OTHER NOBILIARY BODIES

Appreciating the fact that several nobiliary organisations of the highest social standing and repute did not meet the qualifications for inclusion in the "Nobiliary Corporations" section of this Register, the Commission which met in Washington in 1984 established the new category of "Other Nobiliary Bodies."

 The basis for inclusion in this category is that such bodies must be entirely noble in composition and possess real historical and cultural relevance within their indigenous society. They may be armigerous and possess uniforms or insignia, but such attributes do not in themselves constitute qualifications for recognition. Synthetic nobiliary bodies, founded as a result of purely private initiatives and lacking historical and cultural relevance do not qualify for inclusion in this list.
The following is a limited list of several nobiliary bodies whose status is fully accepted by the Commission. It is probable that the list will be augmented from time to time.

EUROPE

Commission d'Information et de Liaison des Associations Nobles d'Europe (CILANE)
This organisation, which has its Seat in Paris, includes the following nobiliary associations:
- Vereinigung der Deutschen Adelverbande - VdDa (Germany).
- Corpo della Nobiltà Italiana - CNI (Italy).
- Nederlandse Adelsvereneniging - NAV (Netherlands).
- Association de la Noblesse du Royaume de Belgique - ANRB (Belgium).
- Assoçiãcao da Nobreza Histórica de Portugal - ANHP (Portugal).
- Hidalgos de España - AHE (Spain).
- Union de la Noblesse Russe - UNR (Russia).
- Maison de la Noblesse Finlandaise - Ritarihuone (Finland).
- Association des Familles Suisses - AFS (Switzerland).
- Association de la Noblesse Française - ANF (France).
- Commission and Association for Armigerous Families of Great Britain - AFGB (Great Britain).
- Réunion de la Noblesse Pontificale - RNP (Holy See).
- Maison de la Noblesse Suédoise - Riddarhuset (Sweden).

UNITED KINGDOM

Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms [1]
Founded: 1509.
Captain pro tempore: Lord Bruce Joseph Grocott, Baron Grocott.
Uniform: The uniform of a Heavy Dragoon Guards officer of the 1840s. It has a skirted red coat with Garter blue velvet cuffs and facings embroidered with the Tudor royal badge of the Portcullis. Helmets with white swan feather plumes are worn when on duty, even in church. Officers wear gold aiguillettes and carry sticks of office which they receive from the Sovereign on appointment. Cavalry swords are worn, and long ceremonial battle-axes, over 300 years old, are carried by all the Gentlemen.

The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs [2]
Founded: 1952.
Convenor: The Rt. Hon. Earl of Elgin and Kincardine, K.T., Chief of the Name and Arms of Bruce.
Secretary: George Way of Plean, Baron Plean, Procurator Fiscal of Lyon Court.
Arms: Azure, three eagle's feathers Or surmounted at the base by a hurt environed of a circlet Or.
Badge: Three eagle's feathers Or surmounted at the base by a hurt environed of a circlet Or charged (at option of the Standing Council) with the words "Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs".

The Royal Company of Archers (The Queen's Bodyguard for Scotland)
Founded: 1676 & 1822.
Captain General and Gold Stick for Scotland: The Rt. Hon. Earl of Airlie, K.T., G.C.V.O.
Arms: Vert, three arrows Proper, barbed and feathered Argent, one in pale and two in saltire surmounted by an escutcheon Or, charged with a lion rampant within a double tressure flory counterflory of fleur-de-lys Gules and ensigned with an imperial crown Proper.
Supporters: Two archers with bows in their exterior hands, that on the dexter in the uniform of the company in the year 1716, that on the sinister in that of the year 1816.
Motto: ARCU ATQUE ANIMO.
Uniform: A field-green uniform, the bonnet bearing eagle feathers, three for the Captain-General, two for Officers, and one for Archers.

SPAIN

Royal Brotherhood of the Holy Chalice of Valencia [Real Hermandad del Santo Caliz - Cuerpo de la Nobleza Valenciana]
Founded: 1917/1923/1948.
Badge: On a lozenge Or, four bars Gules, charged with an oval escutcheon bearing the Holy Chalice of Valencia.
Ribbon: Red.

Royal Military Establishment of the Principality of Gerona, Confraternity of Saint George [Real Estamento Militar del Principado de Gerona]
Founded: 1386/1714/1928.
Badge: On a Cross of Saint George Gules, edged Or, four swords Argent, points inward.
Ribbon: Red.

Royal, Most Ancient and Very Illustrious Confraternity of Noble Knights of Our Lady of Portillo of Zaragoza [Real, Antiquísima y Muy Ilustre Cofradía de Caballeros Nobles de Nuestra Señora del Portillo]
Founded: 1350/1646.
Badge: The cross of "Sobrarbe" Gules, in the centre a roundel Azure charged with a ruined wall bearing in the centre the portrait of Our Lady of Portillo Proper flanked by two soldiers in armour Or, all surmounted by the Royal Crown of Spain Or.
Ribbon: Red.
Chief: H.M. King Juan Carlos of Spain.

