[Ansteorra] Titles

[Jay Rudin]

Katrine asked:

>I realize this may seem a silly question but what award causes a person to
>be an "honorable" lord or lady?

It's not a silly question, as is proved by the fact that almost nobody knows the answer.

Back in around 1982 or so, Wilhelm von Schlussel, Laurel King of Arms, said in a letter of intent that he was going to propose "The Honorable Lord/Lady" as a title, and "Your Lordship/Ladyship" as a form of address, for people with Grants of Arms, to distinguish them from people with Awards of Arms. He had several other proposals at the same time.

Based on this, the Star Principal Herald announced that these forms would be used. Since Ansteorra had the first three Grant-level orders in the Known World, there were a lot of people who could use the new titles, and they started using them.

Wilhelm never, in fact, made that proposal, and the usage is extra-legal -- outside the law (meaning somewhere on the spectrum between unofficial title and incorrect usage, and nobody knows where).

So the answer to your question is that no orders give people the title "Honorable Lord/Lady" de jure; Ansteorran usage does de facto. At any moment, the BoD or Laurel Sovereign of Arms could rule against it and make it illegal.

Robin of Gilwell / Jay Rudin

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