The Middle Kingdom, the third kingdom of the Society for Creative Anachronism,
was founded in A.S. IV.
The arms of the kingdom are Argent, a pale gules, overall a dragon passant
vert, in chief an ancient crown Or within a laurel wreath proper.
Dragons (or pieces of them) are incorporated into many of the names and
tokens of the kingdom's awards.
The following awards carry with them a Grant of Arms, if the recipients do not already have them:
Order of the Dragon's Heart: given to those who have performed
services on behalf of the kingdom above and beyond that normally expected.
Companions of the order may place the initials CDH after their names, and
may wear a medallion bearing the order's badge: Argent, a heart vert
scaly argent.
Order of the Gold Mace: given to companions of the Order of the Red Company who have shown both excellence and leadership in melee and/or tournament combat, and who have trained others in those skills. Companions of the order may place the initials CGM after their names. Those who are not members of the Chivalry may be styled "Lieutenants of the Red Company".
Order of the Greenwood Company: given for excellence in two of the three
areas of archery: skill, service, and the arts and sciences. Companions of
the order may place the initials CGC after their names, and may style
themselves as Foresters of the Greenwood. The order's badge is: (Fieldless)
Upon a hurst of pine trees vert, a pheon inverted Or.
Company of the Bronze Ring: given to those who have shown excellence and leadership in rapier combat, and who have trained others in these skills. Companions of the order may place the initials CBR after their names, and may style themselves as Warders of the Bronze Ring.
Company of the White Lance: given to those who have shown excellence in two of three areas of equestrian activities; skill, service and the arts and sciences. Companions of the order may place the initials CWL after their names.
Order of the Evergreen: given to those who have both taught and shown excellence in one or more of the Arts, Sciences, or in research. Companions of the order may place the initials CE after their names.
An Award of Arms may be given at the Crown's discretion as a separate award, or in conjunction with the following awards and orders:
Order of the Willow: given to those who show proficiency, but not yet
mastery, in one or more of the arts. Companions of the order may place the
initials CW after their names, and may wear a medallion bearing the order's
badge: Purpure, a willow tree eradicated Or.
Order of the Silver Oak: given to those who show proficiency, but not
yet mastery, in one or more of the sciences or research. Companions of the
order may place the initials CSO after their names, and may wear a medallion
bearing the order's badge: Purpure, an oak tree blasted and eradicated
argent fructed Or.
Award of the Purple Fret: given to individuals for long and
devoted service to their group, office, or kingdom. Recipients of the award
may place the initials APF after their names, and may wear a medallion
bearing the order's badge:
Or, a fret purpure. This award can be received more than once.
Award of the Doe's Grace (formerly Queen's Favour): given to those who
have demonstrated courtesy and chivalry on or off the field, as well as
kindness to those around them. An individual can receive this award more than once,
and recipients may wear a medallion bearing the order's badge: Azure, a
sword proper enfiled of a wreath of flowers argent, slipped and leaved Or.
The original award was created in the first reign of Duchess Eislinn the
Patient (whose heraldic arms contain a doe), and the name was changed to honor
her as a memorial.
Award of the King's Chalice: given to those who, in the sight of the Sovereign, have displayed excellence and authenticity in their chosen field. Recipients may place the initials RKC after their names. An individual can receive this award more than once, The token is a medallion bearing the order's badge.
Order of the Dragon's Tooth: given to those who have performed
dramatic deeds in the Arts Martial on behalf of the kingdom, above and beyond
that normally expected. It is often awarded on
the field at the time the deed was witnessed. Companions of the order may
place the initials CDT after their names, and may wear a fang suspended on
a chain, or a medallion bearing the order's badge: Argent, on a pale vert
three fangs Or.
Order of the Dragon's Barb: given to those who show proficiency on the
archery field, or exemplary service in furthering archery. Companions of the
order may place the initials CDB after their names, and may wear a medallion
bearing the order's badge: A dragon's tail palewise, barb to chief, within
and issuant from an annulet vert, scaly argent.
