Achievement of Arms Registration and Guidelines

• Achievement Registration Form
• Armorial of Ansteorran Achievements
• Ordinary of Crests
• Ordinary of Dexter Supporters
• Ordinary of Sinister Supporters
• Index of Registered Mottos
• Achievement Guildlines
• Achievement Worksheet

So just what is an "Achievement of Arms"? Put simply it is a gentles Arms displayed with decorative schemes representing different honors and awards surrounding the shield. In Ansteorra we have devised a system of adaptation to accommodate this period type of heraldic display. We also maintain a registry of who has what. To Register an achievement please fill out the Achievement Registration form or contact the Sable Crane Pursuivant at sable-crane@herald.ansteorra.org. Additionally your Name and Arms must be registered with the SCA College of Arms before you can register an Achievement of Arms. Banners, flags and other Fru not specified in Ansteorran Achievement guidelines are fair game. Have fun! There is one type of Banner that is reserved which is: A banner hung on a spear, banner pole etc consisting of the Kingdom Ensign followed by the badge or symbol of a greater office shall be reserved to current and past Greater Officers of State (Goofs).

So what can a person have at each rank in Ansteorra? Well it depends on the rank and precedence you hold within the SCA.

AoA

At the level of an Award of Arms a person may display their arms displaying the following:

Helm facing dexter and mantling (one color one metal)

Achievements at this level need not be registered as even in period a gentle's mantling might change depending solely on what artist rendered his arms on a particular dish or other personal object.

Grant may register the following:

Helm (any facing) mantling (one color one metal) and crest

A crest is simply the object, animal, or whatever that is placed on top of the helm. Crest are unique to an individual or family and are checked against other crests registered with this office. They must have at least one clear difference from other crests registered or have permission to conflict. An Ordinary of Crests currently registered can be found here.

Peerage may register the following:

Helm with gold visor, Motto, Mantling, Crest

Mantling may include a fur of contrast or a strewn charge on a tincture for one side of the Mantling (providing sufficient contrast is maintained). Though Mantling and Mottos are not conflict checked a peer may still wish to see what other peers have registered for their use. An index of mottos may be found here: Mottos. Should you wish to check what Mantling is in use please check the Armorial. There are some restrictions regarding Mantling consisting of strewn charges; please see the bottom of this page.

Nobility may register the following:

Helm, Mantling, appropriate Coronet, Supporters, Crest

Mantling may include a fur or two tinctures of sufficient contrast, or a strewn charge on a tincture providing sufficient contrast is maintained for either or both sides of the mantling. Appropriate coronet and supporters: Dukes may have a gold helm, all others are silver (gray ya know metal colored); former landed barony may, in accordance to Ansteorran sumptuary law, place an Ansteorran star on a baronial coronet. Coronets must follow either the sumptuary laws of Ansteorra or the sumptuary laws of the kingdom in which the rank of nobility was achieved. (ie a Viscount of Drachenwald may use East Kingdom or Drachenwald laws regarding viscounty coronets) and a Crest. Supporters are conflict checked. Two nobles may not register identical supporters without permission to conflict. Switching places between two supporters does not clear conflict. for example a bear sable as the dexter supporter and a stag Argent as the sinister supporter does conflict with the same supporters in reversed positions, however adding gold ermine spots on the bear will clear the conflict. Ordinaries of Dexter Supporters and Sinister Supporters are available.

Branch achievements:

Baronies get everything as peers and nobles. Shires, Cantons, Colleges and Strongholds are treated as peers.

1. A lion argent or a lion ermine may only be used as a supporter by the Kingdom of Ansteorra, or Lions of Ansteorra.
2. A crane sable may only be used as a supporter by the Kingdom of Ansteorra, or for achievements of deceased individuals, who were entitled to display supporters, but had not registered supporters prior to their passing.
3. Mantling including a semy of mullets of five greater and five lesser points is reserved to past crowns of Ansteorra.
4. Mantling consisting of any tincture with a semy of roses is reserved to members of the Order of the Rose.
5. A banner hung on a spear, banner pole etc consisting of the kingdom ensign followed by the badge or symbol of a greater office shall be reserved to current and past Greater Officers of State (Goofs).
6. Any crest, supporters, or mantling that would be considered presumptuous of another SCA kingdom will be registered only with consultation/consent of the principal herald of the kingdom in question ie mantling consisting of purpure semy of crosses of Calatrava Or would be presumtous as claiming royal lineage from Calontir, a sable lion as a supporter would be registerable as a supporter however a sable lion crowned gules would be presumptuous as claiming royal lineage of An Tir. Oh, and don't even think about azure semy fleur-des-lyes as mantling -- it is still France.

Achievement submissions may be mailed or e-mailed to Sable Crane Pursuivant. See the Black Star or the Contacts & Responsibilities page on this site for contact details.