Midrealm, Order of the Laurel


	About the Order of the Laurel:

	Here, you will find general information and interesting bits of trivia about the Order of the Laurel.

Duties of a Laurel

The duties of a Patent Order, such as the Laurelate, are as follows (source: Corpora section VIII.A.1):

General Requirements:

Candidates for any order conferring a Patent of Arms must meet the following minimum criteria. Additional requirements may be set by law and custom of the kingdoms as deemed appropriate and necessary by the Crown.

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 duties of a Laurel as defined by SCA Corpora, section VIII.A.4b. (January 2002) are the following: The Order of the Laurel: Members of the Order of the Laurel may choose to swear fealty, but are not required to do so. The candidate must have attained the standard of excellence in skill and/or knowledge equal to that of his or her prospective peers in some area of the Arts or Sciences. The candidate must have applied this skill and/or knowledge for the instruction of members and service to the kingdom to an extent above and beyond that normally expected of members of the Society. The duties of the members of the order are as follows:

To set an example of courtesy and chivalrous conduct.
To respect the Crown of the kingdom; to support and uphold the laws of the kingdom and Corpora.
If in fealty, to support and uphold the Crown of his or her kingdom.
To enrich the kingdom by sharing his or her knowledge and skills.
To advise the Crown on the advancement of candidates for the Laurel.

Questions and Answers:

Who was the first recipient of the Laurel in the Midrealm?
Abrizhade de Medina and Diane Alene - May 8, 1971 by TRM Iriel and Morna

Why are Middle Kingdom laurels recognized in court for only one art?
Aren't Laurels just Laurels?

Yes, laurels are just laurels. Laurels in the Middle Kingdom are generally recognized for mastery of at least one or more art form, which is where you might hear the term cooking laurel, dance laurel, costuming laurel, embroidery laurel....you get the drift.

When candidates are under consideration, we generally try to find something that distinguishes them, such as mastery and consistent performance in a particular art form.

What's a "stuff" laurel?
But in some cases, some are recognized for "diverse arts," because they are proficient in a wide range of "stuff" in one area, for example 14th century costuming, cookery, and calligraphy. Another example is cultural studies, like Iberian or Middle Eastern.

How do you decide who's ready to become a Laurel?
We do not decide anything. We advise the Crown, and they decide who they wish to recognize as a member of the Order. There are several methods we use for advising the Crown: a poll, which is the Crown's list of candidates for consideration, an electronic mailing list, and in-person meetings moderated by the Crown.


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This page is not an official document of the SCA or the Middle Kingdom, and does not delineate SCA Policy.