West Kingdom College of Heralds

Heraldic Ranks and Titles As Used in the West Kingdom

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This is a listing of the titles registered for use in the West Kingdom, what branch they are associated with, and if they have a specific job description, a short description ... This is not a listing of who currently holds any specific position.

The current Senior Staff of the College of Heralds in the West can be seen here:
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The roster of the College of Heralds may be searched here, where you can search by name or local branch:
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It should be noted that there is a difference between a heraldic title, and a permanent heraldic rank. The following information is from the Herald's Handbook (Duties and Responsibilities of Rostered Heralds):

Ranks: There are two kinds of rank within the College of Heralds of the West, “Permanent” and “Job Title”. “Permanent” rank is based upon your skill, knowledge, and activity level. “Job Title” rank is based upon your current assignment – if you do not have a particular assignment, your “Job Title” rank is "unassigned".

Permanent Rank: The permanent ranks are as follows:

• “Cornet” is a training rank, which is given to beginners. Cornets are listed on the Roster only if they are the heraldic officer for a branch.
• The next rank up and basic rank within the College is “Pursuivant Extraordinary” (PE), which is given to someone who has shown a continuing interest in heraldry, a willingness to work, and talent in any of the heraldic areas. A PE who is not assigned to a group may be called a Pursuivant Extraordinary at Large (or PEaL).
• “Pursuivant” (P or PAL - for Pursuivant at Large) is (normally) the highest permanent rank in the College of Heralds of the West, and is generally given by Vesper to those who continue to work and have shown competence in all three of the heraldic areas or excellence in any of the areas.
• Herald Extraordinary (HE) is a permanent rank that may be granted by the Vesper Principal Herald for outstanding work with the College of Heralds in the West (it may be granted by the Laurel Sovereign of Arms as well for service to the SCA's College of Arms). This rank grants the herald the right to register their own permanent title by which they may be so named, and it is listed in the Kingdom Awards List.

Pursuivants and PEs may be “at-large (PAL or PEAL)”. This means that they are not attached to a specific branch or Vesper’s staff, but work for the College as a whole.

Job Titles: In the West Kingdom, most Titled Heralds are highly skilled, knowledgeable people. The Vesper Principal Herald is the chief heraldic officer in the Kingdom. Titled Heralds and Titled Pursuivants are either Principality Heralds, Baronial/Provincial Heralds, or are attached to Vesper’s staff (see the Titled staff Heralds mentioned above, in Referrals). Titled Heralds and Titled Pursuivants who hold the “permanent” rank of PE are addressed as Acting (Title).

The heraldic officers attached to a Barony or Province are all Titled Pursuivants whose titles are attached to their branches. The herald for a shire or other small branch is addressed as Pursuivant for (Branch).

The term acting is used in two cases:

1. When the herald's permament rank is lower than the job title (example: a PE who is a Baronial herald, may be the Acting Baronial_herald_title).
2. When a pursuivant (or lower rank) holds a Kingdom staff title, often they are listed as Acting (job title) until Vesper determines that they are capable of doing the job, at which time their permament rank (if needed) may be upgraded, and the word "Acting" is removed from their title.

Cornets are encouraged to advance their knowledge, at least to the “permanent” rank of PE, as soon as possible. You can advance either through the recommendation of one of the Senior Staff Heralds, or (especially for heralds interested in being book heralds) through submitting the PE test, available at the Heralds’ website, and scoring well.

• To learn how to advance within the College of Heralds' ranks, see: Requirements for Advancement.
• To learn more about duties as a local heraldic officer for a branch, see: The Herald as a Local Officer and Duties and Responsibilities of Rostered Heralds.

West Kingdom College of Heralds Senior Staff Titles

For a description of these job titles, see: Senior Staff Job Descriptions.
To see who holds these titles currently: Contact the Senior Staff.

The Vesper Principal Herald -- The Primary Herald of the West Kingdom
   The Compline Herald -- Successor to the Vesper Principal Herald
   The Exchequer for the College of Heralds -- as it says
The Matins Herald -- Submissions Deputy
Green Crown Herald (formerly The Banner Herald) -- Court Deputy
   The Gonfanon Pursuivant -- Deputy to The Green Crown Herald
The Green Cloak Herald -- Field Deputy
The Green Trumpet Herald -- Town Crier ("Duty") Deputy
The Green Banner Herald (formerly Latimer Herald) -- Heraldic Consultation Table Deputy
The Brachet Herald -- College of Arms Commenting Deputy
   Leveret Pursuivant -- Deputy to the Brachet Herald
The Baldric Pursuivant -- Education Deputy
The Golem Herald -- Awards List (or Order of Precedence), Ceremony Book, Herald's Handbook, Herald's Website Minister ...
The Seawolf Herald -- The Primary Herald for the Principality of the Mists
The Sable Swan Herald -- The Primary Herald for the Principality of Cynagua
The Stellanordica Herald -- The Primary Herald for the Principality of Oertha

The Principality of the Mists

The Sea-Wolf Herald -- The Primary Herald for the Principality of the Mists
(Registered as "Sea-Wolf", typical usage is "Sea Wolf" or "Seawolf")

Shire of Calderium
Peacock Pursuivant

Barony of Darkwood
Pinnacle Pursuivant

Province of the Mists
Nebuly Pursuivant

Province of Southern Shores
Silvergull Pursuivant

Shire of Vinhold
Puncheon Pursuivant

Barony of Westermark
Black Mark Pursuivant

The Principality of Cynagua

The Sable Swan Herald -- The Primary Herald for the Principality of Cynagua
Sable Cygnet Pursuivant -- (Registered, but no description is given for the purpose)

Barony of Fettburg
Bentcastle Pursuivant

Province of Golden Rivers
Glora Fjord Pursuivant (registered as: Glura Fjiord Pursuivant)
Golden Rivers Pursuivant (This title is also registered in the Ordinary and Armorial database)

Barony of Rivenoak
(No Title registered at this time, in the meantime, use "Rivenoak Pursuivant")

Province of Silver Desert
Snowbound Pursuivant
Silver Desert Pursuivant (This title is also registered in the Ordinary and Armorial database)

The Principality of Oertha

The Stellanordica Herald -- The Primary Herald for the Principality of Oertha
Sejant Wolf Herald -- Herald in Charge of any Principality Court, designated as the "Voice of the Coronets"
Wolfhound Pursuivant -- Submissions Deputy
Arcturus Herald -- (not registered) personal herald to the Coronet

Shire of Earngyld
Sea Eagle Pursuivant

Barony of Eskalya
Peregrine Pursuivant

Barony of Winter's Gate
Estoile Pursuivant

Barony of Selviergard
(No Title registrated at this time, in the meantime use "Selviergard Pursuivant")

The Marches

Barony of Allyshia
Sea Lion Pursuivant

Barony of The Far West
Far West Pursuivant (Preferred title until name a change from Golden Peach Pursuivant is made ...)
Golden Peach Pursuivant (Currently registered title)

Barony of Tarnmist
Blue Heron Pursuivant

Heraldic Titles not in use but registered to the West Kingdom:

Golden Gate Pursuivant
Green Boot Herald
Kitten Pursuivant
Privy Clerk Pursuivant
Sable Quill Pursuivant

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