Æthelmearc Order of Chivalry

As set down in the Governing Documents for the Society for Creative Anachronism,

The Chivalry consists of two equal parts: Knighthood and Mastery of Arms. No one may belong to both parts of the order at one time. When a member is admitted to the Chivalry by the Sovereign, the choice of which part of the order to join is made by the new member. The candidate must be considered the equal of his or her prospective peers with the basic weapons of tournament combat. To become a Knight, the candidate must swear fealty to the Crown of his or her kingdom.

In addition to the requirements for membership in all of the peerages -

They shall have been obedient to the governing documents of the Society and the laws of the kingdom.
They shall have consistently shown respect for the Crown of the kingdom.
They shall have set an example of courteous and noble behavior suitable to a peer of the realm.
They shall have demonstrated support for the aims and ideals of the Society by being as authentic in dress, equipment and behavior as is within their power.
They shall have shared their knowledge and skills with others.
They shall have practiced hospitality according to their means and as appropriate to the circumstances.
They shall have made every effort to learn and practice those skills desirable at and worthy of a civilized court. To this end they should have some knowledge of a wide range of period forms, including but not limited to literature, dancing, music, heraldry, and chess, and they should have some familiarity with combat as practiced in the Society.
They should participate in Society recreations of several aspects of the culture of the Middle Ages and Renaissance.

the Chivalry in specific have the follow specific duties:

To set an example of courtesy and chivalrous conduct on and off the field of honor.
To respect the Crown of the kingdom; to support and uphold the laws of the kingdom and Corpora.
To enrich the kingdom by sharing his or her knowledge and skills.
To support and uphold the Crown of his or her kingdom.
To enhance the renown and defend the honor of the peer’s Lady or Lord.
To advise the Crown on the advancement of candidates for the Chivalry.
To bestow the Accolade of Knighthood upon a candidate for the Order of Knighthood, as the sole right as Sovereign or acting directly for the Sovereign, for only a Knight can create a Knight.

To see a list of the current members of the Order click here .

If you know of a gentle living in, or a subject of, the Kingdom of Æthelmearc who have these qualities, and you feel they should be considered for this award, please send a recommendation letter to one or more of the following:

The Crown ,

The Heirs , and the

Chivalry Clerk .

Sending a letter to one or all of them will get the person added to our list which will bring the gentle you recommend to the attention of all the members of the Order. Whichever you do, a courtesy copy to the clerk is always a good idea.