There are a number of things that people in the SCA wear that give you clues to their ranks and relative importance. These items are usually called �regalia�. Some of them change from kingdom to kingdom, and some kingdoms have things called �sumptuary laws� which dictate what a member can and cannot wear depending on rank. Here in the East Kingdom, there are NO �sumptuary laws�. So don�t let anyone give you a hard time about wearing purple, or the amount of fabric in your sleeves (both period laws, the first Roman, the second renaissance). This will be a discussion in the most general terms of the ranks of the SCA, how to recognize them, and how to address people of those ranks.
Tin Hats, or What does that thing on his head mean?
First of all, in the East, everyone is assumed to be of noble blood. Therefore, everyone is entitled to wear a circlet, of metal or other material. A plain silver band about the forehead, or an engraved one, or one of leather, or ribbon, all is considered circlets in the East. (This is different than other kingdoms, but the East has historically been more egalitarian.) Any person you meet in the SCA can be addressed as �M�Lord� or �M�Lady�. Most of the titles and ranks in the SCA are permanent, unless deliberately resigned. There are 2 (four if you count gender variations) that aren�t. We�ll get to them.
The first official rank in the SCA is Lordship. This is given by the Crown as an �Award of Arms�, usually abbreviated to �A-O-A�. This means the recipient of the AOA is officially �Lord So-n-So� or �Lady Such-n-Such.�
There are no specific regalia for this rank.
The next rank is that Baron or Baroness. They wear metal coronets with 6 �Pearls� on them. Coronets are wider than circlets. The �pearls� can be of any stone � amethyst, tiger�s eye, whatever � so long as they are basically rounded (oval is OK) and that there are 6 of them. SCA members of this rank were either elected as the Baron/Baroness of their local group (if that group is a Barony), or they were awarded that rank by the Crown (known as a �Court Baron/ness�). If the rank came from election, the Baron/ness retains the rank even if he/she steps down from being in charge of the group. Barons and Baronesses are always addressed as �Your Excellency.�
From here out things get tricky. Officially, according to correct period English Order, the next rank is Prince/ss. In the SCA, the Prince and Princess are easy to ID � they�re usually next to the King and Queen. These ranks are easy to see, because there�s usually a number of �courtiers� around them, ladies in waiting, heralds, etc, and they get the fanciest chairs. They also get the fancy crowns. Also, the people who hold these ranks change every 6 months. So, in case it comes up, the Prince/ss is always �Your Highness� and the King and Queen are always �Your Majesty.�
OK, back to Tin Hats. If you see a coronet that�s �embattled�, meaning the top edge looks like a castle�s battlement, then that person is a Viscount/ess. This means that they have ruled a �Principality� at some point. Currently, there are no Principalities in the East Kingdom (at one point, both the Kingdom of Atlantia and the Kingdom of Athelmearc were principalities of the East). There aren�t too many Viscounts or Viscountesses around the Central region (where we are), but you may see some at Kingdom events like Crown Tournament, and Pennsic War. They are also �Your Excellency.�
Next are Counts and Countesses. They wear nearly the same coronets as Viscounts. A Count or Countess has been King or Queen once. Again, they are �Your Excellency.�
Last of the Tin Hats are Dukes and Duchesses. These ranks mean the holder has been King or Queen two or more times. Their coronets are the fanciest next to the Crown. The coronet�s top edge is decorated with 6 groups of 3 little leaves (officially they�re strawberry leaves, but who gets close enough to notice?). Some of the most famous Dukes in the SCA worldwide live in the Central Region of the East. Dukes and Duchesses are always �Your Grace.�
Peerages, or Look at the pretty belts and necklaces!
There are three orders of Peerage in the SCA. These are The Order of Chivalry, awarded for excellence on the field of battle; The Order of the Laurel, awarded for excellence in Arts and Science; and The Order of the Pelican, awarded for excellence in service to the Kingdom. These are worldwide ranks, and can be spotted fairly easily with some practice.
