Talk:NAL Heraldry

At first, I thought this was a page on COA on the american continent. maybe to avoid this confusion, this page could be rename to "North American League Coat of Arms" --Marc Pasquin 14:22, 21 September 2008 (UTC)

Suggestions for history

David, you must have missed some of the ideas I had for the history of NAL heraldry in my recent post for Gardiners Island. (I don't blame you; it was a very long winded piece.) I'll quote the relevant part here:

"The English College of Arms made its first - and only attempt to regulate the arms of English subjects in North America in 1812 with the publication of Armorial of North America, Being a Register of Arms of All Lawful Bearers in His Majesty's North American Provinces. The work was extremely conservative, excluding nearly everyone with assumed arms, even if they had been assumed generations earlier. It so upset the provincial gentry that within a few years Virginia, Carolina, and the New England provinces had established their own heraldic authorities."

I would think that the four European powers would take different approaches toward regulating heraldry in the NAL. England, I suggested, tried to assert control but then gave up. Thereafter some of the provinces formed their own heraldic bodies. The Scots, being Scots, were probably much more assertive in their approach, giving up control only reluctntly. Province to province, it was also inconsistent: I suggested that Virginia and Carolina established their own arms colleges; Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire created a joint one; and in the west things were still less orderly. What do you think? Benkarnell 16:54, 27 August 2009 (UTC)

I think this a very good idea. My apologies for not getting back to you sooner. Of course, this puts the whole question of the single American College of Heraldry into a interesting light vis-a-vis its history and establishment. I think perhaps Castreleon New might have been another place to try and establish its own heraldric traditions whereas the city of Chicago might have tried to do the same for itself. The animosity with uber-Republican Louisianne might also have encouraged an interest in Heraldry in places like Mobile. Maybe. Zahir 16:11, 29 August 2009 (UTC)

It also raises the issue of assumed arms. Presumably before the ACH was established, some provinces had a lively tradition of people using whatever arms they wished. New Sweden would be one of those, because AIUI Scandinavian heralds do not grant arms; anyone is free to use whatever arms they wish. Presumably as subjects of the Realm, New Swedeners and New Icelanders are allowed to use armorial bearings without a grant from the ACH. Benkarnell 21:01, 29 August 2009 (UTC)