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Society for Creative Anachronism

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The Society for Creative Anachronism (or SCA for short) is a not-for-profit organization. Its activities largely involve Medieval and Renaissance-themed historical re-creations and re-enactments. The primary focus is on Western European culture, but also included are other regions, such as the Middle East and Japan, with which Western Europe had contact during the period up to the 17th century. The SCA is generally described as a Middle Ages arts revival recreational organization.

Arms of the SCA (Or, a Laurel wreath vert)
Arms of the SCA (Or, a Laurel wreath vert)

Contents

Description

The Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) is similar to historical reenactment and living history groups. Members share an interest in pre-17th century Western European history. However, the SCA began as a backyard party in Berkeley, California, and has retained some vestiges thereof. Modern elements remain when necessary (like plastic-framed eyeglasses) or to promote safety (like replacing steel swords with rattan during combat). An oft-quoted though unofficial motto is, "The Middle Ages as they should have been" — that is to say, lacking such undesirable elements as religious persecution, bubonic plague and open-pit sewers. The level of historical authenticity varies greatly from participant to participant, but can be quite exacting and detailed.

The SCA practices an unconstrained minimum standard of authenticity. For instance, new members may make armor from plastic or garb (clothes) from cotton broadcloth to save money. Participants see these minimal requirements as one of the strengths of the SCA, opening participation to more people.

Some participants describe the SCA as a large group of people with interlocking hobbies that are rarely used or needed in a technological society. The dancers work together with the musicians, amateur chefs prepare meals for feasts, the weavers and costumers find people to wear their creations, leather and metal smiths make combat armor, and so on. Because of the diversity of SCA members, most medieval trades or hobbies within the SCA are practiced and valued. (See "Activities" below.)

Persona

SCA members each create their own persona. For some, a persona is simply a costume and a name, an alter-ego for a weekend costume party. Others craft an elaborate personal history of a medieval person who never lived, but might have, opening the door to years of scholarly research and hands-on re-creation. This focus on a persona can help participants to put a human face on what they learn.

At events (see below) members may attempt to remain "in persona", speaking only of things that their period alter-ego would know about (assuming they have researched these things). They may use code terminology to refer to modern or "mundane" items such as automobiles ("chariots" or "wagons", sometimes "dragons") or telephones ("farspeakers"). A certain amount of cognitive dissonance is accepted, such as when dealing with an 8th century Norseman wearing eyeglasses and a wristwatch.

Events

Members, dressed in clothing of the Middle Ages and Renaissance, attend events which may feature tournaments, arts exhibits, classes, workshops, dancing, feasts, and more. Events, which occur on rented sites, vary enormously, offering a wide variety of activities and are attended by garbed participants. SCA events are not typically spectator-oriented so attendees are expected to follow SCA norms including an attempt to dress in pre-17th century garb. This is one of the primary differences between SCA events and Renaissance Fairs.

A family attending an SCA event
A family attending an SCA event

SCA events fall into several general categories:

Combat Events and Wars

Combat events involve either tournaments with one-on-one combat, or wars where teams compete against each other. Events focused on combat often have other activities happening at the same time.

Where a typical event may host anywhere from 20-800 participants over a weekend, the largest wars typically draw thousands from across the Society for up to two weeks. The longest and largest of these events is the Pennsic War--a two-week event in August catering to over 20,000 people participating in everything from combat to dance to history lessons. Combat at a war can involve forces numbering 100 to 3,000 participants on each side and can include safe versions of archery and siege engines.

Several combat-related activities happen independently at an event. Heavy weapons (swords, axes, etc.), fencing, and target archery may happen simultaneously on separate fields.

Arts and sciences

The SCA promotes the crafts, skills, and technologies practiced in the time period and cultures that the SCA covers. Arts & Sciences range from the recipes used for a feast to the armor used in combat, the clothes and costumes that are worn to the bardic arts of singing, storytelling, poetry and instrumental pieces. An officer in the local group called the Minister of Arts and Sciences is usually in charge of promoting these crafts and aiding members in finding appropriate information. Other events are set up as a learning experience for the members. Typically, classes are given in history or crafts of the period, or in how to better perform activities within the SCA. Topics can range from heraldry, philosophy, and history to costuming, calligraphy, and metalwork. Some "A & S" events have competitions, with the largest offering overall prizes or championships in the arts.

