Unto Their Royal Majesties Cosmo and Elzbieta; Dame Anita de Challis, Acting Aten Principal Herald; the Heralds in the Atenveldt College of Heralds; and to All Whom These Presents Come,

Greetings from Marta as tu Mika-Mysliwy, Parhelium Herald!

This is the September 2009 Atenveldt Letter of Presentation. It precedes the external Letter of Intent that will contain the following submissions that are presented here, asking questions of submitters and local heralds who have worked with them; if these questions are not addressed, the submission may be returned by the Atenveldt College of Heralds. I accept online commentary, in addition to questions pertaining to heraldry and consultation. You can send commentary to me privately at brickbat@nexiliscom.com or join “Atenveldt Submissions Commentary” at Yahoo!

( http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Atenveldt_Submissions_Commentary/ ) and post there. (Any commentary is likely be included in the next month's Letter of Presentation so that all may learn from it, and we can see how additional documentation or comments may have influenced a submission.) Please have commentary to me by 10 October 2009.

Consultation Table at Kingdom Arts and Sciences: We are planning a Table at Kingdom A&S, Saturday, 3 October, in the Barony of Tir Ysgithr (Green Fields School, Tucson). If you're planning to attend the event, we'd like to have you on our side of the Table! Please contact me for more information; additional information will be posted on various Atenveldt Heralds Yahoo! Groups soon.

Submissions Website: You can send electronic commentary on the most recent internal LoIs through the site, in addition to any questions you might have. Current submission forms (the ONLY forms that can be used) can be found on the site. Please let your local populace know about the site, too: atensubmissions.nexiliscom.com.

Please consider the following submissions for the October 2009 Atenveldt Letter of Intent:

Alaric von Bern (Sundragon): NEW NAME and DEVICE

Per bend vert and argent, a hammer bendwise argent and an anvil reversed sable, a bordure counterchanged.

The name is German. Alaric is a masculine given name that comes from the Old German Alaricus; it was the name of several West Goth king, and Alaric I sacked Rome in 410 AD (Withycombe, 3^rd edition, p. 8 s.n. Alaric). Bern, a city in Switzerland (Berne in Swiss) was founded in 1191 by Duke Berchtold V of Zähringen, but prior to that, the region of Bern was populated by a succession of prehistoric, Celtic, and Roman peoples and by Germanic tribes ( http://www.world66.com/europe/switzerland/bern/history ). The client will not take Major or Minor changes to his name.

Alianora Alexandra da Lyshåret (Barony of Atenveldt): BADGE RESUBMISSION from Laurel, November 2007

Per pale sable and argent, a chevron rompus and in base a lozenge, all counterchanged.

The name was registered July 1981.

The original submission, Per pale sable and argent, a chevron rompu and in base a lozenge barry, all counterchanged., was returned for lack of contrast. “Each half of the barry lozenge shares a tincture with its field: i.e., it's a lozenge barry argent and sable, on the sable part of the field, and a lozenge barry sable and argent, on the argent part of the field. The total effect makes the lozenge look like a series of oddly couped bars, rendering it unidentifiable. A simple counterchange of the lozenge, as was done with the chevron, would solve the problem, assuming no conflicts.” The client is taking the CoA's suggestion of using a simple counterchange of both charges.

Alianora Alexandra da Lyshåret (Barony of Atenveldt): BADGE RESUBMISSION from Kingdom, July 2006

(Fieldless) On a narcissus blossom affronty argent a Celtic cross Or.

The name was registered July 1981.

The client is registering the fieldless version of Per fess sable and Or, on a narcissus blossom argent a Celtic cross Or., was was registered to her in January 1973 and reblazoned in June 2002.

Atenveldt, Barony of: NEW ORDER NAME, “Order of the Red Hurlebatte,” and NEW BADGE

Argent, two palm tress couped, trunks crossed in saltire, and in chief a hurlbat gules.

The name is English. Red, as a color associated with fire and blood, is seen with this spelling in 1296 (COED). A hurlebatte is a throwing axe. According to the COED, this particular spelling is first seen c. 1440 and seems popular through the end of period. This seems to be “an entirely metal throwing axe sharpened on every auxiliary end to a point or blade, practically guaranteeing some fomr of damage against its target” ( http://www.absoluteasronomy.com/topics/Axe#encyclopedia ). This cite refers to battle-axes as described in Mittelalterliche Kampfesweisen. Band 2: Kriegshammer, Schild und Kolben, Andre Schulze (Hrsg.), Mainz am Rhein.: Zabern 2007. ISBN 3-8053-3736-1. However, this reference is unavailable at Google Books. The client is most interested in the meaning of the name.

The badge design follows a number of those already registered to the Barony.

This Order is intended for youth fighters in the Barony, and the name evokes the existing “Order of the Sable Axe of the Barony of Atenveldt,” for adult fighters. The LoAR May 2009 Cover Letter state that “Order names which follow the <color>+<charge> pattern must use the ordinary color term for a heraldic tincture appropriate for the language of the order name. If “read in that spelling is unacceptable, then the client will accept the appropriate equivalent color term that means “red” in modern English. Thanks to Lady Helena for drawing up this submission.

