How the College of Arms is Structured

by Mistress Jaelle of Armida and Master Talan Gwynek

The College of Arms (CoA) is the heraldic authority of the SCA; it is headed by the Laurel Sovereign of Arms. It registers names and heraldry, regulates the use of titles and regalia, and serves as a source of information on all matters heraldic. In addition to the Laurel Sovereign of Arms it comprises Laurel's immediate staff and the Colleges of Heralds of the various kingdoms, which are headed by their respective Principal Heralds. Since a kingdom's College of Heralds comprises all of the rostered or warranted heralds of that kingdom, the CoA is technically a very large group. However, only about 50 of its members are on the CoA Mailing List and so receive all internal CoA correspondence, and it is these people who conduct the month-to-month affairs of the CoA.

The Mailing List includes Laurel's immediate staff, which is made up of people with specialized knowledge or experience whose skills benefit the CoA. Past and present members have included people with specialized knowledge such as on Japanese heraldry, former Laurel Sovereigns of Arms, and people who are experienced heralds and who have the time and the desire to comment on submissions. It also includes the Principal Herald of each kingdom. In those kingdoms in which the Principal Herald delegates submissions processing to a deputy, the deputy is on the Mailing List. In addition, a Principal Herald may appoint to the Mailing List one or more deputies to comment on submissions from other kingdoms. (Such appointments are subject to Laurel's approval.)

Here is the current Table of Organization of the CoA:

The College of Arms consists of:

Laurel Sovereign of Arms and Pelican Sovereign of Arms

Laurel staff currently includes:

1)Argent Snail Herald	- Heraldic Education and commenting
2) Morsulus Herald	- in charge of A & O
3) Brown Mouse Herald	- Commenter
4) al-Jamal Herald	- Commenter
5) Brickbat Herald	- Commenter
6) Palimpsest Herald	- Commenter and Rules discussions
7) Clarion Herald	- Commenter
8) Metron Ariston Herald	- Commenter
9) Assorted Heralds who assist in various ways

Kingdom Colleges of Heralds - The Principal Heralds of the Known World are (in alphabetical order by kingdom):

1) Æthelmearc	- Silver Buckle Herald
2) An Tir	- Black Lion Principal Herald
3) Ansteorra	- Star Principal Herald
4) Artemisia	- Golden Wing Herald
5) Atenveldt	- Aten Principal Herald
6) Atlantia	- Triton Principal Herald
7) Caid	- Crescent Principal Herald
8) Calontir	- Gold Falcon Principal Herald
9) Drachenwald	- Schwartzdrachen Principal Herald
10) East	- Brigantia Principal Herald
11) Ealdormere	- Trillium Herald
12) Lochac	- Crux Australis Principal Herald
13) Meridies	- Beacon Principal Herald
14) Middle	- Dragon Principal Herald
15) Outlands	- White Stag Principal Herald
16) Trimaris	- Triskele Principal Herald
17) West	- Vesper Principal Herald

Here, in alphabetical order, are the kingdoms in which submissions processing is performed by a deputy, and the title of that deputy:

1) Æthelmearc	- Garnet Herald
2) An Tir	- Lion's Blood Herald
3) Ansteorra	- Bordure Herald
4) Artemesia	- Pillar Herald
5) Atlantia	- Golden Dolphin Herald
6) Calontir	- Saker Herald
7) Drachenwald	- Edelweiss Herald
8) East	- Blue Tyger Herald
9) Ealdormere	- Green Mantle Herald
10) Meridies	- Pennon Herald
11) Middle	- Rouge Scarpe Herald
12) Outlands	- Rampart Herald
13) Trimaris	- Lymphad Herald
14) West	- Matins Herald

Various heralds appointed by the several Principal Heralds to comment on submissions, e.g., the Brachet Herald of the West Kingdom, and the Kraken Herald of Atlantia, whose specific brief is to check armory for conflict.

Originally webbed by Lyssa,08/4/97

Jump to Education Articles page
Jump to Name Articles page
Jump to Laurel main page

maintained by Codex Herald (Master Robin Gallowglass, OP, OSC)

This page was last updated on Saturday, October 1st, 2005 @ 10:05 pm CDT