From an article originally published in Tournaments Illuminated #118, Spring 1996.
Last updated December 10, 2017.

Etcetera - The Kingdom of An Tir,
The Principalities of the Summits and Tir Righ

by Mistress Jessa d'Avondale

In A.S. 8, An Tir was created as a principality of the West Kingdom. It became the ninth kingdom of the Society for Creative Anachronism in A.S. 16.

The arms of the kingdom are Checky Or and argent, a lion rampant tail forked and nowed sable, crowned gules, grasping in dexter forepaw a laurel wreath bendwise vert.

Many awards' names and badges incorporate elements of the kingdom's arms. The symbol of An Tir is the black lion.

Membership in the Order of the Rose is offered by the reigning Consort to those who have completed serving a term as consort to the sovereign. Members of this order are charged with encouraging chivalric and courteous behavior among all members of the Society.

Membership in An Tir's Order of the Lords and Ladies of Valorous Estate is given by the reigning principality Consort to those who have completed serving a term as a principality consort. Members of this order are charged with encouraging chivalric and courteous behavior among all members of the Society.

Patents of Arms

Former kings and queens, princes, and princesses are awarded Patents of Arms when they step down from the thrones, if they do not already have one.

Grants of Arms

The titles of Court Baron and Baroness, the third highest token of personal favor the Crown can bestow for service to the kingdom, convey an Grant of Arms. The following awards also convey a Grant of Arms:

Order of the Goutte de Sang: given for substantial service to the kingdom. The token takes many forms, generally a medallion with a red drop on a checky gold and silver field. The order's badge is: Checky Or and argent, a goutte de sang.

Order of the Jambe de Lion: given for skill in the arts and sciences and willingness to share their skill with others. The token is a pewter medallion of the order's badge: Checky Or and argent, a lion's jambe bendwise inverted erased sable.

Order of the Grey Goose Shaft: given for excellence in archery. The order's badge is: Checky Or and argent, a goose within four arrows lying as on a mascle sable. The token for the Order is a white leather archer's bracer. Members of the Order have the right to take "arcarii" or students.

Order of the White Scarf: given for skill in rapier combat. The token is a white scarf. Members of this Order also have the right to take students who are entitled "cadets".

Ordo Hastae Leonis (Order of the Spear of the Lion): given for excellence and chivalry in the pursuit and practice of the art of war.

The Lion et du Lance: given for excellence and chivalry in the pursuit and practice of the equestrian arts.

Award of Arms

Awards of Arms may be given at the Royalty's discretion. Territorial Barons and Baronesses receive Awards of Arms when they are invested, if they are not already armigerous.

Non-armigerous awards

With the exception of the Honor of the Lion of An Tir, these awards have no bearing on an individual's standing in the Order of Precedence.

Order of the Honor of the Lion of An Tir: given, with the recommendation of the previous recipients, to honor those who emulate the ideals and embody the essence of An Tir and the Laurel Kingdoms. It may be bestowed only once per reign. Recipients may place the title "Lion of An Tir" after their names, and are so styled. They are entitled to include: A lion, tail forked and nowed Sable, as a supporter in their arms, and may add to their personal banner: A stripe on dexter checky Or and Argent, to signify their estate.

An Augmentation of Arms is considered the highest honor a person can receive for sustained service to Crown and Kingdom.

Order of the Rose: given to those who have served a complete term as consort of An Tir. The members of the order are charged with encouraging chivalrous and courteous behavior among all members of the Society.

Order of the Lords and Ladies of Valourous Estate: consists of those who have served a complete term as consort of a territorial prince or princess. The order is charged with encouraging chivalrous and courteous behaviour among all members of the Society.

Order of the Silver Rose: given by the Royal Consort to the person who finishes second in the Crown Tournament. The token is a pewter medallion of a heraldic rose, and the order's badge is: A rose argent, barbed and seeded, slipped and leaved, proper.

