GRAND DUCAL COLLEGE OF ARMS
STATUTE
ARTICLE 1 – NATURE OF THE COLLEGE The GRAND DUCAL COLLEGE OF ARMS
It is a corporate body that regulates, knows and decides about the heraldic affairs of the members of the Distinguished Noble Estate of Navaza, the Dynastic Order of the Crown of Navaza, the nobles whose titles have been conferred by other noble houses and recognized by the Monarch. , as well as the Hidalgos to Fuero de Navaza who require the services of this institution for the preparation, approval and registration of their personal coats of arms, therefore, it is the official heraldic authority of the Grand Duchy of Navaza for the organization, blazoning and certification of heraldic weapons.
ARTICLE 2 – FUNCTIONS It corresponds to this institution:
1- The preparation, review, approval, granting, modification and registration of coats of arms, ornaments, badges, flags, individual, lineage, corporate or institutional, including national symbols and genealogies of the titled nobility of Navaza.
2- Know and decide in the first instance about weapons disputes and increases in weapons.
3- Issue the Letters Patent (litterae patents) containing the arms concessions. 4- Resolve queries on heraldic, genealogical and vexillological matters that are formulated.
5- Propose and request the granting of titles of nobility from Hidalgos to Fuero de Navaza, certifying the suitability, neatness, background and merits of the candidates.
6- Perform ceremonial functions of the nobility and chivalry of the Grand Duchy, especially in events in which the Grand Duke participates. 7- Perform protocol duties of the Grand Ducal House, such as publicly reading the proclamations in the succession of a new Sovereign, opening the swearing-in and enthronement ceremonies of a new Sovereign, his wedding or funeral procession, the annual State Opening of the Parliament, the introduction of new members to the Crown Council.
ARTICLE 3 – WEAPONS OFFICERS
They are Weapons Officers:
a) The Chronicler of Arms: He is the Dignitary in charge of the Grand Ducal College of Arms of Navaza and therefore the highest authority in the matter, in the exercise of his work he will be considered King of Arms. He is the one who decides in the first instance about weapons disputes and increases in weapons.
b) Faraute Herald: He is the official in charge of carrying out the procedures related to heraldic affairs. He is the one who must present and submit to the College's consideration both the coats of arms and other heraldic elements and defends the cause of their design and content, and instructs the processes regarding arms disputes and increases in arms.
c) Persevante Herald: He is the official in charge of supervising the procedures related to heraldic affairs. He is the one who must question and refute both the coats of arms and other heraldic elements, disputing the cause of their design and content, and also inquires about the processes regarding arms disputes and increases in arms.
ARTICLE 4 – CREATION OF ARMS OFFICERS
For the creation of the Officers of Arms, the following general procedure will be followed: During the creation ceremony, the new officer is dressed in his tabard splendidly decorated with the grand ducal arms, with the ritual formula: «Receive this Tabard and, in "The measure that they warn you, may the Lord our God reverse it with knowledge and wisdom."
Next, the rod of office is given to him and the officiant pronounces the phrase: "Receive this Rod of Office and may God, from whom all good advice and healthy works come, direct you and help you in the Office and responsibility that has now been given to him.”
Finally, wine will be offered to you in a silver cup by the Monarch with the following statement: “Be loyal and honest, accept the contents of this Cup as a token of your commission.”
For his part, the new officer will commit to: "Do not allow defamation and refuse falsehood" and "Serve only the causes of true love, nobility and chivalry" and "Always comply with the Ancient Laws of Weapons" .
ARTICLE 5 – CEREMONIAL ELEMENTS
They are ceremonial elements of the Arms Officers:
a- From the Chronicler of Arms: Yellow tabard with the grand ducal arms lined in red, long silver staff and feathered beret, blue. b- Of the Faraute Herald: Yellow tabard with the grand ducal arms lined in red, short white staff and blue feathered beret. c- Of the Persevante Herald: Yellow tabard with the grand ducal arms lined in red, short black staff and blue feathered beret.
ARTICLE 6 – ARMORIAL
The Armorial, also called Armory Books, is an annual publication dedicated to the systematic description of the Blazons and/or heraldic emblems to which a Grant of Arms has been granted.
