Knights

[Galen of Bristol]

On Thu, 18 Jul 1996, Jeff Childers wrote:

> what exactly is a master at arms? is it a form of peerage?
> 
> Gareth
> 

The Chivalry of the SCA is divided into two equal-ranking orders:

The Order of Knighthood of the SCA (KSCA) and the Order of Mastery of 
Arms of the SCA (MSCA).  Knights wear unadorned gold chains (symbolic of 
fealty) and white belts (symbolizing purity).  Masters, who -- unlike 
knights -- cannot be required to swear fealty, wear white baldrics (a 
belt worn over one shoulder).  Both sometimes wear gold spurs.

New members into either order are created by the Crown after consultation 
with the Chivalry as a whole (that is, both orders are consulted about 
candidates for either order).

Yes, Masters of Arms are peers.

Knights can be (and usually are) required to swear fealty by the Crown, 
and to renew that fealty periodically (traditionally this is done at 
Coronation).  Masters may sometimes swear fealty to a particular king, but 
cannot be required to do so.  This, combined with the fact that there are 
far fewer of them, creates a kind of independence for Masters that 
Knights do not have.  This is the main difference between Knights and 
Masters in my view.

To my knowledge, the West Kingdom has the only 
Mistress of Arms, Viscountess Gwenllian Rhiannon of DragonKeep.

Ansteorra has only one Master of Arms at present:  Duke Jonathon.

Masters created in Ansteorra:
Lloyd von Eaker (resigned)
Togatai Blackwolf (inactive, rumored to have moved)
Jonathon de Laufyson*
Ivar Battleskald (moved out of kingdom)
Frea Geardson* (moved out of kingdom)
Korwyn Marcus Arianrhod (moved out of kingdom -- but was at Steppes Warlord)
Inman McMoore* (resigned to accept knighthood)

*resigned knighthood to accept baldric

This is all off the top of my head on a Friday morning, so some of it may 
be wrong.

I hope this helps.

- Galen

Viscount Galen of Bristol, KSCA, CSM, etc.
ptm2792 at utarlg.uta.edu -- for a good time, call:
http://www.uta.edu/student_orgs/CSA/officers/paul/
             "noblesse oblige"