Arms of aristocrats of Kingdom of Biffeche 1963-1997
Controlled
granted to the nobility or knights of the Kingdom of Biffeche in West
Africa, during or before the reign of its foreigner-king Edward
(1963-1997)?
The kingdom's web-page discourages arms
"...They entail considerable research, expense and delay, and should
not be requested without cause. Few arms have ever been granted in
Biffeche; many of the Nobles and Knights do without. The Crown will
not award misleading arms that duplicate those of any known person,
living or dead. ..."
Other parts of the web site mention a few individual Biffeche
aristocrats (barons and such) and knights created by King Edward in
Africa and America during that period. It's unclear whether their
arms, assuming some were granted, were European-style or some African
form.
The site has no picture of the arms of the kingdom itself, though the
blazon is given, nor the current king's personal arms. (It says he's
also a Scottish baron, of Inneryne, so presumably he must have
personal arms under Lord Lyon.)
If you have copies, or knowledge, of any arms granted by Biffeche in
the 1963-1997 period, please email me directly as well as posting your
message.
Derek Howard
Oh dear! Another one. Their web site is at
<http://www.kingdomofbiffeche.net/>. Obviously another scam to sell
titles and operating out of a Florida address.
Somehow I don't suppose I shall find Biffeche in the Madrid phone
directory.
Rather than discourage arms, noble titles, knighthoods, etc. the web
site attempts to make them appealing, scarce and hard to come by (but
not impossible). It looks suspiciously as if it is trying to promote
sales to both American and African/muslim buyers.
The "King" appears to be none other than Ronald Busch Reisinger who
matriculated arms with the Lord Lyon as feudal Baron of Inneryne in
1998 -
from the on-line Burke's:
"feudal Baron of Inneryne, recognised by Ld Lyon King of Arms and
matric arms at LO 22 June 1998; Kt of St Germaine 1994, Kt Grand Cross
of the Order of the Holy Trinity 1996, Cdr of the Mil and Hospitaller
Order of St Lazarus of Jerusalem 1997; b 4 Jan 1943; educ Fessenden
Sch, TAFT Sch, Fairleigh-Pickinson U (BA Political Science),
Montgomery U (MA; Phd (Metaphysics)); Pres Reisinger Corp; m 17 Dec
1989 Carolyn Jean, dau of Andrew Hertbert and Beatrice Clower Gall,
and has issue 1. William Busch, 2. Timothy Busch and (1) Abigail
Busch; Address: 9441 Beachberry Place, Pinellas Park, Florida 33782,
USA; Ascog Castle, Tighnabruaich PA21 2BY; Clubs: St Louis Country,
Bayou, Spring Lake, Roy Yacht of Biffeche, Atlanata Polo, Carlouel
Yacht and Kyles of Bute Angling; email: rrei...@tampobay.rr.com."
I take it he claims some former connection to St Louis. No doubt one
of the Scots on the list can dig out details of his matriculation.
Ronald B. Reisinger of Pinellas Park, Florida can easily be found via
the Alta Vista People Finder.
Thinking of which, we have come across anonymous e-mail from Florida
via SWBell before connected to such goings on. Could the query be in
reality a promo? Heaven forbid!
Derek Howard
Guy Stair Sainty
says...
>
>Oh dear! Another one. Their web site is at
><http://www.kingdomofbiffeche.net/>. Obviously another scam to sell
>titles and operating out of a Florida address.
>
>The "King" appears to be none other than Ronald Busch Reisinger who
>matriculated arms with the Lord Lyon as feudal Baron of Inneryne in
>1998 -
>
>from the on-line Burke's:
>"feudal Baron of Inneryne, recognised by Ld Lyon King of Arms and
>matric arms at LO 22 June 1998; Kt of St Germaine 1994, Kt Grand Cross
>of the Order of the Holy Trinity 1996, Cdr of the Mil and Hospitaller
>Order of St Lazarus of Jerusalem 1997;
Interesting that yet again the Order of Saint Lazarus seems to have
attracted such high quality candidates!
Is this gentleman a relation of the Busch family of Annheuser Busch,
who are of course a prominent St Louis family?
Guy Stair Sainty
www.chivalricorders.org
Derek Howard
The web site which can be viewed, I suppose, as a well crafted piece
of humour if taken toungue in cheek. But it is seriously misleading
and is already being linked to by more serious accademic and
anthropological sites as if it were fact. The "Biffeche" web site
suggests that the "kingdom" (properly Biffčche) lies along the river
with an uncertain boundary away from the river. However, it seems that
in the 18th century at least it was in fact an island with certain
boundaries and subject to the king of Oualo. The area of the delta is
of course now well and truly in Senegal and not independent.
I hope I am not doing the man a misservice but why, if Ronald
Reisinger the feudal Baron of Innery is a king, does it somehow get
missed off and forgotten by his entry in Burke's? In Burke's, as well
as membership of various orders, he claims to be educated at
Fairleigh-Pickinson U(presumably University) and Montgomery
U(niversity). I cannot readily trace the former and as for the latter
there are several universities in Montgomery but none I have spotted
with that name. Pehaps someone can clarify? He also claims to be
President of "Reisinger Corp" - if this is registered no doubt
someone better than I can trace it as I have failed to do so. I am
also puzzled by the e-mail address in Burke's.
