The Sergeants of An Tir
This came to me. I was asked for a response.
> > From what I have seen done in the past once a Baroness steps down down, her Sergeants are no longer Sergeants.
> > The fealty was to the Baroness personally and not to the Barony. A new Baroness may or may not extend an
> > invitation to former Sergeants to be her Sergeants. If she does, the former Sergeant may elect to not become a
> > Sergeant for the new Baroness.
> >
> > Sergeantry is not an official position within the Society. It is considered retinue from my understanding.
> > Myself personally, my loyalty was to Baroness _________. It will always be so. I do not wish to nor will I transfer my
> > loyalty to another Baroness. If this means I am no longer officially a Sergeant then so be it.
> > A title is just other peoples words.
> > *smile*"
After I got over the shock, I wrote the following reply:
Salvete omnes!
I see a number of misconceptions and misunderstandings -- and possibly a lack of education on the role of Sergeantry -- in the above missive.
I'd like to begin by clearing up some misconceptions. Sergeantry is a rank, not an award. It is earned, not given, and can be removed at any time by the Baronesses to whom the oath (of fealty or of service) is given. Sergeantry is, according to the heralds, a "courtesy" title -- but is is one allowed on the field when used in conjunction with the Baroness' or Barony's name. This is identical to the "courtesy" title of squire.
What a title officially "means" in the SCA does not reflect its real impact on the populace and participants. As "squire" has cachet, so does Sergeant. Titles are not other people's words -- they are **our** words. Meaning is what we bring to things, not what we take from them.
Traditionally, Baronesses have accepted the worth of the word of their predecessors. That has changed, to An Tir's loss. I will elucidate below.
Gerhard Kendal stated, in his brief discussion about the Sergeants (and we may -- and likely should! -- ask Her Excellency Amanda Kendal to give details) that the role of Sergeant is NOT the role of retinue.
This is a problem, I understand from my conversations with my brother and sister Sergeants. We are not the personal (aka "body") servants of the Baroness, nor are our cousins the Yeomen, Gallants, Courtiers or Lancers the body servants of the Baron.
Gerhard states:
"How could we in the north ensure that, when a good fighter from the Principality journeyed to the center of the Kingdom, that he or she would be proven in the non-fighting aspects of chivalry, to the satisfaction of those who would recommend his or her knighting to the Crowns of the West? After much discussion, we four [Sir Theodolf and Mistress Anne of Madrone; and Amanda Kendal and Gerhard Kendal of LionsGate], with advice from many others both in our respective
Baronies and outside, created the rank of Sergeant at Arms."
Gerhard goes on to discuss how this guaranteed to the Chivalry of the West that, outside of martial prowess (which was the Chivalry's perogative and privilege to judge), the individual under discussion had been found knowledgeable in what has been called the "gentler arts" of Knighthood: most likely heraldic knowledge, dance, medieval games, leadership ability, and chivalry and courtesy.
Let's look at the roster of members of the Chivalry who were formerly Sergeants:
His Majesty Sven Fallgr Gunnarsson, Wastekeep
Thorin Njalsson, Madrone (first Sergeant in An Tir)
Aaron de Mantel, Wastekeep
Aedrik Thorulfsson, Three Mountains
Aethelhere the Unsteady, Lions Gate
Aweiodian aef Crowansdale, Madrone
Balthazar the Quiet, Wastekeep
Barak Ravensfuri, Madrone
Berek von Langental, Madrone
Brand deus-Leons, Madrone
Cedric Blackwell Rolfsson, Wastekeep
Conrad von Graz, Lions Gate
Cornelius von Rugen, Lions Gate
Crisiant ferch Eirian, Madrone
Daegar Fairhair, Wastekeep
Davin Steingrimsson, Three Mountains
Durin Oldenmoor Tjorkilskin, Adiantum
Dyon de Mantel, Madrone
Edward Ean Anderson, Madrone (who returned to the cousin rank of
Lancer after his elevation to the Chivalry)
Einar Guntharson, Lions Gate (he became a Yeoman after rec'ing his
Knighthood)
Eirikr Thorinsson, Lions Gate
Garan Steingrimson, Madrone
Garick von Köpke, Lions Gate & Three Mountains
Gaylen the Smiling, Lions Gate
Griffin ap Bedwyr, Lions Gate
Gunnarr Brunwolf, Wastekeep
Hathawulf Spearbreaker, Blatha An Oir
Heindrich von Salza, Wastekeep
Hrolf Hest Herran, Lions Gate
Hwolf Einarsson, Lions Gate
Jorg Siggeirrsen, Wastekeep
Lancelot de Navarre, Madrone
Morgan of Aberystwyth, Lions Gate
Morgan the TrueHearted, Adiantum
Octamasades, Adiantum
Owain ap Einar, Lions Gate
Raknar Guntharson, Lions Gate
Rolf Longbow, Wastekeep
Scellanus of Skye, Lions Gate
Styrkaar Jarlskald, Wastekeep
Tariq Abu Zayd, Lions Gate
Terrick de Rijkaard, Madrone
Thorwulf Bjornsson, Montegarde
Tiernan mor dal Cais, Wastekeep
Walter of Minstead, Glymm Mere
Wilhelm von Westfalen, Madrone
Wiliam Tjorkillson, AdiantumWilliam Percival, Terra Pomaria
and, of course, Gerhard Kendal himself, who became a Sergeant of Lions Gate and, after the accolade of Knighthood, returned to serve as Yeoman.
