Royal Peers

Who they are

These are the former kings and queens of the Kingdom of Atenveldt. Those serving as rulers of Atenveldt who complete a reign receive a County, those serving as rulers of Atenveldt who complete two full reigns receive a Duchy.

Those who have served as Consort of a ruler of Atenvelt on completing a reign are inducted into the Order of the Rose, which is an Honor but intimately tied to the Royal Peerages.

Like all the peerage orders they have to show qualities worthy of the title of peer – such as courtesy and respect to others, be passionate about sharing their knowledge, and play a significant role in our community.  In short, be the kind of person we want to admire.  SCA Corpora outlines these traits as follows:

Our Peers can be some of the most well-known and respected members of the SCA community. The 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.

1. They shall have been obedient to the governing documents of the Society and the laws of the kingdom.
2. They shall have consistently shown respect for the Crown of the kingdom.
3. They shall have set an example of courteous and noble behavior suitable to a peer of the realm.
4. 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.
5. They shall have shared their knowledge and skills with others.
6. They shall have practiced hospitality according to their means and as appropriate to the circumstances.
7. 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.
8. They should participate in Society recreations of several aspects of the culture of the Middle Ages and Renaissance.

County

Counts and Countesses have ruled the kingdom once.

Regalia and Heraldic Display

As laid out in the "Sumptuary Traditions and Guidelines of the Kingdom of Atenveldt" - 'Counts and Countesses wear Coronets of precious metals, embattled, and ornamented as they see fit.'

They may also register with the College of Heralds a county coronet incorporated into their arms.

Titles

They are addressed as "Your Excellency" and referred to in the third person as "Count/ess [personal name]."

Duchy

Dukes and Duchesses have ruled the kingdom twice or more.

Regalia and Heraldic Display

As laid out in the "Sumptuary Traditions and Guidelines of the Kingdom of Atenveldt" - 'Dukes and Duchesses wear Coronets of precious metals, embellished with strawberry leaves and ornamented as they see fit '.

They may also register with the College of Heralds a duchy coronet incorporated into their arms.

Titles

They are addressed as "Your Grace" and referred to in the third person as "Duke/Duchess [personal name]."

Vicounty

A Viscount or Viscountess is a person who has reigned as Prince or Princess of a principality once. As former royalty, they have a Patent of Arms and are considered Royal Peers.

In the past the Kingdom of Atenveldt's vast lands were split into principalities (smaller territories). The principalities included Meridies, Ansteorra, The Outlands and Artemisia with the present lands of Atenveldt (state of Arizona) known as the Principality of the Sun. As principalities evolved into kingdoms, so the territory of Kingdom of Atenveldt grew smaller until there was no need for principalities - the last was dissolved in 1997.

Regalia and Heraldic Display

As laid out in the "Sumptuary Traditions and Guidelines of the Kingdom of Atenveldt" - Viscounts and Viscountesses wear Coronets of precious metals ornamented as they see fit, with a single point at the front which shall not exceed two and one half (2.5") inches.

Titles

They are addressed as "Your Excellency" and referred to in the third person as "Viscount/Viscountess (given name)."

Heraldry for Royal Peers

All royal peers receive a patent-of-arms which entitles them to display different elements around their heraldic arms, per Atenveldt Sumptuary Laws, as follows:

Achievement of Arms for Heraldic Display

Rank	Shield	Helmet	Torse	Mantling	Supporters	Crest	Coronet (can replace torse)
No AoA	Yes	no	no	no	no	no	no
Award of Arms	yes	Gray non-metalic in profile to dexter	no	no	as desired	no	no
Grant of Arms	yes	Gray non-metalic in profile to dexter	2x owner's colors	same as torse (no ermine)	as desired	no	no
Court Barony	Yes	Gray non-metalic in profile to dexter	2x owner's colors	same as torse (no ermine)	as desired	no	plain gold band with 4x visible pearls
Thegn/Bannthegn	Yes	Gray non-metalic 45 degrees to dexter	2x owner's colors	same as torse can use ermine	as desired	no	plain gold band with 4x visible pearls
Master of Defense	Yes	Silver, full face or profile	2x owner's colors	same as torse can use ermine	as desired	as desired	No
Laurel	Yes	Silver, full face or profile	2x owner's colors	same as torse can use ermine	as desired	as desired	Laurel wreath may replace torse
Pelican	Yes	Silver, full face or profile	2x owner's colors	same as torse can use ermine	as desired	as desired	Chapeau may replace torse
Chivalry	Yes	Silver, full face or profile	2x owner's colors	same as torse can use ermine	as desired	as desired	no
Viscounty	Yes	Silver, full face or profile	2x owner's colors	same as torse can use ermine	as desired	as desired	Coronet of a single point
County	Yes	Silver, full face or profile	2x owner's colors	same as torse can use ermine	as desired	as desired	Crenellated coronet
Duchy	Yes	Gold, full face or profile	2x owner's colors	same as torse can use ermine	as desired	as desired	Coronet with strawberry leaves