Peerage Orders

What are peerages? SCA peerages are bestowed as the highest ranking awards within the SCA. Peerages are loosely based on historic European concepts modified to address the needs and culture of the SCA. The SCA has four orders of peerage: the Order of the Chivalry, recognizes high-levels of martial skill; the Order of the Laurel, recognizes excellence in the arts and / or sciences; the Order of the Pelican, recognizes outstanding service to the Kingdom, and Royal Peerages, recognize service to the Society by reigning as King / Queen or Prince / Princess. In the West Kingdom each order of peerage is accompanied by a Patent of Arms.

How are peerages bestowed? The Orders of Chivalry, Laurels, and Pelicans are peerages bestowed by the Crown of the Kingdom. In most cases, this is done at the request / recommendation of the members of that particular peerage, although any one may recommend anyone for any award. From the by-laws of the SCA: The Crown may elevate subjects to the Peerage by granting membership in one of the Orders conferring a Patent of Arms, after consultation with the members of the Order within the Kingdom, and in accordance with the laws and customs of the kingdom. Restriction: to advance a candidate to the Order of Knighthood, a Knight of the Society must bestow the accolade. These orders are sometimes referred to as "Polling Orders" due to the process of consultation between the Crown and members of the Order. Royal Peerages are bestowed at the end of a successful reign (see Corpora for definition of successful reign).

Peerage Order Clerks The Orders of Chivalry, Laurel, and Pelican each have a Clerk of the Order whose job it is to track the business of Order, write agendas for meetings, etc. Letters of recommendation for an individual to be consider by the Crown for a particular Order should be sent to both the Crown and the Clerk of the individual Order.

• Orders of the Chivalry | Laurel | Pelican | Royal Peers
• List of Order Members of and in the West: Knights and Masters at Arms |  Members of the Order of the Laurel |  Members of the Order of the Pelican
• Electronic Peerage Resources (Classroom)
• Packets for a New Member of the: Order of the Chivalry |  Order of the Laurel |  Order of the Pelican
• West Kingdom Peerage
• Alternative Titles in the SCA.

West Kingdom Specific: Each Peerage Order has a West Kingdom-specific electronic mailing list. These mailing lists are restricted to members of the respective Orders. Individuals who are not members of the Order may not join the mailing list of that Order. The Order may pursue discussion of topics of interest to the Order, schedules for upcoming meetings, Order Projects, etc. on their individual list.

• Order of the Chivalry |  Order of the Laurel |  Order of the Pelican
• West Peers List is an elist for members of any one of the four peerages (Chivalry, Laurels, Pelicans, Royal Peers) and facilitates discussion of topics of interest to all Peers of the West Kingdom.
• Ladies of the Rose is an elist for Consorts who have reigned on the Kingdom throne.


• Society-Wide Peerage Mailing Lists: There are Society-wide versions of the local West Kingdom peerage elists available to those whom are members of a particular order within the West Kingdom.
• SCA Royal Peers |  SCA Order of the Chivalry |  SCA Order of the Laurel |  SCA Order of the Pelican |  SCA Roses