ARTICLE 7 – REGISTRATION OF WEAPONS
This is the name given to the general archive where each and every one of the documents produced by the Grand Ducal College of Arms of Navaza are deposited, which have the character of public documents but the previous concepts of the Heralds have the character of being reserved and to them. Only interested parties who demonstrate such character can access it.
ARTICLE 8 – PURPOSE OF THE COLLEGE OF ARMS
The purposes of the Grand Ducal College of Arms of Navaza are to support, support and safeguard the monarchical institution and the Sovereign Noble House of Navaza, promote the unity of all the titled nobility of Navaza through social activities, be the Court of First Instance in matters of Nobility Law due to succession and rehabilitation of titles, as well as honor processes against its members, the second instance being the Grand Duke of Navaza in his capacity as official, legal, name and arms head of the House Noble and Sovereign of Navaza.
ARTICLE 9 – THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE COLLEGE OF ARMS
The symbolic headquarters of the College of Arms will be located in the Navaza Lighthouse.
The Ceremonial Headquarters of the College of Arms will be located in the location designated by the Grand Duke of Navaza.
The administrative headquarters of the College of Arms will be located at the location designated by the Chronicler of Arms of the Grand Ducal College of Arms of Navaza.
ARTICLE 10 – THE EMBLEM OF THE SCHOOL
The Emblem of the College is two crossed canes with gold handles, superimposed on the middle of these, the inscription of the College's motto.
ARTICLE 11 – THE WEAPONS OF THE SCHOOL
The weapons of the College are: Old Spanish shield or bull skin, made of chinople, with a gold filiera, with a gold hunting horn and a gold cordate. At the bell, the Grand Ducal crown of Navaza. Two gold canes and gold cords crossed in a cross.
ARTICLE 12 – THE SEAL OF THE SCHOOL
The seal is composed of and the inscription: SIGILLUM COLLEGII ARMIS NAVACENSIS HONORUM ET VERITAS
ARTICLE 13 – THE CURRENCY OF THE SCHOOL
The School's motto in Latin is: “DIGNITAS EST HONOR”.
ARTICLE 14 – SCHOOL FLAG
The flag of the Estate is a bugle flag or rectangular flag with the flap finished in two points of sanguine or crimson color with a gold border and in the center the Emblem of the Estate.
ARTICLE 15 – INVOCATION
Each official act of the Establishment will be preceded by the traditional invocation: “Dignity is not in having honors, but in deserving them.”
ARTICLE 16 – SCHOOL HABIT
The College Habit: it will be a yellow Tabard with the grand ducal arms lined in red.
ARTICLE 17 – GRANT OF ARMS
This is the name given to the granting and registration in the Registry of Arms of a Blazon or coat of arms to a certain person, institution or entity duly authorized to use said emblem solely and exclusively legitimately within the Grand Duchy of Navaza.
Every grant of arms must be preceded by the following aphorism: “Dignitas non habens honoribus, merentur est”, which means in Spanish: “Dignity is not in having honors, but in deserving them.”
ARTICLE 18 – BENEFICIARIES OF AN ARMS GRANT
The beneficiaries of a weapons concession may be natural persons or institutional legal entities of the Grand Duchy of Navaza or companies authorized by it for the same purposes.
The natural persons who may be beneficiaries of an arms concession are:
a) Members of the Titled Nobility of Navaza, who prove that they belong to the Distinguished Noble Estate of Navaza.
b) Members of the Titled Nobility of Navaza who are part of the Palatine Court of Navaza.
c) Members of the Dynastic Order of the Crown of Navaza – ODCN
d) Members of the Grand Ducal College of Arms of Navaza
e) Members of the Illustrious Estate of Hidalgos de Indias – IEHI
ARTICLE 19 – PROCEDURE FOR OBTAINING A ARMS GRANT
- Application:
The first step to request a concession of weapons is to present a memorial request, addressed to the Cronista de Armas, by the interested party, accrediting proof of his personal condition. If it is an entity or a company, the request will be made by his legal representative and Proof of its quality will be accredited by the act of institutional creation or the official document that authorizes the use of heraldic weapons.
