From an article originally published in Tournaments Illuminated #117 , Winter 1996.
Last updated June 21, 2009.


Etcetera - The Kingdom of Atlantia

by Mistress Jessa d'Avondale

In A.S. XI, Atlantia was created as a principality of the East Kingdom. It became the eighth kingdom of the Society for Creative Anachronism in A.S. XVI.

The arms of the kingdom are Per pale argent and azure, on a fess wavy cotised counterchanged a crown vallery Or, overall a laurel wreath vert.


Atlantian law notes that all instances of "King" and "Queen" should be read as "Sovereign" and "Consort", in those cases where the throne may have been won by the Queen.

Patents of Arms

In Atlantia, royal peerages are accompanied by Patents of Arms if the person does not already have one. Those who have reigned as queen are inducted into the Order of the Rose upon completion of their reign.

Grants of Arms

Territorial Barons and Baronesses receive Grants of Arms at their investiture. The Crown may also award Grants of Arms at their discretion, showing a higher degree of favor and recognition than an Award of Arms.

Grants of Arms also accompany the six Atlantian Orders of High Merit (if the recipient is not already armigerous). The Crown consults with the members of these orders before admitting new candidates.

Orders of High Merit

Order of the Golden Dolphin: given to those subjects of the kingdom who have distinguished themselves by their exceptional service and leadership in the kingdom. The order's badge is: Per chevron enhanced engrailed argent and azure, in base a dolphin naiant to sinister Or.

Order of the Pearl: given to those subjects of the kingdom who have distinguished themselves by their efforts and willingness to teach others the arts and sciences of the period, and/or those who have achieved excellence in the arts and sciences of the period. The order's badge is: (fieldless) On an escallop inverted azure a plate.

Order of the Sea Stag: given to those subjects who have distinguished themselves by their teaching of armored combat, rapier combat, combat and target archery, thrown weapons, siege warfare, or youth combat. The order's badge is: Azure, a stag's head cabossed and in base two tridents in saltire argent.

Academie d'Espee - the Order of the White Scarf of Atlantia: given to those subjects who have excelled in the exercise and advance of the noble art of fence, and have distinguished themselves as examples of the precepts to which it is devoted. The order's badge (subject to registration) is: Argent, a pale couped between two unicornate seahorses azure.

Order of the Yew Bow: given for excellence in skill with bow and arrow (either target or combat), thrown weapons or siegecraft. The order's badge is: (fieldless) A unicornate natural seahorse's head erased, maintaining in its mouth an arrow inverted bendwise. All past members of the Order of the King's Missiliers (prior to Feb 7, 2003), the Order of the Nimrod (closed), and the Award of the Yew Bow (closed) are considered to be members of this order.


Order of the Kraken: given to those non-belted fighters who have distinguished themselves by constant excellence on the field. The badge of the order is: (fieldless) A kraken Or. All past recipients of the Award of the Kraken (closed) are considered to be members of this order.

The titles of Court Baron and Baroness, given at the discretion of the Crown, convey an Award of Arms.

Kingdom Orders

Orders of Merit

The Orders of Merit are accompanied by Awards of Arms, if the recipient is not already armigerous.

Order of the Opal: given for service to Atlantia.

Order of the Coral Branch: given to those who have distinguished themselves in their efforts in arts and sciences of the period.

Order of the Silver Osprey: given to non-belted fighters who have distinguished themselves by consistent effort on the field.

Order of the Sea Dragon: given to those rapier fighters who have distinguished themselves by consistent effort on the field.

Order of the King's Missiliers: given to those who have distinguished themselves by their efforts with bow and arrow (either target or combat), thrown weapons, or siegecraft.

Order of the Quintain: given to those who have distinguished themselves and shown excellence in the pursuit of equestrian activities, in service or valor.

Other Kingdom Orders

Queen's Order of Courtesy: given by the Queen to those subjects she deems worthy by reason of their consistently exemplary courtesy to subjects of all ranks in the Realm and in the Society at large. The Queen may call upon the members to assist her with their aid or advice in encouraging courteous behavior, whenever she may deem this necessary, and the members are bound to assist the Queen to the best of their abilities. The token given is usually a medallion bearing an escallop.

Order of the Non Pareil: given to those who have shown excellence, honor, courtesy, and chivalry above and beyond any duty. The members of this Order exemplify what it means to be an Atlantian. The award may be given only once per reign. The badge of the order is: Or, a sword between four towers sable.

