Rapier Peerage Proposal – What is it?
A proposal is currently before the Board of Directors to create a peerage for Rapier and ‘Cut and Thrust’ martial activities. The proposal was created by the Additional Peerage Exploratory Committee, which was created by the Board of Directors. It was comprised of representatives of eleven kingdoms, including representatives of the Chivalry, Laurel, Pelican, multiple Orders of High Merit for rapier combat, and heralds. The Easterners on the Committee were Earl Kenric aet Essex and Mistress Alys Mackyntoich.
SCA members have unofficially discussed for years the possibility of additional peerages for the martial activities of Rapier as well as for Archery, Equestrian, Thrown Weapons and Siege Weaponry. Currently the only avenue to a peerage open to someone for these activities is if their service to the sport is significant enough to merit a Pelican. Peerages are only given for Service (Pelican), Arts and Sciences (Laurel) or Armored Combat (Chivalry).
The Committee examined input collected by the 2010 SCA Census and correspondence received by the SCA on the subject. They summarized what they learned as follows. (more…)