Ascelina Alánn ingen Ailella (Twin Moon): NEW BADGE

(Fieldless) A demi-wyvern wings displayed argent.

The name was registered December 2008.

This might be alternatively blazoned as “a dragon's head couped at the shoulder and wings displayed” or even “a winged dragon's head couped” (I'm lifting this from Maria Elena Hurtado de Mendoza: Per pale azure and purpure, a triquetra Or between the wings of a winged horse's head couped argent.), so you might check for conflict in that direction as well. I can't see this really being mistaken for a bat.

Bella Emiliana de la Monte (Tir Ysgithr): NEW NAME and DEVICE

Argent, two chevonels azure between three roses azure barbed and seeded proper.

The name is Italian. Bella is a feminine given name found in “Feminine Given Names from Thirteenth Century Perugia,” Arval Benicoeur ( http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/arval/perugia/ ). St. Emiliana was a 6^th C. virgin saint, an aunt of St. Gregory the Great, a Doctor of the Church and a Pope; she and her sister renounced the world and led contemplative lives, living in their father's home in Rome; her feast day is 24 December, and she is named in the Roman Martyrology ( http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=865 ). de Monte is found in “1800 Surnames Recorded in 1447,” N.F. Faraglia ( http://www.abruzzoheritage.com/magazine/2002_06/d.htm ); Monte is also found there. When the paperwork was all said and done, however, the byname became de la Monte. While I've found Delmonte, I'm still looking for de la Monte.

Bjorn Bloodax (Ered Sul): NEW NAME and DEVICE

Quarterly gules and sable, a double-bitted axe argent charged with three gouts in fess gules.

The name is Old Norse. Both elements are found in “The Old Norse Name,” by Geirr Bassi Haraldsson. Bjorn is a masculine given name, p. 8, and Bloodax is a descriptive byname, “blood-ax,” p. 20. This is the normalized ON spelling of the name. It would appear in period manuscript as Biǫrn blóðøx. The client desires a male name and will not accept Major or Minor changes to the name.

Duncan Drax (Tir Ysgithr): NEW NAME and DEVICE

Quarterly vert and sable, a griffin segreant contourny erminois.

Duncan is a masculine given name from the Old Irish Dunecan. It dates back to 1030-40 and 1094-5 as the names of two early Scottish kings, Ducan I and Duncan II; while a consistently popular name in Scotland, it was less so in England. (Withycombee, 3^rd edition, p. 90 s.n. Duncan). Drax is an English surname dated to the 15th-16^th C: John Drax (1406), Lambert Drax (1509). It is also seen as de Drax, in Bernard de Drax of Marmande, c. 1303 ( www.nationalarchives.uk.gov ). The client desires a male name and will not accept Major or Minor changes to the name.

Eoghan Britannicus (Barony of Atenveldt): CHANGE OF HOLDING NAME from “Geoffrey of Atenveldt”

The holding name was registered December 2008.

His original name submission, Eoghan of the Breton March, was returned for the following reasons: “The byname of the Breton March was documented from "About Song of Roland" (http://www.gradesaver.com/classicnotes/titles/roland/about.html) which indicated that Roland was called "Lord of the Breton Marches" in Einhard's Vita Karoli Magni, written c. 830-833. However, this is not quite the case. Section 9 of Einhard's Vita calls Roland Hruodlandus Brittanici limitis praefectus 'Hruodland prefect of the territory of Brittany/the Bretons'. The translation of Brittanici limitis as 'of the Breton March' is, as far as we have been able to determine, modern. What is modernly referred to as the "Breton March" is an administrative region in Neustria, the western part of the Frankish kingdom. The administrative region was first created under the rule of the Merovingian dynasty in the late seventh or early eighth century. This is the march where Roland was prefect. The Carolingians recreated this administrative region in 861, and the area was united with the neighboring Norman region in 911. So far as we have been able to tell, the phrase Brittanici limes is an administrative label rather than a geographical name. If it is primarily an administrative term, then it is not appropriate for use in a locative byname. The distinction between an administrative label and a geographical name is, for example, the distinction between 'the county of York' and York or Yorkshire. A man who lived in the county of York would use the byname of York or of Yorkshire, not of the county of York. Similarly, someone who lived in the Brittanici limes would not be known as de Brittanici limite but rather de Brittania 'of Brittany' or Brittanicus 'the Breton'. We would change the name to Eogan de Brittania or Eogan Brittanicus, but the submitter does not allow major changes.” The client is amenable to one of the CoA's suggestions. He desires a male name and is most interested in the sound of the name. He wishes it authentic for language/culture and time period (none given, but the original submission and the suggestions offered by the CoA indicate a pre-Conquest time).

Ingvarr ørrabein (Twin Moons) NEW NAME and DEVICE and BADGE

(device) Gyronny of six argent and gules, a Thor's hammer between three valknuts sable.

