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Some SCA Terminology: As Used In The West Kingdom

compiled by Eirik Haarfager Goransson

Following are some terms that are used in the SCA that are different from terms used in the Mundane world. Understanding these terms may help you to understand the SCA better.

Device: Also known as a Heraldic device. This is what most people think of as "a coat of Arms." Heralds help the populace each design a unique device, which are then researched and registered to their owners to protect against infringement. Devices may be displayed on banners, painted on shield or pavilions, embroidered on favors, appliqued on surcoats, and used to label belongings. Devices become Arms when the owner is awarded Arms by the Crown or Coronet.

Armiger: Anyone who has an Award of Arms. People who have been formally granted the "right to bear Arms" are called armigerous.

Unbelted Fighter: A fighter who is not a member of the Chivalry.

Authorized Fighter: A fighter who has been authorized by the marshalate. The fighter carries a fighter's waiver card (also known as a "license to kill", a fighter's license, or authorization card) which has been signed by the principality or kingdom Marshal. A fighter may be eligible who has a good working knowledge of SCA Conventions of Combat, has demonstrated to the marshal that he does not pose an undue safety hazard on the field, and has demonstrated that he is able to both give and receive a killing blow.

Seneschal: Also spelled Seneschale if the office is being held by a lady. the seneschal is the administrative leader of an SCA branch. He calls business meetings, organizes who does what, and acts as a central coordinating point for his group. The badge of the Senechalate is a gold key on red, and every Seneschal wears a key, large or small, somewhere on their person. Every SCA branch must have a Seneschal.

Herald: Any member of the College of Heralds, Heralds' duties are three: a) acting as a walking public announcement system to inform the populace of what's going on at an event; b) acting as a Master of Ceremony by presiding over Court, reminding fighters during the Lists of who and what they're fighting for, researching/writing ceremonies; and c) helping members of the populace design suitable and unique devices. Some heralds perform all three duties, but most are strong in or two aspects of heraldry. Sometimes the categories are broken down into Field herald, Court herald and Book herald. The badge of the College of Heralds is two crossed gold trumpets on green.

Marshal: A Marshal is usually but not always a fighter, who has been trained to inspect a fighter's armor and weapons for safety before allowing him on the field. During the fighting, the Marshal keeps an eye out for anything which might endanger the fighters, the spectators, or both. He is not a referee; the fighter themselves decide what the outcome of a fight will be, although the Marshal may sometimes be asked for an opinion. Some Marshals have been trained to authorize fighters. The chief Marshal of a Kingdom is called the Earl Marshal; the Marshal of any other branch is called the Knight Marshal. The badge of the Marshals is two crossed gold swords on black.

Constable: the constable is usually the first person you will see when you arrive at the event. The Constables man the gate and handle the signing of the waivers and collecting of the site fee. They act as night watchmen, looking out for the security of the site, and also walk the fire watch, keeping an eye out for unattended lamps, candles, or fires and putting them out. The Constabulary is also the holder of the Lost and Found. The badge of the Constabulary is a gold mace upright on blue.

Exchequer: the Exchequer is the treasurer for his group. He keeps track of any money which belongs to the group and may have a bank account in the group's name. He is responsible for filing the income tax forms for his group.

Scroll: An original work of art produced by the College of Scribes at the command of the Crown or Coronet. Usually commemorating an award, but sometimes it may be a legal document such as a chatter or petition. Award scrolls are drawn up according to strict guidelines set by the College of Heralds.

Pre printed Scroll: A pre printed "form" for an award, where all the scribe does is fill in the blanks. As there are not enough scribes to do all the awards given by the Royalty in the course of a year, these are given out for the lesser awards.

Baldric: A belt worn up over the shoulder and diagonally across the torso, rather like a bandalero. A baldric may be made out of leather or fabric and usually denotes membership in a household, an award, or an office of some kind.

The Peerage: Collectively: the Royalty. The Royal Peers, and the three Orders of Nobility The Chivalry, The Laurels, and the Pelicans.

Peer: Any member of the Peerage. Ex Royalty are also called "Royal Peers."

The Royal Peers: Anyone who served as Royalty. By order of precedence they are: Dukes and Duchesses, Counts and Countesses, Viscounts and Viscountesses.

Order of Chivalry (KSCA, MSCA): Collectively, the Knights and Masters of¬-Arms; they are fighters and are addresses as Sir or Master. Knights may wear white belts, spurs, and a large link chain around their necks. Masters wear a white baldric. Also known as "the belted fighters" or sometimes "the belts." One of the three peerages.

