Society for Creative Anachronism Peerages

The Peerages of the Society for Creative Anachronism (also called 'Orders') are the highest ranking awards within the SCA. The SCA 'peerage' ranks and meaning deviate from historical peerage as practiced in the United Kingdom or similar countries, although the SCA's peerages are loosely based on medieval European concepts.

Like the period orders, such as the British Order of the Garter, The recommendation to award a Peerage (except Royal Peerage - see below) is usually by a meeting (face-to-face, called a Peerage Circle, or written) to the King and Queen (crown) of the particular Kingdom (region). The King and Queen must at least nominally consult with the members of that Peerage before awarding a new member. What constitutes an appropriate amount of consultation is on occasion a matter of dispute between SCA crowned heads and their peers.

There are four classifactions of peerages in the SCA: Chivalry, Laurel, Pelican, and Royal Peerage.

Order of the Chivalry

Members are awarded this rank for excellence in heavy combat arts, with the exception of combat archery. The Chivalry fall into two classifications: Knights and Masters at Arms. Knights and Masters of Arms are referred to collectively as the Order of Chivalry and by SCA Corpora are equal members of the same Order.

SCA Knights are recognized by their white belts, and also gold spurs and gold chains (in some Kingdoms, all spurs and unadorned open-linked chains regardless of color are reserved for knights only). Knighted men are addressed as Sir, and Knighted women as Sir, Dame, or some other title (as the Knight chooses). Knights may take "Squires", promising younger fighters, as students of chivalry and martial art. Squires are usually recognizable by their red belts (note: the red belt is not customary in all Kingdoms). Some Knights serve as squires first, but this is not a requirement.

Because Knights are required to swear fealty to the crown, the SCA has the alternate title of Master of Arms. They wear a white baldric rather than a white belt, and swear fealty only when they choose, or not at all. This allows those whose religious convictions forbid them to swear an oath, or those who refuse to be bound by oaths not of their choosing, to still accept the honor of an SCA peerage should it be offered. In at least some cases, candidates become masters because of interpersonal conflicts

Masters of Arms (addressed as Master or Mistress) are common in some regions, and almost non-existent in others. In regions where the practice is common, a Master of Arms enjoys the same privileges and honors as a Knight, but bears a different responsibility: a Master of Arms generally holds his or her loyalty to be with the Kingdom, not with the King, and acts accordingly.

It is worth noting that the Order of the Chivalry in the SCA includes a number of female knights; many women fight in the SCA, as enthusiastically and skillfully as their male fellows. There are 1728 knights and masters at arms. Of that total, 26 are women, for one and a half percent of the total.

It is mandated in the SCA Corpora (VIII.A.4.a) [http://www.sca.org/docs/govdocs.pdf] , that "only a knight can make a knight". This means that on the rare occasions when someone not a knight has won the throne, he must have a knight bestow the accolade (the gentle stroke on the shoulder with a sword) to make a new knight, thus maintaining the unbroken line of "true knights".

In some Kingdoms, members of the Order of Chivalry are considered to be authorities regarding armored combat activities, and are empowered to act as field marshals without necessarily going through the examination process required of other field marshals.

Order of the Laurel

Laurels are the artisans of the Society. They are considered experts in their fields, researching, practicing, and teaching their arts and sciences to others in the Society. They are recognised by a medallion or brooch bearing a picture of a laurel wreath, or even an actual laurel wreath (frequently made of metal, cloth, leather, or other durable material). Laurels vary in art from armor making, to singing, to weaving, to any other art and craft performed within the medieval period. They are expected to use and be knowledgeable about medieval and Renaissance materials, techniques for construction, and styles in their art.

While it is generally expected that a person is elevated to the Laurel for medieval arts, it is not always the case. In at least on instance, a person was elevated for excellence at photography.

Order of the Pelican

Pelicans are so named for the medieval legend that a mother pelican will, in times of need, prick her own breast to feed her lifeblood to her brood. They are recognised by a medallion bearing the image of a pelican feeding her young in this manner (referred to heraldically as "a pelican in her piety"), and in some places by a particular style of brimless round hat trimmed with fur and banded with white feathers, called a cap of maintenance. (This cap of maintenance is not a reserved symbol and is not recognized as a mark of rank in all kingdoms.) Masters and Mistresses (Dames) of the Pelican have shown such devotion in the service of the SCA in general. Often, these are among the leaders running the day-to-day business of the Society, holding offices, running events, and assisting with the organizational aspects of their local or regional group, their Kingdom, or even the Society as a whole.

Royal Peers

Royal Peers are members of both the simplest and most difficult peerage to join. One simply must have ruled as monarch of a Principality or Kingdom. Royal Peers go by a range of titles, from Viscount/Viscountess (former prince/princess), Count (or Earl) /Countess (who have served once on a Kingdom throne), and Duke/Duchess (who have served as king/queen two or more times). An East Kingdom duke has reigned twelve times (ten times in Ansteorra, twice in the East), and one duke from the West has reigned fifteen times.