What is Heraldry, both in the SCA and historically? What kinds of things can you do as an SCA herald? A general overview (more specifics can be found in ‘Types of Heraldry’).
heraldry(ˈhɛrəldrɪ) Forms: see herald. [f. herald n. + -ry: cf. poetry, pedantry.]
Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd Edition (1989)
1. The art or science of a herald; now, esp. the art or science of blazoning armorial bearings and of settling the right of persons to bear arms or certain bearings; in connexion with which it deals with the tracing and recording of pedigrees, and deciding of questions of precedence.
Historically speaking, heraldry was a broad field of study which could include any or all of the following arts and sciences:
- Genealogy and lineage keeping of prominent families
- The creation and tracking of Armory (i.e. “Coats of Arms”)
- Diplomacy
- Communicating legal changes and proclamations
Heralds were legal officers of the State/Sovereign or of high ranking nobility, and carried out a variety of tasks. We have historical records of heralds being used as couriers, dispatched as diplomats, levying fines in their own courts for the misuse of armory, and even standing in the place of the King for a symbolic wedding!
In the Society for Creative Anachronism, Heralds serve many of those same roles. In the SCA you can see them:
- Helping members choose a name and armory
- Helping the Crown to run court
- Making announcements around events
- Announcing tournaments
- Serving as Officers at local, regional, and Kingdom level.
Heralds are some of the most visible people at an event in some roles, while in others they are some of the most invisible. No matter what you enjoy–research, public speaking, policy, art–there is something for you to do as a herald!