[ANSTHRLD] titles....

Darin K. Herndon darin-herndon at utulsa.edu
Tue Aug 28 15:56:47 PDT 2001


>Given this appendix's content, am I to assume then that the "Order of
>the White Scarf of Ansteorra" does not have the right to use the title
>"Don" and that the "Order of the Centurions of the Sable Star" likewise
>lack the right to the title "Centurion"?

These are traditional in Ansteorra, but not reserved by Society.  Don
and Dona (include the tilda over the "n") are used in several other
kingdoms for Lord or Lady, simple AoA recipients who have Spanish
personas.  There is tradition, intrakingdom antropology, and things
reserved as a matter of society law.  This doesn't mean that I don't
call members of the White Scarf "Don" or Centurions "Centurions".
Though Centurions is included in the actual order name and, I think,
has some prudent claim from that.  Sort of like the Madonnas of
Ansteorra or the Ringthanes from principality days.

>I know that "Don" is an alternate title for "Lord", but I don't believe
>that "Centurion" is.  Likewise technically from this section the use of
>"Honorable Lord" would be forbidden.

Some kingdom's don't use an HL title at all.  Centurion is not a
period title equivalent to Lord; it is a military rank.  In our
kingdom that military rank also carries an armigerous-plus rank with
it.

>Do all of these situations have specific permission from the board, or
>am I just missing something.

To my knowledge there is no direct action, for or against, by the BoD
except to say that the referenced appendix is the only official
society-wide listing of titles.  Use others with great caution.
Bring up "Marquis" if you really want to raise some hackles since a
Marquis outranked a duke (if I remember correctly).

>I don't think that either Protector or Sentinel without a place name
>attached claims ownership of land.  I could see "Protector of Ireland"
>for instance being problematic, but "Protector" simply as a title would
>not seem to run afoul of that.  I take it you disagree?

Local championship titles, defender of this...  protector of that...
etc., aren't registered.  They are local traditions which add flavor
and distinctiveness.  As long as you don't start calling your rapier
champion for your local group the "Marquis of <insert local group
name>" or the "Grand Marquis of Ansteorra" (which I would take as a
challenge to the Crown), or some title from period which creates a
similar confusion about rank and precedence and privilage and
generally just serves to step on people's toes, use whatever you
want.  If the focus of this conversation is on having a title like
Centurion for an Order, follow a period form (or as close as you can
get and still pass it) and include the title in the Order name.
Otherwise you will have to rely on a tradition forming, that manages
to not step on toes and create strife, to get a title used like
"Don".  I don't recommend trying to force a usage by tradition;
traditions have a life of their own and you may not recognize
original intent in five years.

Speaking of myths about what is reserved and not, didn't I see that
someone had registered the red belt as a personal badge recently?
Red belts were never registered or protected by the society (nor
green or yellow) despite their traditional uses.

Etienne



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