First, the Chivalry. These are the big tough fighters. There are two possible titles � Knight or Master of Arms. The difference is that a Knight swears fealty to the Crown, the Master does not (this distinction was set up in order to ease the pressure on people who were able to be Knights, but for whatever personal reason, couldn�t swear to the Crown. I believe the first Master was a minister, who wasn�t allowed to swear loyalty anywhere outside of the Church.) These people are identified by their white belts. A Knight wears his/hers around the waist, while a Master wears his/her as a baldric (across the chest). A Knight is addressed as �Sir So-n-So�, and a Master is �Master Such-n-Such�. Both are entitled to have Squires, fighters that they are specially training, and who owe their loyalties to the Knight or Master directly. A Squire is identified by their red belts, worn the same way as whomever he or she is squired to. Please note that Chivalry can be both male and female, and are usually addressed the same way, i.e.: Female knights are still �SIR So-n-So�. I think there�s one in the West who goes by �Dame�, but that�s neither here nor there.
The Laurels are people who can teach you just about anything you�ve ever wanted to know about medieval arts and sciences. These people are dedicated researchers and recreationists. Areas of study cover everything from costuming to period dice games. Laurels can be identified by either their medallions, which have green laurel wreaths on them, or by their cloaks, which have the same laurel wreath on the back. They are addressed as �Master So-n-So� or �Mistress Such-n-Such.� Never try and judge if someone is a Laurel by his or her clothing � some brilliant Laurels are terrible at garb.
The last, and most admirable, group is the Pelican. I haven�t decided if these people are just super-nice or super-insane. A Pelican is awarded to someone who gives tons of his or her time and effort into organizing and running events and keeping the SCA going. It�s an awarded rank for service. They are identified by medallion or cloak like Laurels are, but their symbol is an image of a pelican bird stabbing itself to feed its own blood to its young. A gruesome image, yes, but medieval people believed the pelican bird would do this. It�s a self-sacrifice kind of thing. Usually, the bird looks more like a swan than a real pelican, but that�s neither here nor there. They are also �Master� or �Mistress.�
Both Laurels and Pelicans will take on people for specific training. For a Laurel, the trainee is called an apprentice, and sometimes wears a green belt. For Pelicans, the trainee is called a prot�g�, and sometimes wears a yellow belt. Both belts are merely �tradition� rather than official regalia, so sometimes the trainee won�t bother. It�s up to the people involved whether they observe this tradition or not.
Please note that the medallions and cloaks worn by Laurels and Pelicans in no way limit you as to the necklaces and cloaks you can wear! You just can�t wear anything with a laurel wreath or a pelican stabbing itself, at least, until you get that rank!
I�m so confused, or How will I remember all this?
Well, you don�t. It takes a while to learn all of this, but you can keep this explanation around for help.
If you can�t identify the rank from the coronet for some reason, call the person �Your Grace.� Better to shoot too high than too low! You�ll get to recognize the bigwigs fairly quickly. If someone is �sitting in state�, i.e. holding a court of some sort, always bow or curtsy, at least when you first approach. Personally, I�m a big fan of flourishing bows and curtsies. I just think it�s fun to do, and fun to see the person I just curtsied to smile. And everyone rises when the King or Queen enters the room. Period. If the person is wearing a circlet or nothing at all, �My lord/lady� is fine.
Once you start to recognize people, there�s one more little bit of etiquette. If you see someone who you know is �Duke Joseph of Spittlefield�, but he�s not wearing his coronet, don�t bother to bow or curtsy. This comes more into play at Pennsic War, when even the Queen just wants to do some shopping. It usually means that �Mr. or Ms. Bigwig is just out being social, doing some wandering, and not playing Mr. Important Duke or Ms. Impressive Countess right now.� That�s cool. Greet them in a friendly manner, but don�t bother with forms of address or genuflection. They�re �incognito�, so to speak.
So, there�s your basic overview of identifying the major ranks and orders of the SCA. I promise, it gets easier as you go along.
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