(badge) Per pale wavy argent and gules, all semy of Thor's hammers counterchanged.

The name is Old Norse. Ingvarr is a masculine given name found in “Viking Names found in Landnámabók,” Aryanhwy merch Catmael

( http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/norse/landnamabok.html ). ørrabein, “scar-leg,” is found in “Viking Bynames found in the Landnámabók,” Aryanhwy merch Catmael ( http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/norse/vikbynames.html ). The client desires a male name and will not accept Major changes. Great ON name!

Isbera Beradóttir (Twin Moons) NEW NAME and DEVICE

Gules, a tree stump eradicated and on a chief double-arched argent three lozenges gules.

The name is Old Norse. The given name is coined, from Is-, “ice,” and bera, “little bear.” Bera is feminine given name on its own, found in “A Simple Guide to Creating Old Norse Names,” Aryanhwy merch Catmael ( http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/norse/sg-viking.html ), as are the feminine names Ísgerðr, Valgerðr, Hallabera and Hallbera. The Viking Answer Lady website ( http://www.vikinganswerlady.com/ONWomensNames.shtml ) notes for this name Ísgerðr: “The first element Ís- is probably from Old Icelandic íss, "ice on sea or water"... This name appears in Landnámabók for Ísgerðr Þórsteinsdóttir in ch. 46 and Ísgerðr Hunda-Steinardóttir in ch. 55.” Valgerðr has a similar construction as Ísgerðr, with the first elements changed. While Bera can stand on its own, it is also found as the second element, as in the names Hallabera and Hallbera, so that it's reasonable to suggest that the first element Ís- can combine with a second element -bera as a coined name. The byname means Bersi's daughter. The masculine given name Bersi is found in “Viking Names found in Landnámabók,” Aryanhwy merch Catmael ( http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/norse/landnamabok.html ).

In “A Simple Guide to Creating Old Norse Names,” the genitive form of a masculine name like Bersi becomes Bersa, and the female child ending added: Bersadóttir. It appears that this is the correct formation, not Beradóttir. The client desires a female name and will not accept Major changes.

Mariyah al-Mediniah (Tir Ysgithr): NEW NAME CHANGE and NEW DEVICE CHANGE

Per pale azure and Or, a crescent with a mullet of four points between its horns all counterchanged.

The name is Arabic. Mariyah is a feminine given name/'ism found in “Period Arabic Names and Naming Practices,” Da'ud ibn Auda ( http://heraldry.sca.org/laurel/names/arabic-naming2.htm ). al-Madini is a masculine cognomen/nisba, indicating place of origin or birth, “from Medina.” We believe that to feminize the byname, the ending -ah is added, hence al-Mediniah, “the woman from Medina.” The masculine nisba, in addition to the demonstration of an <'ism + nisba> construction for a woman's name, are also found in Da'ud's article. The client is most interested in the meaning and language of the name, “Mariyah from Medina.” If registered she wishes to retain her currently-registered name Marina de Medina (registered January 2009) as an alternate name.

If the new device is registered, the client wishes to retain her currently-registered device, Erminois, a demi-lion gules. (registered January 2009), as a badge.

Nikita Dobrynia Kievich (Barony of Atenveldt): NEW NAME and DEVICE

Sable, a St. Peter's cross throughout gules fimbriated argent.

The name is Russian. Nikita, dated before 1147 and Dobrynia, dated to 1591, are both masculine given names found in "A Dictionary of Period Russian Names (and some of their Slavic roots),"  Paul Wickenden of Thanet ( http://heraldry.sca.org/paul/ ). Kievich is a toponym meaning "from Keiv," dated to 1564, in"Paul Goldschmidt's Dictionary of Russian Names - Grammar," Paul Goldschmidt ( http://heraldry.sca.org/paul/zgrammar.html ). Double given names (usually one Christian/baptismal, the other Russian) are found in period, documented in "Paul Goldschmidt's Dictionary of Russian Names – Grammar.” If this double given name is considered unregisterable, the client is agreeable with modifying it to the patronymic Dobrynskii, dated to 1486.

A brief canvassing of SCAHRLDS didn't give much information as to whether the ordinary known as a “cross” might be considered 1 CD from an ordinary with a lowered crosspiece and blazoned as “a cross of St. Peter throughout,” or as “a cross inverted throughout.” This design might conflict with the registered armory of Aubrey Rainald: Sable, a cross gules fimbriated Or overall a plate. There is definitely 1 CD for the removal of the plate. Would there be a second CD for changing the tincture of the fimbriation (Or to argent)? Or inverting the cross (it's very likely that the plate on Aubrey's device lies upon the intersection of the cross beams)?

Considering this might be a conflict, I'd ask that two alternatives be checked as well:

Sable, a St. Peter's cross throughout gules fimbriated and cotised argent. , and

Counterermine, a St. Peter's cross throughout gules fimbriated argent. Thank you.

Otto Langhorn von Baden (Barony of Atenveldt): NEW BADGE

(Fieldless) A two-towered castle azure, battlements and parapet enflamed proper.

