Caid was created as a principality of the West Kingdom in
A.S. VIII, 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.
Order of the Gauntlet of Caid: given for outstanding ability in SCA-style combat. The
order's badge is: Azure, a dexter gauntlet sustaining by the blade a sword
fesswise, a bordure embatted argent.
Order of the Crescent: given for outstanding service to the kingdom. The order's badge
is: Azure, three crescents conjoined, horns outward, within a bordure embattled
argent.
Order of the Lux Caidus: given for outstanding excellence in the arts or
sciences. The order's badge is: Azure, a sunburst within a bordure
embattled argent.
Order of the White Scarf of Caid: given for outstanding ability in SCA-style rapier combat in accordance with the Treaty of the White Scarf: courteous and chivalrous behavior on and off the tournament field, service to the kingdom and its people, and willingness to instruct others in these accomplishments. Companions of the Order are entitled to wear a white scarf, fastened at the left shoulder or tied above the left elbow.
Order of Chiron: given for outstanding ability in SCA-style archery. The order's badge
is: Azure, a saggitary salient regardant and drawing his bow to sinister 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 order is a medallion bearing the badge of the order.
Order of the Argent Arrow: given for excellent skill in target archery, combined with
authentic garb and demeanor. The order's badge is:
Azure, an arrow between in fess two crescents argent.
Order of the Crescent Sword: given for excellence in SCA-style combat, combined with authentic 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: given for excellence in service to the kingdom. The order's
badge is: Azure, a dolphin embowed uriant to sinister argent.
Order of the Duellist: given for excellence in SCA-style rapier combat, combined with authentic appearance on the field. The order's badge is: Per pale azure and argent, two rapiers and a bordure embattled counterchanged.
Order of the Harp Argent: given for excellence in a
particular art form or scientific endeavor. The order's badge is: Azure, a
harp within a bordure embattled argent.
The following awards and orders do not convey arms or precedence:
Vanguard of Honor: given by the sovereign, after consultation with the members of the order, for outstanding honorable and chivalric actions upon the tournament field. The token is an armband of woven black and orange ribbon.
Legion of Courtesy: given by the consort in recognition of
continuing courtesy. The order's badge is: A rose Or barbed and seeded vert.
The token is a medallion in the form of a yellow (heraldic) rose, dependant from a
blue and white ribbon.
Signum Reginae: 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.
Sigillum Regis: given by the sovereign to those who have served faithfully during the reign. The token is a silver brooch in the form of four crescents conjoined in saltire horns outward, engraved with the sigil of the King, and often decorated with a semi-precious stone or other designs. [Four crescents conjoined in saltire horns outward is also the badge of the Kingdom, and is known as the "Cross of Caid".]
Signum Regni: given by the Crown to those who have served faithfully during the reign. The token is a generally a silver brooch engraved with the sigil of the King and Queen, and often decorated with a semi-precious stone or other designs. (This award was created to replace the Sigillum Regis and Signum Regnae. It is up to each Crown whether to give these two or the Signum Regni.)
Corde de Guerre of Caid: given for acts of extreme valor upon the war battlefield. 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 that have demonstrated exceptional skill at arms, valor, and chivalry upon the battlefield. The order's badge is: Per fess argent and azure, two swords
in saltire counterchanged.
l'Honneur de la Chanson: given by the consort for excellence in musical
performance. The token is a goblet or 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 considerable contributions to the kingdom. The token is a wooden or natural acorn on a cord.
Royal Recognition of Excellence: 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.
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 rapier and a tabard to wear for the duration of the reign.
Arts and Sciences Pentathlon Champion: the winner of the Arts and Sciences Pentathlon, which is usually held every other year.
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.
| Index of SCA Kingdom Awards articles | Kingdom of Caid webpage |
This column was compiled using information provided by Dame Zenobia Naphtali (former Caid Crescent Herald), Lady Cristia ni Cairbre O Callanain, Lord Christopher Leyland D'Eyncourt (Keeper of the Caidan Order of Precedence), Master Bruce Draconarius of Mistholme (former Crescent Herald and former Laurel Sovereign of Arms), Lord Phillipe Lyon de Marseilles, Lady Justina Marie of Burgundy, and the SCA Armorial. Assistance was provided by Lord Kwellend-Njal Kollskeggson.
Mistress Jessa d'Avondale (OP, 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 (mlecin@optonline.net) invites anyone with updates or corrections to this article to contact her.