The [Known World A&S Directory] is a database of people who are willing to share their knowledge of various arts and sciences.

Coronations and investitures

These events center on the changing of the ceremonial leadership of sub-groups from the local Barony up to the Kingdoms. These events typically are more focused on ceremonial affairs, concentrating more on meetings and organization than combat or arts and sciences.

Further Information

Most events will normally finish the event with a Court to allow for the awarding of honors, and (in some areas) a feast. Evening activities can include bardic circles (formal and informal), medieval dancing, and post-revels (a party usually held at an individual's home).

Demonstrations

Demonstrations or Demos are intended for audiences and are put on by volunteers for a variety of purposes. Schools and community groups may request or be offered demos for education or entertainment. Demos are typically much shorter and more focused on appearances. The SCA provides demonstrations of Medieval arts and sciences. Combat demonstrations are usually limited to SCA-style combat using rattan weapons rather than representing historic fighting with steel weapons.

The Society has attempted, somewhat successfully, to become a more family-friendly environment since its founding. Demos provide an opportunity for interested people to get more information about participation in their local branch of the SCA.

Practices

As interest levels allow, SCA groups hold regular practices for a variety of activities. These tend to be unofficial and informal affairs where garb, while always welcome, is not required. Some practices are ostensibly for one activity but attract people interested not necessarily in the activity itself but more in socializing. A dance practice, for example, may draw the entire local group together to hang out, while a small percentage actually dance. This serves to help integrate the group and prevent segmentation.

Activities

Costume

The first thing one notices about an SCA event is that everyone is wearing at least an attempt at pre-17th century clothing, often called "garb". Wearing garb to events is one of the basic requirements of the SCA. Garb may range from a polyester-blend T-tunic for a newcomer to a hand-embroidered and beaded Elizabethan era gown complete with hoops, bumroll and ruffled collar or a set of ruffs that may take more than six months to a year to complete. Typically, men wear a tunic and pants and women wear a long gown. Members often have "field" garb, simple cotton tunics or gowns that they wear to camping or other outdoor events, and "court" garb made of expensive brocades and silks that are reserved for fancy-dress events. Many SCA members make their own clothing, though the needlework-challenged can purchase their garb from merchants or barter with other SCA members. Newcomers to the SCA can usually borrow garb for their first event or two by contacting the local group's Gold Key officer or Chatelaine/Castellan, who is responsible for helping acclimatize new members.

Armed combat

Fighters practicing at Gulf Wars XIII (2004). Note the use of rattan swords and edge padding on the shields.
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Fighters practicing at Gulf Wars XIII (2004). Note the use of rattan swords and edge padding on the shields.

Three forms of armed combat are re-created in the SCA:

Armored Combat (also sometimes referred to as "Heavy Combat" or "Heavy Fighting") generally approximating the sword-and-shield, hauberk-and-halberd fighting of the High Middle Ages.

Fencing or Rapier Combat, generally approximating the lightly-armored "swashbuckling" of the 15th century and the 16th century, emphasizing the rapier over cutting swords. Many members of the Society study and practice period manuals from the salons of Western Europe whose Sword Masters taught the "Arte of Defence", where the term "fencing" came from. 

Combat Archery using bows and crossbows - generally in combination with armored combatants in a war scenario, or as archer vs. archer scenarios. The arrows used specially designed tips and are built for safety.


The martial arts as practiced in the SCA are notable in that there are no referees to declare a winner. "Marshals" are on the field to maintain safety (eg. watch for loose or broken equipment or to protect bystanders). It is the combatants who acknowledge the effect of blows. A combatant is on his or her own honor to "call" a "good shot", feigning its effect. For example, a good blow to the arm renders that arm useless, so the combatant will stop using it for the duration of the fight. Calling a leg shot, the combatant drops to his or her knees, or may comically hop around. (Good "field schtick" is considered an asset.) 