So, out of 152 members of the current An Tirian Chivalry (as determined by the OP at http://www.antirheralds.org/awards/OP/support/chivtree.shtml), at least 50 were once Sergeants. That is, approximately, A THIRD of our Chivalry. (I apologize if I missed some data.) I did not take the time to evaluate the membership of the other Great Orders of the Laurel and the Pelican to determine how many of those Peers were once Sergeants (or Yeomen, Gallants, Lancers or Courtiers/Cohorts).
While the specific tests vary from Barony to Barony, the essential core of the Sergeantry's purpose remains: we are there to demonstrate our skills in the gentler arts... we do so in fealty -- or in service -- to the Barony of our choice. While we may have other feelings of connection to our Baronesses, our personal feelings are the frosting, not the cake. One might as well just choose individual fealty to a Baroness as a personal guard and be done with it -- no need to be a Sergeant at all.
To see the Sergeant as nothing more than a chairholder with a big stick is to undermine its intent and its purpose. THIS is why people are advised, these days, when they seek Knighthood to AVOID the Sergeantry... the Chivalry is starting to see the Sergeants as nothing more than a Baroness' retinue, her personal lackeys, and not a servant of the arts of war and the arts of peace -- the arts of Chivalry, in all its forms.
The problem is that some of our Baronesses seem to see their Sergeants this way.
Yet, the Sergeants are so much more -- we have obligations to our Baronies, yes. We choose to undertake those duties, yes -- for they serve our greater duty: to prove that Baroness correct when she said "Yes, this person demonstrates all the Gentle Arts of chivalry. In all respects OTHER THAN FIGHTING PROWESS, they are ready for Knighthood."
That is what Sergeantry **means**.
We are, in a fashion, .... almost squires. We live to serve, not the people, but our Art through the people. Our first Society obligation, our primary duty in this game we play, is the furtherance of our skill on the field and -- by doing so -- serving better our Barony, our Kingdom and our greater Society.
Valete,
Vestinia Antonia Aurelia, called "Vesta"
Defender of the Summits
Sergeant to the Baronesses of Adiantum
Squire to Sir Ambrose Mavrorothakis
> > From what I have seen done in the past once a Baroness steps down down, her Sergeants are no longer Sergeants.
> > The fealty was to the Baroness personally and not to the Barony. A new Baroness may or may not extend an
> > invitation to former Sergeants to be her Sergeants. If she does, the former Sergeant may elect to not become a
> > Sergeant for the new Baroness.
> >
> > Sergeantry is not an official position within the Society. It is considered retinue from my understanding.
> > Myself personally, my loyalty was to Baroness _________. It will always be so. I do not wish to nor will I transfer my
> > loyalty to another Baroness. If this means I am no longer officially a Sergeant then so be it.
> > A title is just other peoples words.
> > *smile*"
After I got over the shock, I wrote the following reply:
Salvete omnes!
I see a number of misconceptions and misunderstandings -- and possibly a lack of education on the role of Sergeantry -- in the above missive.
I'd like to begin by clearing up some misconceptions. Sergeantry is a rank, not an award. It is earned, not given, and can be removed at any time by the Baronesses to whom the oath (of fealty or of service) is given. Sergeantry is, according to the heralds, a "courtesy" title -- but is is one allowed on the field when used in conjunction with the Baroness' or Barony's name. This is identical to the "courtesy" title of squire.
What a title officially "means" in the SCA does not reflect its real impact on the populace and participants. As "squire" has cachet, so does Sergeant. Titles are not other people's words -- they are **our** words. Meaning is what we bring to things, not what we take from them.
Traditionally, Baronesses have accepted the worth of the word of their predecessors. That has changed, to An Tir's loss. I will elucidate below.
Gerhard Kendal stated, in his brief discussion about the Sergeants (and we may -- and likely should! -- ask Her Excellency Amanda Kendal to give details) that the role of Sergeant is NOT the role of retinue.
This is a problem, I understand from my conversations with my brother and sister Sergeants. We are not the personal (aka "body") servants of the Baroness, nor are our cousins the Yeomen, Gallants, Courtiers or Lancers the body servants of the Baron.
Gerhard states:
"How could we in the north ensure that, when a good fighter from the Principality journeyed to the center of the Kingdom, that he or she would be proven in the non-fighting aspects of chivalry, to the satisfaction of those who would recommend his or her knighting to the Crowns of the West? After much discussion, we four [Sir Theodolf and Mistress Anne of Madrone; and Amanda Kendal and Gerhard Kendal of LionsGate], with advice from many others both in our respective
Baronies and outside, created the rank of Sergeant at Arms."