The name was registered October 1988.

I think this would be the default “castle” (two tower joined by a piece of “wall”). Since this isn't enflamed all around (on the sides, near the ground), I think that the blazon is a little more accurate if the placement of the flames is noted. A number of other castles and towers in the Ordinary have specific placement of flames (from the battlements, the base, the portal).

Ragnarr the Lefthand (Tir Ysgithr): NEW NAME and DEVICE

Per saltire gules and sable, an axe head Or.

Ragnarr is an Old Norse masculine given name found in Gerri Bassi Haraldsson's “The Old Norse Name,” p. 14. The byname is a descriptive epithet; while not listed per se in the Geirr Bassi, a number of bynames refer to the bearer's physical attributes (squinting, black-beard, black-tooth, clumsy-foot, long-chin); the client is not interested in having the byname rendered into ON. The client desires a male name, is most interested in the language/culture of the name (none specified) and will not take Major changes to the name.

Rober Le Rousse (Tir Ysgithr): NEW NAME and DEVICE

Azure, a turtle and a base engrailed Or.

The name is French. Rober is a masculine given name found in “An Index to the Given Names in the 1292 Census of Paris,” Colm Dubh ( http://heraldry.sca.org/laurel/names/paris.html#R ). Le Rousse, “the red,” and likely referring to a person's red hair, is found in the same source. It is more likely spelled as le rousse, as seen in Colm's article.

The following submissions appear in the September 2009 Atenveldt Letter of Intent:

This month's commentary is provided by Helena de Argentoune [HdA], Michael Gerard Curtememoire [MGC], Nest verch Rodri ap Madyn [NRM] and Marta [MMM].

Alexander of Korinthos (Twin Moons): NEW NAME

I agree with what some other commentors have said – “the Corinthian” would be a better phrasing and would avoid the “appearance” of presumption. [NRM]

Further consultation with the client: He will accept the addition of the occupational byname Skiadas (tent or hat maker), found in “Early 14th C. Byzantine Names of Macedonia,” Maridonna Benvenuti ( http://www.maridonna.com/onomastics/macedonia.htm ); in the introduction, the author states that a head of household could be known with the name construction <given name + occupation + place of residence>, so if needed to avoid presumption, Alexandros Skiadas Korinthios is acceptable.

Brian Ambrose O Driscoll (Barony of Atenveldt): NEW DEVICE: Lozengy vert and erminois, a commedia dell'Arte mask between three Bowen knots argent.

Most of these types of charges seem to be blazoned explicitly as to types of mask. IE, a "mask of comedy" or a "mask of tragedy." In the past, such an item has also been registered as a "Thespian mask" or a "theater mask." The oldest forms are often "masks in profile." While "past registration is no guarantee of current registerability," the most recent successful registration of a "mask of comedy" was in 2007, so I would think this charge is still registerable. [HdA]

It's very clearly Pierrot's make-up (Pierrot doesn't seem to wear a mask) in the modern commedia dell'Arte tradition. According to the first statements s.v. in Wikipedia, the character as such is 19th C. What its Asia Minor predecessors (idem) would have been like might
be of some interest. S.v. Pedrolino, the Italian version, which is not identical to the French, is stated to go back to "at least the start of the 1600s," which is about as gray as you can get. However, I don't see any reason why a "mask of comedy" (he IS smiling) couldn't be drawn this way, *without* doing actual verifiable research on any of the above. Is there? [MGC]

Most masks of comedy/tragedy, like that registered to Ignatios of Grimfells in September 2008, are the standard “U-shaped” or “shovel-head” masks, very simple with the mouth drawn up or down (pretty much the standard image one gets when Googling around for this type of thing, or if you see Jason Thorne of Antioch's armory). Brian does appear to want a specific mask, from the commedia dell'Arte; I think if this is merely blazoned as a mask of comedy, the likelihood of an accurate rendering of the armory would be unlikely by blazon alone. Pedrolino, Pierrot's forerunner, shows up in the late 16^th C., and is white-faced, from flouring the face rather than wearing a mask ( http://www.shane-arts.com/Commedia-Pedrolino.htm ). There are several “Pierrot” masks mentioned in the Ordinary (none after 1990), I think blazoning this as a Pierrot mask, or noting in the LoI that this is similar to other commedia dell'Arte masks previously registered will give the College some leeway in how to blazon this accurately. Alban of York's mask can be seen at http://www.artemisiarollofarms.com/Populace.php?startchar=A. [MMM]
The objective complexity count is only 6, 2 kinds of charges + 4 tinctures, right? Nevertheless, I find the visual effect to be borderline--too-busy in a good mood and probably over the border in a neutral mood. I think this is mainly because the knots look far more complex when they're laid over ermine spots and lozengy lines than they would be on a plain field, and the field looks far more complex with knots on it than behind an ordinary or even the mask. Is this reaction relevant? If so, presumably the problem is failure of "Armorial Simplicity," VIII.1. [MGC]