Armored combat

The Armored Combat or "Heavy Weapons Fighting" forms practiced in the SCA roughly mirror those of medieval infantry, and both tournaments and battles are fought. The fighters wear armor (often of their own making) made of plastic, leather, carbon steel, stainless steel, spring steel, or any combination thereof. 


This is a serious full-contact sport; moves are not planned or signalled and fighters strike each other with considerable force and speed. Weapons are primarily made of rattan to resemble swords, pikes, spears, axes and other medieval weapon types. Maces and axes have heads made of rubber or stiff foam, and pole weapons (resembling medieval pole-axes, glaives, halberds or bills, etc.) may or may not be required to be similarly padded, depending upon the regulations in a given SCA kingdom.


For the purposes of calling blows, all heavy-weapons combatants are considered to be armored in a chain mail hauberk, with an open-faced helmet similar to the barbute. For that reason, a draw cut or glancing blow would have no effect, while a solid blow would. (Testing with armored animal carcasses shows that while mail protects well against a slicing blade, it transmits most of the perpendicular force of a blow. A solid shot to an arm or leg would cause contusion of the muscle and perhaps break the bone, rendering the limb useless at least temporarily). Shots to the head are treated as a 'killing blow'.


Most SCA fighters use a one-handed weapon in combination with a shield of some kind. With centuries of historical examples to draw upon, shields may range from large rectangular Roman-style scuta to small bucklers, with perhaps the most "knightly looking" being the classic "heater" shape (so called because of its resemblance to the shape of a flatiron). Other popular choices include two-handed weapons such as greatswords and glaives (or even a katana, for a person portraying a Japanese warrior), or the use of two offensive weapons, e.g. a sword in each hand.


Most groups hold "fighter practices" where individual and group combat is practiced and informal instruction occurs, but in some areas there may be more formalized and structured training in a local style. Typically several years of direct experience in the SCA's Armored Combat are needed to excel in tournaments.



Forbidden weapons

Some weapons, while actively used within the SCA's target period, have been barred from use in SCA combat because it is difficult or impossible to make them safe. These include staves (the typical style involves a large amount of force on impact), punching weapons (Katars, punch daggers and offensive shields such as the targe), and flexible weapons such as the flail or ball and chain, which can wrap around heads, limbs, or shields causing injury. Some flails may be acceptable if the flexible length is very short. (In practice they are used like a mace, albeit a floppy one.) Some of these are allowed in some kingdoms, and can often be used elsewhere under the "experimental weapon" rules. Under this rule they have to be approved by the marshal in charge, and one's opponent. 


Period firearms are only allowed in certain kingdoms under very strict guidelines.



Fencing or Rapier Combat

SCA fencing rules differ from Olympic fencing rules. Instead of fencing for points, fencers attempt to "disable" or "kill" their opponent by striking at target areas. Rapier Combatants are considered to be wearing street clothes and leather gloves so both thrusts and cuts are accepted as attacks. SCA rules do not recognize lanes or right of way, so opponents fight "in the round". Body-to-body contact is prohibited, but hand-on-blade contact is allowed, so the off hand becomes an important factor. 


While many SCA members attempt to re-create rapier combat of the 16th and early 17th centuries, in practice it often becomes a blend of Society rules and modern fencing. Many rapier and smallsword enthusiasts study fencing manuals of the 15th and 16th centuries, and use rapier simulators made with schlaeger or bated rapier blades, rather then the more sport-oriented foil and epee blades. Some kingdoms are reviewing an experimental style called "side-sword", which allows percussive cuts and thrusts with blades suitable for cut-and-thrust style fencing.


Once unpopular, fencing has grown in acceptance and prestige over the past three decades. In most kingdoms, rapier fighters can be granted awards in acknowledgement of prowess and respect within the rapier community, and there is a broadening recognition of the importance of the study of period combat manuals. Even with this growing respect for the study of period rapier fighting the community does not have its own Peerage. Some kingdoms have started awarded Laurels to those who have shown a mastery of fencing as an art though this is not without controversy in the Society. In compensation for the lack of a rapier peerage a number of Kingdoms have signed the White Scarf treaty which gives recognition of excellent fighting abilities, superior conduct on the field and a willingness to teach new fencers. There are some kingdoms with equivelent awards such as the Bronze Ring in the Middle Kingdom and Order of the Golden Rapier (OGR) in the Kingdom of the East. It is important to note though that while the level of skill and comportment for these awards are equivilent to Kighthood they do not carry the same social obligations or privlages that Knighthood do.


