ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 2314 http://www.s-gabriel.org/2314 ************************************ 8 Jul 2001 From: (Josh Mittleman) Greetings from the Academy of Saint Gabriel! You asked our help creating an authentic name and coat of arms for a medieval Spanish woman, and wanted to know if and the arms "Per bend Or and vert, two rustres counterchanged" would be appropriate, and for what time period. is found in Spanish documents in the 15th and 16th centuries [1,2]. The spelling also appears in the 16th century. In the 15th and 16th centuries, both men and women commonly used surnames based on the name of the places where they lived. The city of Segovia has been in existence since Roman times, and we find the surname "of Segovia" used by both men and women in the late 15th century [2]. Thus, is a very typical name for a late-period Spanish woman. Your arms are lovely. While you are right that vert is a fairly uncommon tincture in general, in one Portuguese roll of arms from 1542 it is actually not that uncommon at all [3]. Using vert in your arms should not be a problem. Unfortunately, we don't believe that your design is appropriate for medieval Spain. While we have found both roundels (circles) and lozenges (diamonds) in Spanish heraldry [4], rustres were used almost exclusively in England -- and even there, they were quite rare. Lacking evidence that rustres were used in Iberian armory, we cannot recommend them as good re-creation. In addition, we have found only one example of a field divided per bend in Iberian heraldry; and that one was granted by the king of France. Field divisions that cut the field into just two parts were generally rare in Iberian heraldry. However, multiply divided fields, particularly lozengy, are common in our sources. The examples we've seen are almost all uncharged, i.e. they have no charge lying over the multiply-divided field [4, 5]. Unfortunately, the obvious alternative, "Lozengy Or and vert", is too similar to arms that are protected by the SCA College of Arms [6]; so you can't register that. Some other possibilities that are appropriate for your culture are: Or, six lozenges two, two, and two vert. (The lozenges are arranged in two parallel columns.) Lozengy Or and vert, a bordure gules. As far as we can tell, you should be able to register either of these designs with the SCA College of Arms. We hope that this letter has been useful to you and that if you have any further questions, you won't hesitate to write again. Research and commentary on this letter was provided by Adelaide de Beaumont, Talan Gwynek, Pedro de Alcazar, Zenobia Naphtali, Rouland Carre, Adelais de Savigny, Runfridhr, and Juliana de Luna. For the Academy, Aryanhwy merch Catmael & Arval Benicouer, 8 Jul 2001 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - References: [1] Elsbeth Anne Roth, _16th-century Spanish Women's Names_ (WWW: SCA, Inc., 1998). http://www.sca.org/heraldry/laurel/names/spanish.html [2] Juliana de Luna, "Spanish Names from the Late 15th Century" (WWW: J. Mittleman, 1999-2000). http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/juliana/isabella/ [3] Godinho, Anto/nio, 1517-1541, _Livro da Nobreza e Perfeicam das Armas_, Introduction, Notes, Artistic and Graphic Guidance by Martim de Albuquerque and Joa~o Paulo de Abreu e Lima (Lisbon: Academia Portuguesa da Histo'ria, 1987). [4] Riquer, Marti/n de, _Hera/ldica castellana en tiempos de los reyes cato/licos_ (Barcelona: Ediciones dels Quederns Crema, 1986). [5] Riquer, Marti/n de, _Heraldica Catalana des de l'any 1150 al 1550_, Ediciones dels Quederns Crema, Barcelona, 1983. [6] It conflicts with the arms of the historical Dukes of Teck "Lozengy bendwise sable and Or".