Etcetera - The Kingdom of Caid

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.

Patents of Arms

Grants of Arms

Order of the Argent Blade: given for outstanding ability in SCA-style rapier combat. The order's badge is: Per bend sinister azure and argent, a rapier bendwise and a bordure embattled counterchanged. Companions may display their achievement with black or steel gray helm, torse, mantling and crest above their arms and the collar of the Order of the Argent Blade encircling the arms.

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. Gauntlets may display their achievement with black or steel gray helm, torse, mantling and crest above their arms and the collar of the order encircling the arms.

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. Crescents may display their achievement with black or steel gray helm, torse, mantling and crest above their arms and the collar of the order encircling the arms.

Order of the Lux Caidus: given for outstanding skill in the arts or sciences. The order's badge is: Azure, a sunburst, a bordure embattled argent. Companions of this order may display their achievement with black or steel gray helm, torse, mantling and crest above their arms and the collar of the order encircling the arms.

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. Chirons may display their achievement with black or steel gray helm, torse, mantling and crest above their arms and the collar of the order encircling the arms.

Order of the Golden Lance of Caid: given for outstanding ability in SCA Equestrian activites. The order's badge is: Azure, a crescent argent and overall a lance palewise Or, a bordure embattled argent. Golden Lances may display their achievement with black or steel gray helm, torse, mantling and crest above their arms and the collar of the order encircling the arms. This is an inter-kingdom order; Caid became a signatory to the Treaty of the Golden Lance at Gulf Wars in 2009.

Awards of Arms

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 Arcus: given for superior skill and appearance in combat archery. The order's badge is: Azure, a bow within a bordure embattled argent

Order of the Argent Arrow: given for superior skill and appearance in SCA-style archery. The order's badge is: Azure, an arrow between in fess two crescents argent.

Order of the Chamfron of Caid: given for superior skill and authenticity in appearance in SCA-style equestrian activities. The badge of the order is: Azure, a chamfron within a bordure embattled argent.

Order of the Crescent Sword: given for superior skill and appearance in armored combat. 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 superior service to the kingdom. The order's badge is: Azure, a dolphin embowed uriant to sinister argent.

Order of the Duelist: given for superior skill and appearance in SCA-style rapier combat. The order's badge is: Per pale azure and argent, two rapiers and a bordure embattled counterchanged.

Order of the Harp Argent: given for superior skill in the arts or sciences. The order's badge is: Azure, a harp within a bordure embattled argent.

The following awards and orders do not convey arms or precedence:

Order of the Rose: given to those who have served as Consort for a full reign. By custom, membership in this order is extended to those who have served as Princess or Royal Consort of a Principality.

Vanguard of Honor: given 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.

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 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.

Order of the Furison of Caid: given to those who spread the light of knowledge by sharing the skills and passions of their crafts through teaching. The badge is: Azure, a furison and a bordure embattled argent.

l'Honneur de la Chanson: given for excellence in musical arts. The badge is: Azure, a goblet argent, charged on the bowl with a crescent azure, within a bordure embattled argent.

Order of the Argent Star: given to youths for honor and chivalry in youth combat. The badge is Azure, on a mullet argent a crescent azure within a bourdure embattled argent.

Order of the Crescent and Flame: given to youths for outstanding endeavors in the arts & sciences. The badge is Azure, in pale a flame Or issuant from a crescent, a bordure argent.

Legion of Courtesy: given by the consort to those found deserving. 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.
Ordo Cordis: a special award, given at most once per reign, by Their Majesties to an individual who is deemed to embody the ideals of Caid through exemplary behavior, exceptional virtue, and inspirational courtesy. The extraordinary conduct of these individuals represent the very best of what it means to be Caidan.

Signum Reginae: given by the consort to those who have been of special support 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 been of special support 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".]

Sigillum Regni: given by the sovereign and consort to those who have been of special support during the reign.

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: granted to those who have given years of consistent service and dedication to the kingdom. 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.

Sovereign's Champion: the title usually given to the non-victorious 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.

Consort's Champion: the winner of the Consort's Champion Tournaments, or someone the consort feels fought exceptionally well in that tournament. The consort may select champions in forms including: Armored Combat, Rapier, Archery, Unarmored combat, Equestrian, and Youth Combat. The champion receives regalia 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.

Closed Orders and Honors:

New Battered Helm: was presented by the previous holder for the best death at the Consort'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.

Order of the Aurora Caidis: was given to youths for excellence in arts and science. Replaced by the order of the Crescent and Flame.

Order of the White Scarf of Caid: was a grant-level award 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.