It has been requested from the Beacon Herald of Meridies, that we should teach our groups about our Kingdom awards. Our very own shire member, Rhys í Bretlandi , was the starting point for said request. He posted a while back about membership requirements for different awards, so I will summarize as best I can from the original source listed at the end of this post. The original source has more detailed information for each award, I'm just doing a basic run down.
Awards are pretty much given by the pleasure of the crown. We write letters, they read them, and based on what we write in about a person and their awesomeness, they may decide to give them an award. Some orders and awards have more folks involved in this decision, but generally, that's how it works. If you write a person in for an award that they already have or may not quite be ready for, the crown may look into another similar award that would be more appropriate. Many awards come in tiers.
For example: You think that somebody would make an amazing Laurel, and the powers that be do not think that they are quite ready (but still very much on that path), they may decide to look more at the Order of the Velvet Owl if they are not already in that Order.
You might also write somebody in for an award of arms not knowing that they already have one. You wrote about how awesome they are and how much they do for others. The powers that be may decide to look at a higher service award instead, as they already have the mentioned award.
If you wish to write to the crown about an award for anybody, you can fill out this handy form:
http://kingdom.meridies.org/olawards/
If it is for someone within the Shire, Raven is the keeper of the Shire Roster (at least at the time of this post) and will happily share it with you. The Meet the Populace page is also a great source of information for current Shire members.
Armigerous Awards:
(Awards that DO require membership)
"Meridies kingdom law states that anyone receiving an award which carries armigerous status (an Award, Grant, or Patent of Arms), or being invested as a territorial Baron or Baroness, is required to be a paid member of the Society in good standing. "
Patents of Arms: This is awarded to those that are elevated to a level of Peer (Knights, Laurels, Pelicans, etc.). However, this does not apply to departing royalty.
Grants of Arms: This award is considered to be of special dignity and is not lightly given. It is awarded to those of outstanding achievement to the Kingdom.
Awards of Arms: This is kind of your first 'big deal' level award. You are granted certain privileges and can now start wearing some nifty headgear.
Order of the Bough, Meridies: This is given to those who have served the kingdom well and faithfully, above and beyond normal expectations, and who have consistently displayed courtesy and chivalry in an exemplary manner.
Order of the Velvet Owl: This is given to those who have shown outstanding skill and accomplishment in the arts and sciences, who have imparted those skills to the populace of Meridies by regular teaching and sharing of ability in their particular specialty, and who have consistently displayed courtesy and chivalry in an exemplary manner.
Order of the Scarlet Star: This is given to those who have served the kingdom well and faithfully, above and beyond normal expectations, by consistently and successfully administrating a number of Society events and/or feasts.
"Members of the above orders take precedence over simple Grants of Arms due to the service of the members of the order. Previously, the Bough, the Velvet Owl, and the Scarlet Star conveyed Grants of Arms to their recipients. The Crown still has the option of giving Grants of Arms to new members of these orders."
Order of the Sable Sword: This is given to those who have served the kingdom with longtime excellence, quality, and chivalry in the fulfillment of duties of a martial nature, and have shown outstanding skill and accomplishment in the Martial Arts, have imparted those skills to the populace of Meridies by regular teaching and sharing of ability in their particular specialty, and have distinguished themselves in war, on tournament fields, and in the training of new fighters.
Order of the Legio Ursi: Also referred to as the Legion of the Bear. Given to those who have exemplified and furthered the art of soldiering, who have shown outstanding skill upon the field of war, who have imparted those skills to others by teaching and training, who consistently display leadership, courtesy and chivalry, in an exemplary manner, above and beyond normal expectations.
Order of the Split Arrow: This is given to those who have served Meridies with longtime excellence, quality and chivalry in either combat or target archery.
Order of the Meridian Blade: This is given to those who have served Meridies with longtime excellence, quality, leadership, courtesy, and chivalry in the pursuit of the art of the rapier.
Order of the Argent Comet: This is given by the Crown to those who have demonstrated outstanding service to a shire, college, or other group not directly administered by a barony.
"Territorial Barons and Baronesses, as representatives of the Crown, have the right to bestow the service order specific to their baronies. These baronial orders may carry with them an Award of Arms, at the discretion of the Baron and Baroness, and with the Crown's permission."
I will not go into the listing of these baronial awards, but they may be found on the source link listed at the end of this post.
Non-Armigerous Awards:
(Awards that do NOT require membership.)
The following awards carry no arms or precedence.
Order of the Rose: This is presented, at the pleasure of the Crown, to past consorts of the kingdom.
Order of Meridian Majesty: This is given by the consort to those who have personally served her/him well, truly, and faithfully.