– Initial interview:
Once the request is approved by the Chronicler of Arms, both the person, institution or company that requires the granting of arms will have an initial interview with the Heraldo Faraute to present or arrange a basic design of the coat of arms, as well as the support of the elements and ornaments that are intended to be included, among which are the curriculum vitae, awards or honors conferred by the Crown, civil or military distinctions, university degrees, professional or public service merits, philanthropic activity, family and/or social background or good reputation in national or local life.
– Establishment of the subsidy:
Based on this first interview, the College will assess the subsidy that the winner must pay with the grant of arms, which will depend on the complexity of the creation of the coat of arms, especially considered by the number of elements and ornaments that are intended to be included.
– Transfer of projects:
Prior to each of the hearings, the Faraute Herald must send at least one week in advance to the Persevante Herald the project of the Blazon or heraldic elements, and its justification, for study.
– Presentation hearing:
Before the first hearing, or Presentation Hearing, is held, the interested party must pay fifty percent of the value of the subsidy that has been established by the College. At the end of this hearing, if no objection has been made by the Persevante Herald, a Final Hearing for the granting of arms will be scheduled, prior to which the remainder of the established subsidy must be paid.
– Procedure interview:
In the event that there are objections on the part of the Persevante Herald and approved by the Chronicler of Arms to the project of the coat of arms or heraldic elements presented by the Faraute Herald in the first hearing, or presentation, the latter will call a second interview with the interested party for the purposes of arranging the modifications that may be pertinent.
– Compliance Hearing:
Once the modifications made have been prepared, it will be presented again at a next hearing, or compliance hearing, at the end of which, if there continue to be observations made by the Heraldo Persevante and approved by the Cronista de Armas, a new interview will be held with the interested party. .
– Conciliatory interview: There will be a third interview, or conciliatory interview, with the participation of the interested party, the Faraute Herald and the Persevante Herald, seeking to reach an agreement regarding the content of the Blazon or heraldic elements and its justification, if there is one, an agreement will be presented. joint project signed by the interveners for approval at the next hearing, otherwise the Heraldo Faraute will present the project and the Heraldo Persevante will explain the reasons for their disagreement.
– Final Hearing:
Present before the Chronicler of Arms, he will decide whether to give his approval and order the Concession of Arms or if, on the contrary, he rejects the project presented and sanctions the interested party with the prohibition of resubmitting the application temporarily or definitively, pointing out the reasons for the decision.
– Disagreement resolution:
In the event of disagreements between the interested party and the Faraute Herald, they will inform the Cronista de Armas, who will appoint an Ad Hoc Faraute Herald, to take over in his or her place. If the disagreement persists, the cancellation of the procedure will be ordered.
– Grant of Weapons:
The Concessions of Arms will contain the Blazon and/or approved heraldic elements, as well as its description in a style note, endorsed with the seal of the College, the signatures of the Arms Officers involved and the endorsement will be assigned a consecutive issue number, with which will be recorded in the respective Weapons Registry book. A copy of those will be filed with the case file.
The best heraldic design is usually achieved if the petitioner expresses his wishes in fairly general terms, leaving the herald some room for inclusion or exclusion. References in the design could be made to the profession, family, interests or place of residence or origin of the dealer. Visual quotes can be made from the arms of the institutions with which he or she is particularly associated. There is a long tradition of puns in heraldry, some of them obvious, others not so much.
A sketch of the proposed design will be sent to the petitioner. When considering such a sketch, it is important to remember that it is submitted for comment primarily on points of substance, not points of drawing. The shape of the arms, once granted, will be governed not by the painting of the arms in the patent letters, but by the concise verbal description of them in the text, known as the blazon. The same arms can be rendered perfectly correctly in numerous artistic styles.
Once the design has been agreed with the petitioner, it is checked against all previous registered weapons to ensure it is distinct and will then be sent to the Chronicler of Arms for approval. If the design and its description are approved, the Concession of Arms will be granted so that they can be made by an artist from the College of Arms. The text will be written by a writer and will be added, signed and sealed by the Chronicler of Arms and the Scribe of the College, a copy of which will remain in the official records of the College. The Arms Concession will then be the property of the concessionaire.
ARTICLE 20 – ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES
The Concession of Arms for the design, elaboration and use of other heraldic and vexillological elements, such as flags and banners, script, cabdal, Palón, Pendón, Gonfalón, Oriflama and great banner, corresponds to the same College.