Order of the Laurel (OL): People who excel in the arts and sciences; the arts¬-and crafts folk, they wear a laurel wreath medallion and are called Master or Mistress. One of the three peerages.

Order of the Pelican (OP): They have served the Kingdom above and beyond the call of duty; administrators, they wear a medallion showing a pelican in her piety (wounding her breast to feed her young) and are addressed as Master or Mistress. One of the three Peerages.

Baron/Baroness: They come in three Varieties:

1. Founding Baron/Baroness. The founder of a Barony and usually (but not always) the first territorial Baron. the title of founding Baron will always be his. They may wear a coronet with pearls on it, or with some element of the barony's Arms.
   
2. Territorial Baron/Baroness. Also called a Landed Baron (to tell them apart from the Court Barons). they are the Crown's ceremonial representative, but have no administrative authority. Landed Barons are automatically made Court Barons when they pass on their office, so they can retain the title of "Baron so and so." They may wear a coronet with pearls or some element of the Barony's Arms on it. Addressed as Baron (name of Barony), Baron (person's name) of (name of Barony), or Your Excellency.
   
3. Court Baron/Court Baroness: This is a title granted by the Crown to whomever they wish, and automatically given to any Territorial Baron when he steps down. Used to thank people or give honor to someone when none of the other awards quite fit. They may wear a simple coronet which may have pearls on it. Addressed as Baron (person's first name) or Your Excellency.

Palantine Barony: A Barony where the Baron is chosen by competition; usually by combat, but sometimes by an arts competition or a combination of the two. Barons are normally appointed by the Crown, but sometimes the Barony is so far away, that the populace there never has an opportunity to attend a Crown tourney and never lay eyes on the King. In theses cases, the Baronial Lists and the Baron sort of fill in for the ceremonial pomp-and circumstance normally provided by the Crown Lists. At the writing of the original version of this article, the Barony of the Far West was a Palantine Barony.

Viscount/ Viscountess: Anyone who's been Prince or Princess of a Principality. There isn't a set style for the coronet. They're addressed as Your Excellency.

Count/Countess: Anyone's who's, sat on the throne as King or Queen. They may wear embattled coronets and are addressed as Your Excellency. Alternate titles are Earl and Jarl.

Duke/Duchess: Anyone who's sat on the throne as King or Queen twice or more. They may wear coronets with clusters of strawberry leaves, and are addressed as Your Grace.

The Prince: there are four of them: Lochac (Australia), Oertha (Alaska), the Mists (the coast half of the central Kingdom) and Cynagua, you won't see much of the first two unless they're on a visit to the central Kingdom and attend an event. They wear silver coronets (Cynagua has swans, the Mists has a diamond¬-shaped piece of blue lapis) and are addressed as Prince . Your Highness, or My Liege (by those who have sworn fealty to him).

The Princess: There are four of them: Lochac, Oertha, the Mists, and Cynagua. Addressed as Princess or Your Highness.

The Coronet: A collective word for the Prince and Princess together, or an abstract word meaning the power any prince may wield at the behest of the Crown.

The Crown Prince: He is addressed as Crown Prince ______________, or Your Royal Highness. He wears a silver coronet of four points, set with a green stone surrounded by a wreath of laurel. He and his lady are the heirs to the Crown.

The Crown Princess: She is addressed as Crown Princess______________, or Your Royal Highness. She wears a silver coronet of four points with a green stone surrounded by a wreath of roses. She and her lord are heirs to the Crown.

The Queen: The Lady whom the King fought for in the Crown Lists, unless she won the Lists in her own right, in which case she is the Queen Regent. Her Crown has heraldic roses and acorns on it. She is addressed as Queen ______________,. Your Majesty, or Your Grace.

The King: He is the winner of the Crown Lists, unless his lady is the winner, in which case he is the King Consort. His crown has oak leaves and acorns on it. He is addressed as King ______________, Your Majesty, Your grace, Sire, or My Liege (by Those who have sworn Fealty to him).

The Crown: A collective word for the King and Queen together, or used in an abstract way to mean the power of the Monarch, as separate from the person who currently is the Monarch.

A Coronet: Any metal band, plain or fancy, worn about the head, although an unadorned narrow band may be called a circlet instead. Certain types of coronets are restricted; see the descriptions of coronets worn by the Royalty and Royal peers (March issue of The Gull A.S. XXVI)

The Queen's guard: Appointed by the Queen, the Guardsmen are unbelted fighters who excel in combat skills, chivalry, or both. They wear red leather baldrics with the kingdom Arms on them and they carry the Queen's favor. Each Principality has a corresponding Guard, sometimes called an Escort, appointed by the Coronet.

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