I cannot even find Inneryne in my Gazetteer, neither is it included in
Graham Milne's excellent list of feudal baronies at
<http://www.gmilne.demon.co.uk/Baronies.htm> (being an index to the
'Inquisitionum Ad Capellam Domini Regis Retornatarum Abbreviatio' or
the 'Retours of Services of Heirs', which cover the period 1544-1699)
- anybody any ideas? At least Reisinger appears traceable and
apparently not a fiction himself, unlike some frauds, but I do hope
Lyon checked out the details on his petition for matriculation or
grant of arms thoroughly.
Derek Howard
Derek Howard
The web site which can be viewed, I suppose, as a well crafted piece
Peter Kurrild-Klitgaard
[snip]
> In Burke's, as well
> as membership of various orders, he claims to be educated at
> Fairleigh-Pickinson U(presumably University) and Montgomery
> U(niversity). I cannot readily trace the former and as for the latter
> there are several universities in Montgomery but none I have spotted
> with that name.
The former should no doubt be Fairleigh-Dickinson University, New
Jersey. Nothing suspicious about that.
> Pehaps someone can clarify? He also claims to be
> President of "Reisinger Corp" - if this is registered no doubt
> someone better than I can trace it as I have failed to do so. I am
> also puzzled by the e-mail address in Burke's.
>
> I cannot even find Inneryne in my Gazetteer, neither is it included in
> Graham Milne's excellent list of feudal baronies at
> <http://www.gmilne.demon.co.uk/Baronies.htm> (being an index to the
> 'Inquisitionum Ad Capellam Domini Regis Retornatarum Abbreviatio' or
> the 'Retours of Services of Heirs', which cover the period 1544-1699)
> - anybody any ideas? At least Reisinger appears traceable and
> apparently not a fiction himself, unlike some frauds, but I do hope
> Lyon checked out the details on his petition for matriculation or
> grant of arms thoroughly.
So do I, and while I have great respect for the new Burke's and for
what they have accomplished, I find it surprising and sad that they
seem to have let such bogus orders be mentioned (if that indeed is the
case). I know that "Danmarks Adels Aarbog" (The Yearbook of Danish
Nobility) in a few cases have permitted "Lazarus" to mentioned in the
biographies, but at least they do so in a manner where it is
relatively clear that this is not an order similar to genuine orders
awarded by states, etc.
Best wishes,
Peter Kurrild-Klitgaard
Cook SLC
>Nobility) in a few cases have permitted "Lazarus" to mentioned in the
biographies, but at least they do so in a manner where it is relatively clear
that this is not an order similar to genuine orders awarded by states, etc.
>
Glen A. Cook
glen...@cooklaw.org
Francois R. Velde
That's the least that Gayre could expect from his friend. Have the
latter's successors continued to do so?
--
François R. Velde
ve...@nospam.org (replace by "heraldica")
Heraldica Web Site: http://www.heraldica.org/
Barry Gabriel
Francois R. Velde wrote:
In medio rec.heraldry aperuit Cook SLC <coo...@aol.comnojunk> os suum:PK-K>I know that "Danmarks Adels Aarbog" (The Yearbook of DanishNobility) in a few cases have permitted "Lazarus" to mentioned in thebiographies, but at least they do so in a manner where it is relatively clear that this is not an order similar to genuine orders awarded by states, etc.Scottish grants have also referenced membership in St. Lazarus.That's the least that Gayre could expect from his friend. Have the latter's successors continued to do so?
BG
Controlled
> Oh dear! Another one. Their web site is at
> <http://www.kingdomofbiffeche.net/>. Obviously another scam to sell
> titles and operating out of a Florida address.
> The "King" appears to be none other than Ronald Busch Reisinger who
> matriculated arms with the Lord Lyon as feudal Baron of Inneryne in
>...
>Derek Howard
Dear Derek Howard,
I've recently written letters and messages to some known
title-recipients trying to track down any Biffeche arms awarded by
King Edward of Biffeche before 1997, as well as my general message to
this newsgroup. I speculate that maybe a half-dozen to a dozen arms
were granted between 1963 and 1997, but I don't really know this.
My name is Frederick Lehmann and I've studied small and little-known
kingdoms, countries and territories for about 30 years. I cofounded
The International Micropatrological Society in 1973 (and I coined the
word micropatrology, which has been much abused since then). I was
once active in this newsgroup years ago. I've been skewered by Velde
in my time.
You wrote alleging that the Kingdom of Biffeche is a scam selling
titles. Do you know this? I've kept a file on Biffeche for over 25
years and I'm from St. Louis (not Florida), where Edward lived. I
doubt that he sold titles; he was quite well known and though I never
met him I did follow Biffeche news and I know a few of the local
Biffeche aristocrats/plutocrats. Edward basically loved being the
king of an African kingdom; he was interviewed on radio and television
(he was on CBS's "To tell the Truth" as king, in the 1970's) and
covered regularly in the press. His obituary is on the web. I also
have no grounds for believing that the new king of Biffeche, Ronald,
has ever sold a title.
