Actions

Order of Defense

From EastKingdomWiki

Heraldry
Defense.jpg
(Tinctureless) Three rapiers in pall inverted tips crossed.
Award Information
Type: Society Award
Founded: May 1, 2015
Premiere(s): Antonio Patrasso, Frasier MacLeod, Donovan Shinnock
Recipients: Order of Defense

Introduction

The Order of Defense is one of the four SCA Bestowed Peerages, along with the Order of Chivalry, the Order of the Laurel, and the Order of the Pelican.

Per the Governing Documents, "The candidate must be considered the equal of his or her prospective peers with the basic weapons of rapier and/or cut-and-thrust combat. The candidate must have applied this skill and/or knowledge for the instruction of members and service to the kingdom to an extent above and beyond that normally expected of members of the Society."

Companions of the Order of Defense have been recognized by the Crown for their exemplary skill in rapier and cut and thrust combat, along with their consistent display of the virtues of Grace, Courtesy and Chivalric Demeanor. Their elevation is accompanied by a Patent of Arms (the highest level of arms).

Members of the Order of Defense may be styled as Master or Mistress.

Peerage Qualities

As for the virtues, the SCA Governing Documents state the requirements for any Peerage candidates:

"They shall have:

  • been obedient to the governing documents of the Society and the laws of the kingdom.
  • consistently shown respect for the Crown of the kingdom.
  • set an example of courteous and noble behavior suitable to a peer of the realm.
  • demonstrated support for the aims and ideals of the Society by being authentic in dress, equipment and behavior as is within their power.
  • shared their knowledge and skills with others.
  • practiced hospitality according to their means and as appropriate to the circumstances.
  • made every effort to learn and practice those skills desirable at and worthy of a civilized court. To this end they should have some knowledge of a wide range of period forms, including but not limited to literature, dancing, music, heraldry, and chess, and they should have some familiarity with combat as practiced in the Society.
  • participated in Society re-creations of several aspects of the culture of the Middle Ages and Renaissance."

Responsibilities

The Governing Documents also state that the duties of the members of the order include:

  • To set an example of courtesy and chivalrous conduct on and off the field of honor.
  • To respect the Crown of the kingdom; to support and uphold the laws of the kingdom and Corpora.
  • If in fealty, to support and uphold the Crown of his or her kingdom.
  • To enrich the kingdom by sharing his or her knowledge and skills.
  • To enhance the renown and defend the honor of the peer’s Lady or Lord.
  • To advise the Crown on the advancement of candidates for the Order of Defense

Symbols of the Order

A white livery collar is registered and protected as regalia for the Order. Similarly to the laurel wreath of the Order of the Laurel, it is not registered as a badge and cannot be registered on armory for the members of the Order of Defense.

The badge of the Order is (Tinctureless) Three rapiers in pall inverted tips crossed.

Elevation to the Order

In addition to the practices common to the other peerage ceremonies, the elevation of a Master/Mistress of Defense will also include the Queen casting a gauntlet before the candidate, challenging them to only take it up if they pledge to continue their art and defend the Kingdom of the East. The gauntlet varies by candidate but is often ornamental and includes the bade of the Order of Defense.

Vigils

Candidates for the Order who are not already peers are typically sent on vigil, but practices will vary.

Ceremonies

At the Founding of the Order in the East Kingdom on May 2, A.S. 50 the attached was the outline given to the participants in the ceremony. OOD Ceremony.pdf

The words of the 4 speakers in support of the Order of Defense as noted in the Ceremony above.SpeakersfortheCreationoftheOrderofDefense.pdf

Swearing Fealty

Members of the Order of Defense may choose to swear fealty, but are not required to do so.

Dependents

Because this peerage was newly created in 2015, a common term for dependents has not yet evolved in the Society. In the East Kingdom, the Masters of Defense have taken to calling their dependents "Provosts" in keeping with the practices of the London Masters of Defense, and marking them with a blue livery collar.

History of the Order of Defense

In 2010, the Society issued a survey to the membership to gather information on a number of topics. One of the items that came out of the survey was that a significant portion of the membership felt that a peerage should be available for rapier activities. The results of the survey were published in 2011 and are available at http://www.sca.org/scacensus2010/

The Board of Directors established the Alternate Peerage Advisory to explore this concept and examine what changes would be needed in Society law to establish such a peerage, as well as evaluate possible names and regalia for such an order. The work of this group was then examined by a second committee composed of representatives from all the kingdoms as well as other respected members of the Society.

At the Board of Directors meeting on January 17, 2015 the Board voted on the creation of a new peerage, and voted not to create the new peerage at that time.

However, on February 2, 2015 the Board of Directors held a conference call and re-examined the question, and voted for the creation of the new peerage. The Order of Defense would be established and members were able to be inducted beginning on May 1, 2015.

At the Founding of the Order in the East Kingdom on May 2, A.S. 50, representatives from the Order of Chivalry, the Order of the Laurel, the Order of the Pelican and the Order of the Rose spoke, expressing their support for the creation of the Order of Defense. The first three members of the Order were inducted at that time.

The words of the four representatives are available here: SpeakersfortheCreationoftheOrderofDefense.pdf


Awards of the East Kingdom
Society Awards: Award of Arms, Grant of Arms, Court Barony, Chivalry, Laurel, Pelican, Defense, Royal Peerage, Rose

Armigerous Orders: Silver Rapier, Silver Tyger, Silver Brooch, Apollo's Arrow, Silver Wheel, Silver Mantle
Orders of High Merit: Golden Lance, Golden Mantle, Golden Rapier, Maunche, Sagittarius, Silver Crescent, Tygers Combattant
Orders of Honor: Gawain, Sovereign's Order of Excellence, Consort's Order of Courtesy, Tyger's Cub, Terpsichore, Troubadours, Tyger of the East, Order of Gilder
Other Awards: Burdened Tyger, Augmentation of Arms, Blue Tyger Legion, Company of Morpheus, Company of the Pennon of the East, Golden Lyre, Rabbit in the Moon, Sovereign's Cypher, Sovereign's Award of Esteem, Order of Valor of the East, Consort's Cypher, Consort's Award of Esteem, Company of Fellowship, Durga, Anansi's Web
Closed: Artemis, Fatima, Guardsman, Pheon
Other Information: Customs & Traditions