Court of the Lord Lyon
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The Court of the Lord Lyon, also known as the Lyon Court, is a standing court of law which regulates heraldry in Scotland. Like the College of Arms in England it maintains the register of grants of arms, known as the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland, as well as records of genealogies.
The Lyon Court is a public body, and the fees for grants of arms are paid to the Treasury. It is headed by the Lord Lyon King of Arms, who must be legally qualified, as he has criminal jurisdiction in heraldic matters, and the court is fully integrated into the Scottish legal system, including having a dedicated prosecutor, known in Scotland as a Procurator Fiscal. This contrasts with England, where the College of Arms is a private body, and the Court of Chivalry, which is a civil court, has met only once in 300 years, in 1954.
[edit] Leadership and Administration
The head of the Lyon Court is Lord Lyon King of Arms. Only two of the heralds work full time, the Lord Lyon King of Arms and the Lyon Clerk and Keeper of the Records, a post currently held by Elizabeth Roads, Carrick Pursuivant. The holders of these two positions are paid a salary as public officials. Several heralds and pursuivants assist these two officers, mostly in matters of state ceremonial.
As of February 2006 Officers of Arms in Scotland are:
- Lord Lyon King of Arms: Robin Orr Blair
- Albany Herald of Arms in Ordinary: John Alexander Spens
- Ross Herald of Arms in Ordinary: Charles John Burnett
- Rothesay Herald of Arms in Ordinary: Sir Crispin Agnew of Lochnaw
- Islay Herald of Arms in Ordinary:Vacant
- Marchmont Herald of Arms in Ordinary:Vacant
- Snowdoun Herald of Arms in Ordinary:Vacant
- Bute Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary: W. David H. Sellar
- Carrick Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary: Elizabeth Ann Roads
- Unicorn Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary: Alastair Lorne Campbell of Airds
- Dingwall Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary: Vacant
- Kintyre Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary: Vacant
- Ormond Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary: Vacant
- Linlithgow Pursuivant of Arms Extraordinary: John George
- Orkney Herald of Arms Extraordinary: Sir Malcolm Innes of Edingight
- Falkland Pursuivant of Arms Extraordinary: Vacant
- March Pursuivant of Arms Extraordinary: Vacant
- Herald Painter: Yvonne Holton
- Herald Painter: Romilly Squire
- Procurator Fiscal to Lyon court: George Way of Plean
From time to time, others can be appointed temporarily or as a recognition of their work. These are styled Herald or Pursuivant Extraordinary. In this way the previous Lord Lyon, Sir Malcolm Innes of Edingight, serves as Orkney Herald Extraordinary. Administrative support to the Lyon Court is provided by the Lyon Clerk and Keeper of the Records. Prosecutions for violations of heraldry are carried out by a Procurator Fiscal attached to the Lyon Court.
In Scotland there are also four private pursuivants that are independent of Lyon Court. These officers are employed by Scottish nobles and chiefs and perform duties relating to genealogical, heraldic, and ceremonial matters of clan members. For more information see Private Officer of Arms.
[edit] See also
- Bureau of Heraldry (South Africa)
- Canadian Heraldic Authority
- College of Arms (London)
- Flemish Heraldic Council
- Office of the Chief Herald of Ireland
[edit] External links
| Court of the Lord Lyon |  |
|---|---|
| King of Arms: Lord Lyon | |
| Heralds of Arms: Albany | Islay | Marchmont | Rothesay | Ross | Snowdoun | |
| Pursuivants of Arms: Bute | Carrick | Dingwall | Kintyre | Ormond | Unicorn | |
| Officers of Arms Extraordinary: Falkland | Linlithgow | March | Orkney | |
| Other Officers: Procurator Fiscal | Lyon Clerk and Keeper of the Records | Herald Painter |