Order of the Silver Lily: given by the Royal Consort to the consort of the fighter who finishes second in the Crown Tournament. The token is a pewter medallion in the shape of a lily, and the order's badge is: (Fieldless) Three lilies conjoined at the stems in pall inverted argent.

Honor of the Lion's Sword: given by the King upon an individual's completion of a term as Champion of An Tir, either by holding the position until the next Champion's Tournament or by ascending the throne during their tenure as champion.

Honor of the Lion's Rapier: given by the Royal Consort upon an individual's completion of a term as the Champion of Rapier Combat.

Honor of the Lion's Arrow: given by the Crown upon an individual's completion of a term as Kingdom Protector.

Honor of the Lion's Heart: given by the Crown upon an individual's completion of a term as the Kingdom Arts and Sciences Champion

The Troubadour of the Lion given by the Crown upon an individual's completion of a term as Kingdom Bardic Champion.

The Ordre du Cheval et du Lion given by the Crown upon an individual's completion of a term as Kingdom Equestrian Champion.

Order of the Iron Chain: given upon recommendation of the previous recipients for deeds of true courage and bravery in the face of personal and real danger. The token of the order is a black iron chain.

Honor of the Lion's Cub: given to children in the realm who have shown noble merit.

Honour of the Belated Rose: given on the recommendation of the Orders of the Rose and of the Lords and Ladies of Valorous Estate, for courteous and courtly behavior. The badge is: On a heart checky Or and Argent, a rose slipped and leaved Sable.

Order of the Carp: given by the Royal Consort for excellence in period dress, thought, speech, behavior, and encampment.

La Mano d'Oro: given on the advice of the Minister of Arts and Sciences, for significant time and service to the furtherance of the arts and sciences in the Kingdom. Only one per reign is customarily given. Its token is a medallion of a gold hand, palm forward, on a purple field. The badge is: Purpure, within a double tressure Or, a dexter hand couped apaumy Or.

Sable Chime: given for performance of period bardic arts throughout the Kingdom.

The Sable Scrivener is given by the Crown for excellent service to An Tir by a member of the scribal community. Muckin' Tall Maul: given upon recommendation of the previous recipient for ferocity on the field during the Crown Tournament lists.

Old Shattered Shield: presented for valor and authentic death in the crown lists. The recipient must place his/her mark on the shield, and present it to the most deserving combatant at the next crown tournament.

The Maul and Shield are considered "comic" awards, more burden than honor.

Lion's Torse: given by the Sovereign for armor worn on the field that is period, functional, and esthetically pleasing.

Fury of the Lion: given for ferocity and chivalry on the field of battle.

The Throne's Favor given to a subject or group for a significant contribution to the Kingdom through conspicuous service. Recipients have the right to display a checky Or and argent pennon, with ribbons in colors associated with the awarding royalty.

Forget-me-not: given by the Queen as a token of personal favor. Its token is the initial of the Queen dependent from a pewter forget-me-not blossom.

King's Favor: given by the King as a token of personal favor.

The Lion's Strength: given for consistent and significant contributions to the Kingdom for 20 years or more.

The Leo Minor: given to the teens of An Tir for continued service to the Kingdom.

The Rath of An Tir: is given for period encampments that are pleasing to the Crown.

Ordre la main de Sainte Nicholas: given to those who have gone above and beyond the obligations of fealty and rank to contribute to the word fame of the Kingdom through donations of time, goods, and service in the creation of largesse, clothing for the Crown, and Kingdom regalia. It is customarily given no more than twice per reign.

The Bountiful Hand: given to the individuals and groups who contribute to the word fame of the Kingdom through donations of time, treasure, and service in the creation of largesse, clothing for the Crown, Kingdom scrolls, Kingdom regalia, and anything else created on behalf of the Crown or Kingdom.