Chavezs MacTavish (Ered Sul): NEW NAME

I strongly suspect that a name combining Spanish and Scottish is a step-from-period-practice (SFPP). Also, while the legal name allowance enables a client to use their legal name, they can only do so if the combination does not introduce other issues like an obtrusively modern name. Now, while the Lingual Weirdness Table (found here: http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/sca/weirdness_table.html ) does not reference an explicit ruling against Spanish/Scottish names, I personally find it really jarring and a highly unlikely name.
A quick search through the Online O&A for "Chavezs" did not reveal any registrations with that spelling, but did turn up 4 registrations containing "Chaves" or "Chavez." Given that, I suspect that the spelling "Chavezs" is a modern spelling and so likely introduces another SFPP. Examination of these name registrations also reveals that "Chaves/z" is _never_ used as a given name but is found as either a "middle" name or as a byname. It is possible that the COA will consider use of "Chavezs" as a given name another SFPP. All told, I count up to three SFPPs in this name. Yikes!
I did a search through the Academy of Saint Gabriel's Medieval Names Archive and found no inquires for any form of "Chavezs" in their letter archives. I also searched through all the Spanish and Portuguese name articles for some name containing "Chave" (which would catch all "zs", "s", and "z" endings). The closest I found for "Chaves" in any spelling was as the surname "Chaves" and "de Chaves." Turns out that "Chaves" is a town in Portugal. ["Portuguese Surnames from Lisbon, 1565" by Aryanhwy merch Catmael, http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/portuguese/sur1565.html ]
How much of the issues noted above, if any, the CoA will choose to forgive, I do not know. If the submitter wanted to use "Chavezs" in combination with an otherwise wholly Portuguese name, I do not think there would be as much of an issue.  However, using "Chavesz" (a Portuguese surname with a modern spelling) in combination with a Scottish surname appears highly problematic and unlikely to be registered. [MMM]

I find the name Chavezs not only "highly jarring"--and "excessively obtrusive" (Rule II.4)--in itself, but unpronounceable. PLEASE, can we find out how the gentle intends the sequence ZS to be pronounced? Further, combined with MacTavish, won't virtually anyone unfamiliar with the gentle assume it is a joke? And I mean literally a joke, intended to be funny and not a serious part of our attempted recreation. (My best comparison is the Abbot AEthelred's invariable statement that he's "from a lyte and decadent period . . . about free eye em"--wink, wink, nudge, nudge. For an Abbot of Misrule, that's arguably a suitable line; but His Irreverence does NOT expect ever to have his name on a scroll, nor are the Franciscans of the Lax Observance planning to submit a badge.) [MGC] Considering this is the client's legal given name, I'd assume he pronounces it in that fashion; I don't know the client, but I suspect that the people of his barony know how to pronounce it as well, and most SCA folks would be familiar with it via hearing it first, rather than reading it first and trying to puzzle out the pronunciation. [MMM]

I'm sending this on. I am hardly an expert in names, and although this is jarring to me as well, for all the reasons cited, I am more concerned with the periodicity of the byname (which wasn't addressed in commentary), whether a Spanish-Gaelic name is registerable, and how best to convey to the client that his given name might not be reasonable for registration, something that Pelican is far more likely to be able to spell out than I. The legal-name loophole has been an escape for clients for so long that not to be able to use it (aside from ones like Earl and Duke) that why this name might not be used as a given name is something best left to onomastics scholars. [MMM]

Donicia del Lunar (Barony of Atenveldt): NEW NAME and DEVICE: Per chevron purpure and vert, a chevron between five mullets and a unicorn's head couped Or.

Donicia is the client's legal middle name (photocopy of driver's license to Laurel). Del Lunar is a Spanish locative surname from the late 15^th C, found in “Spanish Names from the Late 15th Century: From the Account Books of Isabel la Catolica (1477-1504, mostly 1483-1504), Locative Surnames,”Juliana de Luna ( http://heraldry.sca.org/heraldry/laurel/names/isabella/locative.html ). The client desires a feminine name and is most interested in the spelling of Donicia.

The chevron needs to be thicker (barring conflict, it could also be removed to provide more space for the other charges. The mullets look like they're “edging” the shield, which is a prohibited practice (unless this were a complete orle of mullets), but this might be acceptable if blazoned as a field purpure mullety Or (a few more mullets would be advisable in that case – would the client consider that?). Consultation with the client shows that she does like the chevron and would like to keep it (and will make it thicker) if possible, and that the number of mullets isn't an issue, so that a semy would would well for her. Please bear these things in mind when conflict-checking, as they might be to her advantage if a conflict pops up.

