Royal Ghassanid Court of Chivalry
College of Arms
Criteria for the Grant and Registration of Arms and Honors
In the Royal House of Ghassan, the Office of the Grand Chancellor, through the Court of Chivalry, manages the official creation of coats of arms, flags, and badges under its College of Arms. All members of the Royal House may contact the Chancellery to have heraldic emblems created for them, as can other individuals and entities that have a connection with House Ghassan. The Grand Chancellor shall appoint a Herald of Arms and assistants to manage the work of the Court of Chivalry. The Sovereign of the House of Ghassan presides over the Court of Chivalry and has the right of final approval of all entries in the Golden Book of the House of Ghassan.
Registration of Personal Arms and Honors
Arms already formally granted and/or registered by other recognized heraldic authorities can be registered at the Court of Chivalry.
Assumed Arms must first be registered with a competent registry, as determined by the Court of Chivalry.
“Recognized” refers to heraldic institutions recognized by the State in which they are situated. It shall be the sole decision of the Sovereign to determine which particular institutions are to be recognized.
New creations of personal Arms by the Royal House
Based on the founding principles of the Royal House of Ghassan, all members are entitled to apply for a grant of Arms and have their honors recorded. However, a grant of Arms should be considered as a singular honor, issued at the discretion of the sovereign, and based on the following criteria:
Any honors received (Ghassanid or foreign)
Involvement of the applicant in public life, together with other merits and activities
Professional qualifications held by the applicant
Membership of an Order of Chivalry (Ghassanid or foreign).
Should an applicant be considered a suitable candidate for a grant of Arms, the Herald would discuss with the applicant ideas for a design of such arms, including the incorporation of any already established family Arms in other esteemed sources. Keep in mind that, in most heraldic traditions, there is no such thing as “family Arms,” but that motifs taken from arms borne by holders of the same surname (who may be relatives) may be incorporated with suitable differences to ensure the armiger bears a unique and correct coat of arms. In addition, such Arms may need to be adjusted to ensure that they conform to the basic rules of heraldry. The display of any local or foreign award or honor within a Coat of Arms (decorations) ceases with the death of the holder of that award or honor.
Arms granted by the House are considered “assumed.” They shall be registered with a competent registry, as determined by the Court of Chivalry, in addition to being registered by the House.
Already established personal Arms registered by the Royal House
If it can be proven that certain personal Arms have been in uninterrupted use by a family of the former lands of the Imperial and Royal House of Ghassan for a considerable period of time by the applicant’s ancestors, those Arms would be considered a part of the Ghassanid intangible cultural heritage and would be registered as they stand (tale quale). This concession applies especially to members of the Ghassanid nobility, in deference to the unique status of the nobility in the history and culture of the Ghassanid lands.
Registration or granting of Arms does not signify a state-recognition of any title of nobility which the bearer of the Arms in question may purport to hold. Titles of nobility may be mentioned en passant in the document of registration for historical reasons. Only Ghassanid honors and awards may be noted in the Letters Patent.
In the case of a title of Ghassanid nobility, the right of the applicant to hold those specific Arms as a lineal descendant of a titleholder of Ghassanid nobility would be included, together with the relevant genealogical information and details of the recognized title.
It may also be necessary to differentiate the Arms with marks of cadency in the event of different branches of the family applying for the same Coat of Arms.
Any gazetted foreign award may be included in a Coat of Arms as decoration and by grant of the Sovereign to any member of a House.
Members of the Royal House may register their personal arms under the standards of the heraldic authority that granted the arms or the recognized heraldic society that first registered the assumed arms. The Chancellery has the full right to reject or request amendments to arms before they are registered and published.
FEES IN CONNECTION WITH THE GRANT OF ARMS, FLAG, BADGE
House Fees
The standard recording fee of Arms in the Golden Book of the Royal House of Ghassan is a one-time fee of USD 500.
After registration, the entry may be updated with additional honors or information. Any additions submitted shall be studied, and the Sovereign himself shall determine recognition. The additions or edits to the entry in the Ghassanid Golden Book are USD 25 per item.
Artist Fees
Final costs depend on the number of elements included, the complexity of the design, and any additional items you may request. The cost also increases if you wish to make changes that require revising the design or starting the design process over.
The heraldic artist will present a standard fee that includes heraldic consultations, the design and production of at least one set of Arms with a single helm, crest, and motto.
Fees for artist work are negotiated between the applicant and the heraldic artist.
Research costs, other elements
Variable costs for research and/or specialized translation, especially the composition of a blazon, will be charged at USD 50 per hour or part thereof in quarter-hour increments. An advance payment of USD 100 will be required before this work commences. If extensive research is required, you will receive an estimate of the expected work required.
LETTERS PATENT OPTIONS
Upon the granting or registration of your arms, you will receive a digitalized letter-sized, multipage Letters Patent included in the fee you paid to the College. If you wish to display your Letters Patent, we offer two additional options, each available at a separate pricing tier.
Note: Only honours and titles from the Royal House of Ghassan will be included in your Letters Patent.
Option A: Multipage Letter (included)
Our standard Letters Patent, included in the fees, is issued to all recipients. This is a letter-sized (8.5x11") multipage document printed on archival paper. It is not suitable for framing.
Digital: Included in the standard registration fee of USD 500.
Printed, Sealed, and posted: USD 150, in addition to the base fee (USD 650).
Option B: Professional Print
High-quality 11"x14" professional print featuring digital typography, printed on durable archival paper stock, ideal for framing.
Designed by HIRH Prince Gharios El Chemor, it features a decorative border of traditional Arab motifs.
Digital: USD 250, in addition to the base fee (USD 750).
Printed, Sealed, and posted: USD 350, in addition to the base fee (USD 850).
Option C: Illuminated Manuscript
Our most bespoke offering consists of an illuminated manuscript hand-painted by the personal heraldic artist of HIRH Prince Gharios El Chemor. Costs vary depending on complexity. The base fee begins at USD 1,000, in addition to the base fee (USD 1500 minimum).