Some Fencing Melees do allow some firearm simulation (rubber band guns) as well.


All kingdoms except the Kingdom of Calontir now have organized fencing.



Combat Archery


Combat Archery allows the introduction of bows, crossbows, javelins, and slings to Heavy Weapons combat. Strict rules are in place to limit the launch force of field weapons, and the projectiles are specially built with large blunted tips and special backs to minimize the risk of true injury. Shields are considered to stop arrows and one shieldman can trivially defend himself against a lone archer. Due to the space requirements and targeting selection, combat archery is only used in large melees. 


The vulnerability of archers varies from Kingdom to Kingdom (and often within a Kingdom). In some cases, archers are allowed to carry melee weapons and must be physically struck down like any other field combatant. In other cases, if a melee fighter gets within a set range, typically 10 feet (3 m), the archer is automatically considered dead. Under either system, archers must still wear the same level of armor protection as the heavy fighters, with the exception of hand protection to allow for the use of their weapons, and lighter helmets in some cases.



Bardic Arts

The "Bardic Arts" are also popular. The bard in pre-Medieval Celtic society held a specific social class and had specific duties. In the SCA context, though, "bard" is a general term that refers to most storytellers, poets, and musicians. 


SCA bards not only perform historical period pieces but often compose new period works, some of which are based on SCA culture. These may be in the style of ancient forms, such as a new version of a Child Ballad, or a piece recounting (in period style) some aspect of the "Current Middle Ages" such as a history of an SCA kingdom, a tribute to an individual, or an account of an event. 


(One crossover from science fiction fandom found in the SCA is "filking". A filk is a new lyric set to an existing tune. Still, this practice has ample historical antecedent; ancient musical codices are full of tropes that set new lyrics to existing tunes. For example, The Codex Carmina Burana is a collection of often-ribald lyrics set to the Gregorian chant tunes that were used in worship at the time. What sets filks apart is that the tunes are generally modern: Broadway show tunes, top-40 radio hits (going back to the 1960s when the SCA got its start), and so on.) Filk has been used to teach novice members something about the organization's history (e.g., 'Imperium Compound,' versions of which were unique to each early kingdom and chronicled the reigns of the kings by the supposed foibles of each). SCA filksongs have also been used to protest Society policies or customs, with some success; for example, the famous 'Berzark Rag' protesting the use of excessive striking force advocated by the Society's Earl marshal in the late 1960s resulted in his removal from office; and the strains of 'Causes of Rebellion' (aka 'Lie to the Council') by Astra of the Grey Shadows have stirred many a political tempest in their day. 


Sometimes, awards are given for prowess in the Bardic Arts, though not as developed or common as the martial arts awards, Bards prize this recognition by their peers. Kingdoms and principalities may have a College of Bards. These may be highly structured or very loosely organized. 


Many early music performers resist being categorized only as a "bard", because they may have specific cultural interests and prefer to style themselves as minstrels, troubadours, trouvères, minnesingers, etc. 


A common bardic activity is the "Bardic Circle," where performers take turns sharing pieces. Circles may be structured, with participants passing a token to indicate who has the floor, or they may be informal, with performers following each other in no set order. Some circles may have a theme. Feasts are another common venue for musicians to perform individually or in groups (i.e. consorts and plays). 


During camping events at night, bards may practice "firewalking" (also known as fyrewalking or fire-crawling): where a performer or small group travel from campsite to campsite offering entertainment or joining other bardic circles in progress. Generally, it is considered polite to welcome a new bard to be in one's encampment to perform (harkening back to the days when traveling bards were mostly the only entertainment or news to be had). Besides the applause, Bards may be offered drink, food or other refreshments for their performances.



Equestrian activities


The Equestrian Guilds promote the study, practice, demonstration, and teaching of equestrian-related activities in the Knowne World. The EQ Guilds encourage participation in games that are modeled on training techniques used by medieval armies, as well as a version of jousting. 