"Donicia" is unquestionably modern. The only references that I have found to the name mark it as a given name that is "Spanish in usage" which would make it compatible with a Spanish surname. [HdA]
The arrangement of the mullets is not specified. Does the client really want a semy of mullets?  If so, can we add a couple more and just call it that? Six mullets with three in each "triangle" would be lovely!) Wouldn't want the CoA to go crazy blazon it as "five mullets three and two" if that's not really what the client wants. Also, the chevron needs some fattening (and we don't register single diminutives of ordinaries). [HdA] The emblazon will be redrawn to address these issues. [MMM]
Consider Angus MacKinnon of Black Oak Keep: Per chevron purpure and vert, a chevron and in chief a compass star Or. There is 1 CD for type of secondaries + 1 CD for number of secondaries; this is clear. Consider Sabina Melisenda vom Katzenschloss: Per chevron purpure and vert, a chevron between two mullets and a garb Or.; there is 1 CD for changing the garb to a unicorn head (changing all of secondaries on one side of a line of division) + 1 CD for number of secondaries, so this is clear. [HdA]

Ered Sûl, Barony of: ORDER NAME RESUBMISSION, “Order of the Mount and Flame,” from Laurel November 2008

The original name submission, Order of the Mountain Flame, was returned for lack of documentation: “No documentation was provided that mountain was used as an adjective in our period, much less one that could plausibly modify flame in an order name. This has been grounds for return in the past: [Order of the Mountain Hart] No evidence was given that "mountain" is a reasonable adjective to apply to a hart. While there are no doubt harts in the mountains, we know of no particular mountain variety. [Highland Foorde, Barony of, 10/99, R-Atlantia]

“While the Barony already has registered to them the order name Order of the Mountain Lily, the grandfather clause cannot be appealed to here because the submitted name does not follow the construction Order of the Mountain [flower]. Furthermore, the LoI's documentation for the word flame being used to mean 'ignited gas' dates the term to c. 1684, which is well beyond our gray area. If the submitters would like to resubmit an order name containing references to both mountains and flames, we suggest they consider Order of the Mount and Flame. Both mounts and flames are standard heraldic charges, and the August 2005 Cover Letter cites the medieval order Order of the Ermine and the Ears of Corn. This supports the pattern Order of the <heraldic charge> and <heraldic charge> for order names.” The Barony is taking the CoA's recommendation.

In the August 2005 LoAR Cover Letter, it was determined that “Orders named for heraldic charges or for items that, while not found in period as heraldic charges, may be used as heraldic charges.”. Both the mount (particularly popular in Hungarian armory, according to the Pictorial Dictionary) and the flame (seen in the arms of Hooper, c.1550, ibid.) are standard heraldic charges, and are found both in period armorial devices and in SCA armories. These spellings are dated to 1526 and 1563, respectively, in the COED.

Gideon the Weary (Barony of Atenveldt): NEW NAME and DEVICE: Per pale argent and sable, a dragon and a griffin segreant addorsed, tails entwined, counterchanged.

From the Academy of Saint Gabriel Report #946 [ http://www.panix.com/~gabriel/public-bin/showfinal.cgi?946+0 ] "Although "Gideon" is found in the Bible, we didn't find any evidence that it was used in England during our period.  Most names in the Old Testament weren't used in English until the time of the Puritans, and the earliest example of "Gideon" we have dates to 1704. (1) Unless you're interested in a Puritan persona, we recommend that you choose a different name." (This is a correspondence dated Mary 1998.) [HdA] Most Gideon registrations in recent years have been in Hebrew names (Gideon ha-Khazar, April 2002; Raphael ben Gideon, July 2007; Annabella bat Gideon, February 2008). However, Gideon Lydiard was registered April 2002 without comment; Lydiard is an English locative. Perhaps not the best choice of a period name, but it doesn't seem beyond registration. [MMM]
FYI, "the Weary" has been registered exactly once -- and in Atenveldt!!!! Perhaps his documentation would be useful for documenting the desired spelling of "the Weary?" [HdA] “Period-style epithet.” probably isn't enough documentation these days. ;) But further consultation with the client has resulted in him being amenable to the spelling wearie, if it's necessary to register the name; that spelling is dated to 1557 in the COED. [MMM]
I find it hard to distinguish between the dragon and the griffin. [HdA]
So do I, actually. Would "Please draw the heads of the beasts larger and perhaps have the dragon emit some (not necessarily blazoned) flame" be appropriate advice? And/or "Could we have two or three more hairy tufts on the griffin at this scale, and maybe a lot more at larger scale plus some scales [no pun intended] on the dragon?" And/or "How about stretching the beasts vertically to occupy more of the shield?" Also: Is the griffin, with both feet on the (invisible) ground, really segreant? He isn't symmetrical (modern meaning) w/ the dragon. [MGC] I don't have a problem with the two dissimilar monsters (perhaps it's a little unfortunate that both happen to be winged, which further confuses the issue). I'll doodle around with the griffin's hind leg to get it a bit more segreant, since the forelimbs are in a classic rampant/segreant position. [MMM]

Jean le Loup (Barony of Atenveldt): NEW NAME

The introduction to “French Names from Two Thirteenth Century Chronicles,” Arval Benicoeur, shows the descriptive byname/surname Fouinon, “weasel” ( http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/arval/crusades/ ). Robert de Love (1279) and Martin Love (1348) have English bynames that arise from the Ancient French louve, the feminine form of “wolf,” loup (Reaney and Wilson, 3^rd edition, p. 285 s.n. Love). [MMM]

Marielle Johanne de Lisieux (Barony of Atenveldt): NEW NAME and DEVICE: Per chevron azure and argent, two needles inverted crossed in saltire argent and a cross flory sable.

