Coronets & orders

Arms, rank & honors

The shield identifies its bearer. Other elements can express rank, office, or membership in an order. Reading these separately helps explain why two people with very different shields may display similar coronets or order devices.

Westarctica’s system developed from British models but introduced its own treatments. The College’s records describe the elements associated with each achievement.

Westarctican coronets

The peerage’s coronets retain the broad model of English coronets while using blue in place of the traditional red cap. That change was an early deliberate step toward a distinctive Westarctican visual identity.

A coronet of rank and the mount beneath a crest serve different purposes. A wreath may support a crest; the Brisborough grants instead specify a blue chapeau turned up Ermine. The record tells the reader which mount belongs to the achievement.

The Order of the Orca

The Illustrious Antarctic Order of the Orca was established on 10 July 2019 as Westarctica’s highest order, recognizing a lifetime of service and dedication. Its published heraldic device surrounds the shield or lozenge.

The device is black with gold edging and gold lettering bearing the order’s motto, Non sibi sed omnibus, with the order’s badge suspended below. The motto expresses service for the benefit of all.

The Duke of MacAyeal’s record lists membership of the Orca alongside his other Westarctican honors. The full list of an armiger’s orders forms part of the record even when a reader first notices only the shield.

The Noble Order of Westarctica

The national heraldic guidelines permit blue sashes on the supporters of members of the Noble Order of Westarctica. The order itself originated in 2004 and recognizes leadership and nobility of character.

A decree of 15 October 2026 expanded the order to four classes: Grand Cordon, Knight, Commander, and Companion. The same reform ended its hereditary character. Older descriptions of the order as hereditary therefore describe its earlier practice.

The Count of Krigsvold, the Duke of Waite, and the Count of Bursey are among the people represented on this website whose records or biographies identify membership of the order.

The Order of the Snowflake

The Order of the Snowflake recognizes service, achievement connected with Westarctica’s goals, and friendship with foreign allies. Its grades include Knight or Dame, Knight or Dame Commander, Knight or Dame Grand Commander, and Knight or Dame Grand Cross.

The register names the relevant grade where it is included in the source. For example, the Duke of Haines is recorded as a Knight Commander; the Duchess of Hatcher as a Dame.

An emblem for an office

The badge of Onyx Herald of Arms Extraordinary belongs to the office. Created on 4 January 2026, it uses blue and silver waves, a gold pale, and three black roundels. Its first holder was Spencer Michael, Duke Van Valkenburg.

This is a useful distinction when consulting an armorial: a personal achievement identifies a bearer, while an official badge can continue to identify the office as its holders change.