HERALDIC PRIVILEGES OF THE ROYAL AND HASHEMITE ORDER OF THE PEARL
The Royal and Hashemite Order of the Pearl is a dynastic order of honour of the Royal House of Sulu, under the headship of His Majesty Sultan Muedzul-Lail Tan Kiram.
At another time, I plan on writing a dedicated article on this particular Royal House, it’s fascinating history and its heraldid insignia & rules. This article is dedicated to the heraldic rules related to the Royal Order mentioned in the title.
However, before we get into the details, a brief introduction into the Order of the Pearl is necessary.
The Royal and Hashemite Order of the Pearl was founded in June of 2011. Membership into the Order is conferred only upon the approval of His Majesty The Sultan in his capacity of the Grand Sayyid of the Order. The Order is not literally an Order of Chivalry and its members are not formally called Knights, because specific noble ranks and definitions, equal to those of Knighthood but more appropriate for the Tausug context, are established for the members of the Order.
There are 6 total grades in the Order:
- Royal Companion of the Pearl Collar
- Grand Cordon
- Distinguished Companion
- Companion
- Officer
- Member
A note should be made here that the Pearl Collar is highly restricted and limited to 24 Knights. This grade is also conferred upon members of the Royal Family of Sulu and foreign heads of royal families as well as heads of state but these are supernumerary knights and do not count towards the limit. The heir to the headship of the Royal House is a supernumerary knight by right of birth.
In reviewing the statutes of the Order, the following are the rules for each grade:
These knights may encircle their arms with the Pearl Collar of the Order.
- If, for some exceptional reasons, the specific oval badge and riband of this grade are displayed instead of the Collar, a golden flame may be added above the badge.
- Allows the petition for supporters from the Gateway Chronicler King of Arms.
- Adorn their shield with the Order’s crowned badge.
- Display the riband of the Order fastened with a bow from which the badge is suspended.
- The riband may encircle the shield either completely or partially.
- Allows the petition for supporters from the Gateway Chronicler King of Arms.
- Adorn their shield with the Order’s crowned badge.
- Display the ribbon of the Order, each half displayed separately.
- The ribbon may encircle the shield either completely or partially.
- The ribbon may be shown with loose ends issuant from behind the shield.
- May display a flame above the insignia and is entitled to the Order’s star.
- Adorn their shield with the Order’s crowned badge.
- Display the ribbon of the Order, one half displayed covering the other (as seen above).
- The ribbon is issuant from beneath the shield with optionally loose ends shown issuant from behind the shield.
- Optionally, the buckle may be shown above the ribbon.
- Membership in this grade does not entitle knights to supporters.
- Adorn their shield with the Order’s crowned badge.
- Display the ribbon of the Order, one half displayed covering the other (as seen above).
- The ribbon is issuant from beneath the shield with optionally loose ends shown issuant from behind the shield.
- Optionally, the buckle may be shown above the ribbon.
- Membership in this grade does not entitle knights to supporters.
Those in the two senior most ranks are entitled to supporters in a way of grant or of certification. A widow of a companion who did not obtain supporters but was entitled to them, may apply in his name.
Certain artistic liberties may be allowed; thus, if supporters with a compartment are included into the achievement of a member or an officer, the ribbon may pass behind the compartment rather than the shield. In any case of a doubt, the King of Arms’ consultation may be useful.
There is a honourable category of members jure sanguinis who are entitled to a special distinction, the olden representation of the Royal badge of kris and spear to be added either above the Order’s badge (Members, Officers) or as a part of the badge (Companions, Distinguished Companions, Grand Cordon). The paramount class is listed above this category, and the Royal badge forms a part of the collar.
The category of jure sanguinis is only open to those that are born as Datu of Sulu.
These rules apply to the members both sexes.
Although the heraldic images of the insignia of the Order must be recognizable, no photographic preciseness in reproduction of the original items is required; graphic liberties are allowed and even welcome to stress the symbolic value of the insignia’s elements. The liberty of display of the Collar already practiced by His Majesty The Sultan is to be seen as an example.
The ribbon of the Order is dark green, edged with two narrow stripes alternating blue and white on each side. The ribbon of the paramount class is plain green with colorfully ornamented ends, but typically this element is not included into achievements.
The Chronicler King of Arms, the senior most rank in the heraldic structure of the Sultanate of Sulu, is the principle herald of the Order of the Pearl.