Sovereign's Pleasure: This is given by the sovereign to those who have personally served him/her well, truly, and faithfully.
Order of the Meridian Cross: This is given to those who show promise and skill in the arts and sciences.
Order of the Argent Lily: This is given to those exemplifying courtliness (refinement and elegance). No more than one male and one female may be selected during any reign; the Crown need not select anyone if no suitable candidates are found.
Order of the Argent Shield: This is given to fighters who have distinguished themselves in war, on the tournament field, and in the training of new fighters.
Order of the Meridian Broken Bow: This is given to archers who have displayed courteous and chivalrous conduct and have distinguished themselves in the field of archery.
Order of the Weapons Master: This is given to those who show great skill in the use of real weaponry, primarily throwing axe, knife, spear, and bow. The order has the right to govern itself and to define the standard of its various rankings up to the rank of Weapons Master.
Order of the Argent Lance of Meridies: This is given to those equestrians who have displayed courteous and chivalrous conduct, and who have distinguished themselves in the field of equestrian sciences.
Order of the Argent Rapier: This is given to those who have distinguished themselves with the rapier in war, on the tournament field, and in the training of new rapierists.
Order of the Cygnet: This is given to children for courtly behavior and honorable service rendered.
Order of the Rising Swan: This is given to subjects of Meridies, age 17 and under, to recognize outstanding service and achievement above and beyond that recognized by the Order of the Cygnet.
Order of the Cygnet's Nest: This is given to those who have worked tirelessly on the behalf of children.
Order of the Guiding Hand, Meridies: This is given to those who have served the kingdom well and faithfully by giving encouragement and assistance to newcomers and any in need.
Order of the Chalice: Members are elected by virtue of their valor, grace, and service to the kingdom.
Order of the Athanor: Members are elected by virtue of their contributions to historical study in the Society. Election of members rests with the Crown, with the advice of the scholars of the order.
Order of Compostella (Pilgrim's Order): This is given to those who travel greatly in the service of the Crown and the kingdom.
Order of the Broken Brank: This is given to those who have enriched the kingdom greatly through their service to the Chirurgeon's office.
Order of the Burning Trumpet: This is given to those who have enriched the kingdom greatly through their service in the Herald's office.
Order of the Sable Quill: This is given only once per reign, to those who have shown exemplary merit and skill in the authorship, publication and dissemination of articles of scholarly interest to the Society, the kingdom and its members.
Award of the Crown's Favor: This is given to territorial groups or households in the kingdom who have either served the kingdom directly or set worthy examples of behavior.
Order of the Duvant Cross: This is given for exceptional skill, courtesy and honor on the field of Youth Combat.
Order of the Argent Slipper: This is given to those who have greatly enriched the Kingdom by the instruction of its populace in the art of European or Middle Eastern dance.
Companionate of the Bard: This is given to those who have served the kingdom in the capacity of Kingdom Bard.
Companionate of the Poet Laureate: This is given to those who have served the kingdom and Crown as Poet Laureate of Meridies.
Companionate of the Meridian King's Champion: This is given to those who have served the kingdom in the capacity of King's Champion.
Companionate of the Meridian Queen's Champion: This is given to those who have served the kingdom in the capacity of Queen's Champion.
Companionate of the Queen's Yeoman: This is given to those who have served the kingdom in the capacity of Queen's Yeoman. Election into this order rests solely with Her Majesty, and is given to those who have shown outstanding archery skill in winning the Queen's Yeoman Archery Competition.
Companionate of the King's Lancer: This is given to those who have served the Kingdom in the capacity of King's Lancer. The King's Lancer leads and organizes the Royal Horse Guard. Election into this order rests solely with His Majesty and is given to those who have shown outstanding horsemanship in winning the King's Lancer Equestrian Tournament.
Companionate of the Meridian Queen's Rapier Champion: This is given to those who have served the Kingdom in the capacity of Queen's Champion. Election into this order rests solely with Her Majesty, and is given to those who have shown outstanding archery skill in winning the Queen's Rapier Champion Competition.
Augmentation of Arms: Three mullets argent, one and two may be placed (where appropriate) upon the arms of any individual or group recognized for exceptional service to the kingdom of a nature not normally recognized through Society awards, such as actions of a particularly honorable or charitable nature. Those Augmentations bestowed prior to May 2001 may take the form: Three mullets argent, fesswise.