At an equestrian event you may see riders competing in such games as: 
Rings, where the rider uses a lance to collect variously-sized rings from tall stands placed in a row; 
Reeds, where the rider must weave through a line of poles that have reeds placed atop, while attempting to knock the reeds off with a padded (or "boffer") sword; 
The Quintain, where the rider uses a lance to strike a shield-shaped target mounted on a pole (to simulate striking an opponent in the Joust); 
Pig Sticking, where a rider attempts to put a spear into a target on the ground (not a real pig);
Mounted Archery, where the rider must control his/her mount while shooting arrows at a target; Mounted Crest Combat, where two opponents, wearing steel helmets, "attack" each other with boffer swords, attempting to knock the crest off the other's helmet.
and Jousting. (Note, SCA Equestrian rules prohibit full-contact jousting at this time. Lances are constructed with breakaway foam tips, and riders must be able to easily release the lance if enough force is made upon contact with their opponenet.)


Some of these games are designed to teach the rider to control his/her mount and weapon while in a combat situation. Others simulate hunting from horseback. Riders who wish to participate must demonstrate their ability to control a horse at various gaits, and control a horse while holding a weapon. Riders start at the Beginner level riding at a walk, and then advance through intermediate (trot) and advanced (canter or gallop) when they have proven their abilities to the Equestrian marshallate.


The SCA Equestrian Marshal's website is located at http://equestrian.sca.org/.



Heraldry

The SCA maintains its own College of Arms to register and protect heraldic devices of its members (at least within the Society). 


For the first three decades of the Society's existence, all heraldic device submissions had to be checked against extant SCA arms, heraldry taken from or alluding to works of fiction, and coats of arms granted to families alive or extinct. Following a major revision of the SCA's rules for heraldic submissions (known, ironically, as the "Modest Proposal"), SCA armorial bearings are now checked for conflict only against major coats of arms, devices and symbols that exist in the real world, and arms awarded within the Society itself. 


Thus, while a person cannot register the Coat of Arms of Queen Elizabeth II or of France, for example, the SCA's College of Arms no longer checks for device conflicts with arms registered with the several European colleges of arms. In practical terms, the Modest Proposal rendered the Society as autonomous in matters of heraldry as the Colleges of Arms of various nations are in reality.


The Society's College of Arms also registers and maintains SCA names, checking against duplication and ensuring at least minimal period authenticity. In some cases, names that were once acceptable (for example, Rhiannon) have been shown to be of modern origin and are no longer allowed. Though bearers whose names were approved before such research are not required to change them, no new submissions with names the heralds have documented as having come into use outside the SCA's period will be accepted.


While there is no requirement to register a name and/or device, members are encouraged to do so. Newcomers are often counseled by experienced members on choosing a suitable persona name, and local heralds are usually enthusiastic about helping new members create and register a unique device that represents their personality and interests.



Cooking

Many SCA events feature food ranging from simple "fighter's fare" or a "peasant lunch" of bread, cheese, hard-boiled eggs, and a simple vegetable or meat soup, to elaborate multi-course feasts served over a period of several hours. Such feasts may focus on dishes from England, Italy, Germany, Spain, or other locations and times within the SCA's period of study. Common dishes are roasted beef or chickens with mustard or other sauces on the side, meat pies, cheese-filled ravioli, green salads, "armored turnips" (turnips sliced and layered with cheese and spices), glazed carrots, applesauce, and pears or apples cooked in wine. 


Feasts are not always limited to strictly period foods and recipes, but they rarely include glaringly non-period items such as hamburgers or corndogs (though there was at least one group which put on a feast in which they documented 'beans and weenies'). As with period feasts, there is often an elaborate main dish or dessert called a subtlety. (One group has a running gag at their annual feast in which the main dish is a mythical beast. To make a "sea dragon", for example, they assembled a five-foot long meatloaf with a dozen chicken drumsticks arrayed along each side.) 


Cooks who strive to stick to period recipes for their dishes make an effort to ensure that their menus are balanced to allow for modern palates, ingredients, and equipment, or to compensate for tight budgets or labor shortages.