Gerhard goes on to discuss how this guaranteed to the Chivalry of the West that, outside of martial prowess (which was the Chivalry's perogative and privilege to judge), the individual under discussion had been found knowledgeable in what has been called the "gentler arts" of Knighthood: most likely heraldic knowledge, dance, medieval games, leadership ability, and chivalry and courtesy.
Let's look at the roster of members of the Chivalry who were formerly Sergeants:
His Majesty Sven Fallgr Gunnarsson, Wastekeep
Thorin Njalsson, Madrone (first Sergeant in An Tir)
Aaron de Mantel, Wastekeep
Aedrik Thorulfsson, Three Mountains
Aethelhere the Unsteady, Lions Gate
Aweiodian aef Crowansdale, Madrone
Balthazar the Quiet, Wastekeep
Barak Ravensfuri, Madrone
Berek von Langental, Madrone
Brand deus-Leons, Madrone
Cedric Blackwell Rolfsson, Wastekeep
Conrad von Graz, Lions Gate
Cornelius von Rugen, Lions Gate
Crisiant ferch Eirian, Madrone
Daegar Fairhair, Wastekeep
Davin Steingrimsson, Three Mountains
Durin Oldenmoor Tjorkilskin, Adiantum
Dyon de Mantel, Madrone
Edward Ean Anderson, Madrone (who returned to the cousin rank of
Lancer after his elevation to the Chivalry)
Einar Guntharson, Lions Gate (he became a Yeoman after rec'ing his
Knighthood)
Eirikr Thorinsson, Lions Gate
Garan Steingrimson, Madrone
Garick von Köpke, Lions Gate & Three Mountains
Gaylen the Smiling, Lions Gate
Griffin ap Bedwyr, Lions Gate
Gunnarr Brunwolf, Wastekeep
Hathawulf Spearbreaker, Blatha An Oir
Heindrich von Salza, Wastekeep
Hrolf Hest Herran, Lions Gate
Hwolf Einarsson, Lions Gate
Jorg Siggeirrsen, Wastekeep
Lancelot de Navarre, Madrone
Morgan of Aberystwyth, Lions Gate
Morgan the TrueHearted, Adiantum
Octamasades, Adiantum
Owain ap Einar, Lions Gate
Raknar Guntharson, Lions Gate
Rolf Longbow, Wastekeep
Scellanus of Skye, Lions Gate
Styrkaar Jarlskald, Wastekeep
Tariq Abu Zayd, Lions Gate
Terrick de Rijkaard, Madrone
Thorwulf Bjornsson, Montegarde
Tiernan mor dal Cais, Wastekeep
Walter of Minstead, Glymm Mere
Wilhelm von Westfalen, Madrone
Wiliam Tjorkillson, AdiantumWilliam Percival, Terra Pomaria
and, of course, Gerhard Kendal himself, who became a Sergeant of Lions Gate and, after the accolade of Knighthood, returned to serve as Yeoman.
So, out of 152 members of the current An Tirian Chivalry (as determined by the OP at http://www.antirheralds.org/awards/OP/support/chivtree.shtml), at least 50 were once Sergeants. That is, approximately, A THIRD of our Chivalry. (I apologize if I missed some data.) I did not take the time to evaluate the membership of the other Great Orders of the Laurel and the Pelican to determine how many of those Peers were once Sergeants (or Yeomen, Gallants, Lancers or Courtiers/Cohorts).
While the specific tests vary from Barony to Barony, the essential core of the Sergeantry's purpose remains: we are there to demonstrate our skills in the gentler arts... we do so in fealty -- or in service -- to the Barony of our choice. While we may have other feelings of connection to our Baronesses, our personal feelings are the frosting, not the cake. One might as well just choose individual fealty to a Baroness as a personal guard and be done with it -- no need to be a Sergeant at all.
To see the Sergeant as nothing more than a chairholder with a big stick is to undermine its intent and its purpose. THIS is why people are advised, these days, when they seek Knighthood to AVOID the Sergeantry... the Chivalry is starting to see the Sergeants as nothing more than a Baroness' retinue, her personal lackeys, and not a servant of the arts of war and the arts of peace -- the arts of Chivalry, in all its forms.
The problem is that some of our Baronesses seem to see their Sergeants this way.
Yet, the Sergeants are so much more -- we have obligations to our Baronies, yes. We choose to undertake those duties, yes -- for they serve our greater duty: to prove that Baroness correct when she said "Yes, this person demonstrates all the Gentle Arts of chivalry. In all respects OTHER THAN FIGHTING PROWESS, they are ready for Knighthood."
That is what Sergeantry **means**.
We are, in a fashion, .... almost squires. We live to serve, not the people, but our Art through the people. Our first Society obligation, our primary duty in this game we play, is the furtherance of our skill on the field and -- by doing so -- serving better our Barony, our Kingdom and our greater Society.
Valete,
Vestinia Antonia Aurelia, called "Vesta"
Defender of the Summits
Sergeant to the Baronesses of Adiantum
Squire to Sir Ambrose Mavrorothakis