Allowed tartans

[macwilkin]

I'm sorry I brought the Lord Lyon into this discussion. His area of concern is heraldic matters. He does't busy himself with tartans, aside from recording official clan tartans at the wishes of the clan chiefs, as far as I know.
In addition, I was saying that the Clan Chiefs have no right to control tartans. They have authority to do so, but it is by the authority of the clan they represent that they might do this. They do not have the authority of the government, for example. If a Clan Chief says that a certain tartan should not be worn by clan members, then this surely extends to those who view him as an authority figure, namely clan members among others. The Chiefs can not actually prevent those outside their authority from donning the tartan.

As for allegiance, I was trying to point out that the fealty mentioned in the original post was a little outdated. Indeed pledging alliegance as you described it might leave one open to charges of treason. This is not to say that people putting on a tartan are not signifying a certain closeness with the Clan Chief and acknowledging him through their tartan. But no one can expect feudal allegiance any more.

I never said we should bear no regard for tradition. Indeed, I appealed to good taste at the end of it. I believe that being mindful of others traditions is important and it shouldn't be disregarded. If a clan chief wishes to have a certain tartan reserved for himself and his family (a rare occurance), then one should bear that in mind. But I don't feel completely bound by everything a Chief says either. Different horses, if you will...

Anyway hope that cleared up what I was trying to say.

thekiltedwonder is quite correct in his statements about the Lord Lyon; the Lyon Court really has nothing to do with tartan. Lord Lyon deals with heraldry.

However, I disagree with your comments about treason. I don't know of any chief that requires modern-day clansmen to swear fealty to them.

I certainly don't copy everything my chief does, but I do look to him for guidance concerning matters involving my clan.

Regards,

Todd

[TheKiltedWonder]

However, I disagree with your comments about treason. I don't know of any chief that requires modern-day clansmen to swear fealty to them.

Sorry, I didn't mean that such feelings were treasonous or that most clan members swore fealty in that manner. I was replying to this assertion:

They go on to say the wearing of the tartan means that the wearer gives their allegiance to the chief. Allegiance is a duty of fidelity said to be owed by a subject or a citizen to his state or sovereign. In that sense it represents the feudal liege homage, which could be due only to one lord. So much for wearing more than one clan's tartan.

I just felt that such "allegiance", that which mimiced the fidelity of a citizen to a state, would be a bit over the top. Not to disrespect the clan chiefs, but carrying it that far would be a bit much.