I found “Jehanne” listed in the Medieval Names Archive in “An Index to the Given Names in the 1292 Census of Paris.” I found a “Muriel” in Withycombe which says the name was “first found in Brittany and Normandy in the 11th C.” Withycombe goes on with “Muriel, Meriel and Miriel are common in the 12th and 13th C.” I would suggest that this be returned and the client encouraged to resubmit using “Miriel Jehanne de Lisieux.”  (I think the changes constitute a major change.) Even on this I am hesitant. I don’t believe that middle names were in use at this time and therefore Miriel de Lisieux may be the best. Whether the client will want to go that way or not…….[NRM]

I wish the client could be convinced into using a solid field and a point pointed. Placing a charge -- especially one so large as this one -- above the point of a per chevron division is not particularly good style although we do register it with increasing frequency. Placing two charges in saltire above the point as this does really pushes the bottom portion into being closer to a point pointed rather than the bottom half of a per chevron division. As a result, I'm a bit concerned that this submission blurs the line between a per chevron division and a field charged with a point pointed and risks return on those grounds. No conflicts found. Checked both as "Per chevron azure and argent, two needles inverted crossed in saltire argent and a cross flory sable" and as "Azure, in saltire two needles inverted and on a point pointed argent a cross flory sable." [HdA]

Further consultation with the client: The closest I found to the client's choice of Marielle is the Italian given name Mariella. This was registered to Mariella da Ravenna in December 2007. Albion notes: “Since the Venetian dialect is northern Italian, I also checked a couple of northern Italian articles. "Fourteenth Century Venetian Personal Names,” Arval Benicoeur and Talan Gwynek ( http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/arval/venice14/venice14given.html ) has the name <Maria>. "Italian names from Imola, 1312," Aryanhwy merch Catmael ( http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/italian/imolafemalph.html ) lists four instances of <Maria>. The same article has three instances of <Margarita> and 1 instance of <Margaritella>, suggesting that <-ella> could be used as a feminine diminutive. I'd prefer more examples before arguing for a constructed name, but this makes <Mariella> at least possible (given the examples of <Maria> in the same article)... <Mariella>, <Mariannella>, and <Marianella> all appear to be modern Italian names. Plain <Maria> definitely appears to be the most authentic option for the submitter's desired time & place.” The CoA noted that the form was registerable but not authentic. The client is less interested in an authentic 13^th C name if Mariella could be registered. (A name with French and Italian elements is one step from period practice.) However, in the event that Mariella cannot be registered, she would accept Mariel as a fall-back. Mariel is a French feminine given name, also found in Aryanhwy's article mentioned below, making this a completely French name. (The client doesn't like the name Muriel, and is trying to avoid it, hence the longer original names.)

She has chosen the very French Jehannette to replace the sort-of Dutch Johanne; Jehannette is found in “Names in the 1292 census of Paris,” Aryanhwy merch Catmael. ( http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/french/1292paris.pdf ). She's also going to tell her friends to avoid Behindthename.com and similar sites like the plague. Yay! [MMM]

Olaf mj{o,}ksiglandi (Barony of Atenveldt): DEVICE RESUBMISSION from Laurel, August 2007: Purpure a ram's skull cabossed and in chief a drakkar Or.

The name was registered August 2007.

This was returned by the Atenveldt College of Heralds in February 2009, with a request to the client as to whether he preferred the skull to be a primary charge or both charges to be co-primaries; I felt that either decision would necessitate a redraw. (The consensus of commentary received at the time thought this was a reasonable primary + secondary depiction.) I've received no reply, and I'm reactivating the submission. I'll let the CoA determine if this is an acceptable depiction of a primary + secondary charge.

Sorcha Broussard (Barony of Atenveldt): NAME and DEVICE RESUBMISSION from Laurel, December 2008: Argent, a skate sable and on a chief azure two escallops argent.