The rank of Sergeant of Arms was established in A.S. 12 to provide a way for unbelted fighters to demonstrate their proficiency in the martial arts and in the gentler disciplines of medieval culture. The rank, which is not armigerous, is bestowed and administered by the territorial Barons and Baronesses of the kingdom. During the tourney the candidates are tested in heraldry, calligraphy, the arts and sciences, chess, other medieval games, and more. Their chivalry and courtesy are judged, and they compete in a tournament where the sergeants and knights judge their skill. Successful candidates swear an oath of fealty to their baroness, are addressed as Sergeant, and wear a belt with the baronial badge on the buckle. If a sergeant is elevated to the Chivalry, the rank of Sergeant is resigned. If the Baron/Baroness step down, the sergeants of that barony may choose to resign or to renew their vows to the new Baron/Baroness. In the same manner, archers may earn the rank of Yeoman, rapier fighters may earn the rank of Gallant, and those skilled in the arts or in service may earn the rank of Courtier.

Earlier Awards no longer listed in Kingdom Law

Golden Unicorn/Silver Unicorn: marks of personal favor given by the late Dowager Princess, Her Serene Highness Janeltis Karaine Starfollower. This lady so won the affection of the populace during her reign as Princess of the Principality of An Tir, they petitioned that she be given a special title when she stepped down. She was counted among the royalty of An Tir.

The Pernicious Lily: occasionally given at a Crown Tournament to fighters who provide dramatic or impressive deaths on the field.

Whimsical Order of the Ailing Wit: given to those who pun above and beyond the call of taste and sanity. Recipients are required to warn others by identifying themselves with a label of some sort with the initials of the order.

Champions

There are six Champions of An Tir. Their duties are to support the Crown in war, to take the field at the Crown's command, and to defend the honor and prestige of the kingdom whenever it is challenged. They have the right to sit at high table, to stand armed near the Throne at all events, and to be at the side of the Crown in war. Each champion serves a term of one year.

The Champion of An Tir is selected at a tournament held the weekend of July Coronation. The Champion is the Bearer of the Great Sword of State, and serves as Regent if the Crown are unable to conclude their reign.

The Champion of Rapier Combat is selected at a tournament held the weekend of Twelfth Night Coronation.

The Kingdom Protector is selected at an archery tournament held on the weekend of September Crown Tournament.

The Arts & Sciences Champion and The Bardic Champion are selected at tournaments held the first weekend in March.

The Equestrian Champion is chosen at a tournament held during September Crown or close to that date.

Royal Commissions

The Crown may grant unto any artisan a royal commission carrying with it the right to include in their correspondence and on their signs and banners the phrases: "By Royal Appointment" and " to (or of) Kings (or Queens, or the Crown).". At the start of each new reign, any artisan holding a royal commission shall offer it up to the new Crown. It is the prerogative of each new Crown to determine whether or not the artisan shall continue to hold the royal commission.

Principalities of An Tir:

Principality of the Summits


The Summits
was first recognized as a region of An Tir in A.S. 19, and was created a Crown Principality in A.S. 28. In March of A.S. 30 the first Summits Coronet Tournament was held, and the group was elevated to full principality status.

The arms of the principality are Azure, a gryphon passant and on a mountain argent, a goblet azure within a laurel wreath vert.

Principality awards include:

Order of the Gryphon and Spear (formerly Order of the Gryphon's Sword): those fighters who have placed second in the Coronet lists. Members may wear an argent sword bent into a ring.

Order of the Truehearted (formerly Morgan's Rose) The consorts of combatants who have placed second in the Coronet List. Recipients may wear an argent rose wrapped around a spear.

Order of the Shield of the Summits (formerly The Shield of Chivalry): given by the Princess to the combattant whom she judges to have been most chivalrous during the Coronet Lists. The recipient shall bear the Shield of the Summits and display the favor of the Shield of the Summits. The consort of the recipient shall bear the Baldric of the Shield of the Summits and carry the Most Honourable List of the names of those combatants and consorts who were previously bestowed this great honour. A new member of the Order is selected at each Coronet List and the regalia is passed-on.

Order of the Summits: given to honor those who make extraordinary contributions to the principality and emulate the ideals and embody the essence of the Principality of the Summits, the Kingdom of An Tir and the Laurel Kingdoms. This is a polling order and is given with the recommendation of the current Companions of the Order. The honour shall be bestowed no more than once per Coronet reign and need not be given every reign. The Coronet shall only present this award at Principality Level Events at which the recipient is present.

