Caid was created as a principality of the West Kingdom in
A.S. IX, and became the sixth kingdom of the Society
for Creative Anachronism in A.S. XIII. The
arms of the kingdom are: Azure, a crown within a laurel wreath Or, between three
crescents within a bordure embattled argent. Many of the badges and
tokens associated with Caid's awards incorporate the kingdom colors of blue
and silver.
Former Kings and Queens may be awarded Patents of Arms, if they do
not already have them, when they depart the thrones and assume their county or
ducal rank. Former consorts are also inducted into the Order of the
Rose.
Grants of Arms can be given as separate awards, and traditionally are given to recognize the efforts of kingdom officers. The following awards also convey a Grant:
Order of the Gauntlet of Caid (OGC): given for martial prowess. The order's badge is: Azure, a dexter gauntlet sustaining by the blade a sword fesswise, a bordure embatted argent.
Order of the Crescent (OOC): given for service. The order's badge is: Azure, three crescents conjoined, horns outward, within a bordure embattled argent.
Order of the Lux Caidus (OLC): given for skill in the arts and sciences. The order's badge is: Azure, a sunburst within a bordure embattled argent.
The titles of Court Baron and Court Baroness are most commonly awarded to territorial Barons and Baronesses when they step down from their positions. They are also given to recognize those who have been of exemplary service to the Crown. As per Corpora, the title is accompanied by an Award of Arms if the recipient is not already armigerous.
An Award of Arms may also be given as a separate award, or in conjunction with the following orders (if the recipient is not already armigerous). The token of each orders is a medallion bearing the badge of the order.
Order of the Argent Arrow (OAA): given for excellence in archery, and for having period equipment and appearance on the field. The order's badge is: Azure, an arrow between in fess two crescents argent.
Order of the Crescent Sword (OCS): given for a combination of skill in fighting and praiseworthy appearance on the field. The order's badge is: Azure, a crescent surmounted by a sword all within a bordure embattled argent.
Order of the Dolphin of Caid (ODC): given for service. The order's badge is: Azure, a dolphin embowed uriant to sinister argent.
Order of the Harp Argent (OHA): given for excellence in a particular art form or scientific endeavor. The order's badge is: Azure, a harp within a bordure embattled argent.
Order of the Duelist: given for excellence in rapier combat. The order's badge is: Per pale azure and argent, two rapiers and a bordure embattled counterchanged.
The following awards and orders do not convey arms or precedence:
Vanguard of Honor (VOH): given by the sovereign for exemplary chivalry and courtesy on the tourney field. The token is an armband of woven black and orange ribbon.
Legion of Courtesy (LOC): given by the consort in recognition of continuing courtesy. The token is a medallion in the form of a yellow (heraldic) rose, dependant from a blue and white ribbon.
Signum Regina (SR): given by the consort to those who have served faithfully during the reign. The token is a brooch in the form of a silver crescent, engraved with the sigil of the consort, and often decorated with a semi-precious stone or other designs.
Corde de Guerre of Caid (CDG): given for exemplary fighting skill in war combat. The token is a blue and white forragere, worn over the arm at the shoulder.
Crossed Swords of Caid: given by the sovereign to fighting units for prowess in wars.
l'Honneur de la Chanson (HdlC): given by the consort for musical performance. The token is a silver cup. The badge is: Azure, a goblet argent, charged on the bowl with a crescent azure, within a bordure embattled argent.
Order of the Acorn: given to children for good behavior and service. The token is a wooden or natural acorn on a cord.
Royal Recognition of Excellence (RRE): given to individuals or groups for unique reasons, ranging from running a spectacular event to real-life heroism.
Augmentation of Arms: this is a special and very rare honor, given only a few times in the history of the kingdom. The recipient is entitled to register a modification to their arms, specified at the time of the award.
Other kingdom honors and recognition include:
Right Noble Guild: a royal charter granted by the Crown to those guilds they deem worthy.
King's Champion: the title usually given to the other finalist in Crown Tournament, or to someone who fought exceptionally well in the tournament. The champion receives a sword and tabard to wear for the duration of the reign.
Queen's Champion: the winner of the Queen's Champion Tournament, held the day after Coronation. The champion receives a sword and tabard to wear for the duration of the reign.
Queen's Archery Champion: the winner of the Queen's Champion Archery Tournament, held sometime after Coronation. The champion receives a tabard to wear for the duration of the reign.
Queen's Rapier Champion: the winner of the Queen's Champion Rapier Tournament, held the day after Coronation. The champion receives a tabard to wear for the duration of the reign. There also may be a separate Light Weapons Champion.
Arts and Sciences Pentathlon Champion: the winner of the Arts and Sciences Pentathlon, which is usually held yearly.
New Battered Helm: presented, by the previous holder, for the best death at the Queen's Champion Tournament. (Similar to the West's "Old Battered Helm.") The token is the Battered Helm itself. The recipient must do some damage to the helm before passing it on.
Baroness Jessa d'Avondale (Court Baroness, GoA, OSC, OM, OBT, QC, Terpsichore) is from the fifteenth-century Italian court, where she is studying the dance (including those peculiar ones from France and England). She resides in the East Kingdom. Marla Lecin (362 Cherry Avenue, Bound Brook, NJ 08805; [email protected]) is a computer programmer for MCI Telecommunications. She invites anyone with updates or corrections to this article to contact her.