[MR] Heraldry - why?

[David W. James]

On May 11, 2005, at 9:29 PM, Charlotte Johnson wrote:
>> This idea is not meant to punish anyone for not having heraldry, but 
>> to push
>> them into getting some.

> I'm *really* not trying to start an argument, or flame war, or stir 
> the pot...

> But why?

> Why is it important for the average SCAdian to have heraldry? I 
> honestly would
> like to hear opinions on it.

> To be perfectly honest, I've never bothered to do it. I could never 
> decide on
> anything I liked well enough to represent me forever (same reason I 
> don't have
> a tattoo...) ;-), and after a while, I've settled on a generally 
> middle class
> impression anyway. Then again, I've been Mathilde of the-no-last-name, 
> either,
> until I decided to adopt my new husband's re-enacting last name. :-D

> Cheers,
> Mathilde

> PS. If this is off topic for this list, just beat me soundly, and I'll 
> find a
> better place to ask. :-D

	I think it is a fine question, and appropriate on any general SCA 
mailing list.  In fact, the question and answer, properly written, 
would probably make a good short article for TI.

	The Introduction to the Society's By-Laws and Corpora begins:

"The Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc. (SCA, Society) is a 
nonprofit educational organization devoted to  study of the Middle Ages 
and Renaissance. Most of its activities take place in the context of a 
social structure  adapted from the forms of the European Middle Ages, 
which allows participants to take a first-hand look at  various aspects 
of the life, culture and technology of the times under study."

	Corpora, section II describes Society events as:

"A.  Society Events Defined

The term “Society event” refers to tournaments, feasts, and other 
activities whereby participants can display  the results of their 
researches into the culture and technology of the period in an 
environment which evokes  the atmosphere of the pre-17th century 
European Middle Ages and Renaissance."

	And later refers to the goals stated in the Articles of Incorporation, 
which include:

"II. This corporation is a nonprofit public benefit corporation and is 
not organized for the private gain of  any person. It is organized 
under the Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation Law for charitable 
purposes.  The purposes for which this corporation is formed include:  
(a) Research and education in the field of pre-17th-Century Western 
Culture.  (b) Generally, to engage in research; publish material of 
relevance and interest to the field of pre-17thCentury Western Culture; 
to present activities and events which re-create the environment of 
said era,  such as, but not limited to, tournaments, jousts, fairs, 
dances, classes, et cetera; to acquire authentic or  reproduced 
replicas of chattels representative of said era; and to collect a 
library."

	All that said, can you imagine a Middle Ages without heraldry?  
Looking at it both from the romantic idealism of the original founding 
event and as an attempt to recreate the feel of the time, heraldry is 
part and parcel of the times.

	Heraldry can be defined briefly as graphic personal representation 
that is heritable.  While people have been painting things on their 
shields (and other such items of display) a lot longer, it was in the 
Middle Ages, specifically in the 12th century, that this display came 
to identify a particular person and be an 'item' that could be passed 
on to ones heir.  Even in the late 11th century, the Bayeaux Tapestry 
shows the same person using differently decorated shields in different 
parts of the work.  One hundred years later, this was no longer the 
rule in England an France, and the idea spread across most (if not all) 
of Europe inside our period (though not always exactly the same way as 
in England and France.)

	The other thing to keep in mind is the power that this idea had.  
While we commonly think of heraldry as a mark of nobility (or at least 
pretension!), in fact the cultural imperative to have arms extended all 
the way down; Pastoureau (a noted and respected French heraldic expert) 
notes that in Medieval France even (some) serfs had arms.  Among 
artisans, the use of makers marks mirrored that of armory, and in 
documented instances *became* armory.  If you did not have armory, you 
got some.  If you could not get some, you still wanted it. Clearly the 
use of heraldry was a powerful drive in the time we are attempting to 
recreate.

	And they put it everywhere.  Carved into the wood in churches, 
reproduced in the stained glass windows, on shields, gambesons, horse 
barding, dinner ware, coins, seals (seals!!) etc..  Inn signs displayed 
the badge of the local lord (and were sometimes quickly changed 
following key battles...)

	So there is good reason for encouraging people to have and display 
arms.  Not the least in that the use of armory at events is a very 
strong part of what makes an event 'feel' medieval, as opposed to a 
modern costume party.

	Last, the reason for all this discussion is their Highness's wish that 
all who desire to fight in their Crown Tourney have armory, either 
registered or in submission.  This is not a case of forcing the people 
who wish to play non-noble personae to register arms, it is directed at 
those who wish to fight (or be fought for) the right to rule the 
Kingdom.  The idea of a Medieval pretender to the throne who did not 
already have arms seems more than a little strange to me...

So, does that answer your question?

Kwellend-Njal