SC - New Laurel on our List!!!

[Decker, Terry D.]

Here is what the glossary of SCA terms has to say about the Order of the
Rose:

Rose, Order of the -- This award was granted to those who had reigned as
Queen of Love and Beauty (and later, simply as Queen) to give them equal
rank with those who had reigned as King. Historical Note: In the very early
days of the SCA, if a fighter was not a Knight and they won the Crown
Tournament, they were offered Knighthood. The Order of the Rose was created
to give an equivalent title, as Countess (and Duchess) did not exist at the
time. This was first granted at Twelfth Night, AS II (January 6, 1968) by
[King] William the Silent, and was backdated for those who had reigned up
until that point as Queen. In the West Kingdom, membership in the Order of
the Rose is automatic (this is not the case in all Kingdoms of the SCA) --
when a former Queen is recognized as a Countess, they are also admitted to
the Order of the Rose. Note that members of the Order of the Rose are
equivalent in rank to the members of the Orders of Chivalry, the Laurel and
the Pelican. However, most people do not think of the Order of the Rose as a
peerage level award, as the recipient is also becoming a Countess at the
same time, which outranks the other non-royal peerages, as the title is that
of a Royal Peer. 


Bear