A running joke in the SCA (and at least one song in very deliberate bad taste) concerns the supposed inedibility of feast food. On the contrary, SCA feasts are typically prepared by talented and capable volunteers who work long hours to prepare a good and filling meal—and usually at a cost of only a few dollars per person. Sometimes these amateur efforts even equal or surpass the quality of many expensive restaurants.


Those who work to prepare feasts are highly regarded, customarily being called into the dining area at the conclusion of the feast and thanked with thunderous applause, and many kingdoms provide for awards and titles to be granted to those who excel in this field.


Included in the fare at many revels are various medieval brews such as stout, ale, lager, wine and mead. The mead found in many parts of the SCA was derived from two West Kingdom brewers in the late 1960's, Lady Geraldine of Toad Hall and Jon deClis, the organizer of the SCA's very first event. Geraldine preferred the very sweet variety which was generally started with 30% honey to water and brewed as an ale, whereas Jon deClis preferred the dry to semi-sweet recipe brewed more like a wine. A compromise recipe was generated from the Atenveldt Brewers and Vintner's Guild which called for one gallon of honey to 4 gallons of warm water. A teaspoon of yeast and a handful of raisins was added to the solution and then the 5 gallon carboy was sealed with several layers of plastic wrap held in place with a rubber band. The mix was set aside for 3 months and then filtered and bottled. Aten brewers experimented with mellomels using fruit juices such as grapes, cherries and elderberry, and metheglin using various spice mixes.


Some of the Revels held by the Associated Guilds were punctuated by the sounds of one gallon jugs of Atenmead blowing their tops when badly filtered. It was suggested that tourney rules be revised to allow for battles to be fought using shaken bottles of new mead. Nothing came of this, most likely because the people involved sobered up enough to recognize the ramifications of such combat: the waste of good mead.



Calligraphy and illumination

Calligraphy is the art of writing beautifully, while illumination is the artwork decorating the page, usually with paint and gold leaf. Together these arts are used to create illuminated manuscripts, commonly called "scrolls" within the SCA. In many kingdoms, the awards that the royalty give in court are accompanied by an illuminated scroll made by a volunteer. Scrolls are also sometimes made to commemorate winning a tournament or competition, or an agreement between two parties within the context of the SCA. Despite the fact that period documents of this sort usually contained little illumination, scrolls are commonly modeled after the pages in Books of Hours, Bibles or other medieval and renaissance manuscripts, including elaborately painted borders around the text. Scribes use a variety of materials to produce these works. As with other arts, the authenticity of the materials used varies from scribe to scribe: paper, parchment or vellum for the writing surface; watercolor, gouache, acrylic or dry pigments mixed with a binder like gum arabic, tempera (egg yolk) or glair (egg white) for paint; fountain pens, dip pens or quills for writing. Over the Society's history, the arts of calligraphy and illumination have advanced substantially, so that many scribes now use completely authentic materials and tools.


Scribes often attempt to match the period and style of a scroll to the persona of the recipient. While most scrolls are done on paper or vellum, this has occasionally led to SCA scribes creating works on objects ranging from stone tablets to drinking horns. This kind of creativity is generally encouraged, as long as the resulting object maintains a reasonable level of authenticity.


Most SCA Kingdoms have an officer whose responsibility it is to train and nurture scribes and, if the kingdom gives scrolls with its awards, coordinate the production of those scrolls. That officer's title often includes the word "Signet" from the word for a seal used to sign documents in period.



Dance

Dance practices are held where Renaissance Dance and English Country Dance are taught in preparation for events and demos. There are also subsets within the SCA that practice and teach Middle Eastern (Egyptian Cabaret, Folkloric and American Tribal Style bellydance) and Far Eastern (Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Kuchipudi) styles of dance to be performed at events and around campfires.



