THE KNOWN WORLD

The phrase the Known World refers to all that is within the SCA.  The SCA is organised into 17 kingdoms, which have groups in at least five continents.  Most of the Kingdoms are based in North America, but Australia, Japan and South Africa all have groups, as well as Europe of course.

The SCA Inc. is registered as a non profit educational corporation in California, USA and the corporate office is based there.  The Board of Directors, which is the ultimate authority in the Society, has representatives from several kingdoms and functions as the Societies covering Committee.

Details of the other Kingdoms and how it all works at this level can be found on the Society’s web site or from the corporate office.  See the Contacts section for details of these.

HOW IT ALL WORKS

Because of the unusual merging of modern administration and medieval ambience the Society is organised in a manner that can be quite confusing.  Here I shall deal with how it runs its medieval aspects.  I shall also include a brief paragraph on its modern administration.

Here is how the period side works.  To give the feel of a medieval kingdom, we use period names for offices.  We also have a recreated class structure.  From Kings and Queens to lesser nobility, though if you wanted to be a peasant you can be.

Everyone is assumed to be of lesser nobility within the society, however, the society has set in place a system of noble titles and ranks through which one may progress by embodying Chivalry, Service, Skill and Courtesy.  The society has an ethos that encourages chivalry and courtesy in all things, in essence the core of the romantic view of medieval society.

Through dedication to the recreated combat forms, arts and sciences and other activities of the period, one may receive many awards within the society. 

The Royal Couple

A King and Queen rule the Kingdom for six months at a time.  The King and Queen are elected by trial of arms.  In this case a tournament is held and those who wish to rule, enter into it.  In this Tourney, called within the society a Crown Tournament, one or both members of the couple fight in honourable combat for the right to rule.  Once victorious the couple serve three months as Prince and Princess before they are crowned King and Queen of Drachenwald.

Once they are King and Queen they administer the medieval affairs of the Kingdom.  This amounts to directing the officers of the Kingdom, granting awards and changing the laws of the Kingdom if any changes are required.  They also hold Royal Courts and add a lot of pomp and ceremony to events.

The member of the couple that fought and won is known as the Sovereign and the other is the consort.  The Sovereign acts to some extent as the President of the European group.

The King and Queen are assisted by a set of officers of the Kingdom who hold office for two-year terms and they work on individual aspects of the Society, such as archery or first aid, for example.  These officer positions are largely the same as the ones listed for a Shire.  These officers aid and oversee their counterparts in individual branches and represent the concerns of the Kingdom to the Society’s Corporate officers for each area of interest.

The Principality

In Principalities, the Prince and Princess are elected in the same manner as the King and Queen.  They then serve the same function in their Principality as the King and Queen do to the Kingdom, but they do so under the authority of the King and Queen.  Within their Principality they may grant awards that are specific to their Principality.  They may also grant Kingdom awards with the consent of the Crown (that is the King and Queen).

A Principality also has a set of officers between the Kingdom Officers and the officers of local branches.  They provide much the same function as do the Kingdom Officers but within the borders of the Principality.

In a Barony, a Baron and/or a Baroness is elected for a two-year term by the King and Queen but recommendations for the post are made by vote.  The Baron or Baroness make local awards and represent the King and Queen within their Barony.

Baronies have an officer administration similar to Principalities.

Modern Administration
The modern administration is overseen by the Crown, Kingdom Officers and the Local Seneschal and officers.  Regular reports and meetings keep the membership up to date and leads to the views of the membership being communicated to the Societies governing Board.  For more details about the modern administration see the Societies governing documents, i.e. Corpora and the By Laws of the SCA Inc.