Please note that the cool stuff that you get to wear once you get one of these awards may come with some regulations. Please see Directions for Regalia for more information (or if you want to make some to help out your kingdom for when they give out these awards....they have to get them from somewhere, right?):
http://bagatelle.meridies.org/regalia/directions-for-regalia/
Mistress Jessa d'Avondale created the original source of this information in the link below:
http://www.sca.org/awards/merid.html
Links to similar pages for other kingdoms may be found in the link below:
http://sca.org/awards/
~Maddelena 'Raven' de Ricci
Awards are pretty much given by the pleasure of the crown. We write letters, they read them, and based on what we write in about a person and their awesomeness, they may decide to give them an award. Some orders and awards have more folks involved in this decision, but generally, that's how it works. If you write a person in for an award that they already have or may not quite be ready for, the crown may look into another similar award that would be more appropriate. Many awards come in tiers.
For example: You think that somebody would make an amazing Laurel, and the powers that be do not think that they are quite ready (but still very much on that path), they may decide to look more at the Order of the Velvet Owl if they are not already in that Order.
You might also write somebody in for an award of arms not knowing that they already have one. You wrote about how awesome they are and how much they do for others. The powers that be may decide to look at a higher service award instead, as they already have the mentioned award.
If you wish to write to the crown about an award for anybody, you can fill out this handy form:
http://kingdom.meridies.org/olawards/
If it is for someone within the Shire, Raven is the keeper of the Shire Roster (at least at the time of this post) and will happily share it with you. The Meet the Populace page is also a great source of information for current Shire members.
Armigerous Awards:
(Awards that DO require membership)
"Meridies kingdom law states that anyone receiving an award which carries armigerous status (an Award, Grant, or Patent of Arms), or being invested as a territorial Baron or Baroness, is required to be a paid member of the Society in good standing. "
Patents of Arms: This is awarded to those that are elevated to a level of Peer (Knights, Laurels, Pelicans, etc.). However, this does not apply to departing royalty.
Grants of Arms: This award is considered to be of special dignity and is not lightly given. It is awarded to those of outstanding achievement to the Kingdom.
Awards of Arms: This is kind of your first 'big deal' level award. You are granted certain privileges and can now start wearing some nifty headgear.
Order of the Bough, Meridies: This is given to those who have served the kingdom well and faithfully, above and beyond normal expectations, and who have consistently displayed courtesy and chivalry in an exemplary manner.
Order of the Velvet Owl: This is given to those who have shown outstanding skill and accomplishment in the arts and sciences, who have imparted those skills to the populace of Meridies by regular teaching and sharing of ability in their particular specialty, and who have consistently displayed courtesy and chivalry in an exemplary manner.
Order of the Scarlet Star: This is given to those who have served the kingdom well and faithfully, above and beyond normal expectations, by consistently and successfully administrating a number of Society events and/or feasts.
"Members of the above orders take precedence over simple Grants of Arms due to the service of the members of the order. Previously, the Bough, the Velvet Owl, and the Scarlet Star conveyed Grants of Arms to their recipients. The Crown still has the option of giving Grants of Arms to new members of these orders."
Order of the Sable Sword: This is given to those who have served the kingdom with longtime excellence, quality, and chivalry in the fulfillment of duties of a martial nature, and have shown outstanding skill and accomplishment in the Martial Arts, have imparted those skills to the populace of Meridies by regular teaching and sharing of ability in their particular specialty, and have distinguished themselves in war, on tournament fields, and in the training of new fighters.
Order of the Legio Ursi: Also referred to as the Legion of the Bear. Given to those who have exemplified and furthered the art of soldiering, who have shown outstanding skill upon the field of war, who have imparted those skills to others by teaching and training, who consistently display leadership, courtesy and chivalry, in an exemplary manner, above and beyond normal expectations.
Order of the Split Arrow: This is given to those who have served Meridies with longtime excellence, quality and chivalry in either combat or target archery.
Order of the Meridian Blade: This is given to those who have served Meridies with longtime excellence, quality, leadership, courtesy, and chivalry in the pursuit of the art of the rapier.
Order of the Argent Comet: This is given by the Crown to those who have demonstrated outstanding service to a shire, college, or other group not directly administered by a barony.
"Territorial Barons and Baronesses, as representatives of the Crown, have the right to bestow the service order specific to their baronies. These baronial orders may carry with them an Award of Arms, at the discretion of the Baron and Baroness, and with the Crown's permission."
I will not go into the listing of these baronial awards, but they may be found on the source link listed at the end of this post.
Non-Armigerous Awards:
(Awards that do NOT require membership.)
The following awards carry no arms or precedence.
Order of the Rose: This is presented, at the pleasure of the Crown, to past consorts of the kingdom.
Order of Meridian Majesty: This is given by the consort to those who have personally served her/him well, truly, and faithfully.
Sovereign's Pleasure: This is given by the sovereign to those who have personally served him/her well, truly, and faithfully.
Order of the Meridian Cross: This is given to those who show promise and skill in the arts and sciences.