Fiber Arts

Many members, including men, enjoy practicing the arts of needlepoint, embroidery, cross-stitch, weaving, lace-making, kumihimo, spinning, nalbinding, sprang, braiding and dyeing. Period techniques are employed when possible, yielding intricately detailed and useful artwork which beautifies clothing and objects. Embroidery and cross-stitch in particular are often employed to create favors , given as gifts, tokens of affection or awards and often bear the arms or device of the person (usually a lady) giving the favor, or the arms of the Order for which the award is being bestowed (Pelican, Laurel, etc). Many guilds exist to preserve and teach the fiber arts, including:
The Atlantian Embroiderers Guild
Lace Making Guild of Atlantia 
Fiber & Needle Guild of Calontir 
The West Kingdom Needle Worker's Guild 
Royal Needlework Guild of Artemisia 
Athena's Thimble of the East 
The Worshipful Company of Embroiderers of Lochac 
Meridian Embroidery Guild  and The 
Guild of Withie and Woolmongers of the Midrealm . (This list is not exhaustive).



Scope

The SCA is worldwide in scope. The Knowne World is divided into Kingdoms. As of November 2005, there are 19 SCA Kingdoms worldwide. Worldwide there are about 32,000[link] paid members. (Many people participate without joining, as it is not required to join in order to participate. It is required to be a paid member to hold office.)


There are active groups all over the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand, with scattered groups elsewhere. (At one time there was even a group on the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz, known as the "Shire of Curragh Mor" (anglicized Irish for "Big Boat"), and the shire's arms played on the Nimitz's ship's badge.) 



Kingdoms

As of April 2005 the SCA Kingdoms are (in order of founding):





Peerages

This use of the term "peerage" is unique to the Society and should not be misconstrued to have any resemblance whatsoever to historical peerage as practiced in the United Kingdom or similar countries, although they are inspired by medieval concepts.


SCA Peerages are bestowed as lifetime awards to those who receive them, though the recipient may surrender the title if he or she so wishes. It is possible, though usually difficult, to receive again a peerage so surrendered.


Peerages are bestowed by the Crown (King and Queen) of a Kingdom. In most cases (except for Royal Peers), this is done at the request of the members of a given peerage, but there have been rare instances where the King has bestowed the honor on those not considered by (or even against the wishes of) the given peerage. This has led to members of that peerage surrendering their rank in protest. The source of this conflict is a misunderstanding by the peers of their role in the process. The Society's bylaws state quite clearly that it is the privilege of the peers to advise the Crown concerning nominees to their order. However it is the duty of the Crown to decide who will receive the accolade. The conflict arises when peers believe that what they are doing is voting on a candidate, thus deciding who will be admitted to their ranks, with the Crown merely confirming their choice. It is the duty of the Crown to give justice to the people, to do what is right, not what is popular or expedient. There are times when the peers lose sight of this simple fact and that is when controversy arises. One would be hard put to find an example of a peer who, although admitted over the objection of a peerage order, did not subsequently prove to be as worthy a member as a unamimously recommended peer.




It is worth noting that the Order of the Chivalry in the SCA includes a number of female knights; many women fight in the SCA, as enthusiastically and skillfully as their male fellows.







Royalty




Thrones from which SCA royalty hold court (left, Calontir; right, Northshield).

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Thrones from which SCA royalty hold court (left, Calontir; right, Northshield).






Although there is no historical precedent for this method of selecting rulers, each SCA kingdom is ruled by a king and queen chosen by a Crown Tournament. This is typically held as a double-elimination, one-on-one, heavy-weapon-combat tournament; but the actual format of the tournament is largely at the whim of the reigning monarch and may even include melee (or group) combat in some places, with the candidates for the Crown raising an army from fighters not seeking the throne and contending against the armies raised by their opponents. The winner of the Crown Tournament and his/her Consort are styled "Crown Prince and Princess" and serve a training period under the current King and Queen prior to acceding to the throne and ruling in their turn. The training period can last anywhere from 3 to 6 months depending upon the scheduling of the Crown Tournament. 


As of 2005, only one Queen has been made 'by her own hand' (that is, by winning a Crown Tournament), though two other Queens have served as Sovereign rather than Consort when their Prince or King died before or during their reign. There has also been one instance of a Queen serving as Queen Regent because the King, a military reservist, was summoned to active duty with the armed forces in the real world after taking the throne. There have also been a few cases of reigning Princesses who have won the Coronet List for their Principality. In such cases, the male consort becomes Prince.


