic shield. There is also a hierarchy, with most important part of the shield at the top and on the left.

The basic layer or background is called the field of the device. It can be one colour or divided into parts with different colours or patterns. Some divisions of the field are shown below ("per" = "by" or "in"): per pale per fess per bend per chevron quarterly gyronny

There are five colours and two metals which can be used. The colours are red (called gules), blue (azure), purple (purpure), green (vert) and black (sable). The metals are gold/yellow (Or) and silver/white (argent). You can sometimes use the natural colour of an animal or plant (called proper) if the contrast is good enough. There are also furs (based on ermine and other furs) and patterns which increase the options. Some furs and patterns are shown below.

The first basic rule is contrast - you can't put a colour on a colour or a metal on a metal. So, no purple lions on a black background - you couldn't see it at a distance anyway. If the field is divided into more than three pieces, they must also contrast.

The next layer may have some large charges - the symbols on the device. Geometric charges are also called ordinaries. These must contrast to the colour of the field. Ordinaries often match the field divisions, with similar names:

You may also have birds, beasts, flowers and all sorts of other objects as charges. Try to avoid common charges. There are already a lot of swords, unicorns, lions, etc., and it's hard (although not impossible) to design a device using these which is different from those already registered.

When you put all the layers together, you get your own unique device.

Each office has a device and officers can be recognized by the tabards, baldrics or symbols that they wear (see Officers). All SCA groups also have a device for the group. A group device always has a Laurel wreath on it - the symbol of the Society.

More Information: The Known World Handbook has some articles on Heraldry. Our local herald is happy to talk to you about devices and names, help you register your own armory, or lend you books. Many public libraries also have books on heraldry. The College of Heralds is always happy to teach would-be heralds and welcome them into the College.

Acknowledgments

This (page was taken from a booklet that was) written and put together by Mistress Rowan Perigrynne and Lady Yseult de Lacy. The introduction was loosely based on an article written by Mistress Siobhan Medhbh O'Roarke. The illustrations were either drawn by Mistress Rowan or Lady Yseult, taken from the Known World Handbook, or copied from medieval books such as the Lutterel Psalter.

Copying (applies to THIS PAGE ONLY)

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