Order of the Silver Barberry (formerly the Evergreen): given as a token of appreciation and honor by the Consort o select gentles who have contributed greatly to the personal care and well-being of Her Highness. Recipients are entitled to wear the Symbol of the Order, an Argent spray of Barberry.


Gryphon's Paw: given as a sign of appreciation and honor by the Coronet Sovereign to select gentles who have contributed greatly to the personal care and well-being of His Highness. This token is designed by each Coronet Sovereign.



Award of the Grail: given for notable contributions in the Arts and Sciences, Service, or Martial endeavors.

Recipients are entitled to wear the symbol of the Order, an argent grail within an annulet on a colored field (Vert for Arts and Science, Gules for Service, Sable for Martial).

Due to the varied nature of the award, a recipient may receive more than one of the same or different types of grails.

Throne Favor of Summits: bestowed upon those who reside within and without the borders of the Principality of the Summits and who make grande and notable contributions to the Principality of the Summits and/or the Coronet of the Summits. The token for this award is determined by each Coronet.

Friend of the Summits (formerly called Gryphon's Favor): Given to those who reside outside the borders of the Principality of the Summits and who make great and noteworthy contributions in support of the Principality. Recipients may wear an argent grail pendant with an azure field on a beaded necklace.

Order of the Gryphon's Talon: Bestowed upon combatants to recognize their extreme fighting prowess and undeterred ferocity on the field of battle.

Order of the Astrolabe of St. Brendan (formerly Order of the Far Voyager): Given to those who travel far and wide throughout the lands of the Known World and represent the Summits with honour and diplomacy.

Order of the Bezant: given to acknowledge those merchants who make outstanding and on-going contributions for the enrichment of the Principality of the Summits and/or the Coronet of the Summits. The token for this award is: (Fieldless) A chalice Azure, five bezants in annulo.

Die Gelleschaft von den Guldenen Sternen (translates to The Order of the Golden Stars, formerly Aurum Astra): Bestowed upon children (generally 5-11 years of age) who are deserving of reward for their contributions to the Principality of the Summits.

Order of the Wings (of the Summits): bestowed upon an individual who, despite overwhelming odds, pursues and displays thoughts, words and deeds that are inspirational to the Coronet and Populace of the Principality of the Summits. This is a polling order and Companions in this Order will offer a candidate for consideration to the Coronet, before an invitation is offered to a new companion. The honour shall be bestowed no more than once per Coronet reign and need not be given every reign. The Coronet shall only present this award at Principality Level Events at which the recipient is present. The scroll and token for this Order is made by fellow Companions. The token consist of an Argent Gryphon's Wing.

Order of the Joy of the Summits: Bestowed upon those who, through selfless acts of kindness and service, bring joy and happiness to the presence of the Coronet. Recipients may wear a circlet as created for them by each Coronet.

Order of the Heart of the Summits: given for outstanding efforts in support of the Coronet during their reign. Recipients may wear a circlet as created for them by each Coronet.

Order of the Vanguard (of the Gryphon): given to an individual after the successful completion of a term as Defender of the Summits, either by holding the position until the next Defender's Tournament or by ascending to the throne during their tenure as defender.

Ordre et de Jewel OR Light of the Summits: given to an individual after the successful completion of a term as Alpine Scholar (A & S Champion).

Order of the Blade and Buckler: given to an individual after the successful completion of a term as Captain of Cats (Champion of Rapier Combat).

Order of the Silver Arrow: given to an individual after the successful completion of a term as Captain of Eagles (Archery Champion).

Order of the Silver Chamferon: given to an individual after the successful completion of a term as Outrider of the Summits (Equestrian Champion).

Order of the Lark and Mountain: given to an individual after the successful completion of a term as Bardic Champion.

Award of the Silver Sleeve: given to those gentles who inspire their fighter to reach greater heights.