Royal Brotherhood of "Infanzones" of Our Lady of Charity of the Imperial Town of Illescas [Real Hermandad de Infanzones de Nuestra Senora de la Caridad de la Imperial Villa de Illescas]
Founded: 1265/1925.
Badge: A voided cross flory Argent, in centre point a square charged with a torteau.
Ribbon: Red.
Chief: H.M. King Juan Carlos of Spain.

The Illustrious and Noble Brotherhood of Saint John the Evangelist of La Laguna [Ilustre y Noble Esclavitud de San Juan Evangelista de la Laguna]
Founded: 1649/1728.
Badge: A crowned Eagle Or, holding in its beak a feather proper.
Ribbon: White edged green.

The Most Illustrious Chapter of the Knights and Esquires of Cuenca [Cabildo de Caballeros y Escuderos de Cuenca]
Founded: 1273/1944.
Badge: A plate charged in the centre with a cross flory Gules.
Ribbon: Red.

Union of the Nobility of the Ancient Kingdom of Mallorca [Union de la Nobleza del Antiquo Reino de Mallorca]
Founded: 1955.
Badge: A plate charged in the centre with the shield of the Kingdom of Majorca surmounted by a royal crown and placed on a Cross of Saint George flanked by two mounted knights.
Ribbon: Red.

[1] This is a ceremonial bodyguard founded by King Henry VIII in 1509 as a mounted escort armed with spear and lance, to protect the Sovereign in battle or on progress around the country. In 1526 the Corps began to do duty at court on foot, carrying a battle-axe, as they still do today. They last acted as a royal bodyguard in battle in the Civil War of 1642-9. Today, the duties of the Honourable Corps are only ceremonial. Including attendance on the Sovereign at State Arrivals of foreign Heads of State, the Garter service at Windsor, the State Opening of Parliament, and the Sovereign's evening reception for the Diplomatic Corps. The Corps is also on duty when the Sovereign attends services of the Orders of Chivalry. The Corps today consists of five Officers (the Captain [a political appointment who is now always the Government Chief Whip in the House of Lords] the Lieutenant, the Standard Bearer, the Clerk of the Cheque and the Harbinger) and 27 Gentlemen, all former officers. (http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/Page3118.asp)
[2] The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs was founded by the then Lord High Constable of Scotland The Countess of Erroll on the advice and recommendation of the late Sir Thomas Innes of Learney, Lord Lyon. Membership is by invitation and open to Chiefs of Name with hereditary supporters and there is an elective procedure. The Standing Council's function is to represent the interest of the chiefs to the government and public. The Objects of the Council, which is non-political, are to consider matters affecting Scottish Chiefs and the Clans and Names which they represent and to submit their views and interests to HM Government, to Departments of State, to Local Authorities, to the Press and Public, to Associations connected with Clan and Family in Britain and overseas; also to educate the general public in matters connected with the rights, functions and historical position of Scottish Chiefs, together with the Clans and Names which they represent and to take such steps as may seem expedient to protect the titles; armorial bearings or other insignia of Chiefs from exploitation or misuse in trade or otherwise. The day-to-day administration is undertaken by the secretariat based in Edinburgh. Among other things, the Council deals with requests for information and assistance from members and enquiries from clansmen. The Council meets once a year in full session to discuss matters of general interest and concern. A close liaison is maintained between the Council and the Lyon Court. (http://www.myclan./clanship/law/future.php and http://www.pip.com.au/~sahc/page11.html).
The Royal Company of Archers has its base in Edinburgh at Archers Hall (built 1776). Today there are around 530 members, all of whom are of Scots origin or have good Scottish connections.
The Royal Company of Archers' history can be traced back to 1676 when it was originally founded by several Scottish noblemen as a private archers club. The Company received a Royal Charter from Queen Anne in 1704 and in consequence assumed the style "Royal". Notably, members have acted as the sovereign's 'Body Guard for Scotland' since George IV's visit to the Scottish capital in 1822. The Royal Company of Archers perform duties at state and ceremonial occasions wearing their distinctive uniform of tunic and Balmoral bonnet.

EDITORIAL NOTES

• In those cases where the chanceries of orders or sovereign houses have failed to return current information, or the Commission has been unable to determine the current status of the Grand Mastership, the most up-to-date scientific documentary sources have been used.
• Where the Grand Mastership of an order is in dispute, we have sought to include the names of the various claimants known to the Commission. In such unfortunate cases it is to be hoped that the Royal Houses or orders concerned will resolve the dispute by internal agreement.