Over the years I became skeptical about the developments among the
world's would-be microstates and lost interest in about 90 percent of
them -- the wholly fictitious or bogus ones seemed to take over the
discussions. But I kept hearing about Biffeche in Africa and that the
people were serious about their kingdom. I wrote to Biffeche and
finally I went there over a Christmas vacation. The African people
in Biffeche there enthusiastically supported the kings, but some
Europeans there didn't like the "American king" angle. At every
village I visited, the people were hoping the king would come; they
seemed to love him. Leaving out the hyperbole, the place was about
the way the web-page describes it. To find out the facts on the
ground, go to Biffeche.
Your messages also seem to doubt the king's position in or connection
with St. Louis. The Reisingers and the Busches of St. Louis are
among the most promininent families, and Ronald is well-known, with
good connections. Also, try "Busch-Reisinger Museum" on Google.
Bluntly, these are people who will probably never need to "sell" much
of anything in their lives.
I wish the kingdom success and I hope it helps the people, avoids
problems, and keeps its particular charm.
Yours truly, F. Lehmann
Derek Howard
As you addressed me I shall respond though I had planned to let drop
this one.
> I've recently written letters and messages to some known
> title-recipients trying to track down any Biffeche arms awarded by
> King Edward of Biffeche before 1997, as well as my general message to
> this newsgroup. I speculate that maybe a half-dozen to a dozen arms
> were granted between 1963 and 1997, but I don't really know this.
On what basis do you speculate this?
> My name is Frederick Lehmann and I've studied small and little-known
> kingdoms, countries and territories for about 30 years. I cofounded
> The International Micropatrological Society in 1973 (and I coined the
> word micropatrology, which has been much abused since then). I was
> once active in this newsgroup years ago. I've been skewered by Velde
> in my time.
Welcome back to activity. It is always easier to deal with a named
rather than an anonymous poster.
> You wrote alleging that the Kingdom of Biffeche is a scam selling
> titles. Do you know this?
No I don't know, which is why I said that it appeared that way from
the web site. There are some similarities in presentation style
between it and other, unconnected ones that have in the past offered
titles, degrees, etc. effectively at the end of the day for money. I
may have done the web site creator an injustice but it does look very
much a fantasy into which one can buy.
I doubted the position regarding St Louis as it is not spelled out on
the web site but has to be pieced together. While the Busch-Reisinger
Museum is well known, Ronald does not hyphenate his name and in the
phone listings the Busch is reduced to "B." as if a first name. I
assumed perhaps wrongly therefore that he is not a close member of the
family. Perhaps I am getting too synical.
> I wish the kingdom success and I hope it helps the people, avoids
> problems, and keeps its particular charm.
I am quite happy to leave the fantasists to their dreams, but this is
not the reality of Senegal however friendly and accomodating they may
be of visitors. The African district is clearly not a kingdom and
therefore RBR is not a king and any titles or arms granted must also
be fantasy.
> Yours truly, F. Lehmann
Derek Howard
redligh...@gmail.com
https://www.stlmag.com/news/we-killed-the-king-reisinger/
He definitely appears to be of the Busch dynasty but equally he seems prone to...embellishment, shall we say?
Cheers.
Edward Hillenbrand
redligh...@gmail.com
He is registered with the Scots barony register.
http://www.baronyregistry.com/I.htm
However, I don't see Greenan allocated to his son as he indicated. Seems to me I remember some discussion of legal issues about that barony and the self described "Earl of Stirling". Google it for more background.
Cheers.
heraldr...@gmail.com
Regards,
Martin
http://cheshire-heraldry.org.uk
redligh...@gmail.com
Pardons for my misunderstanding! I sincerely appreciate you setting me on the right path.
Cheers.
redligh...@gmail.com
My eyebrows did raise a bit at his claim to (what was it in the article?) 40 Scots titles??? Even for an heir to the Busch fortune, that seems a bit excessive. Seemed to corroborate my suspicions raised around his claim to be a priest/minister/pastor - a well flogged First Ammendment internet loophole in The United States. I don't see anything but about formal seminary or serving a church/cathedral in any sort of fashion. Coupled with his previous (and apparently admitted) misrepresentation of prior degrees earned, this is a red herring.
What mystifies me is why someone with such a distinguished pedigree (and the presumed sheckles to match) should require this sort of hollow self engrandisment?
If mistaken, I humbly retract my statements. There's just an awful lot of "smoke" in this room. Perhaps there is a "fire" to match?
Cheers.
cyberfro...@gmail.com
Old families the World over tend to ever so slightly snobbish and it often a tad difficult for a younger member of less than ideal origin and upbringing to find acceptance. Being not really part but still enjoying the perks then messes up the selfview during younger years and beyond. So the scion then looks for approval elsewhere - and nobility is something those old aristocrats dont have. Ergo...
Cheers
Robert.