Order of the Wounded Gryphon: (closed?) given for exceptional conduct and prowess upon the field of battle. Members may wear a gryphon sejant pierced in the breast by an arrow bendwise sinister argent, fletched azure.

Ordo Aerie (formerly the Order of the Aeria) (closed): consists of all those who held the position of Defender or Lady of the Summits prior to the recognition of Summits as a Principality. Members may wear a black garter with a grail tippet.

Principality of Tir Righ


Tir Righ began its existance as the Northern Region of An Tir. In March of
A.S. 34 it was created the Crown Principality of the North, and in June of A.S. 38 the first Tir Righ Coronet Tournament was held, and the group was elevated to full principality status.

The arms of the principality are Azure, on a saltire between four mullets of eight points argent a laurel wreath azure.

Order of the Hafoc: Awarded for excellence in promoting the growth of the martial areas within the Principality. The badge is: (Fieldless) A hawk striking to sinister erminois.

Ordre de l'Etoile d'Argent: Awarded for arts and sciences efforts done to further the Principality. The badge is: (Fieldless) A mullet of eight points argent within and conjoined to a annulet azure.

Order of the Raven of Tir Righ: Awarded once per reign to an individual who embodies the ideals of the Society. (No badge has been registered.)

Order of the Red Flame: Awarded for persona development, encampments, clothing, and other ways that encourage and further the image of medievalism within the Principality. The badge is: (Fieldless) A flame gules.

Order of the Silver Pillar: Awarded for excellence in service to the Principality. The badge is: Azure, an Ionic pillar between in fess two mullets of eight points argent.

Order of the Silver Sparkes: Awarded to children to recognize their chivalry, honour and service to the Principality, and to fan and nurture their potential. The badge is: (Fieldless) A mullet of eight points azure estencely and fimbriated argent.

Order of the Silver Wing: Awarded for continuous service in the mentoring and guidance of SCA newcomers. The badge is: (Fieldless) In bend sinister a sinister a wing argent conjoined to a mullet of eight points azure.

Order of the Silver Lyre: Awarded for excellence in the bardic arts. (No badge has been registered.)

Order of the Amaranth of Tir Righ: Bestowed by the Tir Righ Ladies of Valourous Estate and Ladies of the Rose, to someone they respect and admire, and see has having a visible state of grace in our Society. (No badge has been registered.)

Order of the Cornucopia of Tir Righ: Awarded for continuous donations of time, treasure, and service in the creation of largesse, clothing for the Coronet, Principality scrolls, Principality regalia, and anything else created on behalf of the Coronet or Principality. (No badge has been registered.)

Other Awards

Blue Spear: Given to the fighter who finished second in the Coronet List of Tir Righ. The badge is: (Fieldless) A spear azure within and conjoined to a mascle argent.

Blue Lily: Given to the inspiration of the fighter who finished second in the Coronet List of Tir Righ. The badge is: (Fieldless) A lily azure within and conjoined to a mascle argent.

Guardians of Tir Righ: Given to Champions who have successfully fulfilled all the duties and responsibilities as Champion and abided by all laws and customs of a Champion of Tir Righ. The badge is: (Fieldless) On a saltire couped argent, four daggers points to center sable.

Order of the Shattered Spear: Given to the fighter showing the most ferocity on the tournament field. (No badge has been registered.)

Principality champions

Scourge of the North: Heavy Weapons Champion

Skewer of the North: Rapier Champion

Scorer of the North: Archery Champion

Scholar of the North: Arts & Sciences Champion

Skald of the North: Bardic Champion


Back to Index of awards articles

Kingdom of An Tir website


This column was compiled from An Tir Kingdom law, Summits Principality Law, and the SCA Armorial. Assistance was provided by Mistress Elizabeth Braidwood, Alban St. Albans and Kwellend-Njal Kollskeggson.

Mistress Jessa d'Avondale (Marla Lecin) resides in the East Kingdom. She invites anyone with updates or corrections to this article to contact her.