Order of the Cavendish Knot: given to those who show proficiency on the
field of rapier combat, or exemplary service in furthering rapier fighting.
Companions of the order may place the initials CCK after their names
and may wear a medallion bearing the order's badge: four Cavendish knots
conjoined in cross, vert.
Order of the White Chamfron: given to those who have shown proficiency on the field of equestrian activities or exemplary service in furthering such field. Companions of the order may place the initials CWC after their names and may wear a medallion bearing the order's badge: (Fieldless) A chamfron argent.
Order of the Red Company: given for leadership in combat. Members of
the order, known as Serjants of the Red Company, should be proficient fighters
in melee, versed in many weapons styles, and leaders by example both on and
off the battlefield, working to serve the kingdom war effort and teaching
and training others. Their conduct should exemplify courtesy and honor.
The order's badge is: Gules, two flanged maces in saltire argent.
Order of the Gaping Wound: given to those who, on the field of Society combat, suffered an injury requiring surgery or other hospital care. Companions of the order may place the initials CGW after their names. This order was closed, to emphasize safe behavior in the lists.
Award of the Dragon's Treasure: given to honor youths who have
rendered exemplary service to the kingdom. This award can be received more
than once, and recipients may wear a tabard or medallion bearing the award's
badge: A dragon's gamb couped erect maintaining a roundel argent charged
with a pale gules.
Award of the Purple Fretty: similar to the Purple Fret, for service by
branches, guilds, or other organized groups. Those groups so honored may bear
a banner: Or fretty purpure, alongside their ensign.
Award of the Dragon's Teeth: similar to the Dragon's Tooth, for groups
who excel in fighting. Those groups so honored may bear a banner: Argent,
on a dance between two broken dragon's teeth vert another argent.
Award of the Dragon's Flight: similar to the Dragon's Barb, for groups
who excel in archery. Those groups so honored may bear a banner: Argent, a
pale vert scaly argent between four pheons vert.
Award of the Grove: given to branches, guilds, or other organized
groups who have shown proficiency in the arts and/or sciences, or exemplary
service in furthering such fields. Those groups so honored may bear a banner: Per pale Or
and argent, a hurst purpure.
Award of the Sapphire: given to those who exhibit courtesy, grace, and honor to people of all ranks, and who are an example of an "embodiment of the dream". Recipients may place the initials RSL (Recipient of the Sapphire Light) after their name, and may wear a medallion bearing the badge: (fieldless) A gemstone azure. An individual may receive this award more than once.
Order of the Royal Vanguard: given to those who have served the Crown as a King's or Queen's Champion. Companions of the order may place the initials CRV after their names.
Order of the Rose: given to those who have served as Consort for at least one full reign. Membership is automatic upon descending the throne. In the Middle, the Order exists for the purpose of encouraging chivalrous and courteous behavior among all members of the Society.
Augmentations of Arms are given by the Crown to those individuals who have given so much, of such quality, that the awards and honors of the kingdom do not sufficiently express the esteem in which they are held. Each augmentation is a specific charge, to be added to the individual's heraldic arms. This honor is rarely granted.
| Index of Awards articles | Middle Kingdom webpage |
This column was compiled from Middle Kingdom law (April 2000), and "The Honors of the Middle Kingdom", by Baroness Graidne ni Ruaidh, Assistance was provided by Lord Thorvald Redhair (Dragon Principal Herald), Lord Gwilym ap Alun (Trillium Herald), Lord Alan Fairfax Aluricson (Fenris Herald), Countess Genevieve du Vent Argent, Master Gareth Tancred Wilfreth, Lord Berwyn Aethelbryght of Ackley, Grimmund Blackwing, Lady Gwendolynn ferch Elydyr, and Mistress Caitlin Davies. The illustrations of award badges were provided by Mikhail of Lubelska.
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.