Order of the Argent Lily: This is given to those exemplifying courtliness (refinement and elegance). No more than one male and one female may be selected during any reign; the Crown need not select anyone if no suitable candidates are found.
Order of the Argent Shield: This is given to fighters who have distinguished themselves in war, on the tournament field, and in the training of new fighters.
Order of the Meridian Broken Bow: This is given to archers who have displayed courteous and chivalrous conduct and have distinguished themselves in the field of archery.
Order of the Weapons Master: This is given to those who show great skill in the use of real weaponry, primarily throwing axe, knife, spear, and bow. The order has the right to govern itself and to define the standard of its various rankings up to the rank of Weapons Master.
Order of the Argent Lance of Meridies: This is given to those equestrians who have displayed courteous and chivalrous conduct, and who have distinguished themselves in the field of equestrian sciences.
Order of the Argent Rapier: This is given to those who have distinguished themselves with the rapier in war, on the tournament field, and in the training of new rapierists.
Order of the Cygnet: This is given to children for courtly behavior and honorable service rendered.
Order of the Rising Swan: This is given to subjects of Meridies, age 17 and under, to recognize outstanding service and achievement above and beyond that recognized by the Order of the Cygnet.
Order of the Cygnet's Nest: This is given to those who have worked tirelessly on the behalf of children.
Order of the Guiding Hand, Meridies: This is given to those who have served the kingdom well and faithfully by giving encouragement and assistance to newcomers and any in need.
Order of the Chalice: Members are elected by virtue of their valor, grace, and service to the kingdom.
Order of the Athanor: Members are elected by virtue of their contributions to historical study in the Society. Election of members rests with the Crown, with the advice of the scholars of the order.
Order of Compostella (Pilgrim's Order): This is given to those who travel greatly in the service of the Crown and the kingdom.
Order of the Broken Brank: This is given to those who have enriched the kingdom greatly through their service to the Chirurgeon's office.
Order of the Burning Trumpet: This is given to those who have enriched the kingdom greatly through their service in the Herald's office.
Order of the Sable Quill: This is given only once per reign, to those who have shown exemplary merit and skill in the authorship, publication and dissemination of articles of scholarly interest to the Society, the kingdom and its members.
Award of the Crown's Favor: This is given to territorial groups or households in the kingdom who have either served the kingdom directly or set worthy examples of behavior.
Order of the Duvant Cross: This is given for exceptional skill, courtesy and honor on the field of Youth Combat.
Order of the Argent Slipper: This is given to those who have greatly enriched the Kingdom by the instruction of its populace in the art of European or Middle Eastern dance.
Companionate of the Bard: This is given to those who have served the kingdom in the capacity of Kingdom Bard.
Companionate of the Poet Laureate: This is given to those who have served the kingdom and Crown as Poet Laureate of Meridies.
Companionate of the Meridian King's Champion: This is given to those who have served the kingdom in the capacity of King's Champion.
Companionate of the Meridian Queen's Champion: This is given to those who have served the kingdom in the capacity of Queen's Champion.
Companionate of the Queen's Yeoman: This is given to those who have served the kingdom in the capacity of Queen's Yeoman. Election into this order rests solely with Her Majesty, and is given to those who have shown outstanding archery skill in winning the Queen's Yeoman Archery Competition.
Companionate of the King's Lancer: This is given to those who have served the Kingdom in the capacity of King's Lancer. The King's Lancer leads and organizes the Royal Horse Guard. Election into this order rests solely with His Majesty and is given to those who have shown outstanding horsemanship in winning the King's Lancer Equestrian Tournament.
Companionate of the Meridian Queen's Rapier Champion: This is given to those who have served the Kingdom in the capacity of Queen's Champion. Election into this order rests solely with Her Majesty, and is given to those who have shown outstanding archery skill in winning the Queen's Rapier Champion Competition.
Augmentation of Arms: Three mullets argent, one and two may be placed (where appropriate) upon the arms of any individual or group recognized for exceptional service to the kingdom of a nature not normally recognized through Society awards, such as actions of a particularly honorable or charitable nature. Those Augmentations bestowed prior to May 2001 may take the form: Three mullets argent, fesswise.
Please note that the cool stuff that you get to wear once you get one of these awards may come with some regulations. Please see Directions for Regalia for more information (or if you want to make some to help out your kingdom for when they give out these awards....they have to get them from somewhere, right?):
http://bagatelle.meridies.org/regalia/directions-for-regalia/
Mistress Jessa d'Avondale created the original source of this information in the link below:
http://www.sca.org/awards/merid.html
Links to similar pages for other kingdoms may be found in the link below:
http://sca.org/awards/
~Maddelena 'Raven' de Ricci
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