I am skeptical of the registerability of a Gaelic/French name. The Lingual Weirdness Table calls it an SFPP.[ http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/sca/weirdness_table.html ] Have been unable to find any really reliable pre-1600 documentation for "Broussard" at the Academy of Saint Gabriel. www.ancestry.com claims that "Broussard" is a French nickname meaning "brush." (comes from the French "brosse" meaning "brush" + the perjorative suffix "-ard." undated) No telling if this means "paint brush" or "a group of bushes." [HdA] This website evidently lifts unshamedly and anonymously from Dauzat, which mentions brosse and broussaille in its entry for Brousse; my Junior Classic Dictionaries French-English and English-French Dictionary defines these terms as “brush” (as in plant growth) and “bramble/brushwood,” respectively. Since I don't speak French, adequately summarizing the Dauzat entry is pretty laughable, although I'll go out on a limb and say perhaps Brousse is a byname that connotes someone living in an area dominated by brush or brambles. [MMM]
From: http://genealogy.familyeducation.com/surname-origin/broussard \Broussard Last name origins & meanings: 1. Southern French: variant of Brossard.; 2. The Broussard families of LA trace their ancestry to two Acadian brothers, Joseph and Alexandre, also called Beausoleil, who arrived in New Orleans in 1765. There is also a town called "Broussard" in Louisiana.  From Wikipedia [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broussard,_Louisiana ]: "Originally named Cote Gelee (Frozen Hills) because of its hilly ridge area and the severe winter of 1784. Broussard was founded in 1884...named after Valsin Broussard, a prominent local merchant, who formed the first Vigilante Committee when his own store was robbed. He was also a direct descendant of Joseph Gaurhept Broussard de Beau Soleil, one of the first 200 Acadians to arrive in Louisiana on February 27, 1765 aboard the Santo Domingo. [1]" [HdA]

I find it hard to identify the critter without a head in addition to no horns. Both manta rays and skates are rather diamond shaped which this is not. I do admit that ray are flatter across the top edge than skates, however. Here's a great site of rays and skates -- with pictures! http://articles.uwphoto.no/oversikter/Marine_fish_Skates.htm I note that since she has reduced the complexity of the device design to within acceptable limits, she could have her manta ray (with only a single SFPP) and, I believe, should put the horns back on the critter in order to increase identifiability! No conflicts found. Checked as requested both as blazoned and as "per fess azure and argent, two escallops argent and a ray/skate sable." [HdA] The ray will be redrawn to be more identifiable, and the client is hesitant to put the “horns” back on the critter, lest it be returned again. [MMM]

Susanna Broughton (Barony of Atenveldt): NEW NAME

Tamsyn Stanford (Ered Sul): NEW DEVICE: Erminois, two cats combattant sable, on a chief gules three mullets Or.

Tatiana the Midwife (Sundragon): NEW NAME CHANGE

I could wish it was all in Russian (I love the sound of Russian names!), but c'est la vie. [HdA]

The following submissions were returned by the Atenveldt CoH for further work, September2009:

Cordelia Vivinia McNaught (Barony of Atenveldt): NEW NAME and DEVICE

Argent, a brown-haired mermaid erect to dexter proper tailed and maintaining a sword fesswise reversed purpure in her dexter hand and a round shield vert in her sinister hand, a ford.

Submitted blazon: Argent, a mermaid proper, brown hair blowing to sinister, tail embowed to sinister purpure, armed with a sword in chief fesswise to sinister purpure quillioned vert bearing a green shield vert above a fountain.

The LoAR of November 1995 states: “Cordelia must be given the benefit of the doubt: according to Withycombe, it was in actual use by 1636, and close variants can be found in period, at least in literature. [LoAR 11/95, s.n. Cordelia Wynne]” [MMM]

The name should be returned. I have looked high and low and can not find any documentation that the first two elements were used in period. [NRM]

Very pretty device, but I bow to Mistress Marta’s opinion in this one. Maybe if she used purpure on the shield as well it would reduce the count. Or if she just used a purpure mermaid. [NRM] The complexity count isn't the real issue here, as is the tincture problem with the skin against the field...making the mermaid all purpure would indeed solve that. [MMM]

I note the registration of this badge: Caitriona MacCasky: (Fieldless) On an escallop inverted azure a blonde mermaid in her vanity proper. This demonstrates that half of the primary charge can be _low_ contrast provided that half of it is _high_ contrast. [HdA] That's true, and it shows that a default mermaid is a neutral charge. Still, no parts of this mermaid (pink/argent and vert) share a tincture with the escallop. [MMM]
Consider Sabine d'Angers: Purpure, a mermaid in her vanity proper crined Or a ford proper. There is only one CD present for changes to the field as the maintained charges count for naught. [HdA] No, there's 1 CD for the field and 1 CD for changing half the tincture of the primary charge (the tail on Cordelia's is purpure). Still close enough for Cordelia and Sabine to be mistaken as close friends or relatives. [MMM]
Also note this registration: Alexandra Idonea: Barry wavy argent and azure, a brunette mermaid affronty proper, dexter hand raised, and a chief wavy counter-ermine., which effectively prevents making the field of the submission entirely "barry wavy argent and azure." [HdA] This registration also dates back to 1986, before the Caucasian skin = argent decision was made. [MMM]
It may be possible to make the field all azure and the base "barry wavy argent and azure" and get it registered. It that option is taken, I would suggest making the sword and shield either argent or Or in order to make the charge more easily identifiable. [HdA] There's still the problem with the Caucasian portion of the mermaid against the argent bars. Making her skin Or, or the field Barry wavy Or and azure, would solve this. [MMM]

RETURNED for name reconsideration and tincture violation.

I hope to see many of you at Kingdom Arts and Sciences!