Order of the Alcyon: given to youths (up to and including the age of 17) who have distinguished themselves by their labors and achievements in the arts and sciences. All past recipients of the Award of the Alcyon (which is now closed) will be considered to be recipients of this award.

Order of the Sea Tyger: given to youths (up to and including the age of 17) who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor and chivalry in martial activities. All past recipients of the Award of the Sea Tyger (which is now closed) will be considered to be recipients of this award.


Order of the Hippocampus: given to young people (from 10 to 17) whose service and contributions to the kingdom have distinguished them in the eyes of the Crown and kingdom. The badge of the order is: (Fieldless) A sea-horse per fess argent and azure.

Kingdom awards (Non-armigerous)

Can be given by the King & Queen jointly or individually unless otherwise noted.


Shark's Tooth: given to those who have performed acts of valor for the kingdom. The badge for this award is a natural shark's tooth.

King's Award of Excellence: given by the king to those who have distinguished themselves by their excellent contributions to the kingdom. The token is a gold pendant, upon which is inscribed the king's initial, in blue.

Undine: given by the queen to those who have distinguished themselves with exceptional service to her. The token is a blue pendant, upon which is inscribed the queen's initial, in gold.


Sea Urchin: given to young people up to and including the age of 17 who have distinguished themselves by their contributions to the kingdom, in service, martial activities, and/or arts and sciences. Recipients may wear a badge: (fieldless) A Sea Urchin argent.

Fountain: given to those who have performed acts of service for the kingdom.


Silver Nautilus: given to those who have distinguished themselves by an extraordinary achievement in the Arts and Sciences. The badge of the order is: (fieldless) A nautilus shell argent.

Herring: given to those who have distinguished themselves by extraordinary achievement as autocrats.

Vexillum Atlantiae (award of the banner): honors and recognizes the ferocity and valor of a group of fighters as a whole, not as individuals. When they fight as a unit, the group will have the honor of carrying the banner with the heraldry of the award into battle.

Arielle: given to young people (up to the age of 17) to honor and recognize their acts of courtesy.

Kingdom Notables

Atlantia also has Kingdom Notables – positions held in service to the Crown for one year. These positions are awarded at competitions run by the current Kingdom Notable, in conjunction with the Crown. At each competition, a panel of three or more judges selects three finalists, from which the Royalty choose the new Notable.

Royal Bard: for excellence in the individual performance of any of the following fields: singing, instrumental music, poetic rendition, or storytelling. The Royal Bard is encouraged to be proficient in at least two of these fields. One or two bards will serve at the same time, depending on the whim of Their Royal Majesties.

Royal Brewer: for excellence in making beer, ale, mead, wine, or other period alcoholic beverages. The badge registered to the position is: Azure, on a pale between two mugs argent, a unicornate natural seahorse azure.

Royal Baker: for excellence in producing baked goods, such as breads, cakes, pastries and wafers. The baker shall be proficient in at least two period types of baking.

Poeta Atlantiae (Royal Poet): for excellence in composition of poetry in at least two period forms.

Scrivener Royal: for excellence in calligraphy and illumination, and acts as the personal scribe of the Crown. The Scrivener Royal holds office under the Office of the Clerk of the Signet.

Other Awards

Children of Sitting Royalty: Children under the age of 18 of the reigning King and Queen may be referred to as the Prince(ss) Royale. This status is limited to the duration of the reign and conveys no precedence beyond the reign. At the conclusion of the reign, the Crown may gift these children with a Royal Augmentation of Arms, to be a purple escalloped shell.

This column was compiled from Atlantian Law, the SCA Armorial and On the Ordering of Rank and Precedence in Atlantia, by Duchess Ysabeau Cameron of Lochiel. Assistance was provided by Dominus Herveus d'Ormonde (Triton Principal Herald), Mistress Jaelle of Armida (Argent Snail Herald Extraordinary), and Lord Kwellend-Njal Kollskeggson. The arms of the kingdom were rendered by Miles Reginald Hastings (davenrie@usa.nai.net). Award badges created by Eldred Æfwald, from the Kingdom of Atlantia Clerk Signet's clip-art page.

Mistress Jessa d'Avondale (Marla Lecin) resides in the East Kingdom. She invites anyone with updates or corrections to this article to contact her.