While the Kings and Queens do have a significant influence within their individual kingdoms and the larger Society during their reigns, their duties are primarily ceremonial. The day-to-day business of running the Society is performed by volunteers or appointees in kingdom-level offices, and by the Society's Board of Directors. In fact, the Board of Directors can strip any crown of its authority (retroactively to the beginning of their reign, even after it has ended) if they abuse their authority. To date this has never occurred, although the Board has on several occasions voided individual awards made by Kings and Queens (usually for raising an individual from another kingdom into the peerage without obtaining permission from their fellow sovereign before doing so), or banned individuals from competing for the Crown for a certain period.



History

The SCA traces its origins to a theme party organized by Jon de Cles held in a backyard in Berkeley, California on 1 May 1966. The event began with a "Grand Tournament" in which the participants wore motorcycle helmets, fencing masks, and usually some semblence of a costume, and whacked away at each other with weapons including plywood swords, padded maces, and even a fencing foil. It ended with a parade down Telegraph Avenue with everyone singing "Greensleeves", the only medieval or Renaissance song everyone knew. It was styled as a "protest against the 20th century" (typical of Berkeley in the mid-60's). It was such a success that the participants went on to organize more. The name "Society for Creative Anachronism" was coined by science fiction author Marion Zimmer Bradley, an early participant, when the nascent group needed an official name in order to reserve a park for a tournament.


The SCA continued to be a local organization until 1968, when a tournament was held at the World Science Fiction Convention, which was held in Berkeley that year. The idea spread, and soon other local chapters began to form. By the end of 1968, the SCA had been split into two kingdoms (West and East), and by the end of 1970, there were four (with the addition of the Middle and Atenveldt). The number of SCA kingdoms has continued to grow by the expansion and division of existing kingdoms; for example, the Outlands, Artemisia, Ansteorra, Gleann Abhann, Meridies, and Trimaris all originally belonged to Atenveldt.


The SCA still measures dates within the society from the date of that party, calling the system Anno Societatis (Latin for "Year of the Society"). For example, 1 May 2005–30 April 2006 is A.S. XL (40). The individuals who attended that first event are collectively known as "The Dinosaurs", and those who are still active in the Society are regarded with a respect bordering on veneration.



Shortcomings / Criticism


Politics

As with any human organization, personalities and agendas can clash. Some people have had bad experiences with local groups or individuals, which color their impression of the organization as a whole. In addition, there are internal stresses within the Society due to inevitable conflicts between local autonomy and central organization (the Society's Board of Directors is a frequent target of controversy).


Within the organization, it is worth remembering that founders of the Society included veterans of science fiction fandom. The same sort of cliques, backbiting and big-frog-in-the-small-pond machinations and behavior with regard to status in science fiction fandom carried over into the SCA and persist today.


The major difference between the Society and Fandom comes from the fact that many of the symbols of status within the SCA are visible and convey immediate respect to their holders and that, in general, status within the Society depends on actual accomplishment. It is uncommon, but not unheard of, for the Society's awards structure to be used as a personal weapon by those who sit the thrones or by members of the several peerage orders for or against individuals of whom a Crown or Order approve or disapprove. This behavior is despicable but the SCA's bylaws provide no practical means of addressing and/or redressing the problem. Of course this is actually quite historically accurate ("help, help, I'm being repressed!"). 'Social climbing' within the organization is not an unheard-of occurrence either, though those who choose to engage in that behavior become obvious about it over time.


The internal politics of the Society are one of the reasons why the Great Dark Horde is popular in some regions and Kingdoms, although the Horde is by no means immune to internal politics itself.



Authenticity

Some people criticize the SCA because it does not require its members to adhere to as high a standard of authenticity as other living-history or re-enactment groups. Activities, such as battles or duels, are said to "re-create" history but are not faithful reproductions of actual events. SCA participants are more interested in performing activities that would not be out of place in period. Attempts have been made in the past to create a venue for more serious research done on the medieval period, in particular peer-reviewed articles to be published in a journal was suggested. The difficulty in finding researchers willing to publish in an SCA journal killed that plan.


In particular, SCA "heavy combat" is criticized because the emphasis on safety creates an inauthentic style of fighting:




The SCA members usually acknowledge the fact that they are not 100% authentic in their re-creations, and merely add that this is the reason they have the word "creative" in their name.



See also



References



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